Budgeting Money Share Tweet I admit it—I’m a bit of a tightarse. Friends and old girlfriends might say the “bit” is a bit of an understatement. It’s not hard to watch your money closely when there’s so little to watch, but sometimes I throw caution and credit card to the wind. Following—those times when paying more is necessary. Get Your Moneys Worth Kid stuff. Even if I have to eat sao crackers and popcorn for dinner for a week, I’ll splurge on my kids. These days that means sports equipment for them. And though even cheap football boots are not all that cheap, it’s better to spend a bit more to get a quality product. Teenage kids aren’t known for treating anything gently, and when you settle for the bargain stuff it will soon be in pieces. The good stuff, however, can take a beating. And it looks a lot better too. Money spent on the kids rarely sparks regret. Haircut. A haircut follows your every move until it grows out. If you wear your hair extra short, a cheap cut is fine. Otherwise, it can be a daily annoyance for weeks. Better to stick with one good hair stylist who costs a little more but knows how to make you look your best. The haircut mills make their money on volume—getting you in and out fast. Spending more might seem a vain indulgence, but a good haircut actually requires less time and trouble in getting it to look right every day. And that’s easily worth the price. Beer. Unless you’re guzzling a six-pack at a time, it’s better to spring for a better beer. You drink less, savour the taste and feel better afterward. Despite all the ads and TV commercials claiming that their swill tastes great and provides a life full of parties and super-hot friends, the budget beers are brewed in vats the size of nuclear reactors with as much loving care as the ATO shows a chronically late taxpayer. Rugby League. As a confessed tightass, I don’t go to a lot of rugby league games, so when I do go I want a good seat. Now, I’m not above buying a cheap seat and slinking down to one a bit closer to the action. I feel I’m actually helping the team by making the paddock look more crowded for the TV cameras, which wouldn’t spot me way up in the nose bleed section. (Even if that sounds like a rationalisation, I’m sticking to it.) But most times I’ll plunk down a little more to get closer to the game. Now, if you’re taking the whole family, paying an extra 10 to 15 bucks per seat can get expensive. But just you and the wife? You won’t miss the $20 and will enjoy the game much more. Home repair. Whether I’m doing it myself or paying a pro, I’ll spend the extra money on quality products to ensure I don’t have to worry about whatever it is again. Squeezing the shekels on stuff that needs to function correctly every day for a long time is never a good idea. I spend what it takes so I don’t have to bother thinking about it anymore. Got any more tigharse tips please feel free to share them with us…by commenting below and share your money-saving tips with everyone.