I find this to be a catch-22 situation. If I buy cheap and then find it to be very useful (but inferior because it was cheap) then I would feel bad about replacing it with a quality item and wasting the cheap one (even if I donate it) because I feel strongly about minimizing waste and promoting the use of throw away products. Then again, if I buy expensive and the item sits around I have wasted needless money that frankly I don’t have.

Right now I have just downsized from a two bedroom apartment to a one bedroom due to skyrocketing rent. I have to shrink my WFH desk space and am considering transitioning from my 32" widescreen monitor to just my laptop screen and a 15.6" portable monitor that can be packed away. The portable monitor would also become my main monitor for my gaming PC. This may or may not work out as being practical for my use case. I could get a no-name cheap portable monitor for about $100 but the brightness and colors may not be that great and response times for gaming poor. Or I could spend $400 on one with higher refresh rate, better colors and likely better stand options but if it doesn’t work out I’ve likely lost a lot of money even if I resell it. On top of that I’ve now contributed to consumerism and pollution twice which goes against my ethos.

I think a third option of buying-used needs to be a consideration. Personally, I dislike buying used for most things (especially tech). I generally get burnt by finding out the item was being sold because of some unreported defect and that bugs me as I like to keep my stuff pristine.

No real answer for you there, just an acknowledgement that the struggle is real.

• It’s OK to buy some things cheap and other things for life. Figuring out which things should be which will be a process.
• You should feel great about donating expensive things. You’re not just getting rid of stuff, you are giving to a cause.
• Regarding a traditional razor, specifically: Ooh boy, that could go either way. The wetshaving community references various “Acquisition Disorders.” Razor AD, Soap AD, and the list goes on. Not getting sucked in takes discipline, and you could easily end up spending more money and taking up more space. However, you are likely to have achieve a greater value experience that brings enjoyment to your life regardless.

I quite like the single use blades for razors. Easier to replace than the gym handle.

I think the rule is typically if you know you’re going to use it then buy quality. Things that your life depend on perhaps comfort. We all know the “what separates you from the ground, don’t cheap out: shoes, mattress, tires…”

I usually buy cheap for a lot or borrow from friends to determine usage. However, I decided to spend decent on a bike trainer and I genuinely hope I use it enough because like you, I put the info researching and saving. I’ll sell it if I done use it, but it’ll be really disappointing if that’s the case.

I buy quality, but used. The thing about used is that you have to know when to buy used and when to buy new according to your needs/preferences. So consider some of the following categories:

• Clothing. Dead easy to buy amazing quality used. There’s a super saturated market of virtually unused clothes, often with the tags still on, at less than half of retail price. If you want a $500 dress that will last you 20 years AND maintain its resale value, you can find that for $100.

• Furniture. Personally, I used to think that I wanted a “perfect” home with a “perfect” aesthetic, but it turns out I like the idea of that more than actually doing it. Last time I moved I furnished my apartment with almost nothing but furniture off the street, and that created a better aesthetic/vibe than I ever could have purchased. People are dying to have you pick up their old furniture so that they don’t have to deal with it.

• Appliances. Again used. The discount on a used toaster or blender or whatever is so substantial that you could buy a second one if the first one didn’t work out. You do need to inspect it or buy online for buyer protection, but I’ve never been screwed over and not had recourse. This goes especially for the kinds of appliances that people use a couple of times and then throw into the closet. I also find that I have a far less “personal” connection to these items, so I don’t care if they’re a bit shabby.

• Electronics. These I buy new or refurbished. I buy refurbished phones that I’ve never had any issues with, usually an older model through a reputable online seller. Something like a laptop I’ll buy new - it’s just one of those things where it’s highly personalized and I want to know the history and the exact specs and such.

A lot of this comes down to a gut feeling imo, and the degree of personal connection to the item. You know in your gut that you’ll always be uneasy with a used laptop, or that you don’t care whether the desk you’re sitting at is a bit scratched up. You know you’ll regret spending money on aesthetic “fluff” when you could have gotten a cheap one used, and you know which pieces of clothing are keepers and which you’re going to get bored of in a year.

Depending on what it is, research and buy quality or even secondhand. I don’t see minimalism as being frugal by any means. I’ve just come to terms that it’s okay to donate nice things, especially since I know someone else will be thrilled to get it at a low price. Our parents have stopped giving us a lot of stuff though because they know we’ll just donate it or throw it away lol.

Also getting a reusable handle for safety blades is so worth it. This is box of 100 I bought on Amazon like 3 years ago. A much better shave and nice using a fresh blade

https://a.co/d/anrJ7RC