Investing in property requires a lot of money and developing some clever savings habits, but shirking higher prices isn’t always a good idea on some items. As the following points illustrate, the lowest priced products sometimes end up costing you more in the long run.
Mortgage rates
The best mortgage product might not be the one with the lowest interest rate. There are some fantastic rates on offer from a number of banks and non-bank lenders, but borrowers need to be aware of the fees associated with these loans.
Also bear in mind package deals. Some of banks’ most competitive rates are only available on package deals which include other products such as a credit card and a transaction account. This might not be a bad thing depending on your situation, but be aware of the associated fees of these other products.
Comparison websites and mortgage brokers can help you research the best options for you.
Clothes
Picture your closet. Now picture the items of clothing you wear most. Most of your clothes never make it off the hanger, right?
If you were to take a calculator and add up the prices of each item you purchased because it was on sale, or seemed like a good deal at the time, you might be shocked to see how much money you’ve wasted.
Now all is not completely lost if you’re able to take those “super-bargain sale” clothes and put them into consignment. But consignment shops are only looking for quality-made clothing. If it’s cheaply-made and the threads have already started coming apart after wearing it once, then your chances of recouping some of your costs are limited.
You’re far better off buying a higher-priced item of clothing that is timeless, well-made and fits appropriately. Of course, one could also argue that there’s both a human cost and environmental cost to buying cheap clothing.
Phone plans
A cheap phone plan will actually cost you more if you’re consistently going over your usage limits. You can determine the best plan by being honest with yourself about your phone usage habits. A good website to reference is phonechoice.com.au, which helps consumers compare telecommunication services. Best of all, it’s independent and free.
