Stuff not worth buying cheap.

[LynneP]

Gloves. You need one pair of decent lined leather gloves for winter. They will last many years. And you need one good pair of wellies.

[Orfy]

Paint.

[gromit]

absolutely orfy, buy cheap paint spent five times as long putting it on the walls, use lots more than good stuff and end up knackered but paying just the same

[Nefertari]

Paint.

Value type stuff is ok if you are just sizing new plaster etc.

Trade paint covers much better and is worth paying out for

[saint-spoon]

I have always found trade paint to be excellent value for money, probably because it comes in standard colours and doesn’t need two thousand “hint of” variations in order to sell; hence it’s cheaper. Cheap wallpaper is a false economy as well IMO, much harder to put up.
Tools, I’m with you there Grommit, buy cheap buy twice, the same goes for consumables such as screws and nails. When it comes to power tools it’s probably even more important by the best you can (not always the most expensive) and avoid cheap as they aren’t up to the job.
Training shoes, expensive isn’t always the best but the best for you is worth its weight in gold; if you go running it’s best to buy specialist running shoes from a reputable specialist.
Kitchen knives, this is a funny one, I have quite a few Sabatier knives which I love but I also have a coupld of different sized Chinese cleavers neither of which cost more than £5, I also have a couple of small kitchen devil knives which I bought whilst camping. I do love my hard anodised pans though, thanks to the DTLers who persuaded me to buy them; fantastic.
White goods, I have found that buying a reputable brand has paid dividends, never the most expensive (far from it); but buy quality rather than bargain.
I am not a spendthrift but i do feel that sometimes folk try and out-frugal each other so that they can be the most friugal, sometimes it is just false economy despite how much folk insist that "it's the same thing"; earl grey by anyone but twine-ings is just not earl grey tea IMO.

[Orfy]

Socks and shoes

[saint-spoon]

Socks and shoes

i never buy expensive clothes but i always buy good quality and comfy shoes, i have a pair of timber-land boots that are ten years old and still going strong, they cost a fortune but have out lasted boots a quarter of the price by... erm ten ten years.

[Willow]

Mattresses, Stair carpets, Carpets / rugs in high use areas. Furniture – I’d rather buy good 2nd hand than economy new. Garden tools - I bought cheap secateurs TWICE (no excuse) each pair lasted less than one season!

[Skywise]

I'll always pay a bit (OK, a lot) more for organic/free range eggs, poultry and outdoor pork - I can't justify saving money versus animal welfare.

Still now I've got my own back garden chooks I'm hoping to only ever have completely free range fresh eggs.

Just waiting for the girls to start laying . . . . . . .

Still waiting . . . . . . .

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand still waiting . . . . .

[Mo]

.. I can't justify saving money versus animal welfare

Well said