HoweEnterprise.com
What exactly is the "buy it for life" movement? Hey Taylor: Have you heard of the Buy It for Life movement? My friends keep talking about it, Taylor and it seems like it’s just Kovar about buying expensive things. Can you explain? - Liza Hey Liza: I’m happy to explain this “movement,” though it seems like you’ve pretty much got it figured out. The idea is to buy expensive things that will last as a means of avoiding constant replacements and repairs that really add up. Great in theory, but does it actually work in practice? For some products, this is a no brainer, especially with bigger purchases. Always pay more for good home renovations, a decent vehicle, maybe a computer if you need it for work. Now, when I say “always pay more,” I’m not suggesting you have to pay for the most expensive brand on the market. However, anytime you go with the cheapest option for something like a new roof or a new laptop, you can expect to be shopping for a replacement sooner than you’d like. My issue with the Buy It for Life idea is that it doesn’t stop at bigticket items. There’s an expensive option for every type of purchase, and that isn’t always necessary. I bought a cheap sleeping bag in a pinch 15 years ago and it’s still holding up just fine; I own a few second-hand tools that cost very little and still work great; I’ve had friends pick up roadside couches that have then stayed with them for years. The point is, if you see yourself as part of a movement and get too enamored with buying expensive things, I guarantee you’ll spend
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unnecessarily. You’ll start paying more for accessories you don’t actually need, like coffee makers that also toast your bread and salt shakers made of crystal. Sure, you’ll have a durable salt shaker, but you might not be able to afford the salt that goes in it. Are some smaller items worth the extra money? Absolutely. Durable jackets, sturdy mattresses, quality knives and dozens of other household items can make great one-time buys that will save you money in the long run. If you know you’re going to use something forever, go ahead and spend a little extra. That said, I would encourage you to think long and hard before handing over your cash. Don’t make big purchases if you’re about to move, and don’t buy something you don’t actually need. A good, expensive cooler might last forever, but what’s the point if it’s never going to leave your garage? Those are my thoughts on the Buy It for Life concept. It’s important to buy quality products, but it’s just as important to avoid overspending. Keep shopping smart and thanks for writing in! Legal Disclaimer: Information presented is for educational purposes only and is not an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and, unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Be sure to first consult with a qualified financial adviser and/or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed herein. To submit a question to be answered in this column, please send it via email to Question@GoFarWithKovar.com or via USPS to Taylor Kovar, 415 S 1st St, Suite 300, Lufkin, TX 75901.
Living with children John Rosemond
It’s funny, sort of, the things some parents want to believe. An example concerns children who’ve developed fullblown “eating disorders” by age three.
“My child was exhibiting food intolerances as an infant!” a mother insisted to me after I had told an audience that picky eating was learned as opposed to some anomaly of the nerve endings in a child’s tongue or the tongue-tobrain connection, the bogus explanation for the equally bogus (as in, lacking scientific credibility) diagnosis of “sensory integration disorder.” “And?” I queried, anticipating what came next. “She can’t help it! It’s something she was born with!” The reasoning seems to be as follows: a) Infants sometimes display food “intolerances.” b) An infant is not smart enough to know when his parents are dancing to his tune. c) Therefore, an infant’s food intolerances have nothing to do with anything his parents have or have not done; they must be inborn. The more correct conclusion is that many parents do not appreciate how smart their kids are, even as infants. How could a five-month-old figure out how to make his parents dance to his tune? C’mon! My daughter was “intolerant” of certain foods as an infant. When my wife introduced purees, Amy would sometimes, upon experiencing a certain taste for the first time, screw up her face and push whatever it was out of her mouth with her tongue. Mushed squash? Yuk! Willie would simply scoop up the mush and push it back in, even if she had to gently pry Amy’s gums apart. Sometimes, one spoonful of mush would require
five or six attempts before it was all down Amy’s gullet. The message: You will eat what I give you. By age nine, Amy was eating raw sushi and loving it. I am convinced that most picky eating gets started before the child in question is one year old. As with the above mother, parents of pickers often tell me their kids were “intolerant” of certain foods from the very beginning. Yeah, well, so are most kids, probably. Parents either persist in accustoming the child’s palate to what is initially repulsive or they switch to another mush and then another and another in a hunt for what the child will “tolerate.” In no time at all, one has a food tyrant on their hands. The more general problem involves parents who, from day one, making pleasing their children a priority. That attempt turns the family upside down, inside out, and backwards. The all -but guaranteed outcome is miserable parents and a petulant, disrespectful, child, generically referred to as a “brat.” I have witnessed, on numerous occasions, parents turn that perverse state of affairs around, putting the brat in his rightful place. Inevitably, the former and now repentant brat’s sense of well -being visibly improves. Now under authority instead of in a position of pseudo-authority, he is more carefree, more resilient, less dramatic, and just a lot more pleasant to be around. Everyone wins! Families are great places when everyone knows their place and eats what is served. Family psychologist John Rosemond: johnrosemond.com, p arentguru.com. John Rosemond has worked with families, children, and parents since 1971 in the field of family psychology. In 1971, John earned his masters in psychology from Western Illinois University and was elected to the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society.
