When Being Cheap Costs More
The hidden cost of trying to save money with shortcuts.
I’m sure we can all recall—and relate to—a time where we purchased something that felt like a good deal, only to find that it ultimately ended up costing us more.
Maybe that meant buying a similar item again (like clothing or shoes) after a short period of time, or investing extra energy to “fix” the situation. Sometimes, the real cost isn’t even more money—but time.
This weekend, I had a humbling and helpful reminder of that.
The $10 Nails
I bought a set of $10 press-on nails (with glue, of course—basically super glue).
The design was so cute: pointed nails with French tips, and some had small pearl embellishments. I had recently treated myself to a pedicure, so when I saw these nails in the store, I figured I’d save money and time by doing it myself!
Plus, one of my very dear friends had raved about the brand.
Here’s the thing...
They stuck too well. Or maybe I used too much glue. Probably both, to be honest.
I haven’t had fake nails since my engagement photos (which felt too long), and then again for my wedding back in 2023 (which I liked for the day overall, though I’ve never been keen on long or fake nails for myself).
But hey, I thought I’d give it another try. It didn’t seem like I had much to lose.
Until I Did
Friday evening, I put the press-ons on and they seemed fine.
Saturday morning, I got ready to go to breakfast and the farmers market. I tried to put on jeans and struggled with the zipper. The nails felt so foreign to me.
For the sake of ease, I opted for comfy pants instead.
Not even 24 hours after application, after we’re back from running errands, I decided I couldn’t stand the nails any longer.
Removal Begins (and Seems to Never End)
The instructions said to soak in soapy water—maybe even some olive oil—for 10–15 minutes, so I did.
20 minutes passed. The nails weren’t lifting.
I tried:
Cuticle oil (as the instructions suggested)
Even longer soaking
Professional grade nail scissors
Acetone with Cotton Pads wrapped with Tinfoil
Olive oil and hands wrapped with hot towels o add steam
I’m slightly embarrassed to admit that, collectively, it took me nearly five hours to remove the nails—and I still don’t have all of the fake nail off both of my thumbs.
The Real Annoyance
I found myself frustrated, thinking:
“Maybe I should have just treated myself to a trip to the nail salon and had them professionally done.”
Then I reflected:
“Do I even value or care if my nails are done?”
Honestly, for me, the answer is nearly always no.
While I love a good pedicure from time to time, I’m indifferent about manicures. They often just aren’t a priority for me.
Additionally:
Are long, pointed nails even “me”?
Who am I trying to impress with these?
No one came to mind.
Time: The Most Expensive Part
I thought about the time—those five hours I spent trying to resolve what started as a “cheap” choice.
Time really is our greatest commodity.
I would have rather spent that time:
Reading
Working on my current LEGO set
Playing video games
Literally anything else
...than trying to pry these things off (and damaging my nails in the process, which I really tried to avoid—but it eventually seemed unavoidable).
The Bigger Takeaway
It reminded me of how costly it can be when we choose to be cheap.
It comes at a cost:
Buying the item again due to quality, fit, and/or longevity
Fixing a bad haircut
Re-doing or hiring someone to fix failed DIY project or home renovation
The list goes on, and on.
A Deeper Reflection
As annoying as the whole ordeal was, it turned into a surprisingly profound realization —one that mirrors what I’ve been reading and listening to lately in books and podcasts.
There’s this recurring theme:
Sometimes it costs more to buy cheaply than to invest in quality.
Living and Spending with Intention
I’m learning to:
Channeling money as a tool
Understand that being good with money doesn’t always mean spending the least
The importance and power behind being mindful with money
When I told someone about the nail situation, they shared a story that led me to a Google search —which reminded me of similar sentiment I’ve discussed with others before:
While buying cheap may seem smart upfront, it can cost you more in the long run.
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“The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money.
Take boots, for example. He earned thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances. A really good pair of leather boots cost fifty dollars. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about ten dollars.
Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles.
But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots that'd still be keeping his feet dry in ten years' time, while the poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet.
This was the Captain Samuel Vimes 'Boots' theory of socioeconomic unfairness.”
― Terry Pratchett, Men at Arms: The Play
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Let me know in the comments if you've ever had a similar "cheap decision" turn out to be more expensive than expected. I'd love to hear your story.
