Quality buying in the USA these days

       It's easier than I thought. And I used to call my old man cheap, but now that I am an old man, I now call him thrifty. He's been dead over 10 years, by the way.

            On the quality buying idea, be prepared to pay more for things that should last five or ten years, like can openers. There are many can openers around, as my example, but some are clearly better than others, and last longer, too. That is an obvious example of quality buying paying off in the long run.

            As a rule, the longer lasting things tend to be made in the USA, Germany, and Japan, but really it is the company who makes things that gets my attention. And the customer reviews are a big deal to me, now that I can get them on the Internet. Let me say this another way, the workers are pretty good, but the leaders I sometimes question.

            A father-in-law (also now deceased) who had been promoted up from the assembly line to management and who worked for Chevrolet in Detroit once commented to me that the present leaders at the time were running the Company into the ground (in his opinion), and he predicted it would take decades to catch up. It sure looks like it has, which is not always fair because maybe today's leaders have gotten the hint about how important quality is if you want to stay in business.

            Now one more example of quality comes to mind. Fifty years later I am still using a tool box/kit I purchased in the 1960's to do simple things like home repairs, even putting in a new wood stove this last weekend. Of course I have added to it over time, but that is probably just a personal hobby kind of thing. And of course I do the work both to save money, and also think I know the job is done OK.  That appeals to me.

            And last on pursuing quality, I always make sure of three things. First is when food shopping, use a list you brought with you (either written or in your mind); and don't food shop when you're hungry.  Second is actually doing a hard thing, like deciding what is important to you/me, like your/my objectives, and letting that decide your/my decisions. Third is just to shop around, which does take time, but the results are often amazing.

            An old expression comes to mind, here. It is easier to give advice than to live it, like follow your own advice.

            Last as examples, even I have three good quality can openers where I live, one made in the USA, one made in China, and one an old fashioned simple enough design made for the military in hard times. Now I am also using a magnetic induction rice cooker make in Japan, and if times get hard, will use the modern version of old fashioned German made saws to keep my wood stoves working OK.