Skinting vs splurging, which do you do?

I buy the good quality stuff if it's on sale where possible.

My competition wear is seriously expensive - £500 boots, £400 jacket, £200 breeches (at least 3 or 4 pairs and also have 4 pairs for everyday) shirts around £50 each, and hat £250.
But i've had cheaper stuff, but where I use it sooo much - Away shows and working with horses, only the expensive stuff lasts so it works out in value over time.

Rugs, i'd love to be able to fork out for weatherbeeta everytime but i've recently bought some cheapies which have actually been very good quality! So sticking with them for now.

Tack is stubben and so worth the money.

But i compete a lot too so am more of a all the gear and no idea jobby :-)
 
Fueledbyaisling said:
Thought this may be an interesting topic for the current economic conditions!:rolleyes: I myself don't own a horse so don't have that much of an input here but I am guilty of skinting money as much as possible! But I've started to think maybe the more expensive products would be better in the long run?

For instance; my short ankel boots were €30, chaps around €15, breeches €45. The only reason these items were chosen were due to being the cheapest in the shop, I could afford to dash out the extra 20-50 but I think I'm just really stingy :o. The only Items I've kind of 'splurged' on are my body protector which was around €160, hat €90 and gloves €30. The items which I splurged on are the only recognisable/popular brands.

So what Items/brands do you tend to splurge or skint on (yourself or your horse)? I'm in need of new everyday chaps and debating with myself whether I should go and buy a pair of €25 chaps or splurge on a pair of pretty ariat ones for €120.
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I live in Toggi boots - ride, muck out, work etc as they are so comfortable esp with bad joints. Will always buy new (all be it from Ebay)
Other than that all clothes are worn til they die.

Horse is unrugged and barefoot. OH's father is farrier but would pay out on that if he wasn't having seen cheaper shoddier work! May be good enough but it's not the best.
I'd splurge on a saddle to fit, the rest of the kit is put together as we have a tack shop amount of old bits and bobs hanging around!

BP I ought to get for breaking youngster, along with new hat (as current one was my grans :/ )

There's certain things I splurge on if it will be cheaper in the long run (quality) or is necessary to make my girl's life easier!

Pan
 
Skinting - rugs (albeit new) , jods (especially for the kids). Boots for kids also eBay (often outgrown before had much wear). Bits and pieces like lungeing kit etc - these are all from eBay whenever I can find them. And I keep an eye out for sales. Our local tackshop has some fabulous sales now and then.

Luckily all barefoot so saves shoeing costs.

I've also hardly bought any non-horsey clothes since being back with horses. eBay will become my bestest friend in that respect, I think!!

Splurge - body protectors, hats. Won't skimp on safety. Saddles(latest cost nearly as much as 'oss but it's a good fit).
 
I don't know really, I'd guess mid range for most things - 150 aud for everyday bridles, about 300. Paid 2300 aud for one saddle, 3000 for my baby girl's, which I do accept is splurging a bit.
for me it's competition costs that are crippling (Ah, Para-eq humor :p) so there are areas I need to save on, but often this is done by buying mre expensive products that are built to last.
 
On the important things - his tack, my hat - I splurge . . . he has an extensive rug wardrobe so haven't had to buy any for a while (although I do have a bunch that now need repairing thanks to some serial rug rippers in his field). Jods . . . I have everyday ones (and I refuse to spend £££££ on those) and then smart ones that I spend a little more on and take very good care of.

So . . . he has a nice, well-fitted leather saddle and two nice leather bridles - as well as a sheepskin lunge roller and leather side-reins - all of which I keep clean, soft and well-maintained. I have a nice Champion hat which I keep clean, deodorized and safe (as in, never within reach of GreyDonk who would love to play football with it). I "splurge" on having his saddle checked twice a year at least, having his back done regularly and having a reputable farrier take care of his (awful) feet. I feed him good quality hard feed/balancer to ensure he gets the best nutrition and am picky about his grazing (manage/fertilize/rotate his field).

I have the scruffiest chaps you've ever seen, one pair of boots for both mucking out and riding (they stink), I bed him on straw (although now I probably wouldn't ever go back to anything else - I love straw beds), I ration my lessons to once a month, I use regular hair conditioner on his tail (cheaper than mane and tail spray), I don't buy expensive horsey shampoos any more (he's grey so is always dirty) but use warm water and lots more elbow grease, I don't buy treats for him nor does he get apples and carrots - he ought to get all the nutrition he needs from his feed, hay and grazing.

P
 
I guess I mainly splurge when it comes to stuff for horse and me as I like quality and like it to perform and last, but am open to the odd bargain (lidl saddle cloth and summer sheets are great, and love my dublin neoprene wellies) :)
 
I wear the expensive stuff everyday cos then at least you are using it. If I spent £120 on a pair of breeches and hardly wore them they'd be a waste :) if I'm wearing them lots they are good value :) I don't keep anything for "best" :0
 
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