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“Cheap as chips”?

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Hi all I was out and about today- had to go to the other side of the city, a particular errand. It’s an area where I lived when I first left my parents’ home, incredibly 40 years ago this year! I shared a house with 3 other young women. It’s still there- I took a photo.
Thought I would check out clothes shops there- one thrift store, one outlet store of a fancy brand called Loobie’s Story, and one other fairly high end boutique.
In the latter I was taken by a tulle skirt, just because my own black tiered tulle skirt is way too big for me now around the middle- it falls down
The 2 women in the boutique were pleasant enough though one of them had that sort of snooty vibe I felt? (Anyone know what I mean, in boutiques? Like are you dressed well enough to even be in there?)
Anyway, in our culture we have this term, “cheap as chips”. I think it comes from fish and chips so originally a British expression? Or like a tub of hot chips, which you call fries in North America?
So I tried it on- it fit but was quite long, and I was not at all sure it would meet #30 wears easily. And she said “Well it’s cheap as chips too- $175!”
I don’t think that’s cheap as chips!
I was wondering earlier about doing a thread about budget and upper limits people are willing to pay. I like to get many items on sale since I don’t want to have a CPW above $5 after my #30 wears so that means not over $150. Some of my clothes are down to under $1 per wear- about 40 of my 146 items. A few are thrifted but mostly were new on sale.
I was intrigued by I think it was Roberta (can’t find the comment on someone else’s thread) having an upper limit of $100? And LJP “refusing to pay” over $100 for jeans? And Stagiare Fash having a usual upper limit of $100 except for the occasional shoes?
My most expensive top was $218- good buy 50 wears so far- and pants $200, dress $203. 6 pairs out of 37 pairs shoes are $200 or above.
No one needs to reveal their budgets I am just intrigued by her comment!
The skirt is polyester with an elastic waist, one size. I did not buy it.
Thoughts?

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Shopping

54 replies

Latest reply was from Jenni NZ

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Well, I love the skirt! The pattern is beautiful. I'd wear it in a flash.

"Cheap as chips" is relative. If you have a high budget and can afford to spend a lot on clothes, then maybe $175 would seem inexpensive. Maybe $175 is inexpensive relative to the usual price of items in that boutique. Maybe it is a good price for that label or designer. Or maybe the SA was just pressuring you to buy. Who knows?

I don't really set an upper limit per item. What I spend depends on my income and budget at the time, how much I need and want that specific item, how much wear I think I will get from it, how I perceive the item's quality and its emotional value to me. I have spent upwards of $400 on specific items or sets (boots, a beautiful jacket, a suit) ...all the way down to $10 for second hand or super-discounted items.

I personally wouldn't consider $175 for a skirt "cheap." "Cheap" for me would be under $50 for a skirt. By which I mean, for my personal budget at the moment, even if the item turned out to be a mistake, I wouldn't feel too annoyed with myself if I paid that much or less. (Obviously, I try to avoid the mistakes but they do happen). Looked at another way -- if I wanted to experiment with a new cut or colour or style, if I got the skirt at under $50, I would consider that money reasonably well spent, even if it turned out I didn't much care for the new item and passed it on the next year.

I considered the tulle skirt I got on sale under $100 CAD to be relatively inexpensive for what it was because it had an unusual pattern, cut, and colours -- all more to my taste than the usual tulle skirts I had seen.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Well your skirt was really special Suz! And under $100 is a lot better to my mind than $175. I agree that under $50 would feel a lot more reasonable for an experiment. It was very pretty…

Bijou

Veteran

Jenni, that is a pretty skirt. I know exactly what you mean about the snooty vibe which was captured well in an Absolutely Fabulous episode:

Ab Fab You only work in a shop! - YouTube

I don't have specific cut off points when it comes to buying clothes. Although I will spend more on quality shoes (boots are my weakness), bags, scarves and belts (I have them forever) and more robust clothing (such as coats, blazers etc).

I am most thrifty when buying:
- underwear - always my favourite brand but purchased on sale, which is mainly 50% off (Black Friday sale) or at least 30% off
- gear - bought from Unilqo and only worn exercising
- tops, t-shirts and knits - I am hard on these and don't like being too precious - so whilst I may have a few special tops or knits, most are rather basic and are support acts for my statement items.

I like waiting for things to go on sale and I am happy to buy quality second hand items - so that helps save money too. However, I have a few favourite local stores where I pay full price for items that I love because I also am mindful that I want these businesses to succeed. The sales assistants there are delightful and treat their customers with respect and are never pushy.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

I was raised on sales ONLY - mother would wake us at 5am for Boxing Day Sales (26th December was the UK version of Black Friday) & for Sunday car boot sales (does this culture exist elsewhere? It's a mobile yard sale - people fill their cars with stuff to sell then set it up on a field, straight from their trunk on blankets, folding tables & rail racks!)

My problem was that I just wouldn't wear clothes that were 'off' somehow, which is common in sales - e.g. gaping necklines, too small sizes, itchy fabrics. Complaints would fall on deaf ears as me being 'too fussy', & mum would chide me for 'wasting' money (I told her I'd gladly save up the £100+ she'd spend on a sale clothing mound for just 1-2 pieces instead, but it just didn't compute for her). The frustrating truth was I just couldn't get through the amount of clothes she was buying me because I wasn't particularly hard on them before I'd outgrow them!

All this to say the 'sale' mentality is hard to shake - so a skirt for that much sounds like a lot! But I realise now that's because it would likely be a statement for me (not essential or basic), so it would have high CPW anyway.

These days, I'm finally 'allowing' myself to spend money on things that tick MY boxes. I felt guilty about my 8 Zara items last Sept - particularly the long chocolate puffer vest. £60 - for fast fashion! But the more I thought about it, the more I realised it was a HEWI (ventilated for a subtropical winter but still practical - hood, pockets etc). Buying it earlier in the season ensured that I wouldn't have to 'make do' with the wrong size either.

I agree with @Suz that it's all very relative, & dependent on income at the time! I've spent £100-£200 on a non neutral, hooded & belted wool coat. Yet, I've been stalking a chocolate brown version for £500 for YEARS & have yet to pull the trigger, because I've never spent that much on a coat before. Is the CPW worth it? Which is ironic, since my wedding dresses cost more, with lower CPW!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Well yes my wedding dress cost the most I have ever spent- in 1986, $900 I think? But looking at it now, I am still married after 36 years and I did feel like a fairy princess all day. I think it was worth it. What was a bit more annoying back then was that I had seen a really pretty one first off in a bridal shop, for a lot, but less than $900, looked around a lot and decided to have one custom made which ended up costing quite a lot more. I think it was the trap of possibly having seen the right one straight off but thinking you might find better out there… probably that first one would have been very good!
I understand what your mother did. Our situation was a bit different but my parents were still extremely careful about money. When it was a holiday once a year though Dad seemed to go a bit crazy on spending , not on large items but something like buying us (myself and sister) icecreams really easily, and we tried to say well if you didn’t buy so many on holiday we could have a few more during the year, that also didn’t seem to compute with him!
It is hard to get over guilt, I totally understand, but your Zara purchases sound really worthwhile.
I still think $175 is a lot for a pretty skirt which is only made of polyester and has an elastic waist, it just didn’t seem to need much “design”. The designer is actually originally a shoe designer, pretty good, and did a few clothing designs to help her customers to have clothes that suited the shoes.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

And to Bijou, thank you for that! I do realise it is not easy to be a shop assistant and we have some on the forum but I certainly don’t think they (eg the lovely Slimcat) would give that vibe. The woman in the Loobie’s Story outlet wasn’t like that at all (I know you have your lovely Loobie’s Story denim jacket), she was very friendly and helpful and chatty.
Some of them unfortunately remind me of the one in Pretty Woman who wouldn’t serve Julia Roberts’ character.

Star

Veteran

I don't like to pay a lot for clothes any more since I discovered the thrift shops where I live. I get amazing clothes for very little. So cannot really comment on that. What I want to say is I think the Sales Person was applying a psychological sales trick on you. You will either believer her that it is cheap as chips or you will feel a bit embarrassed that you think it is pricey and buy it because you don't want too look like a 'cheap-skate' (A South African saying for one who does not like to spend to much money). Good that you have your own standards and confidence. About your tulle skirt - is the waistline elasticized or with a zipper?

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Elastic waist! No zipper! That’s why I didn’t feel there was that much design involved! Just a pretty fabric, what did she ( the designer) have to do?

Star

Veteran

I mean your tulle skirt which is now too big on the waist? Ha - agree with your comment though.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

And yes, we use the term “cheapskate” in this culture too. In fact I have claimed to be the forum’s resident tightwad in the past, which I think is the same thing. I have got overall very good at resisting SAs because I absolutely know how much effort I put into my wardrobe and thus how likely I am to wear something. And unless they know me well, which very few of them do, maybe only one in my favourite small boutique nearer home, they won’t have any idea of that. So I wasn’t going to let her play a psychological trick on me but just wondered if in fact a lot of women would very happily spend a lot more than me or think $175 was cheap for a pretty skirt I would hardly wear?

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Oh, the too big one has a zipper and thicker corduroy fabric in a panel at the top. I have put it aside in case it could be altered but I don’t think it will be easy and I am quite sad about that.

anchie

Veteran

Just checked my tracking app for price ranges. I have only few items in 200-300 Euro range and they are all winter coats. In category 150-200 are few blazers, boots, bags and trenchcoats. In 100-150 range ther are more blazers, shoes and couple of sweaters. Bulk of my wardrobe is in 50-100 range, while I also have a lot in 25-50 range. I don’t have that much in less then 25 category, mostly loungewear. I prefer shopping sales and I rarely pay full price for something, mostly in a cheaper stores like Zara.
Skirt is beautiful, but on the expensive side, don’t think I ever paid that much for a skirt.

jussie

Veteran

I think most people would agree with you that $175 is a lot for 100% poly with an elastic waist.
Sounds like a bit of a sales tactic to be honest, I mean it was probably cheap for that particular brand, but not great value as a garment.
If it was a nicer fabric with a zipper I wouldn’t mind $175 too much. But I’d never refer to it as cheap.
Much of my clothing is quite cheap, with a few more expensive items here and there. But the expensive ones need to be something I know will be worn a lot, and for a long time.

Olive Green

Veteran

I think you have a utilitarian mindset on pricing and wears, and I applaud it!

Anonymous

Well our chips are what Brits call "crisps" which is what I always picture with that phrase.
I'd consider $175 high for a poly skirt, though silk would be a different story. I'm guessing that was a sales tactic!
Most of my things are under $100, but it's not a set in stone number. I factor in PUPY (potential uses per year), if it's just right for my style, climate, lifestyle, and my other spending priorities. Plus my new tracking will certainly influence what I buy, even though I'm not looking at CPW per se. It's more important to me to decide whether a thing is worth buying at all.

Tanya

Veteran

It is a lovely skirt.

As Suz says, it is all relative. And as Bijou wrote, it really depends on the type of garment. I would pay quite a bit (relatively for me) for jackets/suits, work dresses, shoes, coats, some jeans (premium denim). I don't like paying much for knitwear, knitted tops and most tops in general.

I too like to get items on sales, but will get things full price if/when needed. What I mostly do is "stalk" items, identify them when they are new and full price, and watch them until/if they get reduced to price that is acceptable to me and I can afford. I can do that because it is rare that I need something at the exact moment. For example, I really love the brand Veronica Beard, especially their jackets, which can be quite pricey, $600-700 these days. I would never pay that price. However, at the end of the season, they get marked down as much as 70%, sometimes even more, which can bring them to $200 or under price range which is an acceptable price for a jacket for me, and a typical price for brands like Banana Republic. The waiting game is random, some things end up surviving in my size until deep sales, the others do not. If I like/need something so much that the thought of it being gone really bothers me, then I consider buying it earlier/at a higher price, but even then look for at least for 25% or similar temporary promo. I also study the sale/promo patterns for brands/stores I like the most. For example, I never buy anything full price at J. Crew as the next sale/promo is at most a couple of weeks away.

April

Veteran

"Cheap as chips" is most definitely a relative thing, so if the SA is surrounded all day by very expensive pricetags, her setpoint for cheap has shifted upward.

There is a consignment boutique in my town that really likes couture labels. The first time I consigned there, I brought items that I considered high end. They were all pristine and were all the most expensive things I'd ever purchased, but they weren't couture. The owner was happy to have them but she startled me by calling them "bridge lines." I didn't have a clue what a bridge line was but now I know - it's the bridge between cheap as chips and nosebleed.

The wedding dress thing is fascinating to me. I've had two weddings, tiny and tinier, and for both I wore something off the rack that was occasion-appropriate but quite inexpensive. I let go the first outfit when I got divorced and still have the second outfit in a box. Whereas every one of my female friends spent a fortune on her gown and then on preserving it after the big day. No judgment, just interesting how little "the dress" meant to me, both at age 25 and again at age 48. I am clearly the extreme minority in this regard.

Dee

Veteran

Interesting read, I just posted on another thread about how one analyst thought Nordstrom was not successful in Canada because the company overestimated how rich Canadians were and how much they were willing to spend on luxury goods. Apparently there just aren’t enough of us out there for them to make a profit here.

$175 for a skirt is definitely not cheap to me, so I guess I’m one of reasons Nordstroms couldn’t make it here. Lol.

I too get very intimated going into high priced boutiques, love Bijou’s link to the Absolutely Fabulous video.

JamC

Veteran

Not Cheap as Chips in my opinion! For that price I would want something more… more versatile, more special, more obvious design elements. A sales person using that term would strike a negative chord with me as it seems to have with you. I would walk away and continue the search for a replacement skirt you fall in love with…then the CPW will work out for you.

Irina

Veteran

Jenni, are we talking NZ $$$ or US? In any case, unlikely I would pay that much for a poly skirt. If you enjoy wearing tule skirts, can you alter the one you have?
i mostly buy everything on sale. It’s a waiting game and often I miss on a particular item. I think this year was the first time I paid a full price for a pair of wool pants and jeans from COS. This is a part of my new strategy “buy less but better “. Better is not necessary in quality but in how it fills a need and works for my wardrobe. The pants are now the most expensive bottoms in my wardrobe at almost $200 Can including tax.

I increased my spending limit for shoes after my injury and it is now roughly up to $200. Currently, I have two pairs of sneakers in this price range.

Funny, my wedding dress was made by an eager but inexperienced friend and I had to do the final adjustments by hand a few days before the wedding. It was 38 years ago. I thought I would do better the second time around but still waiting for this to happen.

Liz

Veteran

Last year, Target carried some t-shirts that were genuinely "cheap as chips." At $5 they were literally the same price as a gourmet bag of potato chips (crisps). But these t-shirts happened to be in a cut that was flattering for me, the right length, the right colors, and my sweet spot between being thin enough to drape well but not sheer or clinging. I stocked up.

THAT is "cheap as chips." (Though of course it raises ethical questions about how a t-shirt can be the same price as a bag of chips.)

kkards

Veteran

Well, there is a boutique in my neighborhood that I refuse to shop on because they make me feel unwelcome and unworthy. And the thing is, while some of what they sell is above my comfort zone, much of it is not. On the other hand there is another shop around the corner that carries much higher end product that I shop at only during the summer sale and they always make me feel welcome and appreciated.

Regarding how much I’m willing to pay from something. I don’t have set limits, but I do have categories I’m willing to spend more on. Footwear, jeans and outerwear are categories I’m willing and open to spending more because I know that for me they are a years long commitment and are cornerstones of my style. Dresses and skirts on the other hand are sometimes items for me, and so I spend as little as possible on these. Blazers used to be an other place I would feel comfortable spending more, but post pandemic I wear them so infrequently that I’m not going to spend a lot there. Sweaters and knitwear fall somewhere in between
I also want to say that i think about and manage value per item differently than you do. Where you want to get equal value for every item, I look to get an average value from a category. So, for example instead of getting 30 wears from every pair of denim I own. I am ok with getting 60 wears from 1 piece, 40 from another, and 10 from a 3rd. It stems from different philosophy’s different retailers I have worked for over their years. One was interested in the overall profit of a collection of products and saw investments in inventory that was not productive as lost opportunity cost. This company made pricing decisions etc based on an overage markup. A different one views each item as needing to pull its own weight and that each item in a category needs to be equally profitable (this is an over simplification, but I’ve already written a long drawn out post). Anyway, they are both valid and in fact both of these companies are recognized as leaders in there categories and both are growing and thriving.

sorry I rambled, but I hope at least addressed the topic

cjh

(website)

Veteran

Hi, interesting discussion. Jenni, I would vie with you for “cheapest” fashion spender here. Just my reaction to the spending limit portion, I thought hard about whether I have ever spent more than $100 on anything but shoes, and only running shoes, that is. I seriously doubt that I have.

Even coats are purchased at TJMaxx or on clearance sales, so don’t ever run more than $60-80. I have almost always had spending limits in mind when I shopped. Just for some older examples, and must qualify by saying as the years and inflation increase, so do my limits, I would definitely not spend more than $15 on a top or blouse, and a tee had to be under $12. Skirts $20, dresses $60, jeans or pants $35, shoes maybe $35-50. Probably today the ranges would be from $25-$50 for pants, tops or sweaters, $80 or $90 for a dress. Yes, I am super cheap. Super crazy cheap.

Granted, my wedding dress was back in 1976, but it was only $65 and free alterations by my mom. I used to make all my dresses, tops and jackets, and non-jeans pants, which cost me less than ready to wear in those days.

Okay, I’ll stop there.

Helena

Veteran

Another tightwad reporting for duty

I would just add for me it's not just relative to my personal finances (which of course it is) but also relative to the average cost for that quality. So for example, if I know I can get jeans from Gap that will last 30+ wears and fit well for $80, I seriously question paying $150 for jeans ... Because what am I paying for? Maybe it's more ethically produced in which case I might raise my budget. On the other hand, maybe it's heavily marketed or seen as a more elite brand in which case no thanks. So the poly skirt for 150 would definitely not qualify as cheap to me. But as with all things YMMV!

Irina

Veteran

Helena, I think with jeans it is all about the cut. I had a few high end jeans bought on sale, they were from a same brand and that model fit me. Other, more expensive or on sale, didn’t. So, if Gap works for you - awesome! Never worked for me but I bought some from Massimo Dutti a few years back for $50 on sale. This year, their styles don’t work for me. I bought my first ever COS jeans that miraculously fit, never before their jeans fit me. And I paid $130 plus tax, a full price because I just tired of trying so many jeans. Would I pay $300 for a good fitted pair of jeans? No. But I know others that would. And maybe they will have only one or two pair of jeans.

kkards

Veteran

Food for thought-most retailers that will do some reverse engineering of products-so if they know the targeted customer will only spend $X on jeans, they will figure out how to make jeans for that. Which is what leads to situations of chasing lower wage workers and places where manufacturing has less regulations that would add costs.

CarolS

Veteran

Another tightwad here. I started my career in retail where I was able to buy good quality "bridge brands" (just learned that term on the forum today) for 40% off (even on sale). And I've never really adapted to paying full price.

I am willing to spend more on my "practical" shoes than anything else -- sneakers, Blundstones, etc - because I can't compromise on foot comfort if I want to do any kind of walking.

MANY years ago now I splurged on a couple of very expensive suits. -- which for me meant I probably spent close to $500 on each suit -- over 15 yers ago.

I was at a weight that felt good, I was making decent money, and I worked in an environment where they would get lots of use, so it seemed like a good idea at the time...

Well, the damn things barely got worn. In fact, I think one got worn maybe three times and one might never have been worn at all. My place of employment had gotten very toxic, and I was one of many managers who was suddenly and without cause "disappeared". (One former colleague tried calling me several months later, not knowing I was long gone!)

After that I was in no rush to jump back into the corporate soup, and by the time I did, I had to admit I was unlikely to ever fit those suits again -- either physically or mentally!

So, today I stick to sale racks and off price for the most part, and am delving a bit into the possibilities of thrifting.

Helena

Veteran

Irina completely agree!! I'm like that with shoes. What used to be good enough for me no longer is, and I will pay more for the comfort factor. Bottom line: if something doesn't work for someone, it's not a deal, no matter how cheap is was!

Runcarla

Veteran

Team budget fashionista here! - and $175 for a poly skirt is not cheap as chips - in any country’s currency!

I tend to go without, and shop hard to get a ‘decent price’ for the things I want. I tend to pay higher prices for underwear, footwear, and outerwear. I just picked up a pair of white jeans after being without any in my closet since summer 2022. They are Lucky Brand in a looser cropped ‘Mom jean’ cut that fit me perfectly. 99% cotton, 1% Lycra. Not made in China. Label says S/S 2022. Original asking price $99 CAD and being sold at Winners for $39.99 (+ taxes at 13%). On my shopping list. I consider these a ‘good deal’. Knowing I wore my last pair of white jeans 68 times, and will do likewise with these, I should amortize them to under $1 CPW in their lifetime.

I go through this kind of evaluation/thought process with just about everything I buy!

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