Hello lunaticfringe: My mother used to call it having a champagne appetite on a beer income. Yes, I've always preferred to have quality-made products. I have always tried to avoid buying things made cheaply in China & various third-world countries. I prefer to buy things made well in the U.S.A., Canada or Europe. I'll buy hand-crafted items whenever possible. These sorts of things always cost more. I don't shop at Walmart! Also, for many years, I bought many things I didn't need trying to fill the void I felt within. I cringe to think of all of the money I wasted...

Having said that, however, my spouse & I are now both retired. So we're on a fixed income. As a result, I've now made he commitment to not spend any money I don't really need to spend. Realistically, I have everything I need & more. So, I've shut off the spigot, so to speak... no more unnecessary spending! Still... I can't help but look admiringly at all of the fancy new autos on the streets & imagine what it would be like to go out & buy one. (My spouse has a car that's a few years old now. I don't drive anymore...)