167. How To Evaluate a Purchase or Brand: The Questions You Should Be Asking Before You Buy Anything

Is that brand actually worth it, or are you just paying for marketing? In this episode I walk through my full buy less, buy better framework — how I evaluate brand ROI, how to actually read a material composition label, and where I personally splurge versus save on everything from denim to bedding.

What I cover:

👉🏻 Why a higher price tag doesn't automatically mean higher quality - and the three questions to ask before buying anything

👉🏻 Brand breakdowns: Aritzia, Reformation, Levi's, AGOLDE, Quince, Everlane, and more

👉🏻 Material composition 101 - natural vs. synthetic fibers, where blends are fine, and what to never put on your skin

👉🏻 How to care for high quality pieces so they actually last (dry cleaning, fabric shavers, hang drying)

👉🏻 The high touch vs. low touch framework and exactly where I spend money and where I don't

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https://breakyourbudget.substack.com/p/your-personal-finance-starter-kit

BREAK YOUR BUDGET RESOURCES:

💸 Personal Finance Dashboard:

https://breakyourbudget.com/personal-finance-dashboard

💸 Basic Budgeting Template:

https://breakyourbudget.com/basic-budgeting-template

💸 FI/RE Template:

https://breakyourbudget.com/fire-template

💸 RENT VS. BUY CALCULATOR

https://breakyourbudget.com/rent-vs-buy-calculator

💳 Tools I Use:

Rakuten Cash Back: https://shorturl.at/w0PcH

SoFi HYSA: https://secure.money.com/pr/pa5344bfc4f2

Try Classpass: https://classpass.com/refer/UKLV6BN026

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💸 My ShopMy:

https://shopmy.us/shop/michelaallocca

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 — My buy less, buy better journey and what this episode is about

08:00 — Brand ROI: are you paying for quality or marketing?

11:00 — Aritzia breakdown — what's worth it and what isn't

16:00 — Reformation breakdown — the nuance of fit vs. material

19:00 — Levi's, AGOLDE, Citizens of Humanity, Quince, and Everlane

23:00 — Material composition 101 — natural fibers: cotton, linen, wool, cashmere, silk

29:00 — How to care for high quality pieces so they last

30:00 — Synthetics: where they're fine and where to avoid them

34:00 — Blends, ratios, and where you want 100% natural

38:00 — Where I splurge vs. save and the high touch low touch framework