The $32 Mascara & The Sonic Toothbrush

Things that make us say, "Hmmmm." Next up: Value. What does that even mean? Does it mean quantity? "Value-size" products are larger. Does it mean quality? Maybe. I have seen "New package, same great taste!", which presumably refers to the contents and not to the box itself. When I hear, "It's too expensive", I wonder. If I can buy even more so-so tasting cereal, or ineffective body lotion with my hard-earned money, is that value? If the cosmetology student will cut my hair for cheap, is that value? I'm not talking economic necessity, but purchasing marginally desirable products or services and labeling that transaction "value", based solely on the amount of money spent. Enter the thirty-two-dollar mascara and the sonic toothbrush. For years, I resigned myself to having thin lashes and trying this and that mascara to help "bring forward" my small eyes. The only time I've had a really good mascara experience was when a cosmetics rep did my eyes, and who could hope to replicate that at home? So, I continued to shell out ten dollars or so for mascara that didn't really do what I want it to, but with no hope of better quality results at home, I didn't want to pony up any more.

Then...I had an epiphany. A light-lashed friend suddenly was sporting a thick, black fringe around each eye. "Did you notice my mascara?" she asked. As a matter of fact, I had, and when I realized she had applied it herself, I knew I had to have some. "It's thirty-two dollars, which is ridiculous," she continued. Maybe, but I didn't care. Here was a product that did exactly what I wanted it to do. Not a cent of that thirty-two dollars would be wasted. I would shift some things in the budget and finally get value.

I had heard a trusted resource singing the praises of his sonic toothbrush, but I didn't really pay attention. I used chew on my toothbrushes, so each one lasted about a month, and spending more money on chew toys didn't make sense. Then, I won a sonic toothbrush at the dentist's office. After three uses, I understood what the fuss was about. My teeth felt dentist's-office clean and polished. I couldn't chew on a vibrating toothbrush anyway, and it used less toothpaste (put a big glob of toothpaste on a sonic toothbrush, turn it on and see what happens). "We have got to get a toothbrush head for each one of us," I told my husband. "This thing is great!" Would I have ever spent ninety-some dollars on a toothbrush? No, because I didn't understand its value. Here was another, hitherto unknown, product that did exactly what I wanted it to do. If I had purchased the toothbrush myself, I would have recovered my investment within a year.

There is a difference between spending money and purchasing results. I sometimes choose to just spend money (kitchen tablecloth) and sometimes choose to purchase results (mascara). But I don't confuse one for the other, and I know when I'm getting value and when I'm choosing to set value aside. At the very least...I feel smarter!