Behind the Eight Ball

Buying the cheapest item often doesn’t pay.  I learned this lesson again today when the drain underneath the kitchen sink began to leak.  The problem was readily apparent.  The bolt holding the drain pipe to the sink had come undone.  I tried to screw it back on but the threads of either the bolt or attachment were stripped.  I called the plumber, and on first glance at the problem he said that the entire assembly including the bolt would have to be replaced.  The existing cheap assembly strips easily and cannot be repaired.  He had to remove it and install a new one.  Obviously, the cost of the repair far outweighed what the purchase of a quality part at the outset would have cost.  This falls into the category of cutting corners—not wanting to make the required investment in time, material, or money in the first place.  An adequate upfront investment is simply required to have the job done right.  Of necessity often the financially strapped find they must cut corners.  So, ironically, those who can least afford it eventually find themselves encumbered with additional and higher expenses.  This is a basic reason for a cruel truth: one has to be wealthy to afford poverty.

Print Page