The saying "You get what you pay for"

[Sustainer]

You know, I've just been wondering if we should stop using "you get what you pay for" as a saying. When a saying gets used a lot, it tends to become part of a culture-wide attitude. It seems like a lot of people try to apply it to infant feeding and diapering. Formula costs more than breastfeeding and disposable diapers cost more than cloth diapering. But formula is inferior to breastmilk, and guess which diapering system I think is better? I find myself saying "you get what you pay for" about electronics and things like that, but I'm starting to think I should stop saying it at all. What do you think?

(P.S. People seem to apply it to bedsharing vs. crib-sleeping, too. This philosophy probably affects a lot of AP techniques. Should we boycott this saying?)

ETA: I know that the attitude would still exist even if the saying went away, but it just seems like we're *contributing* to the attitude when we say it. Reinforcing it as a maxim. KWIM?

[rareimer]

good point. i think that's a big part of why older generations have a hard time understanding why people would *choose* to breastfeed...in their day, only poor people breastfed, if you could afford formula, it was kind of like a status symbol, and since it was "modern" and you paid for it, it was obviously better, right?

[polka hop]

*

[Persephone]

Hmm, I think though, that that saying is often true. I've seen it time and again in my own life. But I see what you're saying too. I don't think boycotting the saying will do much good, but if you don't believe it to be true, then of course don't say it. I know that I've had to work hard to get rid of the mentality that "used" means crappy quality or worn out. But with many new things, the phrase *is* true. I CERTAINLY wouldn't apply it to breastfeeding, though. I mean, anyone who can be bothered to do the research can see that breastmilk is superior to formula.

[Ione]

No need to abandon the saying "you get what you pay for"... just use the saying "if you want something done right, do it yourself" more often.

[Court]

Yeah, most things are way overpriced. There's a few things the saying could be true about, like wine for instance, but not always. For me, I usually think of the phrase in a figurative sense. Like how much time you invest into a relationship = what you'll get out of it. If you think of it like that maybe it could be applied to breastfeeding and cloth diapering. I think learning how to breastfeed, dealing w/ problems that arise, etc takes a lot more investment of one's time and energy as opposed to just buying a can off the shelf. The same w/ cd. I know for some bf is a breeze, but even for those people there can be a few bumps in the road (nursing strikes or whatever) to work through. I mean, esp. in America, there is a certain amount of dedication that is required. So, if you look at it that way, my son and I have definitely reaped the rewards - or gotten what I "paid" for.

[Sustainer]

Originally Posted by Persephone

Hmm, I think though, that that saying is often true. I've seen it time and again in my own life. But I see what you're saying too. I don't think boycotting the saying will do much good, but if you don't believe it to be true, then of course don't say it. I know that I've had to work hard to get rid of the mentality that "used" means crappy quality or worn out. But with many new things, the phrase *is* true. I CERTAINLY wouldn't apply it to breastfeeding, though. I mean, anyone who can be bothered to do the research can see that breastmilk is superior to formula.

I know that it is true for many things, but many people see things in black and white and think that if it's true at all, then it must be true for everything. Maybe it's important to just start prefacing it by saying things like "When it comes to __________ (stereos, whatever), you get what you pay for."

[rareimer]

Originally Posted by CourtneyandLogan

Yeah, most things are way overpriced. There's a few things the saying could be true about, like wine for instance, but not always. For me, I usually think of the phrase in a figurative sense. Like how much time you invest into a relationship = what you'll get out of it. If you think of it like that maybe it could be applied to breastfeeding and cloth diapering. I think learning how to breastfeed, dealing w/ problems that arise, etc takes a lot more investment of one's time and energy as opposed to just buying a can off the shelf. The same w/ cd. I know for some bf is a breeze, but even for those people there can be a few bumps in the road (nursing strikes or whatever) to work through. I mean, esp. in America, there is a certain amount of dedication that is required. So, if you look at it that way, my son and I have definitely reaped the rewards - or gotten what I "paid" for.

i like that way of looking at things.

[seven_lux]

I'm not sure.

I mean, people who buy formula will "get what they pay for" or at least for the most part their children will anyway.

They will get more ear infections, illnesses, sids, bowel & degestive problems, cancers, diabetes, arthritis, extra foul smelling diapers, problems with obesity, the list goes on.

Now there's some value for money!