Spend wisely.
As I endeavor to find ever-purer products for use on my person, home, family, and even pets, a major tension has become biting the bullet on the higher price the right products command. It feels better knowing I’m not being snowed, my confidence bolstered by EWG/SkinDeep and GoodGuide as non-denominational advisors.
As I recently trolled the baby section at Target, I found one of the most lauded “pure” brands the world has to offer. California Baby sunscreen. I literally exclaimed: “they have California Baby!” My wife said: “you’re acting like a nerd.” She was right, but the excitement in that Target aisle was palpable.
I lifted the tiny tube like a precious Fabergé egg. I caressed it – I’d never been this close before. It was like petting a unicorn. I prepared to gingerly place several tubes in the cart, certain that a red-vested assistant manager would appear at any moment and scorn “what’s that doing here?” and take it away. It then occurred to me to glance at the price. Roughly $20 for 3 ounces. I was sure it was a misprint. But my wife’s disapproving grimace – both at me and the price placard – confirmed my fears. I felt like I was ten years old and my mom had just issued the worst word in the English language in response to pleading and begging: “maybe.”
I’d pay to have a photo of the look on my face. In fact, it may be worth scouring the Target security footage to score an instant YouTube classic.
Here I had found a near-fabled pure product – in an actual store, no less – and it was so expensive you’d need a credit check to buy it. And I’m no coupon cutter. I live the “you get what you pay for,” “at least I’ll get miles,” “work hard, play hard” compensatory mantra of consumer spending.
But this was a new frontier. I looked at my wife with, I’m sure, a pathetic expression of panic. “Should I get it?” I muttered. She shrugged: “If it’s that important to you.”
Mind you, she has been a willing passenger on my march to purity, but more tolerated it than wholly endorsed it. As much as I believe that you do get what you pay for, this moment caused a micro-epiphany, right there in Target.
I won’t even ponder “the meaning of life” in a blog. Please. But there’s no question that one cause worth investing in is the health of one’s family. The nuance can be debated, but what’s that they say about your health?…
My mind reeling, I made my decision – a purchase decision so involved it rivaled that of my first house – I did not buy the blasted sunscreen. $20 for 3 ounces?
But my brush with the most expensive semi-liquid known to man has caused me to loosen up and keep in perspective the fact that, when it comes to what’s best for my kids, it’s simply worth spending more.
Oh yeah… we’re currently enjoying a tube of Neutrogena Pure & Free – a bargain at about $11 for 3 ounces (purchased at Toys R Us).
I heard on NPR that hours before the Tsunami hit Thailand, various animals were seen running away from the shore, uphill. The NPR guest (sorry I don’t have his name) explained that in chaos theories explaining “the ways of the world” this type of phenomena is uncomfortable because it can’t be explained by logic. These animals are responding purely to an instinct.
