Is spending more ever considered frugal living?

Yes, it isn't always frugal to buy the cheapest item because it might fall apart.  An example might be toys at the dollar store.  My MIL always used to buy my kids toys there but they'd fall apart the very first day the kids had them.  I finally convinced her that even though they cost more, well made toys are a better purchase.  They would last for years instead of a day.  Plus, when you were done with them they can be re-sold at a yard sale.  The same is true for me with shoes.  My feet hurt so badly if I buy cheap shoes without support.  If I buy good shoes, I can keep them for several years and my feet won't hurt.  This spring I invested money in refurbishing our expensive, well made patio furniture instead of replacing it with an inexpensive set from one of the big box stores.  Now I expect the set to last us at least 12 more years before I have to refurbish it again.  Meanwhile the end tables that I bought at Lowes to match the set have rusted through and will need replacing.
 

Definitely spending money on quality is better than quantity. If you spend $5 on a watch that breaks and you end up getting another, then another say, 4 times a year that would be $25 you could have gotten the $25 watch and saved. Or the vacuum example. I have two vacuums in my house that cost $50 each. they worked for a couple years decently but then died. I bought a dyson for$300 and that thing still works like it is brand new and it's over a year and a half. By this time the others were wearing down. My friend has the same vac and his is now 4 years old and works perfectly.

Sometimes it's better in the long run to spend more money up front for a product that will last longer than a cheaper alternative. My Dyson vacuum cleaner is an example.

 

I have a nicely stocked pantry. In theory I only buy items when they go on sale. Some weeks I spend more of my grocery budget if such a sale happens. For instance last week HyVee had their flavored instant oatmeal on sale for $.99 a box. I stocked up with enough to last me almost a year. 

I only buy Purina Cat Chow. One of our cats develops bladder infections if she eats anything else. Cheap cat food isn't worth a trip to the vet when the cat starts peeing blood, or the hassle of fighting her to get meds into her. 

 

I bought a washable A/C filter - cost much more than the disposables, but I can wash it and reuse it for years. In the long run, I will have spent less on it than I would have constantly buying replacements for the disposables. 

 

I replaced my incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent ones. They cost more to buy, but last longer and use less electricity. 

Check your wiring or the fixture itself, something is faulty. You're probably getting little bursts of current that are blowing them. I think I've replaced one fluorescent bulb in about 3 years. It actually threw me for a loop when it went, I had to scrounge around to find my spare bulbs because I forgot where I put them since I hadn't seen them in so long.

I have CF bulbs in my house that I took out of the fixtures in my apartment four years ago and brought withus when we bought the house, and they're still burning.

I never heard of a washable a/c filter.  I am going to look into that!  Thanks for mentioning it.

I agree there are definitely times when it is more frugal to spend more money on a better quality product that will last longer and save more in the long run. 

 

 

I think it depends on the brand of the light bulb and where they are made, DH was looking at bulbs at Ikea and said they were not good because they were made in China.