Poor man's boots-revisited...

A few years ago my fashion conscious twenty something daughter introduced me to Christian Dior and his fantastic mascara. "Diorshow" had the potential to change my life. As an aging mom with thin hair and even thinner lashes "Diorshow" was nothing short of a miracle.

And even though it is horribly expensive, I rationalized that I "was worth it". (cue the Revlon commercial)  I even told my friends about it. I've never been one for make up but this mascara was something I used every day - and I loved it enough to buy it again and again as the tubes went dry.

Then my friend Christian invented something even BETTER! Diorshow Iconic - which was   better and lasted longer and made my lashes look like something out of a magazine. And even though it was a little more money, I persisted in purchasing the expensive mascara. After all, I have a good job, my kids are grown and I need to look good. So the ladies at the cosmetic counter got to know me better and knew if I stopped by I meant business and they always like someone who comes to buy. It was a beautiful relationship.

I maintained close contact with Christian and his girls over the years and my lashes loved the attention. Deep down I struggled with the cost but rationalized that great looking lashes really are "priceless". (cue the mastercard commercial)

Last spring I was perusing the newest issue of People one afternoon in the offce and I saw the most beautiful lashes ever!!! in an ad for L'oreal mascara. As soon as I saw those lashes, I knew I NEEDED that mascara. Besides, I told myself, it really is silly to pay a small fortune for something I wash off every night. Surely this new (less expensive) mascara would do the trick.

I asked around. No one really knew the new mascara but the ad was so gorgeous...I was fixated on finding the mascara. And then I found it one afternoon in the cosmetics section at Shopper's Drug Mart. Even the tube looked luxurious and I was excited to have the most beautiful lashes on the planet. 

Imagine my glee when I noticed the price - about one eighth the price of my pricey Diorshow and, if the ad was true, 100% more lashtastic than that other stuff. I also thought I was very smart to spend less on better mascara and then I would have money left over for other things. It was a plan. I bought the mascara and headed home to try it.

As I was driving, I thought of Dylan, my son-in-law the economist. He's a smart guy and enjoys sharing various economic theory with me. And as I drove, my excitement over my new purchase diminshed steadily as I recalled the economic theory entitled Poor Man's Boots.

Basically, Poor Man's Boots explains how the poor man will always end up paying more for boots. He will buy 4-5 pairs of $50 boots over the same period of time that the rich man will spend only $185 for one pair of good boots that may even last longer than all 5 pairs of the poor man's boots. In the long run, it makes more economic good sense to buy the better quality product in the first place because it really ends up costing less money. Plus, you get a better product.

By the time I got home, I was torn. Should I just take the package back unopened and get my money back? Was it worth the risk? Would it really be as good as the Dior mascara if it was so inexpensive? After a seven minute fight with myself, I dug out the People magazine and looked at the ad again. The lashes were still amazing and would L'oreal really spend that much on advertising a deficient product? I was going to give it a go... 

As I unwrapped the package, my heart sank. The tube was light and cheap feeling. It took all I had to muster up the enthusiasm to give it a try. I prepped my lashes and pulled out the brush. It was clumpy and gross. "How can this be happening?!?" my inner smart, confident self screamed. "I know better than to get sucked in by a great ad. I'm old with lot's of life experience and I know the theory of Poor Man's Boots." 

I can't express my disappointment. I tried the mascara over the next couple of days. It was AWFUL. I was so embarrassed for making such an obvious mistake, I couldn't even share my disappointment with anyone.

I headed back to my friends at the cosmetic counter. I plunked down a week's worth of grocery money for the Diorshow AND the Iconic, just to cover all my bases and set off to the ladies room to apply my tried and true expensive mascara.