Want to buy a new TV? Cellphone? Mattress (I cannot emphasis enough, how important your mattress is. A productive, functional human being can spend about a third of their life on a mattress. Less functional people, or the morbidly lazy, like me, could spend upwards of half to all of our lives in bed if allowed. It's a very important piece of furniture. Invest wisely, but definitely invest.)

As a side note, my Dad spent the majority of my childhood being unhappy about one bed or another. Living with him was like living with the French version of a dark and hairy Goldilocks.

This bed was too hard. This bed was too soft.

The weekend he spent in Kananaskis, Alberta visiting my sister, he got so excited about the mattress in his room he took a picture of the tag and then went out and bought the exact same bed ( I like to pretend this is how my parents spend all their romantic getaways.)

Whatever you buy, do some research first.

Today, that means Google and website Reviews. Or. Just Google Reviews.

In 1989 (a wild guess, I don't remember the actual year) when we were buying a new family car, it meant going from Dealership to Dealership, giving fake names (The lesson that underlies a lot of my Dads teaching is: A little Paranoia goes a long way) and asking a lot of questions to, what my Dad assured me, were very crooked men.

Clearly, whatever he did worked, because the resulting car lasted for over 10 years.

So next time you want to throw your money at something, remember : a little research today might save you a lot of disappointment tomorrow.