I once bought a cheap pair of socks. They were on sale for 99 cents, which, as any man will tell you, is a sign from the universe that you’re basically making money by purchasing them.
The first time I wore them, they somehow managed to slip inside my shoe. The second time, one sock developed a hole the size of Nebraska. By the third time—just kidding, there was no third time. They disintegrated during a brisk walk to the mailbox.
This, my friends, is what we call “false economy”—the kind where you save a nickel now and spend a fortune fixing it later.
In construction (and in life), it turns out that paying a little more for quality, speed, and durability often saves you a lot more over time. Like, say, using prefabricated cold-formed steel instead of framing with petrified spaghetti noodles (also known as dimensional lumber).
So yes, investing in smarter systems may cost a few bucks more upfront… but those dollars come back wearing a cape and carrying a calculator that says: “You just saved 11% on your loan interest, 3 months on your schedule, and 4 gray hairs from your superintendent.”
Cheap socks are for regrets. Build smarter.
