Is Budget-Friendly Patio Furniture Durable Or A Total Waste Of Money?

With big purchases, like furniture, it's important to figure out whether it's a good idea to pay extra for quality or go with a more budget-friendly option. And honestly, that's usually the quandary for most purchases these days. If the patio furniture you're looking at has reliable good reviews, is made of decent materials, and is cheaper — you've probably found yourself a good deal. The durability of cheaper patio furniture ultimately comes down to the materials it's made of and how it's being maintained.

We all know the saying, "you get what you pay for." And for the most part, it's a pretty accurate way to make shopping decisions. Often, it's not always clear what is and is not a good buy for the money. But sometimes there are exceptions to this rule, for example, if you find a high-end patio set during the off-season for a really good price. But more often than not, you might think something's a really good deal, but when you take it home it falls apart rather quickly. Using reviews can help you get an idea about the quality and durability of a patio set before you buy. The problem is, sometimes reviews don't always give the full picture. Thankfully, there are other ways to determine if a budget-friendly patio set is durable enough that you don't feel like you're wasting your money.

Dropping a large amount on a patio set that will last you for 10 years is cheaper than spending a small amount on a set that lasts a of couple months. For example: if you buy a $65 patio set that you have to replace every year, you're spending over $300 after five years. But if you drop $350 for a durable, well-made patio set that can last up to 10 years, your annual cost is $35 (almost half what you spend buying cheap sets). You'll be saving money and not throwing away multiple patio sets.

This doesn't mean there aren't "unicorn" deals out there to be had. Buying a high-end patio set in the fall is a good way to get quality and durability for a budget-friendly price. And you can find affordable outdoor patio sets at places like Walmart that are surprisingly formidable. Once again, it pays to read reviews. Look for comments about construction, how long it lasted, what kind of weather that customers had the sets in. You should also think about how a patio set will be used in your home. Do you have kids? Do you live in an area with harsh weather conditions? If you take care of your patio furniture — using covers or storing it away during winter — even a cheaper patio set should last around five years.