i havent read all the pages of this thread nor do i intend to but i will say this: I used to wear baggy jeans and bought them at the junk stores like everyone else. I have since started wearing tight fitting diesels, 7 for all mankind, paper denim, joe's, and levi's 510, 511s and 514s and I would never buy "cheap" jeans again. The fits and comfort of good jeans compared to garbage jeans is incredible. I'll happily pay good money for jeans, if you look around you can find places that have sales. I think you live in NY Otis, so you should be checking out Gerry's on 8th when they have sales they are pretty cheap and they have nice stuff from the brands i mentioned above. I'm telling you, chicks love guys that can dress. It makes a big impression on em when you are 1. straight and 2. dressed like you actually care about what you put on. I was in the Diesel store in the city a few months back and they had like 50% off alot of their jeans. Sure you're gonna pay $120 or so, but i'm telling you man they are worth the money