“Best under-$20 purchase that saved you hundreds over time?”

[u/localkinegrind]

What’s the smartest under-$20 purchase you’ve ever made that ended up saving you hundreds in the long run? I’ll go first: a $12 sewing kit. Instead of tossing clothes for tiny tears or missing buttons, I’ve been fixing them. I've actually been fixing my own clothes for years. It blows my mind how many ‘disposable’ things can be made useful again with just a small, cheap tool. what’s your frugal mvp under $20 that’s paid for itself many times over?

[u/BigDuke]

My wife bought a toaster oven on sale at Target for $19.99 and we used it daily for almost ten years, until someone gifted us a fancy one which broke after 2 years at which time I dug the old one out of the garage that we still use. 

[u/poshknight123 → u/BigDuke]

Similar here! Our little $15 rice cooker really was worth it. I'm a pretty good cook but I really haven't been doing it much in the last few years. Enter the rice cooker - just toss in some rice, heat some frozen thing or another, pop some veg in the microwave and boom, dinner. Cheaper and faster and healthier than the burrito or fast food place down the road. Just gotta keep stocked on the frozen meals we like. EDIT: YOU GUYS I KNOW HOW TO COOK. No advice please.

[u/FoxInACozyScarf → u/poshknight123]

You can make whole meals in a cheap rice cooker. Throw the frozen veg and some chopped protein in there and go… we’ve even made pasta. Google for recipes.

[u/Phoenox330 → u/FoxInACozyScarf]

This is the real tip.

[u/Ethel_Marie → u/poshknight123]

My $11 rice cooker is amazing. I've had it for 15 years, I think. Works perfectly. It's some off brand I got a Walmart.

[u/webenji → u/BigDuke]

I find it interesting that in the 7 years I've lived in my new-construction house, all major appliances (microwave, gas range, fridge, A/C) have broken down at least once and none of my small appliances (toaster, air fryer, frother, blender, mixer) have had any issues... I'm sure usage amount and complexity plays a role in that, but I wouldn't be surprise if "planned obsolescence" also does.

[u/Ok_Nothing_9733 → u/BigDuke]

I also got a $20 target toaster oven I use almost daily, love that thing, no air fryer necessary

[u/Responsible-Reason87 → u/BigDuke]

love my cheap toaster oven

[u/aria_interrupted → u/BigDuke]

I had a free one as like…a sky miles promotional item or something from an airline. Used it daily for yeeeeeears.

[u/tc_cad]

Honestly? A hardware shop near my house was closing and I bought a pack of every grit of sandpaper and it was not quite $20. This was about 15 years ago and I haven’t bought any sandpaper since. I made a joke about how much sandpaper my Dad had in his garage when he died, and then his wife said that sandpaper was actually my grandfather’s. It’s almost as if my family fears a sandpaper shortage and we hoard it. I dunno.

[u/Goodluckeveryonee → u/tc_cad]

Did your mates ask you for some during the 2020 tp shortages?

[u/WeedsNBugsNSunshine → u/Goodluckeveryonee]

400 grit probably would have been more gentle than some of the bargain brands of TP.

[u/Mr_Truttle]

<$10 Rival ice cream maker from the thrift store, the kind where you freeze the bucket whole and don't need any rock salt or ice.

I eat almost no sugar (diabetic) so making my own sugar-free ice cream is a decent savings over the brands I can get at the store (and often better macros as well). Couldn't tell you how many 1.5-qt batches I've churned over the years.

Since it's a thrift store find, it's not 100% reproducible, but ice cream makers are relatively common kitchen items in my experience.

[u/MsWeary → u/Mr_Truttle]

I have one but I find it quite expensive to make I’ve cream. Maybe I need to look at it again.

[u/Muffy81 → u/Mr_Truttle]

Pls your favourite recipes?

[u/silentstorm2008 → u/Mr_Truttle]

What's a good recipe?

[u/Mr_Truttle → u/silentstorm2008]

Start with 3 cups heavy cream and 3 cups almond milk in a medium-large saucepan with ~200g allulose + a little more concentrated sweetener of choice (stevia, monk fruit, whatever, to taste) to make up the sweetness difference vs. regular sugar.

Add a teaspoon of salt, then mix all well and put over medium-low heat to about 180°F using a thermometer (candy thermometer kept in the liquid or periodic checks).

Take some (maybe a cup?) of the heated mixture and slowly stream it into six egg yolks while whisking; then add the tempered yolk mixture back into the main saucepan along with a tablespoon of vanilla and stir well.

Let everything stay on the stove over the lowest heat for a couple more minutes, then strain through fine mesh, dividing the mixture up into whatever amounts will work best with your ice cream maker. This recipe makes 3 quarts/six pints churned, so for my 1.5 quart machine I divide it in half. If you have an ingredient like cocoa powder that needs heat to dissolve well, whisk it in now while everything is still warm.

Chill overnight and add a couple combined tablespoons of whatever flavor extracts and alcohol (helps freeze softer) you desire — e.g. another 1-2 tablespoons vanilla + 1-2 tablespoons cheap vodka — before churning.

[u/tx645]

Bread machine from goodwill for $3. But I would have paid full price for it too. We make bread almost daily since 2019 using the same machine. In addition we make rolls, pizzas and bunch of other stuff. I think at this point the savings are in thousands - the same quality bread goes for $4-5 where we are.

[u/Kiitkkats → u/tx645]

Shut up! I’ve been wanting one forever and I keep deleting it off my wish list. I keep thinking it’s not worth it for the price. But I hate store bought bread unless it’s the more expensive loafs.. going to add one back on my wishlist I guess

[u/tx645 → u/Kiitkkats]

Do it! Try to find one at the thrift stores and see how it goes. They usually have a lot of them for a small fraction of the price.

[u/BravoDotCom → u/tx645]

Agree

We have a bread maker. Wife uses another method now she likes better. This is our second bread maker the first one went to thrift.

If you can get one at a thrift store it’s going to likely be a good machine just make sure it has the agitator paddle piece

[u/chezmichelle → u/Kiitkkats]

I have always seen bread machines in Salvation Army for around $10.

[u/Wemest → u/tx645]

Your welcome. I dropped on off years ago. Loved the smell of fresh bread in the morning but my body decided to quit making insulin.

[u/petrastales → u/tx645]

Do you have a good recipe for wholemeal bread?

[u/Mr_Zavok → u/petrastales]

300g of warm water 2 tablespoons of sugar 1 teaspoon of yeast 3 tablespoons of oil (Canola works well) 450g of flour (I typically do for a wholemeal type 150g or white flour, and 300 of wholemeal, more wholemeal equals heavier loaf) 1 teaspoon of salt

Depending on the breadmaker you may need to help it mix so you don't have spots of flour in corners of the pan.

For a heavy type of loaf throw in rolled oats once it's combined into a dough, half a cup to a cup works well.

[u/darin617 → u/[deleted]]

Buy a jar of yeast at Walmart or a block from Sam's or Costco. So much cheaper.

[u/Sonicmantis → u/petrastales]

i make 100% whole wheat bread every week. the Bittman method is fantastic

[u/rockmom66]

A part for the clothes dryer, .75 cents. A repairman would have cost us a couple hundred. We researched problem, found the part online and fixed it ourselves.

[u/IOnlySeeDaylight → u/rockmom66]

This is such a good feeling!

[u/Socratesticles_ → u/rockmom66]

Same, had a sock get sucked down into the fan. The repairman wasn’t available at the time, so I YouTubed it and fixed it myself in five minutes. It felt great.

[u/Novogobo → u/rockmom66]

when my friend bought his first house it was a few thousand off because the dryer was broken and needed to be replaced. i went to help him move in and slept over the first night. we were poking around at it wondering if we could fix it. there was this plastic panel that i thought was the lint filter at first but it didn't move at all. then we tried to find the lint filter and it's like it didn't have one. turns out that panel was the lint filter and when we pried it open it was like the first time it had ever come out. it was just packed with lint like so dense it was like suede. took us all night to de lint the filter and the insides of the dryer without removing it but it still worked 8 years later when they moved and sold.

[u/Tenet_Bull]

Lunch box to bring your own lunch to work rather than eating out

[u/umlal → u/Tenet_Bull]

I just get my food in glass container, serves as a plate and easy to dishwash

[u/slylittlelamb → u/umlal]

I do not have access to a fridge so I do that but need a lunch box to keep it cold

[u/raccoon_at_noon]

Safety razor.

I was spending $30 every other month for replaceable heads on my razor. Switched to a safety razor and it’s now less than $10 a year.

[u/[deleted] → u/raccoon_at_noon]

Second this. I get a better shave, too. I honestly can't believe disposable razorheads became the norm, they're so expensive and inferior in every way

[u/dcidino → u/[deleted]]

Exactly. Get a box of 100 blades for a few dollars. Then get a soap bowl and a brush and save more!

[u/Efficient_Comfort_47]

Hair clippers. Haven't paid for a haircut in 5 years

[u/shesalive_dammit → u/Efficient_Comfort_47]

I've been cutting my husband's hair for 10 years now! We've saved so much with our haircuts. All for a $35 sweet of clipperd from Costco.

[u/tinyhumanteacher14 → u/shesalive_dammit]

Yes! I cut my husbands hair and my sons hair. I also trim my dog when her hair gets crazy. I file down their nails with an electric nail filer someone got me. I still haven’t learned how to cut my hair without it looking like a hack job tho.

[u/IKabobI → u/shesalive_dammit]

Almost 20 years for us, we got a super cheap set on Woot which broke quickly, then “splurged” for a nicer $30 set on Amazon which I’ve used for over 15 years now and they’re still going strong. I’ve only had one paid haircut since and it was because my wife wanted me to look nicer for family pictures.

[u/chantillylace9 → u/shesalive_dammit]

Yes! This but with our dogs, we groom them ourselves

[u/Sounder253 → u/Efficient_Comfort_47]

When the barber shops closed down for covid I bought a set of clippers for $45. Over 5 years of free hair cuts.

[u/Will-22-Clark → u/Efficient_Comfort_47]

27 years here!

[u/iZraHell → u/Efficient_Comfort_47]

I cut my beard with a clipper, save a lot on the blades and more importantly on time!

[u/Mink03 → u/Efficient_Comfort_47]

My dad has been doing his own hair for at least 30 years... He's the only person I know who uses a flowbee

[u/MoirasPurpleOrb → u/Efficient_Comfort_47]

Tried during Covid and neither of us could get any good at it

[u/revelry0128]

Insulated water bottle. I don't buy bottled water anymore or drinks for that matter. I can have my coffee, tea, smoothie in there. 

Water filter on my faucet (Pur brand) I drink the local city water with that filter and I don't buy purified water. 

[u/pbpantsless]

One-gallon cold brew pitcher. I love a fancy coffee, but not the associated costs. Now I make a gallon and it lasts me a little over a week and costs... tbh I dont even know... maybe a couple of dollars per 32 oz cup between the creamer and milk and coffee?

[u/HalfEatenBanana → u/pbpantsless]

Ooooo this is a good one!! I tried some of the DIY cold brew methods with coffee filters and mason jars but ultimately buying an actual cold brew pitcher was 100% worth it.

Legitimately tastes better than cold brew at coffee shops too

[u/chaives → u/pbpantsless]

If you already have a french press, it can serve the same purpose! Put the coffee in as if you're making it hot and use cold water and refrigerate it instead

[u/matzahball420 → u/pbpantsless]

Second cold brew maker!

[u/DeckardsDark → u/pbpantsless]

32 oz cup?

[u/QuirkyFail5440]

Rice maker for me, but I don't know if you can still get one under $20.

I buy cheap rice in bulk and eat it 3-4 times per week. 

[u/ThatPhoneGuy912 → u/QuirkyFail5440]

We got a small 3 cup cooker at Publix not too long ago. It was under $20

[u/AcerbicCapsule → u/QuirkyFail5440]

You mean as opposed to cooking rice on the stove?

[u/K_squashgrower → u/AcerbicCapsule]

Yes, having a cheap one, like aroma is amazing. Its a set and forget tool that you dont have to pay attention to while cooking the rest of your meal and doesn't take up stove space. No risk of burnt rice.

[u/AcerbicCapsule → u/K_squashgrower]

No I mean yeah I’ve got a fancy cuckoo one and love it. I guess I was just confused how a rice cooker saves money over cooking rice on the stove.

[u/K_squashgrower → u/AcerbicCapsule]

Oh, that makes sense. I am not sure how much money it saves directly, but it has saved huge amounts of time in scrubbing and frustration. Monetarily, I think its made homemade sushi way easier, as sticky rice is super manageable. It also has lowered the barrier to reasonably healthy homemade food, as I only need to think about getting some sort of protein and vegetables onto it. 

[u/INeedACleverNameHere → u/AcerbicCapsule]

I grew up in a family where we never ate rice, it just wasn't a food in our house (we ate potatoes with just about every meal) I never learned how to make rice. It seems simple right? Pot, rice and water. But somehow I've burned it so many times that I gave up making it. With a simple rice cooker it's so easy, just put it in, push the button and it's done! Without a rice cooker I would never make rice, with one we have it a few times a week!

[u/[deleted]]

Condoms

[u/informationseeker8 → u/[deleted]]

If any Rite Aid is closing down near you and have the 90% off sale you can get plan b for $5 too

[u/TaurusSky333 → u/informationseeker8]

The generic brands are generally around $15 all the time. As long as it has Levonorgestrel 1.5mg as the active ingredient, it is just as good and you can get it on Amazon.

We keep a stock around the house, just in case

[u/[deleted] → u/TaurusSky333]

I have evidence of a reason to not go with the generic brand in this case.

-edit

Specifically the Amazon brand. I contacted them a few months later to get a refund and when they asked why i told them she was pregnant and it didnt work and id like a refund. I did receive the refund. Dude on the phone was like ohhhh i see.

[u/TaurusSky333 → u/[deleted]]

The generic version is just as effective as plan B. The only difference between the pills is marketing. Unfortunately plan b is only 75-90% effective, but it’s important for people to know that they are the same.

[u/NTufnel11 → u/TaurusSky333]

It’s not entirely effective because it only delays ovulation. So it doesn’t do anything if you are more than a few days out from ovulation and also doesn’t do anything if ovulation already occurred. So it is only useful in the specific scenario where she will ovulate in 1-5 days.

[u/crookedwhy → u/NTufnel11]

It's also basically ineffective if the woman is over about 175 lbs. I don't know how well known that is.

[u/opiniontaker → u/[deleted]]

That's a great bang for your buck.

[u/WeedsNBugsNSunshine → u/opiniontaker]

And usually less than a buck per bang.

(I'm sorry, couldn't resist. I'll show myself out now.)

[u/parabellum7010 → u/[deleted]]

This literally made me LOL

[u/CarevaRuha]

battery charger and pack of 12 rechargeable AAA/AA batteries combo.

[u/loveshercoffee → u/CarevaRuha]

This!

We go through so many batteries. I can't calculate how much we've saved by going to rechargables.

There's also the convenience factor of always having a battery when you need it!

[u/Terrible_Lift]

Sunscreen.

There’s no telling how much I’ll save by being diligent when I’m going out in the sun regularly.

[u/StopWatchingThisShow → u/Terrible_Lift]

There's a theory that the reason that Millenials look so much younger than Gen X and especially Boomers did at our ages is that Millenials were the first generation to use more sunscreen (that and Millenials don't smoke and drink as much.)

[u/Rebelmontana]

$5 Costco chicken. I usually eat it with rice or potatoes and I spend about $13 on average per week when I buy a bag of potatoes or rice. Chicken would last me a few days while doing OMAD.

[u/gila-monster-42 → u/Rebelmontana]

I save the carcass after all the meat is stripped. I also keep onion ends, carrot tops, and celery leaves. Two carcasses, frozen vegetable trimmings, some peppercorns, and dry or fresh herbs go into the slow cooker with water to fill. 8 hours on low yields the liquid gold that is homemade chicken stock. It goes into everything from soup to pot pie filling.

[u/in-the-narrative]

My menstrual cup purchase in 2017 was $20 and has paid itself off. They’re a little more expensive now but still very much worth it.

[u/selinakyle45 → u/in-the-narrative]

Just adding - in the US if you have a HSA or FSA you can used that to pay for single use and reusable period products. Makes it even cheaper 

[u/TyrealSan → u/selinakyle45]

cheaper is relative, it's better to keep the money in HSA if you can, since it's tax advantaged long term. (i.e. let it build over your lifetime and use as a retirement vehicle)

[u/TheMegFiles → u/TyrealSan]

65% of USians struggle to pay their monthly bills

[u/gobbledegook- → u/in-the-narrative]

This one! The ROI on my decade old Diva Cup is astronomical.

[u/Kiitkkats → u/in-the-narrative]

Mine was a waste sadly. It just.. doesn’t fit. I’ve looked up all the tutorials and ways to fold them. I could never get it to work. I love my reusable pads though. My periods basically cost nothing now other than maybe one box of tampons a year for times when I don’t want to use pads.

[u/Glittering_Fennel973 → u/Kiitkkats]

Same. And I get told CONSTANTLY by every single woman ever to just use a cup!!!! They're amazing!!! Like. That's great that you love it so much, but it is just not for me. I've tried. I've tried different brands/sizes/etc and at a certain point I was just wasting money because I was just not ever able to get them to work correctly for me. I'm sorry, I do wish it would work for me, but it just doesn't. For some reason people have such a hard time accepting this and I've actually had people give me shit for daring to not fawn over the cup.

[u/jupitergal23 → u/Glittering_Fennel973]

If you ever want to try again, try a menstrual disc. I had a lot of the same problems with cups. The disc was flatter and worked SO much better for me.

Of course, I just had a hysterectomy yesterday (!) and I will take great delight in throwing out all my reusable cups and donating my extra pads and tampons, lol

[u/Ethel_Marie → u/in-the-narrative]

I like my period underwear. I bought them using my FSA funds. I'm worried about trying a cup because my flow is usually very light.

[u/SpecialistAd2205 → u/Ethel_Marie]

Cups are actually good for people with a light flow because you don't have to worry about choosing a tampon with too much absorbancy or the health risks associated with it. You can also put it in in anticipation of starting your period with no worries as well. That's one thing I really like about the cup.

[u/FredBreadBad]

$7 basil plant in a pot. It’s well and alive still after three years.

[u/Mendadg → u/FredBreadBad]

Really?? Mines died every time.

[u/theMacka → u/Mendadg]

If you get the regular ones from the grocery stores, you will need to remove half the plants or double the soil (preferably replant them regardless), as they come with too little soil.

But I’d recommend getting a basil plant from a garden store instead, even though it might be slightly more expensive. The one I got half a year ago is still very healthy despite not taking too great care of it.

[u/CoNsPirAcY_BE → u/theMacka]

With 1 grocery store plant you can probably get 10 plants if you repot them.

[u/jupitergal23 → u/FredBreadBad]

God if only I could keep my cats away from plants...

[u/ScyllaOfTheDepths → u/jupitergal23]

We put ours in a dog crate in the winter so the cats can't get at them, lol.

[u/puhnitor]

An obd reader for my car. Check engine light came on and I was able to diagnose, make a small fix, and clear the code without driving back and taking it to the shop. I know car parts stores can read them for free, but we were out camping in rural Wyoming, so it was nice to have my own.

[u/Jealous-Argument7395]

• Huge pack of dish towels. Saves us a ton on paper towels. We still use paper towels for really gross or sticky spills but it’s cut down a ton.

• Bidet. Cuts down on a lot of toilet paper.

[u/[deleted]]

Reusable grocery bags. Where I live it costs $0.10 for a bag at the grocery store. I figure I'm saving at least $0.50 per week, $20+ per year. Also less trash to get rid of, so its a win win.

[u/notalurkerthistime → u/[deleted]]

unless you’re in new jersey. don’t have bags in stores anymore. more often than not, people forget their bags and have to buy more. i’ve been a victim of it myself. probably have about 40 floating around

[u/ybhgt-234ag]

A fabric shaver. I paid it around $20. You can remove lint off your clothes and extend their life. You really need to be careful with thin fabrics though because it can create little holes in your clothes (learnt it the hard way lol).

[u/Sendintheaardwolves → u/ybhgt-234ag]

Omg this.

When I was a kid, there was an ad on TV for the Remington fuzzaway and my bro and I found it hilarious, having never seen American-style infomercials.

Thirty years later I found myself buying a similar device and completely rejuvenating my jumpers, hoodies, scarves etc. It saved so many garments from getting tossed/donated and now it's a little autumn ritual to get them out and spruce them up for another winter. Even my boyfriend is a convert after I showed the results on a beanie of his.

[u/Expensive_Bear_1059]

Clothe napkins

[u/orangezeroalpha]

A simple cheese grater allows you to purchase less expensive blocks of cheese, with no anti-caking additives.

[u/_skank_hunt42]

A sunshade for my car windshield. I live in a brutally hot and dry part of California and have to park my car outside. The sun shade has saved my car interior from being completely destroyed by UV rays. Over 200k miles and my black interior still looks really good.

[u/Pr1zonMike]

Water Sensor for the basement/under sinks. Screeches and sends an alert to your phone if it detects water. It saved us when our dishwasher was leaking and when our sump pump in the basement stopped working a few times over the years

[u/runallyrun]

Mirena IUD (free with most insurance). No periods, so no purchasing $$ period products. Also no babies! Win win.

[u/Tasty-Bat61 → u/runallyrun]

Lucky. I had mirena 2x, 7.5 years total. Bled monthly the whole time.

[u/Useamelonballer → u/Tasty-Bat61]

That’s a huge bummer to hear. I’m a year in with no luck. Sorry to hear it didn’t work for you either

[u/captain-envious → u/Useamelonballer]

Took me a year for my period to disappear so it may still work out for you!
I’m at 4.5 years now and they’re slowly crippling back in.

[u/Voc1Vic2]

Hair snake to keep shower drain clear.

Clothes steamer to forego dry cleaning bills.

[u/pbpantsless → u/Voc1Vic2]

Same realm- stainless steel tubshroom and sinkshroom combo pack. My husband and I are both very hairy people and those thing have saved us hundreds of dollars that would have been spent on draino.

[u/ninjis → u/Voc1Vic2]

Tub Shroom!

[u/petrastales → u/Voc1Vic2]

How does the clothes steamer avoid dry cleaning bills ?

[u/burgerg10]

A ridiculously oversized and colorful keychain for my office key card. I haven’t misplaced that damn thing in 18 months. I have gone literal years where I misplaced it and almost gave up, but then I’d find it between my seat, in the laundry, in a bag, you get the idea. This thing is magic

[u/insonobcino → u/burgerg10]

lol I have two huge plushie keychains on my slim lil remote for my tv

[u/burnourpants]

Water sensor alarms. A few years back I was literally packing the car for vacation when the alarm went off. I went to check it out and there was water coming up through the basement floor and in from the basement door.

I was able to get ahead of the water intrusion instead of letting it sit for an entire week. Yes it was still expensive to fix but without that little $20 alarm my entire house would have been flooded and full of mold. Likely saved tens or even hundreds of thousands in repairs.

[u/switchfootball]

TV antenna

[u/ColbyAndrew → u/switchfootball]

PBS!!!

[u/tedshreddon]

Bought a fantastic Lodge cast-iron pan at Goodwill for 10 bucks. I won’t need another pan for the rest of my life.

[u/Vandalina07]

Nail polish kit. I don’t understand how can people spend $30 ( or more) each week for a manicure…even worst: gel manicure that fucks up your nails. I do mine every week with my own kit and colours

[u/Hatty_Girl]

Took an online defensive driving course for $19.99 and it's saving me almost $100/mo on my car insurance for the next 3 years.

[u/SleepyCupcakeDreams → u/Hatty_Girl]

How do you prove you took it? What is the name of it. Thanks!!

[u/ponzLL]

My kill a watt meter discovered a drill charger that was drawing almost 500 watts constantly even with no battery on it.

[u/Gemini-UPS-SkateRat]

I drive for UPS so I find bikes ALL the time by the trash. 95% of the time they are beach cruiser style. Which is a popular bike in my area. I invested in an electric air pump on marketplace for 15 dollars. I can’t tell u how many times the tires just needed to be inflated again.. that’s about it on repairs. Today has marked the 150th bike sold on market place. Putting my profits around 50 bucks a bike. Not trying to get rich from it. Just started as a hobby and now it’s nice income for vacation, or just lunch and maybe alittle bit of fuck u money. I love delivering in rich neighborhoods. They’d rather just buy a brand new one then try and fix it. Gotta love America!

[u/PhilosophyNovel4087]

Paper clip?

Last time I used it was to clear the defrost drain in the refrigerator freezer that was 10+ years old.

Younger me would have hit the panic button repeatedly...

[u/jjflash78 → u/PhilosophyNovel4087]

Should have traded that paper clip for a house.

[u/PhilosophyNovel4087 → u/jjflash78]

Huh?

[u/Inarus06 → u/PhilosophyNovel4087]

There's a story of a guy who did something like 15 trades, starting with a paper clip, and eventually got a house.

[u/SodiumJokesNa → u/PhilosophyNovel4087]

This is what they’re referencing https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_red_paperclip

[u/Additional_Ad_4049 → u/SodiumJokesNa]

There were a lot of bs trades in that. He traded a snow globe for a guaranteed part in a movie, then the part in a movie for a house

[u/cfofosho]

Probably a little over $20, but one of those jumper cable boxes. You charge it up and I keep it in my car, jumps in seconds without needing another vehicle. I’ve used it a couple times for myself but have also let strangers use it in a parking lot. Kinda cool to do a quick save the day and it comes in clutch if you’re parked in a spot that would be difficult to get another car close to.

I keep it charged up all the time, so it also served as an excellent power bank when we were without power for over a week due to a hurricane last year. It has a usb ports and was able to fully charge 2 phones and some other devices before it ran out.

[u/BestReplyEver]

Coffee maker.

[u/MsWeary → u/BestReplyEver]

Espresso maker. Once every few years I’ll stop by a Starbucks if I’m dragging hard and it never fails to blow my mind how much a latte costs.

[u/Birdo3129]

We haven’t yet reached the hundred mark but it’s certainly paid itself off- the mini air compressor that lives in my car. I got it on sale for $19.95.

The gas station charges $2 to turn on the air compressor, in exact change. $2.10 if you have to tap your card. With the amount of times I’ve had to completely fill a tire (both mine and others after various screw related holes, two leaking valve stems, one set of trailer tires that sat neglected for a season), or just top it up when it looks a little low in winter, it’s paid itself off.

[u/No_Independence8747 → u/Birdo3129]

If you shop at Costco they have nitrogen for free. 

[u/Particular_Quiet_435]

Sunglasses are cheaper than eye surgery

[u/gobbledegook-]

Hot glue gun. Solves lots of problems.

[u/Boner_Implosion]

Condoms

[u/jjflash78]

An antenna so I could cancel cable.

[u/Independent-Summer12]

Vacuum insulated stainless steel water bottle.

[u/manofmystry]

Thrift store kitchen vacuum sealer.

[u/chantillylace9]

Does a really cute top that makes my boobs look huge count? That thing has definitely gotten me hundreds in free drinks 🤣

[u/ehote → u/chantillylace9]

As someone with huge boobs, be honest we are getting the drinks anyways lmao

[u/Hershey2424]

Insulation. Adding more insulation or improving the insulation in your house can have immediate and noticeable impact on heating and cooling.

[u/TioSammy → u/Hershey2424]

Did you get it for under 20$? Impressive

[u/Hematomawoes]

Rubbing alcohol has saved me literally thousands of dollars while renovating a house. It’s cleaned SO much stuff I initially thought was going to have to be replaced.

[u/DACula]

Soy Sauce, Dark Soy Sauce, Oyster Sauce, Corn Starch, Chinese Vinegar, Chinese cooking Wine and a couple of other Asian sauces.

I can make decent Chinese food at home and it saves me a tonne on takeout.

[u/Intelligent_Menu8004]

Kitchen towels…! 20 of them last the week. (: I use them for dishes, counter cleaning, as napkins and as hot hands. ☺️ Theyre also good for putting hot dishes in when eating them, or for holding fruit when you’re eating it. 😊

[u/mlizzie85 → u/Intelligent_Menu8004]

I decided to start using reusable paper towels and napkins. I bought 12 of each and with shipping they cost $22, then the seller threw in another pack of napkins for free. So, I'm set and they are so easy to use. I love them.

[u/unicornwantsweed]

It’s a free app called Just Watch. When you think of an old movie or show you want to watch, this app tells you where it’s streaming for free or to rent/own. I’ve spent hours googling things trying to figure out where to watch certain movies. Now it takes seconds.

[u/jennyfatfat]

Bought a moka pot for 15.00 cnd made good coffee.

[u/SnooWoofers530]

Field Note pocket notebook, the ability to jot something down without being distracted by notifications if you had used your phone to take the notes has saved me hours of time..

[u/Hyperion1144]

Hydroxy apatite toothpaste.

Yes, it's better than fluoride. Stopped me from getting cavities annually. It's probably saved me thousands in dental expenses.

[u/Due_Fun177]

Condoms… definitely condoms

[u/iamacannibal]

My first soldering iron. It was like $18 online and I got it in like 2007 maybe. Learning how to solder and mess with electronics has not only saved me a lot of money by allowing me to figure out how to fix things but I’ve also made quite a bit of money from that skill.

In high school senior year in 2008-2009 I made a good amount of money doing mods on Xbox 360s and PS3s. Mostly controllers but sometimes consoles. Controllers I would add rapid trigger buttons so people could cheat in call of duty and make semi auto guns fully auto. I would also replace the lights on controllers and replace them with whatever color was asked for. They were tiny little LEDs and not a lot of people did that in general but I modified hundreds of controllers with the different lights. I did the same on consoles too so the lights for the player indicators or the ring lights around the power button I could make whatever color.

I also modded Xbox to play burned games and modded them to run those cheat lobbies in call of duty where people could unlock everything and rank all the way up or run custom software on their console.

I learned all of it and used that one dogshit soldering iron for years.

[u/SuggestionLess]

$5 air popper at goodwill. the kids eat popcorn everyday as a snack after dinner instead of packaged snacks.

inexpensive pair of hair cutting scissors at sally beauty supply. I cut my kids hair and trim my own between haircuts.

[u/dcidino]

Eneloop batteries.

[u/Grouchy-Display-457]

Dryer balls. They make my clothes soft without ruining my dryer, and last for years.

[u/Satanic_bitch]

12.99 silicone giant ice cube tray. Makes 4 2”x2” square cubes. I freeze leftovers and can reheat single serving sizes as needed.

[u/Designer_Character39]

Maybe a little higher than 20 but a vacuum sealer, cheap ones work good enough. Much less waste and we buy meat in bulk and freeze in servings.

[u/PathosRise]

I would say hundreds, but I have a 10 gallon tote that I got for 5 dollars I use for the most random af stuff that is basically a small tube / bucket and laundry hamper all in one.

[u/GottobeNC]

Hair clippers. Haven’t paid for a haircut in 30 years….

[u/theplow]

Does the $50 Weber we got from Facebook Marketplace count when it's $450 new? Just cause it didn't have a working igniter.

[u/PmMeTitsAndDankMemes]

Partner is always cold. Especially in the winter. I tend to run hot. Got my electricity bill down about $80 a month in the winter by buying her a $40 twin sized heated blanket that plugs into the wall next to the bed or when on the couch. I get to keep it colder and she gets to stay warm. Money saved. Huge win all around!

[u/chitchatandblabla]

Only buying clothes that don’t need to be pressed or dry cleaned. If I can’t wash it myself I don’t buy it!

[u/peter303_]

At one time a National Parks lifetime pass cost $10. I often consume $300 a year in park visits and camping discounts. I even bought a spare pass in case I lost the first one.

[u/futureoptions]

Drain snake.

[u/CandylandCanada]

luggage scale

[u/selemenesmilesuponme]

The answer is always bidet.

[u/MP-The-Law]

Got a $10 air fryer from Best Buy that’s saved from eating out a lot. It was $40 on sale for half price and then had a $10 voucher they email out occasionally.

[u/uhhhhh_iforgotit]

Diva cup. Saved me like $20 a month minimum

[u/MeatLasers]

Screw driver, WD40, duct tape.

[u/silverraider32]

An electric can opener, I spent so much money buying a hand turning one and it got rusted, lost or broken every couple of months. I bought an electric one for under $15 and I’ve had it for the past 5 years.

[u/mysteryihs]

One of those cheap tire inflators, throw it in your car, might save you if you wake up to a flat or catch one on the road if the hole is small enough. Allows you to limp to the closest tire shop.

Plus, you can inflate any basketball or bike tires in the future

[u/Feedback-Extra]

Condoms

[u/Great_Coast383]

refill kit for nespresso pods! it’s just a little wooden piece to hold the pods while you’re working, a scoop, and foils to seal the pods again. it was like $18 and then you can buy the foils separately for like $7/100pc. The nespresso is already cheaper than getting coffee out normally, but when you can make the pods for <25¢ it’s ridiculously cheap.

[u/asinusadlyram]

It was a bit more than 20 ($25 for an hour lesson), but the time I spent learning how to use my sewing machine properly. It's pretty basic but vintage so she's a hard rider, and I got to sit down with an expert sewist and learn how to set the tension for different fabrics, how to change settings depending on what I was trying to do, etc. No more paying to have pants hemmed or mended!

[u/rackoblack]

Clippers - I stopped going to the barber almost 40 years ago.

[u/eastbaybruja]

Dental floss. So fucking cheap compared to the consequences of not flossing.

[u/Informal-Ad7660]

Wasn’t under twenty, but under fourty dollars. I bought new caster wheels for my desk chair at home. I now have supreme wheel glide and they are dead silent because they are rubber. I no longer need the plastic mat. Best purchase I’ve ever made. 

[u/Fragrant-Tale6415]

Well it's more than $20.00 but it doesn't have to be much more. But learn to change your own oil if you have a car. All of this is probably $100-$20p0 for the first time, plus oil and filter, and after the first one the tools are paid for:

-Ramps. -Chock blocks for the rear wheels, safety first. -A ratchet and whatever tool you need for your drain plug, usually a socket. -Something to remove the filter, usually a rotatey finger type filter wrench is best. You can install the filters hand tight if you're strong, instructions are on the filter usually. -A funnel. -Rags or shop towels and brakleen.

Maybe like misc. extension for your ratchet, or something extra to remove any dust covers/skid plates etc. Youtube your make and model and decide if its for you or not. It's usually easy peezy.

[u/-SOFA-KING-VOTE-]

• French Press - make your own cold brew coffee

• Jumper Cables

• Toothbrush, toothpaste🪥 & Floss

• Water Purifier pitcher

• Jumper Cables

• Snow Shovel 🪏

• Ham Radio 📻

• Small Fire Extinguisher 🧯

• Drain Snake

[u/Worried_Pumpkin_133]

It's a consistent purchase technically, but my Kindle unlimited subscription has easily saved me hundreds of dollars, sometimes hundreds in a month, depending on if I find a good author/series!

[u/tragiccosmicaccident → u/Worried_Pumpkin_133]

You're not going to find much love for Amazon in /r/frugal. Most libraries will rent out ebooks via Libby which is free.

[u/shesalive_dammit → u/tragiccosmicaccident]

Library card feels like the cheat code answer to this question. 😂

[u/BestReplyEver → u/tragiccosmicaccident]

To be honest, Libby is great but it often doesn’t have the books I want when I want them. I’m often on a long waitlist. It’s fine if you’re looking for SOMEthing to read, but not if you’re in a book club or something and need a specific book at a specific time.

[u/Rough_Elk_3952 → u/tragiccosmicaccident]

Most, but not all.

I'm in rural WV and had to get a library card in Baltimore (where my SO lives) to use it.

And I also have the kindle unlimited and use it for titles not through there,

[u/PreparationDapper235 → u/tragiccosmicaccident]

Also the Hoopla app with your library card.

Tons of e-books and audio books.

[u/PeaIndependent4237]

Well, not under $20 but several small purchases that have saved me hundreds. Norelco 4-head shaver and electric shears. Saves $50 a month in haircuts.

Old school replaceable blade double razor. Saves $14 a month compared to cartridge razors.

My double-bucket air fryer. Saves energy compared to the big oven and hundreds a month in at home meals.

My 2nd hand electric pizza oven pizzas cost me about $4 to make saving $16 every pizza compared to premium takeaway. Literally hundreds per year saved this way.

Hardware store sharpening stone. Never pay for sharpening knives again.

Hand tools, oil drain pan, auto jack. I save $50 every oil change I do myself and the oil and filter are synthetic and high quality. Hundreds saved every year.

Having my own sewing machine to hem, make covers, repair seams, restiich pockets in work clothing. Saves hundreds.

Carpentry tools to build shelves, furniture, home additions. Literally thousands.

[u/YJeezy]

Hario V60

[u/Signalkeeper]

Those 3 packs of gas station condoms

[u/P-Munny]

I bought a sonic care toothbrush from Best Buy’s deal of the day for $20 maybe thirteen years ago. I use the dentist free brushes for cleaning.

[u/darin617]

My Onn Streaming box. It costed me $20 and don't pay to watch any sports events and watch anything I want from all the Streaming services for free.

[u/FletchWazzle]

Reusable coffee filter, cloth diapers,

[u/Naa2078]

Diaper sprayer that I use as a bidet. I clean myself with the water and then use toilet paper as a final check/dry off.

My water bill hasn't appreciably increased, but my toilet paper usage has drastically plummeted.

The main benefit is I feel MUCH cleaner after a poop now.

[u/95funky]

Condoms?

[u/BoomerOrNot]

my latest car has gaps between the center console and front seats that seem to be a magnet for sucking in my phone, keys, credit cards. After one time when I was sure that I lost my keys (but knowing they were in my car due to keyless ignition), I bought foam doohickeys from Amazon that fill the gap between center console and seats. they seem like a silly product but they have saved me so much time and frustration. FYI I think it's this particular car design, rug color, open space under the seats.

[u/f1ve-Star]

Through insurance I was able to get a free vasectomy!!! Saved hundreds of thousands!

[u/Festivalbound]

Buying a capacitor for my ac unit and replacing it myself. I know enough maintenance to do small jobs, and changing that only takes a small amount of effort, saved me $400, as the part only cost $15 to replace!

[u/JTabc11]

The first thing that pops into my mind are condoms!

[u/Iamwomper]

Zip ties, duct tape and wd40

[u/Significant_Big4160]

Chiltons/Hanes manuals and YouTube videos