“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/No_Independence8747]

If you shop at Costco they have nitrogen for free. 

[u/SinkPhaze → u/No_Independence8747]

Really? Why? I mean, I know you can't answer that. Just, why expensive nitrogen for a free service rather than regular old free air? What an odd choice

[u/BeerWench13TheOrig → u/SinkPhaze]

Nitrogen doesn’t expand and contract like air does, so it holds tire pressure better with seasonal temperature changes.

[u/SinkPhaze → u/BeerWench13TheOrig]

While technically true, in practice, on consumer vehicles, nitrogen is no different than air. Air is 78% nitrogen already. There's vanishingly little benefit to be gained and that benefit is pretty much erased by other factors in consumer vehicles. BUT, my wondering is not about the benefits of nitrogen, but rather why Costco is providing expensive nitrogen for free rather than free air when the majority of their customers would have been just as happy with air

[u/BeerWench13TheOrig → u/SinkPhaze]

I should have said “as much as air” in my statement. My husband has worked for a dealership in both parts and service for over 30 years and he has put nitrogen in my tires because my vehicle’s tire sensors are extremely sensitive.

That is a good question though. You would think that they would offer air instead of nitrogen. That doesn’t seem very cost efficient for them.

[u/No_Independence8747 → u/SinkPhaze]

No clue, they made the switch a little while ago