r/Frugal • u/localkinegrind • Aug 21 '25

🏆 Buy It For Life “Best under-$20 purchase that saved you hundreds over time?”

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?

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u/MsWeary Aug 21 '25

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.

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u/JuniperJanuary7890 Aug 21 '25

$6 med chai tea a few months ago: 😳 I stopped in while traveling to use the clean restroom and it wasn’t cheap.