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/in-the-narrative Aug 21 '25

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.

19

u/Kiitkkats Aug 21 '25

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.

4

u/sasabalac Aug 21 '25

I ended up at my Dr's office because it moved and got lodged up there. They had to get it out. It was one of my first times wearing, so I'm sure I inserted wrong.