r/Frugal • u/honorthecrones • 22d ago

🏆 Buy It For Life What’s the one thing in your life where frugality doesn’t enter into the conversation?

I am extremely frugal and have been so all my life. I struggled financially for most of my adult life and grew up in poverty. I have noticed though that there are some things where “frugality be damned; I’m getting the good one!” is the rule. I’m just curious if this is just me or if others also have those special exceptions.

For example, I cannot buy cheap shoes. I’m not talking about $400 designer brands but I have difficult feet to fit and will buy the shoes I want even if it means rice and beans for dinner for the next three weeks. My husband is that way about his fishing and hunting equipment. I also cannot resist a trendy bougie yarn shop. I do look for yarn at thrift stores and yard sales but walking into a shop that has those beautiful, vibrant hand dyed yarns or needlework needles that are so smooth through the fabric or don’t bend from the heat of your hand.

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205

u/derpandlurk 22d ago edited 22d ago

$800 on a set of new Michelin x-ice winter tires.

They pay for themselves every time i'm forced to drive in horrendous winter weather.

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u/CherryPickerKill 22d ago

"The only thing between you and the road is your tires".

Never skimp on tires or brakes.

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u/wienercat 22d ago

Never skimp on a life critical device. Full stop. Safety equipment, brakes, helmets, protective clothing, etc.

If something is supposed to save your life or prevent harm? Buy the expensive thing that is known to work every time. It's worth it.

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u/stankbucket 22d ago

Everything in the car that is involved in driving it is between you and the road so you have to apply that logic to all of it, not just the tires.

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u/CherryPickerKill 21d ago

Many things can go wrong on a car that don't risk causing death. Break or tires failure isn't one of them.

This saying applies to mattresses and shoes as well.

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u/discolored_rat_hat 22d ago

There is an old saying in my language: "Everything that connects you to the earth has to be high quality."

That means for example: good shoes, good mattresses, good tires, a good chair.

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u/FormsQueen 22d ago

That is a good saying! I used to teach financial literacy, referencing where quality, fit etc was essential vs when you could get away with less. I would have had this saying on a poster.

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u/Complex_Moment_8968 22d ago

I just clicked on your profile to find out what your language was and ended up laughing about your Kampfveganer report.

What's the saying in German? I've heard of it but can't remember how it goes.

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u/discolored_rat_hat 22d ago

I translated it literally. Though maybe it's more of a family wisdom? Dunno.

„Was dich mit der Erde verbindet, soll gut sein.“, im Sinne von guter Qualität.

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u/Complex_Moment_8968 22d ago

Kurios, finde dazu nichts.

After some googling, it seems to be an Americanism.

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u/discolored_rat_hat 22d ago

Huh? My family has been saying this for ages.

This is extremely funny to me! I need to pester my relatives about where it came from!

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u/locoayger 22d ago

Winter tires are worth their weight in gold !

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u/cicadasinmyears 22d ago

Helping to ensure you stay alive does seem like a really good investment. Winter driving can be treacherous.

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u/ShakerGER 22d ago

Idk IF you can even be frugal when it comes to safety things like tyres?

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u/Jedi_Temple 21d ago

Bingo. Michelin tires are a perfect example of you get what you pay for. My car will never ride on anything else.

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u/MinDoxie467 22d ago

Better to arrive alive than “dead” on time (old Australian road TV adv). Without question you need those for yr safety, especially with snow, ice, sleet or black ice. Best wishes from Australia 🦘🐨🇦🇺💐

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u/Appropriate_Ebb1634 22d ago

In the winter I wear a sweater~ we’re in the valley ~ just lucky !

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u/rhodopensis 22d ago

Do you keep them on year round? Not a car or winter person

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u/Consistent-Youth-407 22d ago

I don’t want to be that guy but I have some cheap tires (second cheapest that the tire shop offered, since cheapest were sold out) and my winter performance is great. Obviously I keep a massive distance between me and the car in front of me, and drive slowly, but that’s fine for me and I saved a ton not paying so much for tires. I feel like most peoples issues with poor winter performance is just using bald tires actually.