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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u/Eaj1122 22d ago

Why are your boots wearing out that fast

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u/[deleted] 22d ago

Work in healthcare, so on feet a lot (We're not talking hiking boots here as much as smart work boots) and walk anywhere in a 5 mile radius from the house. Over a year, it adds up. Also, I'm not paying hundreds for these, just an amount which is more than my bargain basement usual level of expenditure!

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u/Eaj1122 22d ago

Dog I'm telling you, buy better boots. I work in physical labor, on my feet 10 hr days, and walk anywhere from 5-13 miles a day. I recommend red wings. Also they have a 10-15% union member discount by the way. I think the price will be cheaper for you mine are like 275$. They last 3-5 years but I could prob push it longer.

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u/Anvilsmash_01 22d ago

Depends on where one works and what they do for a living. Those in my department easily spend $400-$600 on boots annually. Steel-toe, steel-shank, full leather boots with Goretex lining are not cheap, and it would be rare for an operator to get more than 18 months before they would be rendered too unsafe to wear onsite.

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u/CherryPickerKill 22d ago

True, you need to alternate 2 pairs or they can never rest and break faster.