35 People Share Times They Cheaped Out On Something And Couldn’t Go Back To Its “Luxury” Version After
Money has never been such a sensitive subject as it is now, as we live in times of a cost of living crisis. Most households have been forced to rethink their priorities when it comes to spending and rethink most of their purchases very well before actually buying them.
Meanwhile, we have long heard about investing in more expensive things because it’s more sustainable and the chances are you’re going to use them for longer. In fact, we previously wrote about expensive purchases that really paid off according to people in an article you can find here.
But this is not always the case. Often our tight budget forces us to look for cheaper alternatives and they don't always disappoint us. Quite on the contrary, cheaper versions of the same products can be very pleasantly surprising if you know what to look for, according to people from this Ask Reddit thread.
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I absolutely love candles and recently discovered that Michael’s (the craft store) sells these large yankee-resembling candles that are permanently on sale for $3. It’s way more satisfying to have 6 matching candles burning throughout your house than one nice $20 one in a single room by itself.
* If you're committed to name-brand candles, check your local TJ Maxx, Ross, HomeGoods or similar store to get them for like half the price.
* IKEA also makes great cheap candles. Their tealights in particular are surprisingly fragrant.
* To the people expressing concern about all the chemicals I'm inhaling when burning cheap candles: Just wait 'til you hear about my [drug] problem.
My washing machine.
back when I first moved out of home, my father went with me shopping, and kept pushing me to buy the basic model. its got no electronics that you can see - just two knobs you turn and click into place. let it do its magic.
that was ...god... 2001? 2002? it's still going. my dad didn't get a choice and my mum wanted all the bells and whistles. since then they've gone through three. my sister moved out of home a few years later, her husband is a snob when it comes to home appliances. they're up to machine two themselves. mine is still going strong.
The less electronic components and moving parts, the less there is to go wrong
Had a really good talk about this with a salesman in a small electronics store: I asked for a washer/dryer combination with some nice programs for things like silk or cashmere. He just asked me "how often did you use the dryer in your last washing machine?" As a typical european I use to hang clothes to dry, only using the dryer for things like bedding od tablecloth (yes, this is a regional difference), so my answer was "next to never". Next question: "how many silk garments do you own?" - Answer: Maybe two. He then convinced me to settle on an inexpensive but solid washing machine without much frills, that has faithfully served me up to this day. I am still going back to this store when I need something, just because the salesman took the time to determine my needs instead of going for the profit.
Similar experience with a refridgerator. Salesperson told me new ones last 5 years. My old one was going on 20 and still worked great. Wife wanted new one anyway. It cost 5 times what the old one did and only has half the capacity. Time will tell on longevity
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Same goes for dishwashers, I’ve had the same experience, opt for the models with all the electronic bells and whistles and it breaks down within two washes. Nightmare in most appliance stores to return/exchange
Our dishwasher lasted almost 50 years. It finally died just as we were getting ready to sell our house, so we replaced it with another basic model.
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I bought a floor model Kenmore washer and dryer at a scratch and dent sale in 1994. The dryer worked until 2016 and then I couldn't buy the parts for it any longer. The washer lasted until 2021 and it cost more to get it fixed than it was worth. I was so sad when I had to let my ugly brown washer and dryer and replace them.
The simple ones run forever and are built like tanks! The fancy ones break down if you look at them crosseyed.
My parents house had a washer in it when they purchased it back in 1998, I am pretty sure it had been in the house since it was built in 1992. It was a very basic machine but one of the best they'd ever used. It had maybe 3-4 wash settings. It finally died about 4-5 years ago and they had to get a brand new one. It had a bunch of bells and whistles, probably 8-9 was settings, most they never use. They need another brand new one again because the one they got malfunctions. I recommended to them to go basic. They are looking into a basic one. I think majority of the washers on the market have too many features and it does nothing but jack up the price when a basic with 3-4 settings is much better.
My wonderful husband fixed our washing machine this weekend. The capacitor went out. It's a basic no frills washer.
I nearly had to bludgeon the salesman—who insisted I wanted the fancy digital washer and dryer—to sell me the standard "knobs and switches" appliances. He couldn't understand why I would want them until I told him, "If these break, I can fix them." The dryer's on/off switch broke; I replaced it with a light switch. The fancy model would have needed a new motherboard. These appliances do NOT need computers in them.
Oh I agree completely!! I'm so sick of all the electronic jazz on stuff, especially vehicles. My basic washer and dryer (Kenmore) are at least 29 years old with no issues!!
But that is because the sales would go down and the manufacturers need to make as many as they can with the high competition now, and do now and ensure they become obsolete or need fixing earlier to keep the dollars rolling around! How many electrical foods today have more than one or two years of warranty? Then ask you if you want to lay for extra at the point of sale????
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Same experience here. When we moved into our house we had a fancy front loader. Had to replace it a year later. We were so broke at the time we actually bought a used basic washer from a family friend for $50. 7 years later that thing is still going strong and cleans our clothes way better, and about 45 minutes faster (why do the new machines take so long?)
I have to say, I was actually looking for a basic washing machine and dryer because I HATE the newer model ones. The dryer never dries the clothes completely and I have to constantly restart it on the only setting that allows it to dry without sensing the dryness level or whatever. The basic ones just nuke your clothes till they are done and that’s all I could possibly ask for. Couldn’t find one new.
I tend to buy whatever comes with a decent guarantee. It won't be the top of the range model, but it will have enough on it to do what I want. I also tend to have a price in my head that I want to pay and try and stick to it. I do have a good repair guy, but even he said it would be cheaper to buy a new washer/dryer than to replace the bearings in the one I had, which was over 15 years old.
100% agree with this. went high end with my first house and was disappointed with their lifespan. Went low tech next time around and still ticking long after
I had an Amana for a little over a year. The circuit board, just died, no warning! $498 for a new one!! $499 for a new washer! My son, found an old washer, 2000 , and just gave it to me. It washes better than my Amana ever thought of! When I moved to WV, there was an old wringer washer on the back porch. It was 50 yo, and got my clothes so clean! I would give Anything to have another one! New washers SUCK!
Same with refrigerators with door dispensers, different kinds of ice makers, bluetooth, yadda yadda. Who needs all that stuff? I like an ice maker but why can't you just get water from the faucet? I don't want a fridge texting me, either. Just more things to break and have to fix.
"Don't want a fridge texting me" - that cracked me up :) I often wonder wether I'm too old or too common sensical to appreciate the Internet Of Things.
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There's nothing better than an old school washing machine. The best part is when it does break, it's usually able to not only be fixed, but fixed quickly and super cheap (comparatively). I'd never worked on home diy projects, especially involving things that plug in, but my dad was able to talk me through changing the belt and the motor over the phone with a drill, pliers and a volt-ohm meter (that he lent me). Keep it as long as you can.
My old enamelled interior top loader washed and spun reliably and I did not notice when oil started coming out the bottom at the rear until I was moving as I took it out to give away to someone. They took it and repaired it themselves as a seal or something needed replacing
Load More Replies... Yeah the straight up mainly mechanical ones will last a lifetime. Repairmen sure love the electronic ones though.
And less options for laundry. I had a decently priced LG that lasted me 12 years and sold them when I moved. I like options.
Same- last 2 washing machines the control board died, current machine is an old second-hand item with minimal circuitry, been working fine for years ( always use the same setting to wash everything, no issues ).
When I bought a new fridge, I stayed away from the ones with ice makers. Every one I know that has one always has a problem with them.
Yes and no. My parents had same machine for 20years never broke down, it was the very basic model. I just bought for my home one that sings a song, it is soooooo much better experience to set up a program that fits your need.
What about energy consumption? (I'm talking just about money, not pollution). My fridge was still going strong after 25+ years but with energy prices, I calculated a brand new one would pay itself in approx 2,5 years ...
And you'll likely have to replace it with the first malfunction. Manufacturers list major replacement parts at about 50% of the cost of the device so including labor you'll pay close to 2/3 the cost of a new one. Now figure the energy cost of manufacturing a new unit. It make an interesting calculation.
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Having had a more expensive machine finally give up we thought we'd try a cheaper make with the same spin speed etc....we wish we hadn't now. Doesn't spin as good despite same spin speed, creases clothes like crazy and no way does it get them as clean, partner wears a uniform we wash apart from everything else so have a base line from both machine.
That is a disappointment. I personally would not be tempted to buy any unknown brand or a cheap one as they cannot perform the basics well (obviously as cheap) as a reliable branded machine even their lowest basic models. I understand the temptation as they are so pricy now too.( Australia anyhow)
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yeah i kinda agree on that one. i'd never buy a 200 Bucks Washing Machine but i'd also never spend more than 2k on a new one as well. my last WM was from BOSCH and it lastet for about 15 Years and i replaced it with a mid-range one from Gorenje because of the power consumption/washable weight/Noise Level/Washing Quality.
We just bought a house and this is the very first set of bran new washer & dryer I have ever bought. They're not fancy, but the washer is H/E.
We had a 24 year old Kenmore washer & dryer that we left in our old house when we moved 4 years ago. I'm still mad at myself for agreeing with my husband to leave them behind. And in another year or two when we need to buy a new set, I'm going with the most basic washer I can find, even if it's a used one!
Forgot that my previous dryer--a cheapo Frigidaire, last more than 20 years.
My fancy Samsung went blooey after 15 months--the computer circuit for all the fancy cycles had blown, and it cost $300 just for the part! Samsung promised a repair but reneged when it turned out no parts were available. didn't call, just cancelled. Many fancy Samsung products are like this--oversophisticated and fragile. And with no parts support.
Mine is also 20 years +, only needed to swap out a faulty motor for 15$. It has electronics. The gentle wash is great for work clothes that i didn't want to waste time ironing.
One does not need all the bells & whistles as long as it washes, rinses well spins and drains properly. I would avoid those cheap brands though. They use inferior materials to cut costs.
I finally had to retire my mom's machine - I inherited the house - I think it was almost 5o years old! A friend gave me a much newer version of the same machine. No electronics on this one either. At 72 years old, this one should see me through! Her new front loader machine stopped in the middle of the cycle because the water stopped and the door locked - no access to the serial number. Two calls to Whirlpool couldn't solve the problem. They wanted the serial number but because of the way the machine was designed, I didn't have access to it. Had to pay someone $90.00 to come. Turns out if you pull the machine out, there's a manual unlock on the back. Although I may not have told the Whirlpool technicians about the water issue, they didn't ask. Their manual didn't give enough information. It should have been solved easily at no cost.
Oww, that is not like the usual Whirpool ..or wasn't years ago when it was a great reliable product and not made in China I suppose as 99% seem to be today. Quick cheap profitable for the sales. Most instructions do not offer repair info even that simple one you had. They should know their product.
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My 2004 Roper washer is still doing its wonderful thing. My dryer too!! They moved with me from military housing, to an apartment, and then houses one, two, then three! ....And STILL doing well! My parents have gone through about four washers and three dryers since.
Ooh, I have something to add to this thread! So, a lot of people do their own manicures at home now, right? I have recently started myself. 'Slip solution' is like £7 for 250ml; look at the ingredients and it's just isopropyl alcohol with some dye in it. I paid £7 for a LITRE of the stuff. Bonus; it's also incredible for keeping wounds clean. I have Psoriasis, and when it flares up, I scratch ribbons off myself. Was perpetually having to have antibiotics for cellulitis. Welp, I got some rubbing alcohol for my nails, and used it to keep my sores clean, and wouldn't you know it? Not a single infection.
We had the same set for more than 20 years, but the dryer went out. I warned my parents when they went to look with a friend that roomed with us not to get one made by a cellphone company...and they got a Samsung. Less than a year after, we started getting calls from Dish Network about scheduling a time for repairs...we have cable...? Eventually, we got a letter explaining that in some situations the lid of the washer would come flying off during operation and Samsung had contracted with Dish Network to make the repairs (what?!) So, they came, fixed it...and a year or two later, we were shopping for a new set, again. Went with Maytag, this time.
Samsung has had some pretty scary washer malfunctions..like catching on fire. I would avoid buying any from them even if the issue is fixed. Maytag is very pricy but you get the best !!
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And no one mentions that the washing machine on the picture is ... mounted on WhEeLs ?!?!
They purposely build things to break after a few years now to make more money. It's infuriating.
Cheaper stuff is sometimes made better because people can't afford new stuff. High priced items almost always are made to break. They figure if you can afford 2k for a washer you can afford to fix it.
I don't need a dryer that plays a tune when the clothes are (sort of) dry.
Bought top of the line Maytag washer/dryer on my Dad's credit card (wedding gift and we lived in different cities) in 1989. In 2017 we remodeled and replaced the still working just fine Maytags with grey/silver finish Samsungs. I hated putting those Maytags out at the curb, I hope some family got many more years of use from them. I have read Maytag products are not what they used to be.
I sold appliances for 3 years and my policy is to get the mid range model. Not the cheapest one (where they cheap out on materials and quality) or the ones where they start adding on features and settings that most people will rarely use if ever. Get the ones that feel the most solid with minimal features. (Because even the simple ones still aren't made to last decades anymore unfortunately)
I had a before dryer just like above... no bells or whistles just 2 knobs. I bought it in my first flat with my now hubby in 2005 and it died last year. It didn't actually die the belt broke but the model was so old they couldn't replace the HUGE nut in the back of the drum. I got 17yrs out of it. I've replaced every appliance at least twice some 3 or 4 and top of the range in that same period of time. Never again.
Sears salesman talked me into forgoing the bells and whistles. 2 k**b Maytag...20 years. Still going strong.
We got a fancy front loading washer and dryer. They lasted a long time, but the washer eventually died. Repair guy said the main board was toast, $600 and on a six month backorder. Then he said "for that price, go buy a used refurbished one with the basics". We did. When the dryer started making noises, came back again and said the bearings are wearing out. Again he said, to go out and buy a basic one as he would have to charge more. When we decide to move from our rental house, just going to leave them behind. Didn't cost much. And probably be more of a pain to move considering where we plan to move to.
It's kinda like the rule of all-in-one devices: the more things you make something do, the less well it does any of them.
I got a used washer in 2007, so I have no idea how old it is. Still going strong. A Roper which I understand is made by Whirlpool
I use an older basic washer and dryer too, I don't need all the fancy stuff, older appliances last longer and are built better in my opinion.
They don't wash as well either. I bought an old one for 60 and was lookin on marketplace for the old ones. I would never buy one without the old agitator. My son grew up with his dad and I o ly just now got the one I have. He saw it and asked, is that 6 minutes???? Yep and only push in and out to start. He likes it lol.
Once I went to an electronics shop to buy some appliances (washing machine, dryer, fridge, tv etc.) I asked the sales guy if there was a reliable brand. He said that if I don't buy the most expensive models, I should be prepared to buy a new device in 2-4 years. He told me that one day a customer came in and said that his S-brand equipment had broken down after 3 years, so he would rather buy an E now. Another one came the same day who wanted an S instead of the E, because after 4 years the E broke and it was too expensive to repair. I think it's our fault. We the customers let them play this game.
Clothing from second hand. Now I can not buy expensive clothes.
Bonus, sometimes the clothes you can get second-hand are higher end as well!
It goes without saying that the cost of living crisis has massively affected our finances, the way we spend, and our lifestyle, which has left many of us anxious and uncertain about ways to cope. Not only are we rethinking our spending habits, we have realized that things we used to afford are no longer attainable.
In such financially challenging times, it’s all about saving when you can and spending cleverly. Bid farewell to impulse shopping and retail therapy and welcome to the world of sustainable consumption, whether it’s groceries, homeware, or clothing.
Speaking of clothing, sustainability, or rather the lack of it, has long been an issue of fast fashion. More and more people, designers, and fashion experts are speaking up about the negative impacts of wasteful consumption on our planet and its people. The idea of consuming clothes thoughtfully and buying less is as appealing as ever since today, many people no longer have the budget for it that they used to.
Makeup. You can get some really brilliant products for such a cheaper price rather than having the "brand" on it. Kylie's brushes are dog s**t, for example, and they're retailed at $318. All of my brush sets have cost me £20 at most, and I'm a makeup artist so I need good quality stuff. Brands don't make it good.
Shampoo. I used to spend a fortune thinking maybe THIS time my hair will be silky and beautiful and life will be great. Now I buy a cheap sulphate free bottle and run through the tiniest bit of any conditioner at the ends. Saves me a fortune.
And as already mentioned, all drugs I buy are generic from the supermarket. My 16p paracetamol works just the same as the named brand £1.50 lot.
I buy my moisturiser from Aldi. It’s the best facial cream I’ve ever used.
Bleach for 50p from the supermarket bleaches just as well as the £2 domestos bottle.
Man I’m starting to sound like my granny.
So to find out about shopping cheap, as well as making sure you buy clothes as rarely as possible to make sure your wallet and our planet don’t suffer, we spoke with Orsola de Castro, the co-founder of Fashion Revolution and the author of “Loved Clothes Last.”
According to de Castro, people don’t have enough knowledge of ways to make their clothes long-lasting because brands don’t encourage clothing repairs and clothing longevity. “Of course, the emphasis is always on buying new.”
De Castro argues that if we had cheap repair stations in all fast fashion stores, then there would be a direct correlation between buying cheap and being able to afford repairs. Meanwhile, if all luxury brands offered in-store repairs for their expensive clothing, we would understand the value of maintenance.
Most Asian car brands. They may not impress as a status symbol but most Hondas/Toyotas/even Hyundais are more reliable, will take you to a mechanic a lot less, and will hold their value better than many other brands, including luxury options like BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Jaguar, Cadillac...etc.
For years I paid 35+tip for a men's haircut at Korean Salons... because Korean women "know how to cut Korean men's hair"...
Last year I started going to a barbershop that cuts my hair for 13 bucks. Not only does my Mexican barber cut my hair for a fraction of the cost, he cuts it better than any Korean woman I've met.
Mid range Android phones. Just got a moto g5 plus for $200 on Black Friday. Never paying for a flagship ever again. This phone has everything I need plus the battery still has 50% left at the end of the day.
While I agree regards not paying stupid money for flagship phones. Especially as with many you're just paying for the brand name while the workers are exploited. As a cyber tech I've to express concern regards some of the cheaper models - especially the unknown Chinese brands. Many of these contain serious spyware and connect/report everything to servers in China.
“The world of fashion is ensuring that citizens keep buying without a real sense of responsibility for what has to come next,” de Castro said.
“The way things are now, we’re very used to buying things that are incredibly cheap. Sometimes repairing might seem even more expensive than actually buying cheap. So that’s a difficult mindset to change. People do believe that buying something cheap is also a way of saving money,” de Castro explained. According to her, “the trick is to do both–buy cheap and maintain.”
Kind of out there, but last year my partner and I purchased a electric meat grinder. It had all these fancy attachments and nozzles, so we assumed it would be able to do a lot.
The very first time we used it, it got stuck several times, sent the mince out with black bits through it even after washing, and was so loud that the neighbours could hear. Eventually, one time we used it sparks flew up the machine and it promptly died.
We got a nice little 'stick on the counter' manual one after that and its done everything we throw at it with perfect precision. Would never ever go back.
TJ Maxx. Seriously. I get like 3x the amount of athletic gear there, the same big name brands.
Underarmour, Nike, Reebok. All for like $15 each depending on the clothing. Big name sports bras? $7 at times.
I’ve been waiting for this thread. About a month ago I was staying at a friends place and forgot a razor.
I needed to shave bad as I was starting to look like hair lip Steve. So I asked my wife to get me a razor from the grocery.
She came back with a pack of 8 top of my usual top of the line Gillette triple double whatever things. $50. But no stick. Just the heads.
The friend I was staying with gave me one of his humble shick duos. $8 for 12 INCLUDING THE STICK.
Friends - it was the most incredible shave. I didn’t cut myself once. It sliced right through my disgraceful hair lip like a dream. Will honestly never ever go back to those 15 bladed wank fest pat rafter shaving con jobs.
Hear the truth and believe it people. Luxury razors are a scam.
Moreover, one of the biggest problems is activists and people saying that fast fashion is so badly made you might throw it away after a few wears. “That’s not strictly true. Fast fashion is simply made, which means it’s simple to repair. If you take a beautiful vintage piece, the delicacy and the intricacy of the hemming would be difficult to repair,” de Castro explained.
Bath towels. We're a beach towel family, now. Bonus is they are much larger and wrap around bodies better, with more area for drying and covering your bits. The different designs make it easy to keep track of whose is whose, too.
Domestic sewing machines. The more money you spend, the more time and money you'll be wasting on repairs. Keep it simple, Sally. You'll often find that something ancient, beat to hell, and dirt cheap outclasses modern computerized machines that cost thousands of dollars.
I've been using a basic 1968 machine for decades, I only bought a new one because the wiring went on the old one. The new one is basic and sturdy too (and I found someone to rewire the other one so now I have TWO machines!)
POPSICLES
I'm a poor college student and I was at the grocery store when suddenly I had the craving for some popsicles. So I stop by the frozen desserts aisle to buy some and find these generic brand popsicles in a plastic bag for $1.79. The bag had 10 popsicles in it and I figured: why not? So I bought it and tried one, best popsicle I have ever had in my life. Now I eat two everyday, only problem is now I'm back home for Christmas and having withdrawls.
Meanwhile, any old Zara, H&M, or Boohoo piece can be easily repaired. Anyone can pick up a broken hem. Anyone can resew a broken button. Moreover, “the materials they use are often a combination of polyester and cotton, which makes them sturdy and resilient, but also impossible to biodegrade.”
It turns out that a blender fabric is not recyclable, but since it’s sturdy, it has very good longevity, so make sure you maintain it as long as you can.
My roommate used to buy chai lattes in coffee shops. Then she noticed they were basically just pouring liquid chai over the steamed milk and being done with it.
So she tracked down the stuff on Amazon, paid 18 dollars for 6 cartons, and will never buy chai lattes in a store ever again
Cables. 99.99999% of people do not need the $200 gold plated HDMI cables.
De Castro argues that if you've bought cheap clothing from any of the fast fashion brands, that doesn’t mean you’re unsustainable. “A trick to actually spending less is if you have bought cheap, then repair it by all means.” Otherwise, another way is to invest in good quality clothing, which does not always mean expensive.
“Add another layer–invest in good quality clothing that is either designed by a sustainable brand or buy secondhand. Try to look for good quality clothing that is either vintage or secondhand. Before buying, apply a checklist: turn your clothing inside out, check for seams, check for quality, and check for the overall state of the piece. And whatever it is you have in your wardrobe that is fast fashion–mend it,” de Castro said.
boxed mac and cheese. no one believes me that i think it tastes better than any homemade, baked, 6-cheese, 2-noodle delicacy. i just want my neon orange powdered b******t, alright?
Those knock off brand cereal bags. They are bigger cheaper and I usually can't taste the difference.
Pregnancy tests. $2 at the dollar store in a panic, or even cheaper if you plan ahead and buy them in bulk online. Never buying a $20 drugstore test again. Cheap enough you can just... take one whenever you need peace of mind.
Mascara. Drug store mascara is just as good if not better than any $25+ premium makeup brand mascara.
How am I the first to mention the Ozark Trail (Wal-Mart brand) knockoff Yeti tumblers? $7, and they might work better. We have one Yeti and four knockoffs...
Plates.
I had always bought fancy plate sets that looked good in the past and they always ended up chipping and breaking on me. One day I decided to just get the plain white 10 dollar Canadian tire pack. I've never had a better plate. No chips, no b******t, the bottom doesn't scratch my table. Very satisfied.
The smartest thing to do: buy professional dinnerware made for restaurants. Not the fancy sets designed for specific dishes, the basic ones. Easy to wash, immune to any temperature or hard sponges, never chip or get scratched, almost unbreakable. And they are not expensive. Maybe not as cheap as a basic ikea set, but definitely less than any other casual brand.
I got a safety razor handle and use double edged razor blades. Way cheaper than Gillette/Schick and still get several weeks out of a blade. Also doesn't clog on my double thick whiskers.
A lot of Target brand stuff like their basic groceries and cleaning products. But most notably Target brand Nyquil tablets actually has decongestant in it unlike regular Nyquil. It makes a lot of difference.
I always find good stuff in this store too (there are always huge discounts if you look properly)
French press > coffee machine
I have a Bodum French Press since like the beginning of times (and a also the Traveler edition). Best coffee ever, at least for me.
Amazon Basics has really good HDMI cables for $6.
On the other hand, Amazon overworks their employees so much that they have to pee in bottles.
Laundry detergent. My roommate is obsessed with trying out the most crazy, fancy, smell-goody laundry detergent and she let's me use it. From what I can tell it does the exact same thing the generic detergent my mom used does
Here’s the thing, it really has an awful lot to do with your washing machine. I had an ultra fancy front loader, and went through a bunch of detergents trying to figure out which one would actually get my clothes clean. Turns out, it was that crappy front loader. Replaced it with a really basic, no bells and whistles, top loader, and now my clothes get clean no matter what detergent it use.
Towels. Expensive towels are soft, but they don't absorb water. You keep rubbing them on your body after a shower, and you're still all wet, and the towel is barely damp.
A $5 towel that's rough on the skin dry MUCH better than a $40 soft one. "Super absorption" only applies if the towel is in contact with the water. If the towel is soft, it's because there is little friction and there isn't much surface contact.
Expensive towels have a lot of fabric softener in them at the start. If you wash them a few times without the softener, they will absorb the water very well, and they are usually denser, wich makes them better than cheap non-dense ones. Just make sure they're cotton, and not polyester.
The Home Depot version of the Magic Erasers sponges. They are half the price and work just as well.
Tuna, the name brands are now just cans of some tuna-like puree whereas the off brands have nice large chunks (shout out to Aldi).
I think with tuna it is important, on the other hand, to be careful about the brand. So many dolphins and other sea animals get caught in tuna nets or hooks. Tuna is not something to consider lightly.
WyzeCam is a $20 1080p security camera that I discovered this year. It beats the more expensive Arlo by miles, in price, quality, customizability (local micro-sd or free 14 day cloud recording), and affordability (No fee or subscription for cloud recording). I returned the 720p Arlo camera. I prefer Headphones from Audio Technica over Bose beats. Colour Pop lippie sticks are better quality than any lipsticks you'll find from luxury makeup brands at a ridiculously low cost. They're highly pigmented, last longer, animal cruelty-free and made in L.A. not China. Kylie Jenner loved them so much she literally copied them, ingredient for ingredient and makes her lipsticks in L.A. too. I used to buy Warby Parker eyeglass frames but now I'm using Goggles4U.com. Store brands like Kirkland, Up & Up, Equate and Great Value make comparable products in almost every category that are less expensive than the more recognizable branded ones.
Pop tarts. The store brands have more icing, are softer, and generally taste better all around.
Walmart brand has nearly twice the filling, too, which definitely improves the flavor
2 buck chuck Pinot Grigio. Even cheaper and just as good....Aldi’s Winking Owl
Personally I can't agree on the cheap wine. Ok, expensive wine isn't always necessarily great and cheap wine doesn't have to be bad. And paying thousands for a big-named vintage wine is more a collectors item than a wine to drink and I certainly wouldn't do that. There are well priced wines, at good value and very enjoyable. An if - like me - you like to explore vineyards in different countries (Napa, Rioja, Tuscany etc.) then you might find good wines from small, unknown producers for little money. But there is often a difference between cheap, mass-produced wine and wine from a more refined producer. But in the end: It's all a matter of taste. Drink what you enjoy...enjoy what you drink. I never found a great 2$ wine that I enjoy though. But for 10-20$ you can find something quite enjoyable.
Saline solution for contacts. 2x 16oz bottles for less than 1 12oz bottle? Yes, please!
I’m talking about typical multi-purpose disinfecting solution meant for contact lenses. Not pure saline solution.
Note: this post originally had 47 images. It’s been shortened to the top 35 images based on user votes.
I absolutely love how everyone on Panda comes together as one when we have a money-saving post. YOU ARE MY PEOPLE!!!!
Yep. Got all different shapes and sizes for my gallery wall. One can of matte black spray paint and they all match.
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I'm a nut for free software. I've got two favorites: 1. Gimp. It's an image-editing software. It's not pretty, and it takes some getting used to, but it does everything I want it to do. 2. Audacity. This free audio editor is better than a lot of paid software I've tried. It's my go-to audio editor.
Inkscape is also a pretty good vector art tool and is free. If you want it just for inking, you can turn off the 'fill'. It's got its issues, but, again, free. Worth checking out, at least.
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Aluminum foil and plastic wrap. Why anyone would pay grocery store prices for these things when you can get it from a discount store way cheaper is beyond me. You're not keeping these things so why pay top dollar for them?
I/we hand-wash & reuse Ziplock bags. Well, the "heavy duty" large & small shortage bags get reused. The thinner "sandwich" or "snack" bags don’t get reused, but we don’t buy/use that size often. The "heavy duty" bags don't last forever, but they last longer than ONE, SINGLE use. 💯 Double-bag and suck the air out, and it's a great way to store all sorts of frozen foods in the deep freezer.
Load More Replies... 
Stud finders -- I have two fancy ones which have never worked very well, then I spied a little gizmo at my local hardware store, It's a rare earth magnet in a small housing that also has a level for under ten bucks - the magnet finds the screws in the sheetrock every darned time. It's super fast and has been 100% reliable.
Store brand mouthwash. Exactly the same ingredients as Listerine but one third the cost.
There's a very prevalent myth among music-lovers that's been disproven by science that gold audio connections are somehow better. The gold prevents them from corroding; that's all. It seems a little odd to jack up the price of a cable from $5 to $50 to buy gold rather than buying a new audio cable every 350 years, or not letting your guitar amp sit it water for weeks at a time.
On the other hand, even if you can't isolate the sound, given the fact that your ear drums are acoustic, your brain can register the "inaudible" difference between acoustic and digital, because there's lots of wierd compression going into digital. In fact, I think it's pretty fascinating how much audio coding leaves up to your brain to fill in the gaps. So yes, go with lower levels of compression, even if you can't understand why you like "the same" sound better.
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Buying store brand items at the grocery is the the way to go. Many are name brand products with a different label. They always have a money back guarantee, in case you don't like it.
Got this little lotion travel pack with two scents, coconut milk and rose vanilla. I got at the dollar tree because my hands were dry and it was a two pack. BEST LOTION EVER!!! I went back recently for more pens (they write like butter!) and I saw two big bottles of the same two scents!! I stretched out of the line to reach over and grab them both!! The brand is Spa Luxury if you're interested. It smells amazing and absorbs nicely leaving my hands smooth for hours.
People really pooh pooh generic or store brands, but we didn't have a choice when the pandemic hit and the shelves were empty at the grocery store. So, we tried the Kroger brand of refried beans and they are SO much better that the name brand I had always bought in the past. Much creamier and about 79 cents cheaper per can
Strange to see so many people thanking Aldi for their products. Aldi where I'm at sucks. Constantly out of everything and 90% of the time the food is SO ripe, you have to eat it within that day or the next or it rots
I go to Aldi specifically for chocolate and sweet pickles. The rest is just about the same as any other supermarket around
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Sun glasses. Sun glasses and I have complicated relationship, in which I am the aggressive part, and I switch my fellas on a regular basis after completely breaking or scratching them to the core. Those RayBans may have a name and possible quality with them, but no fella can survive my Godzilla mode, not even RayBans. So I stick to the cheap models that feel right when I look through them.
I discovered you can buy wholesale sunglasses and I'm never going back. A box of 15 for $30-40. Stash them everywhere, doesn't matter if you lose them because they're so cheap and you have so many.
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Nope. I bought cheap brands instead of the top of line brands, and will never buy cheap again. Especially clothing, and food items.
Washing machine repair. Do some homework on the model you own on youtube. Lucked out the model i was using only needed a -$12 part + delivery. Saved hundreds on buying a new machine. Also tools, IKEA and thrift Shops like Daiso/Ninso/MrDIY have like really cheap tools for everything. Once bought screwdriver for 25cents.
The only thing I've really found that the name brand taste better the generic is Campbell soup. Tried many generics over the years and they always taste like the can. So I'll buy the store premade +usually plastic unfortunately) or make my own in my instant pot. My only problem with making my own, never. Manage to make a small batches I freeze some and then give the extras and there's usually 2 to 3 serving per container I give away. Also my grocery store every week that if I buy a product I get another product for free. I use this a lot. If the product I want is the free I look at how it balances out and I buy it for the free one and then donate to a local food bank..
When I worked at a dollar store in college, we had regular customers who would come in and buy about a dozen pairs of $1 reading glasses every month or so. They said most pairs got lost or broken in that timeframe, so there was no way they were spending $400 for a pair of bifocals that was gonna end up gone or busted in a few weeks.
I absolutely love how everyone on Panda comes together as one when we have a money-saving post. YOU ARE MY PEOPLE!!!!
Yep. Got all different shapes and sizes for my gallery wall. One can of matte black spray paint and they all match.
Load More Replies... I'm a nut for free software. I've got two favorites: 1. Gimp. It's an image-editing software. It's not pretty, and it takes some getting used to, but it does everything I want it to do. 2. Audacity. This free audio editor is better than a lot of paid software I've tried. It's my go-to audio editor.
Inkscape is also a pretty good vector art tool and is free. If you want it just for inking, you can turn off the 'fill'. It's got its issues, but, again, free. Worth checking out, at least.
Load More Replies... Aluminum foil and plastic wrap. Why anyone would pay grocery store prices for these things when you can get it from a discount store way cheaper is beyond me. You're not keeping these things so why pay top dollar for them?
I/we hand-wash & reuse Ziplock bags. Well, the "heavy duty" large & small shortage bags get reused. The thinner "sandwich" or "snack" bags don’t get reused, but we don’t buy/use that size often. The "heavy duty" bags don't last forever, but they last longer than ONE, SINGLE use. 💯 Double-bag and suck the air out, and it's a great way to store all sorts of frozen foods in the deep freezer.
Load More Replies... Stud finders -- I have two fancy ones which have never worked very well, then I spied a little gizmo at my local hardware store, It's a rare earth magnet in a small housing that also has a level for under ten bucks - the magnet finds the screws in the sheetrock every darned time. It's super fast and has been 100% reliable.
Store brand mouthwash. Exactly the same ingredients as Listerine but one third the cost.
There's a very prevalent myth among music-lovers that's been disproven by science that gold audio connections are somehow better. The gold prevents them from corroding; that's all. It seems a little odd to jack up the price of a cable from $5 to $50 to buy gold rather than buying a new audio cable every 350 years, or not letting your guitar amp sit it water for weeks at a time.
On the other hand, even if you can't isolate the sound, given the fact that your ear drums are acoustic, your brain can register the "inaudible" difference between acoustic and digital, because there's lots of wierd compression going into digital. In fact, I think it's pretty fascinating how much audio coding leaves up to your brain to fill in the gaps. So yes, go with lower levels of compression, even if you can't understand why you like "the same" sound better.
Load More Replies... Buying store brand items at the grocery is the the way to go. Many are name brand products with a different label. They always have a money back guarantee, in case you don't like it.
Got this little lotion travel pack with two scents, coconut milk and rose vanilla. I got at the dollar tree because my hands were dry and it was a two pack. BEST LOTION EVER!!! I went back recently for more pens (they write like butter!) and I saw two big bottles of the same two scents!! I stretched out of the line to reach over and grab them both!! The brand is Spa Luxury if you're interested. It smells amazing and absorbs nicely leaving my hands smooth for hours.
People really pooh pooh generic or store brands, but we didn't have a choice when the pandemic hit and the shelves were empty at the grocery store. So, we tried the Kroger brand of refried beans and they are SO much better that the name brand I had always bought in the past. Much creamier and about 79 cents cheaper per can
Strange to see so many people thanking Aldi for their products. Aldi where I'm at sucks. Constantly out of everything and 90% of the time the food is SO ripe, you have to eat it within that day or the next or it rots
I go to Aldi specifically for chocolate and sweet pickles. The rest is just about the same as any other supermarket around
Load More Replies... Sun glasses. Sun glasses and I have complicated relationship, in which I am the aggressive part, and I switch my fellas on a regular basis after completely breaking or scratching them to the core. Those RayBans may have a name and possible quality with them, but no fella can survive my Godzilla mode, not even RayBans. So I stick to the cheap models that feel right when I look through them.
I discovered you can buy wholesale sunglasses and I'm never going back. A box of 15 for $30-40. Stash them everywhere, doesn't matter if you lose them because they're so cheap and you have so many.
Load More Replies... Nope. I bought cheap brands instead of the top of line brands, and will never buy cheap again. Especially clothing, and food items.
Washing machine repair. Do some homework on the model you own on youtube. Lucked out the model i was using only needed a -$12 part + delivery. Saved hundreds on buying a new machine. Also tools, IKEA and thrift Shops like Daiso/Ninso/MrDIY have like really cheap tools for everything. Once bought screwdriver for 25cents.
The only thing I've really found that the name brand taste better the generic is Campbell soup. Tried many generics over the years and they always taste like the can. So I'll buy the store premade +usually plastic unfortunately) or make my own in my instant pot. My only problem with making my own, never. Manage to make a small batches I freeze some and then give the extras and there's usually 2 to 3 serving per container I give away. Also my grocery store every week that if I buy a product I get another product for free. I use this a lot. If the product I want is the free I look at how it balances out and I buy it for the free one and then donate to a local food bank..
When I worked at a dollar store in college, we had regular customers who would come in and buy about a dozen pairs of $1 reading glasses every month or so. They said most pairs got lost or broken in that timeframe, so there was no way they were spending $400 for a pair of bifocals that was gonna end up gone or busted in a few weeks.
