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Not everything in this world costs an arm and a leg. And while most people believe that their quality of life is largely governed by the amount of money they have, this illuminating thread proves us wrong.

Shared on the Frugal community on Reddit, the thread has people sharing the cheapest buys and even things that cost nothing they use to improve their life quality and overall wellbeing.

From small things like incense sticks to amazing things that are free of charge like long sleeps and walks in nature, there are many ways to get ourselves together without breaking the bank!

#1

"What Is Something That Is Super Cheap, But Vastly Improves Your Quality Of Life?" (30 Answers) The library. Free. So much joy and entertainment and learning right there.

shiplesp , Devon Divine Report

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Megan Curl
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love the library! The Libby app is awesome, and I even get free movies from Kanopy.

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#2

"What Is Something That Is Super Cheap, But Vastly Improves Your Quality Of Life?" (30 Answers) Long walks as often as you can. Preferably in nature.

bUrNtKoOlAiD , Zeynep Sümer Report

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trollingergirl
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even better: walks with a friend. Healthy exercise, sun or at least fresh air and good conversations.

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#3

"What Is Something That Is Super Cheap, But Vastly Improves Your Quality Of Life?" (30 Answers) I received a microwave splatter cover as a Christmas present. I heard it was bought at a dollar store. It's my most valued, most often used gift of the past many years.

Seeking_Balance101 , NordicWare Report

#4

"What Is Something That Is Super Cheap, But Vastly Improves Your Quality Of Life?" (30 Answers) Blackout curtains for your bedroom window

turfinite , Alicia Christin Gerald Report

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RedCorvette
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

God yes, especially during the summer when the sun in still blazing at 9pm and you’re trying to get to sleep.

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#6

"What Is Something That Is Super Cheap, But Vastly Improves Your Quality Of Life?" (30 Answers) Getting a good, long sleep.

1714alpha , Craig Adderley Report

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PandaRave
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Are we really doing this? This is just gonna be free stuff that’s mildly challenging to do?

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#7

"What Is Something That Is Super Cheap, But Vastly Improves Your Quality Of Life?" (30 Answers) We never had fresh flowers in the house growing up, but now that I’m almost 30 and married, I love getting the little $5 flower bunches at Kroger every week! I know $5 adds up over the year, but it makes me so happy seeing pretty little blooms on our dining room table. Sometimes little joys are worth the expense :)

jlladd16 , Christopher Martyn Report

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Mia Black
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are growing small purple flowers near our trashbins. I like to snap a few of them and put them in a tiny earthy vase. It is a colourful dot on our table and for free

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#8

"What Is Something That Is Super Cheap, But Vastly Improves Your Quality Of Life?" (30 Answers) $1 bamboo back scratcher (is this an age thing, I never needed one when I was young?)

dogsRgr8too , aliexpress Report

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#9

"What Is Something That Is Super Cheap, But Vastly Improves Your Quality Of Life?" (30 Answers) Drinking water lol no sodas or carbonated beverages. My teeth, gut and overall health are a bit grateful.

WatercressSubject717 , Giorgio Trovato Report

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Molly Whuppie
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I drink water 90% of the time, but sometimes I want some fizz. So I get some plain mineral water and add fruit to it. Strawberries etc are pretty good for flavouring. Sweetens it naturally and you get a serving of fruit too.

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#10

"What Is Something That Is Super Cheap, But Vastly Improves Your Quality Of Life?" (30 Answers) A hot shower.
And the little metal hair catcher I put in the drain so it doesn’t clog.

KemptHeveled , Hannah Xu Report

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Lyone Fein
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A hot shower is such a huge luxury that many people in the world do not have. Yet those of us who do, take it for granted.

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#12

"What Is Something That Is Super Cheap, But Vastly Improves Your Quality Of Life?" (30 Answers) Walking my daughter to school.

We literally live across the street and I would drive her. The amount of time it would take for us to get from our apartment to the van, get buckled, and down to the exit of the parking garage, around the block and wait at the light, I could already be across the street.

Now we walk to and from, round trip is 20 mins, twice per day, so roughly 40 mins of low-impact cardio per day five days per week.

We have more energy and diminished pain (she has scoliosis and some fused vertebrae and I have fibromyalgia). Bonus: my pants are now too big.

hanimal16 , Clarisse Meyer Report

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Mia Black
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder how they got to the idea of driving when it's so close but I am glad and happy for them they finally figured, this is an easy walk (and maybe wonderful bonding time)

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#13

"What Is Something That Is Super Cheap, But Vastly Improves Your Quality Of Life?" (30 Answers) Growing my own vegetables. Getting out in fresh air and working in it. Frees my mind and helps me relax. Plus is fresh vegetables.

darkwitch1306 , Markus Spiske Report

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Glengoolie Blue
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Home grown vegetables taste infinitely better than the junk you buy at the store.

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#14

"What Is Something That Is Super Cheap, But Vastly Improves Your Quality Of Life?" (30 Answers) Not always cheap (vary in price) but houseplants.

crazycatlady331 , Prudence Earl Report

#15

"What Is Something That Is Super Cheap, But Vastly Improves Your Quality Of Life?" (30 Answers) Homemade bread!

MsRachelGroupie , Mathilda Khoo Report

#16

"What Is Something That Is Super Cheap, But Vastly Improves Your Quality Of Life?" (30 Answers) Binder clips. Handy for closing chip bags. Handy for anchoring picnic tablecloths to the table. Handy for posting things prominently so you remember to do them.

I keep some in multiple rooms of my house and in my vehicles.

excoriator , Content Pixie Report

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Kel_how
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I use clothespins. I can get a 100 pack from the dollar store and they last forever.

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#17

"What Is Something That Is Super Cheap, But Vastly Improves Your Quality Of Life?" (30 Answers) I'm going to go with... Buying duplicates to cut down on the barrier to chores.

For example, cleaning the toilet. I could buy just one bottle of toilet bowl cleaner and carry it to each bathroom when I'm cleaning. But instead, I buy one for each bathroom and leave one by each toilet. This doesn't cost more than buying just one in the long run, since the cleaner is consumed at about through the same rate (although it's a little faster because I'm actually using it), but it means that it's that much easier to clean a toilet when I need to do it. And because it's easier to clean the toilet, they stay cleaner, which means it takes barely a few minutes to clean a toilet and I don't have to deal with the extra nasty level of grime that's hard to clean.

Another example would be having broom for each floor of the house. I'm more likely to sweep if I don't have to bring a broom from upstairs or something. Or buying extra rolls of trash bags and leaving the rolls near each trash can.

aja_c , Kelly Sikkema Report

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Mirabelle Skyrim
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mind boggles at the idea of being able to afford to live in a place that has more than one floor and more than one toilet/bathroom.

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#18

"What Is Something That Is Super Cheap, But Vastly Improves Your Quality Of Life?" (30 Answers) Yoga With Adriene on YouTube. I love her relaxed vibe and variety of offerings. So much better than having to go somewhere and pay for a class, and I always feel so good afterwards.

hillycake , Alexandra Tran Report

#19

"What Is Something That Is Super Cheap, But Vastly Improves Your Quality Of Life?" (30 Answers) A hot cup of tea with a little honey.

A day spent hiking or biking.

Free YouTube yoga classes.

Exercise in general - no expensive gym needed. Work out at home or outside.

An afternoon on the sofa with a good book and a blanket.

sauvignonyum , Jessica Delp Report

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jdtimid123
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Walks outside are easy, but I've tried multiple times in the past to be an "exercise at home" kind of person, and I just don't have the discipline to keep with it if I don't have a group workout to go to. But a lot of towns do have groups that meet in the park in summer time and stuff.

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#20

"What Is Something That Is Super Cheap, But Vastly Improves Your Quality Of Life?" (30 Answers) Buying treats for my pet, and showing him love through them. Quite rewarding

Nevertrumper2019 , McDobbie Hu Report

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Cosmologist wannabe
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is good for pet and owner. It gives trust to pet and owner, plus it is very helpful in training dogs.

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#21

"What Is Something That Is Super Cheap, But Vastly Improves Your Quality Of Life?" (30 Answers) A second vote for some dollar store bins.

Having ADHD causes me to forget to do morning routine things constantly. So I finally put everything in a basket - hair brush, hair ties, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, tongue scraper, ear cleaner. Basket comes out and everything is right there.

Also a pill organizer. I got two huge unopened ones from the thrift store and since I take several daily meds to keep me alive, it's kind of important to remember to take them. So on Sundays I refill and I have two so I only have to do it twice a month. It sits out on my counter as a reminder.

Chester730 , Ron Lach Report

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#22

"What Is Something That Is Super Cheap, But Vastly Improves Your Quality Of Life?" (30 Answers) Dental floss

burnz1 , Sora Shimazaki Report

#23

"What Is Something That Is Super Cheap, But Vastly Improves Your Quality Of Life?" (30 Answers) Taking walks or hiking in the woods. So rejuvenating!

Or simply birdwatching and listening to birds in the backyard.

GeekyGrannyTexas , Bonnie Kittle Report

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yeeyee
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have one in my backyard that I copy their chirp but haven’t seen them one time yet….

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#24

"What Is Something That Is Super Cheap, But Vastly Improves Your Quality Of Life?" (30 Answers) A microwavable heat pack. Helps me feel relaxed and ease aches and pains

wiredandtired1980 , TESNN Report

#25

"What Is Something That Is Super Cheap, But Vastly Improves Your Quality Of Life?" (30 Answers) A walk beside the ocean. A cup of tea and a blanket and a book.

the_wet_coast , Tamara Bellis Report

#26

"What Is Something That Is Super Cheap, But Vastly Improves Your Quality Of Life?" (30 Answers) All of these suggestions are so good. Scrolling through I had that "these are my people" feeling. I love this sub

Lemon or cucumber water!
A crystal suncatcher prism in a sunny window (rainbows everywhere!)
A clean, organized home
Exercise in nature (hikes, yoga, wild swimming, etc)
Line dried bedding (the freshness makes me so happy)
Deep breathing
Tea and a book
Fresh flowers (bought or foraged)
Gardening
Volunteering

MixMaxMirror , Leonie Clough Report

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LK
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love freshly laundered sheets, dried in the sun. Slipping into bed is sheer perfection.

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#28

"What Is Something That Is Super Cheap, But Vastly Improves Your Quality Of Life?" (30 Answers) Really good food, not expensive either. Today I'm cooking mahi mahi over cheesy grits with asparagus . Less than $4 a serving. Everything was bought on sale. Last week was Mongolian pork with ramen noodles. Pork loin on sale for $1.48 a pound, ramen $.39 per packet.

lilithONE , Kevin McCutcheon Report

#29

"What Is Something That Is Super Cheap, But Vastly Improves Your Quality Of Life?" (30 Answers) Water bottle

Professional-Pace-43 , Globelet Reusable Report

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Chexmy Licks
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

here in japan water bottles cost around 1-5k or smth depending on what kinds ur going to buy. but stainless that keeps everything in the bottle hot or cold last longer

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#30

"What Is Something That Is Super Cheap, But Vastly Improves Your Quality Of Life?" (30 Answers) Cheap organizational containers- I tend to misplace things a lot, so having my items (office supplies, makeup, food, etc) allocated to different boxes saves me so much time and frustration. Also, it allows me to save space by vertically organizing my desk/cabinets via stacking boxes.

Used/resold books - I’ve gotten some classics for $2-3 at Half Price Books and at other great sales to add to my mini library and preoccupy me. Taking advantage of the library for free books/movies is also a great idea, and the library (or mine, at least) used to have a program where they were selling older books for $0.25-0.50.

Humidifier/diffuser/air purifier - The diffuser I got was from Five Below and had a low capacity, so it could only humidify a very small space, but all you do is put essential oils into the small sponge provided and it makes the room smell amazing. My tiny, drab dorm smelled like roses and was beautified by the changing rainbow light built in, which made my time in there less miserable lol. If you live in a cold, dry midwestern state like me, then a humidifier is a great investment and you can find a pretty good one under $20 on Amazon.

The_Sanity_Diaries , RODNAE Productions Report

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LazyKitten
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Used books at book sales are so amazing- Flyleaf Books also has an amazing used book section.

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Note: this post originally had 60 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.