What do you own that has “paid for itself”?

[u/Hot_Examination1918]

[u/deagh]

I spent $125 on a small chest freezer in 2002. I did this because my studio apartment's fridge sucked. If I got it cold enough to freeze stuff in the freezer, it froze stuff in the fridge part too. Anyway, $125 was a lot of money to me then, not to mention the space it took up in my bitty apartment, but so was losing all the food I was losing.

It's now 2026 and my spouse and I own a house and that same freezer is in the garage now. I can get the bigger packs of meat and portion them out, stuff like that. That little 5 cubic foot freezer has paid for itself so many times over in the last 24 years.

Also a camping battery. We keep it charged in case of a power outage. So far it's only been tested with a 12 hour power outage, but it can keep the fridge and freezer going for at least that long and it was down about half power at the end of that. It hasn't quite paid for itself yet, but it's well on its way, just in the food we haven't had to throw out.

[u/spankadoodle → u/deagh]

Chest freezers use an absurdly small amount of energy once the contents are frozen. Technology Connections on YouTube have a 30 minute video on freezers that is far more interesting than it has any right to be

[u/Youcallthatatag → u/spankadoodle]

"Technology Connections has a (1/2 to 3) hour long video on (basically everything) that is far more interesting than it has any right to be." is basically the best ever game of madlibs. Indicator clickers? Catalytic converters? Christmas light colours? Through the magic of buying two, Alec has basically become his own technology wiki!

[u/boarder2k7 → u/Youcallthatatag]

The dishwashers video is supremely useful.

The "you're getting lied to about solar" video is heartbreakingly true, incredibly infuriating, and kinda hopeful

[u/D-S-S-R → u/Youcallthatatag]

Oh how I hate my neighbors christmas lights and that video finally gave me the vocabulary to express my annoyance

[u/Kindly_Ad3974 → u/deagh]

Garage freezer paid for itself at my house too. We are able to buy meat on sale and in larger portions. We hosted a big steak dinner & bought the giant slab of meat at Costco & cut our own steaks - that alone saved a ton.

Another thing for us, and I didn’t expect it: the soda stream. I found it on sale at Costco and mathed it out. We were buying so much sparkling water. The soda stream is cheaper per ounce* even with the canisters. They have a coupon if you exchange the canisters so that’s even better.

* that’s the number that really matters folks - the cost per unit (ounce, pound, kg, whatever))

I guess while I’m talking about it - the Costco executive membership. The % back is great and it’s paid for itself every year. I book rental cars with it and we buy groceries, gas & dog food there. We didn’t make any big purchases there this year and still had some leftover.

[u/TheeOmegaPi → u/deagh]

I stand by my decision to get a chest freezer when I moved to my new place. This was during the pandemic when things were somewhat expensive, but not as expensive as they are now.

It's full of meat of every kind: Pork, Beef, and Chicken. Any time I saw things on sale, I'd get one thing for the meal for the next few days and then three to save.

It has paid for itself three times over thanks to the prices of meat during this administration. No joke it's been the best investment in my home during a time of terrible prices and political decisions.

[u/lacunadelaluna → u/deagh]

What camping battery do you have? If we could just keep the fridge and freezer could cold when the power is out, outages would be a helluva lot less stressful for me

[u/deagh → u/lacunadelaluna]

We have an EcoFlow 1500, which we got at Costco. Looks like they no longer sell that exact model but it's been a couple years now, so that's not too surprising. They do still carry them in general, though, so there's probably a new model that's equivalent. It wasn't cheap, but we were losing at least $100 of food for every multi-hour outage, and we get at least one or two of those a year here, so the battery should pay off in a few more years.

And yeah, exactly, just knowing the fridge and freezer are okay and that I can get into them if I really need to because they're still running, that takes off so much stress.

[u/TrumpsDoubleChin → u/deagh]

but we were losing at least $100 of food for every multi-hour outage

How many multi-hours? I've had power outages that last most of the day and as long as you don't open the fridge door, the contents should be fine for a full day.

[u/alanbly]

My family and I travel to see my wife's parents and my parents in Denver several times a year. We ran the numbers and figured out it was less expensive to buy a used minivan and leave it there than renting cars. Paid itself off in like two years

Edited for clarity

[u/60secondwarlord → u/alanbly]

Do you park it at one your parents homes and just let them use it when you’re not there?

[u/Trickycoolj → u/60secondwarlord]

I have family from Alaska that did this in Washington with family. Car just stayed at their adult kid’s house that was about 20min from the airport.

[u/thabc → u/Trickycoolj]

Crazy they were able to break even near the airport where vehicle registration includes RTA tax. Registration can be hundreds of dollars here.

[u/justdaisukeyo → u/thabc]

It could be an older model car. RTA tax is almost nothing on older cars.

My 2007 Honda Accord is in absolute mint condition and runs great. The total registration cost is a little over $100.

[u/Trickycoolj → u/thabc]

It was Grandpa’s old crown Vic it wasn’t worth a ton and this was before ST2.

[u/Chiron17 → u/alanbly]

Someone I know just went to the UK for a month and rented a car for what ended up being thousands of pounds. They had family there, would have been cheaper to buy a used car.

[u/nelsonmavrick → u/Chiron17]

Years ago I met 3 guys from Germany traveling for 2 months in the US. They paid cash for a car that had current tags. Parked wherever they wanted and had a ton of tickets. They said they'd try to sell it on there last day or just drive up to there airport terminal and leave it.

[u/TotallyAHuman4Realz → u/nelsonmavrick]

Unless they registered it in their name or the person who'd sold it to them did, those tickets are likely going to going back to the seller. And I don't imagine they'd be happy when they find out..lol

[u/Realistic_Abies8779 → u/TotallyAHuman4Realz]

You have to be a pretty big dumbass to leave plates on a vehicle you sold, i'd be mad at myself too.

[u/Responsible-Shower99 → u/Realistic_Abies8779]

When I sold a vehicle in Arizona I was able to report it on the MVD's website. I would think that would provide some protection from someone doing what these guys did even if they didn't change the registration.

Hopefully whoever sold them that vehicle got a bill of sale.

[u/GingerIsTheBestSpice → u/Realistic_Abies8779]

Minnesota & a few other states, the plates stay with the car.

[u/Call_Me_ZG → u/Chiron17]

I looked into this. Drove my brothers car for a day in the UK

Insurance was a nightmare to deal with unless youre from EU. Never again. Will just rent the next time.

[u/Royal-Bicycle-8147 → u/alanbly]

My wife and I do this with clothes we don't wear frequently, along with extra tooth brushes the dentist gives me. I just leave everything in a space bag at my in laws.

[u/dixpourcentmerci → u/alanbly]

My wife and I have talked about this for visiting family in Canada, but it feels a bit intimidating dealing with international paperwork. Maybe it would be fine, I haven’t checked. We also can’t comfortably afford it right now so it hasn’t been prioritized, but rentals sure are expensive.

[u/Maxamillion-X72 → u/dixpourcentmerci]

So you buy a car in Canada under your family member's name, and pay for their additional insurance cost of having an additional car.

They call the insurance company when you're going to visit, advise their broker that you will be using the car. It may not even cost anything additional if you have insurance on your own car at home, since often your insurance covers you when you drive someone else's car.

Policies differ, but your family member can get estimates from their broker on a hypothetical situation of buying an extra vehicle and how to insure it for when family visits.

My parents have my sister as an additional driver on their vehicle because she visits a lot. She has insurance on her own car at home so the additional cost for her to be insured on their car is less than $100 a year.

[u/herewegoagain2864]

Library card. I read for free

[u/DrenAss → u/herewegoagain2864]

I watch movies, read books, and listen to books for free on Hoopla, Kanopy, and Libby with my library card. Plus my library has a whole "library of things" that includes things I've borrowed like a disc drive so that I didn't need to buy one for $40.

[u/Healthy-Upper-Room → u/herewegoagain2864]

Here, it costs a fee. Not much, but still too much for some, me included. 

Participate in the free events, though. Lectures, repair cafes and such. 

[u/PapiStruwing]

My $800 3d printer printed a knob on a $1200 heater I couldn't get fixed

[u/eyeoutthere → u/PapiStruwing]

I was going to also say 3D printer. My initial $1000 investment has produced at least that in replacement parts. In addition, sharing the models I created has produced over $5000 in gift cards so far.

[u/Sawses → u/eyeoutthere]

What do you do that needs that many replacement parts?

No judgement, I actually love the idea of decentralized infrastructure (power, manufacturing, etc.); I just have been looking for an excuse to get a 3D printer and just have never been able to justify it to myself as anything but a toy.

[u/MissMormie → u/Sawses]

Just copying my earlier post here as it lists lots of useful things I've printed. I hardly ever print any nonsense, that feels like a waste of material to me, but lots of useful stuff. 

The handle of my cruise control broke. You can't just buy a new handle for this you need to buy the whole cruise control device to go with it for like 800. So i designed my own.

Also made a screendoor with printed connector pieces between the wonky pieces of wood needed for the weird door shape. Printed a catflap to go into the door. Printed two light shades i liked that would be about 100 each. 

Printed a new bottom piece for bike stand that came off. 

Printed a new tag for my zipper, a stop for a curtain rod, a bracket and enclosure for e-din. A connector piece from a pump to an airbed. 

So many small useful items of things i otherwise would have to buy or throw away.

For some contests I've also printed some medals, they're more in the fun category but otherwise i would've needed to buy something else.

[u/Moon_Miner → u/MissMormie]

It's fun reading this because this is all stuff I would have made out of wood or metal if these issues came up in my life... but those skills aren't so accessible to most people as just getting a 3d printer.

[u/MUSAFFA1 → u/Moon_Miner]

This is where I used to be as well. I'm old and handy, so wood and metal were my go-to materials for such things. Not only did 3D printing allow me to make things that just aren't practical or possible with wood and metal, it made my wood and metal projects easier and better because I can design and print prototypes prior to crafting the real things.

I print 10 mistakes before I even go into the workshop. As an old tinkerer, it has expanded my capabilities more than I could have ever imagined.

[u/SoulWager → u/PapiStruwing]

My $400 3d printer fixed an $800 CPAP machine where replacement parts were unobtanium. Nipple for a tube going to a pressure sensor had snapped off of a more complicated injection molded part. So I made one that could be glued in after drilling the remnants of the old one out.

Also hundreds of other parts, probably thousands of dollars if I had someone else print them.

[u/zojjaz]

Solar power. This summer, people were complaining about electric bills $500-$800, while we are in the $25 range (gas + electric)

[u/owleabf → u/zojjaz]

EVs are similar story.

Though on both it's more "it'll pay for itself eventually"

[u/mogoexcelso → u/owleabf]

Eventually can come fast. Snatched up the last of the credits for solar and a local grant for used plug ins. We planned for a 5 year breakeven but after gas and power went up we’re on track for them to pay for themselves in just 3. Since the financing payments are under what our old bill was we’re already saving each month versus what we would have paid. We’re in California though, so the savings are pretty significant.

Really pissed they killed that credit.

[u/Iamthewind91 → u/owleabf]

Gosh I love my EV best car and decision I made switching to it

[u/MaliceTowardNone1 → u/owleabf]

You really can't put a price tag on feeling smug driving past 4.50 gas signs knowing I pay $20 a month on my power bill to charge the EV.

[u/OneSalientOversight → u/MaliceTowardNone1]

I can do one better. I switched to an EV early last year that replaced a diesel van. My smugness level is off the charts.

[u/sasquatch606 → u/zojjaz]

I wish I had money to install it.

[u/LeftCoastGator → u/zojjaz]

Exactly, which is why Florida Power and Light is doing everything it can to discourage it. Even if solar produces a 100 percent of your energy needs, you LEGALLY must be connected to their grid and pay them a monthly fee. It’s complete bullshit.

[u/recyclopath_ → u/LeftCoastGator]

I mean, grid management is a complex and delicate art. It is probably best to be hooked up to the grid for power management and pay a SMALL REASONABLE fee for grid management.

[u/GameBoiye → u/recyclopath_]

Yeah, complaining about paying to maintain the grid that is critical to everyone is really something solar enjoyers need to get over.

[u/recyclopath_ → u/GameBoiye]

I think most people don't really understand the grid, and why would they?

I do think some utilities are absolutely criminal dealing with small scale solar. Refusing to pay out excess generation, credit programs that are so heavily weighed in their favor it makes solar financially nonviable, extremely long delays in hookup timelines etc.

That's why it's important that hookup fees are reasonable and programs are well balanced.

I also firmly believe for profit utilities should be illegal, especially foreign owned. Utilities should be publically owned or at least nonprofit. Really small utilities struggle to manage and offer the kind of programs needed to move the needle on customer energy efficiency and solar too. Not to mention they get screwed in power purchasing.

It is complex and delicate and important and they are screwing customers over but not always in the ways we think they are.

[u/Beezneez86]

Solar panels and home battery.

Bought the panels about 15 years ago for $2,000. They saved us ~$1,000 a year on power for those 15 years. Just a month ago we upgraded our system. The old system was only 2kW. The new one is over 13kW and has a battery. We are going to wait and see what it’s like over winter and if we don’t use any grid power we will disconnect from the grid completely. The new system cost $21,000 and will save us about $4,000 a year (if power prices stay the same, if they rise then we save more).

Similarly, 3 years ago I bought an EV. I have a very long commute and was spending ~$90 a week just of fuel. At today’s fuel prices it would cost over $120 a week. I can charge for free at work, so my car is saving me $5-6,000 a year. It will pay for itself in another 2-3 years.

[u/raygundan → u/Beezneez86]

Our system is almost 20 years old now. Paid for itself in a bit more than five years. One inverter failure, replaced under warranty, no other issues. Survived several hailstorms. Even the grumpy “that’ll never pay for itself” neighbor came around by year 15 or so.

[u/Beezneez86 → u/raygundan]

My family are all Jehovah's Witnesses. They all think that we are living in "the last days" and that Armageddon is coming very soon. When talking about solar they all said, 'I'd get solar except I don't think there's much point as this world will end before it pays for itself.' This was over a decade ago.

[u/SMG113 → u/Beezneez86]

I got panels and a backup last year. 24kWh backup.

It costs but during the summer with everything running...less than 50% what i used to pay.

🤣 but it'll ROI in...a few years

[u/mikealope1]

Coffee machine for sure! And espresso maker, that one took a little longer but I’ve gotten so much use out of them I can’t imagine the equivalent coffee shop prices.

Also - Costco executive membership

[u/envirodrill → u/mikealope1]

I bought a Breville Duo-Temp espresso machine from a guy on marketplace for $200 back in 2022. It was all crusty and had lime scale (no idea how it got so bad) and he wanted to get rid of it. It took me 15 mins of elbow grease and it looked as good as new.

My wife and I make either lattes or iced coffees 1-2x daily for each of us, we use only high quality beans we get from a local roaster. The cost per cup is very low now and we have saved so much money on coffee over the years. The machine has been fully reliable the entire time too.

[u/MySpoonsAreAllGone → u/envirodrill]

I'm still kicking myself for not buying this when it was offered to me for $50. It looked new and was in working condition but one lever (?) needed to be replaced. The owners had to leave the country suddenly and they were selling everything they had for pennies but not many people showed up to their garage sale.

Why did I turn it down? Because I have a bad back and thought it would be too difficult for me to carry up to my apartment. I still have a bad back so I should have just risked it lol.

A few weeks later they had a company run an estate sale on their behalf and had it priced at $500.

[u/TapFar687 → u/mikealope1]

Costco membership for the win 💯

[u/ramblingclam → u/mikealope1]

I was out and about today and had the urge for coffee, but drove by three great coffee shops to make a cortado at home. It feels good to be able to whip up what would be $6 at a shop for a fraction that at home.

[u/DuckLeafyCloud]

I used to work in a nightclub where I offered to take the left over cloak room coats that was stored for 90 days and legally was allowed to be taken down to the charity shop. I would open all the black bags in the parking lot and take out all the best shit and I was up $50,000 over two years. It was incredible the shit people leave behind. Remember to get kevlar gloves for those syringes.

[u/WES_WAS_ROBBED → u/DuckLeafyCloud]

People would put naked syringes in their fucking pockets? Showing my naïveté here but i guess i assumed those things had caps or something

[u/vagina_candle → u/WES_WAS_ROBBED]

When they are in need of a fix virtually nothing matters beyond that. Logic is out the window unless that logic helps them get opioids into the blood stream.

[u/timmy6169 → u/vagina_candle]

There's a reason cops ask "is there anything that will poke me" before frisking someone

[u/TrumpsDoubleChin → u/WES_WAS_ROBBED]

People would put naked syringes in their fucking pockets?

We're generally not dealing with the best and brightest society has to offer, here.

[u/planxyz → u/DuckLeafyCloud]

I wouldn't even put my hands in there with Kevlar gloves. Lol. Use one of those grabbers from Walmart. But thats so awesome for you!!

[u/one_night_on_mars → u/DuckLeafyCloud]

Sorry for my old person ignorance... What do you mean by black bags in the parking lot? 

[u/havfunonline → u/one_night_on_mars]

The 90day plus lost costs would be put in black garbage bags for transport to the charity shop.

Our entrepreneurial OP opened those bags in the parking lot by his car, left the best stuff in his car and rebagged the remaining items to take to the charity shop.

[u/baconbackflip → u/one_night_on_mars]

A parking lot is a big area with cars. But that's not important right now. Black bags are very similar to red bags but without any red at all.

[u/miamijuggler → u/baconbackflip]

I just want to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you.

[u/Obvious99Throwaway → u/miamijuggler]

Elaine, screwdriver

[u/Interesting_Tea5715 → u/DuckLeafyCloud]

The syringe statement makes me never wanna use a coat check again 😂

[u/ready2xxxperiment]

Silly answer but a $10 box of screwdriver bits from Harbor Freight that fits almost every fasten in my home and garage

[u/CraftsArtsVodka]

Not me, but my elderly mother. 25 years ago, she bought a Flo-Bee to cut her hair. She absolutely swears by it and hasn't had a professional haircut since. She cut my Dad's hair before he passed away. She's 89 now and still hauls that thing out every month or so. It's hit or miss these days. She's had some wonky haircuts.

[u/AlamarAtReddit → u/CraftsArtsVodka]

I don't have one of those, but I have saved a lot of money by switching to not caring enough to get it cut professionaly.

[u/red_polkadot → u/CraftsArtsVodka]

Those always cracked me up! They still sell them new, so I guess they have stood the test of time!

[u/labroid → u/CraftsArtsVodka]

So true. Have been using one on the whole family for over 30 years. Paid for itself in the first few cuts of what must be thousands. There seem to be two camps on Flowbees: People who make fun of them, and people who actually own one and love them. I haven't met anyone in between.

[u/Harridan_Trainee]

My dog. Best thing I ever "owned". Friend, feet warmer, confidant, clown, protector.

(I had to put him down a month ago and I am realizing that it will take a very long long time to grieve his loss)

[u/lgisme333 → u/Harridan_Trainee]

Sorry about your dog. My cat died last month and I’m devastated. Pets are the best thing that ever happened for humans

[u/coffee_cats_books → u/lgisme333]

One of my favorite quotes is, "Whoever said money can't buy happiness has never paid an adoption fee." 

I'm so sorry you lost your sweet kitty ❤️

[u/SkylerMassey1055 → u/lgisme333]

agree, i dont wannna mean harm but sometimes our pet are most trusted and caring towards us when we are sad. they really show their eyes of concern...sorry for ur loss

[u/Both_Presence9421 → u/lgisme333]

Grief is just love with nowhere to go. Pets give us a lifetime of joy and only break our hearts once.

[u/lacunadelaluna → u/Harridan_Trainee]

I had to put my dog down (aka best friend and closest I will ever get to a human child despite my best efforts, smart dogs are toddlers) in spring 2025 and I legit cried every day for a year. I still do intermittently and miss him actively every day, and talk to his favorite toy like I'm talking to him to give him messages. It's my stuffy now. No one and nothing prepared me for it. It will indeed take a very long time and that's ok. I'm so sorry you had to go through that.

[u/OnRedditAtWorkRN → u/lacunadelaluna]

I grew up with dogs. We had a bunch, only 2 for their full life though for different reasons. Either a family member would move out and take a dog with them, or one ran away and we never found him or there were 2 we couldn't keep because they had too much energy for my ill grandmother or whatever. Legit like 12 dogs and when the two we lost to old age (14 yrs and 17yrs) my parents took care of it and I was barely home at that point. Also was just in a different place in my life, so it made me sad, but I felt like I got over it pretty quick.

All that was the setup. When my kids were young we bought our first house and I promised them when we bought a house we would get a dog. Classic dad pet ownership. I really did not like him at first. He was destructive. No matter what we tried he wouldn't kennel train and when we left he would soil in the house. Fast forward 10 years. He got really sick. It was so sudden and so rapid from he seemed perfectly healthy to we had to made a choice. Having to make the choice and bring him and watch him pass fucking broke me. First time my kids said they saw me cry. I bawled. Straight ugly cried. It took me about a week before I could think about him without crying. It's been 7 years now. I still get a little sad when I think about it.

[u/bloodstreamcity → u/Harridan_Trainee]

Someone at my job recently said, "Why would I get a dog? They eventually die." My response was, "In that case, why do anything?"

[u/Harridan_Trainee → u/bloodstreamcity]

Oh my. Your fellow employee has an unusual ...philosophy? Yikes.

My dog was the 5th giant breed that I owned and the one I felt most connected to. My neighbor told me that the large dogs take up so much space- both physically and in your heart. I thought that it was a sweet thing for him to say.

[u/m4dm4cs → u/Harridan_Trainee]

I had to put my sweet pup down 7 1/2 months ago and I still start crying when I look her pictures. I knew it was coming g and thought I was prepared, but I wasn’t even close. And as much as I want another dog in my life, I can’t fathom any dog other than her.

Definitely the best investment we made.

[u/musthavesoundeffects → u/m4dm4cs]

If it helps you get ready, just know that there is another dog out there that needs a person like you just as much as you needed your dog. After my last best friend passed on, my wife said that if we had unlimited time and resources we’d have unlimited dogs, and while you can never replace a friend, you do a service to the universe by making a new one. She was right, and I am much happier for it.

[u/Eastwoodnorris → u/Harridan_Trainee]

Perfect answer.

My family had dogs growing up and I saw them pass, plus I volunteered in a shelter in college, so when I went to adopt my first dog on my own I thought I knew what I was in for. But having a dog that is fully YOUR dog is so different. She had a gnarly UTI early on and peed blood, I’ve never been so scared in my life.

It’s going to be so impossible to let her go when it’s her time. My condolences for your pup, but it sounds like they lived a life filled with love and comfort. Thank you.

[u/collierar → u/Harridan_Trainee]

"The only worse thing in the world than losing a dog, is not having a dog."

[u/Dogshaveears → u/Harridan_Trainee]

It’s been 6 years since I lost my soul dog and I could still cry right now. I did not want to disparage his memory so It took a year. I adopted 2 and while I don’t have the same connection, I absolutely love them and it helped a lot!!!

[u/Flat-Plankton419 → u/Dogshaveears]

Grieving Soul dogs is such a long and painful process. After almost 6 yrs, I just finally got another dog. I love him dearly and we are deeply attached to each other already, but it isn’t the same. He has helped a lot though. Those of us who have experienced this special connection are very fortunate people. I’m tearing up now while writing this.

[u/steve_the_barberian → u/Harridan_Trainee]

I still morn our first dog and we had to put her down 5 years ago. It's tough

[u/Infamous-Creme-199 → u/Harridan_Trainee]

I lost mine 3 years ago this past April and I still grieve over it. I still have days I break down over it. I feel for you.

[u/Shot_Lawfulness_823]

My unlimited lifetime subscription to Sirius radio when they first went into business.

[u/Moonshadow306 → u/Shot_Lawfulness_823]

I can’t believe they haven’t found a way to screw you out of it.

[u/GildMyComments → u/Moonshadow306]

They floated the idea of screwing me in 2019. I called to transfer my lifetime membership to a new car and they did it but finished the conversation with “so you have 1 more transfer of this account.” Basically saying it could only transfer 3 times. I just called to transfer last week though and there was no mention of it. The guy even waived the $35 transfer fee by me asking only once.

[u/Remarkable-Laugh9762 → u/Moonshadow306]

I'm waiting for it. Every lifetime pass I've ever bought has screwed me.

[u/ATLien47 → u/Shot_Lawfulness_823]

I bought a used car from an old couple that bought this and never changed the accounts/cancelled. I’ve been experience free Sirius radio for the past 10~ years and it’s probably a big reason why I’ll drive the car into the ground

[u/catbandana → u/Shot_Lawfulness_823]

I’ve gotten in the habit of buying lifetime subscriptions to pretty much any that I use even semi regularly if the price is reasonable. I figure the price is only going to go up. It’s come in handy for a few apps or YouTube competitors.

[u/the_original_kermit → u/catbandana]

Now I know who bought the lifetime pornhub premium

[u/MagixTouch → u/Shot_Lawfulness_823]

How much did you pay for that?

[u/Shot_Lawfulness_823 → u/MagixTouch]

$500 US$. They do now charge a $75 fee when you change radios

[u/Veritas3333]

Hair trimmer. Got one for like 50 bucks, after skipping two trips to the barber its paying for itself!

[u/robjthomas22 → u/Veritas3333]

Been skipping trips since 2001. Saved thousands. On my third trimmer set. Each set costs the same as a haircut.

[u/Old-Pride-8575]

My sewing machine! I’m short and I used to pay to alter each item of clothing that was too long . Now I don’t have to :)

[u/SpectoDuck]

Cat. Brought my cat home from uni and she solved a decades long mouse problem at my parents house.

[u/Hugsy13 → u/SpectoDuck]

My dad bought a 27 acre property in the bush like 3kms from some farm land. Got himself a second hand cat from the rspca because they had a major mouse problem. Thing was a machine. Destroyed most of the mice population in months and even scared off the two foxes that were attacking and killing their half a dozen chickens.

[u/Fast-Bumblebee-9140 → u/SpectoDuck]

That is so cool. Mine takes care of spiders for me.

[u/Illustrious-Mud-6821 → u/Fast-Bumblebee-9140]

Mine helps with my depression

[u/GigglesZeDragon → u/Fast-Bumblebee-9140]

We just lost our cat recently and the number of gross bugs we keep finding now is showing what a good helpful boi he was 😭

[u/Icy-Structure5244]

Paid about $50 total for some car ramps and oil filter wrench. Maybe $120 total for a full set of jack stands and bottle jack.

I've saved hundreds, if not a thousand in oil changes and tire rotations over the years, especially with how insane prices for oil changes have gotten. Plus, I never have to worry about some joker forgetting to install the oil plug, overtorquing the plug, wrong oil, not enough oil, etc.

[u/blue49 → u/Icy-Structure5244]

How do you dispose the oil? Legitimste problem with me.

[u/boilermakerteacher → u/blue49]

Wherever you buy it needs to take it back by law. But any auto parts store will take a single oil change worth anytime no questions asked.

[u/mogoexcelso → u/boilermakerteacher]

Yeah my local spots are getting pissy about it. “Only in the original container”

[u/incomplete_ → u/blue49]

You can get a cheap used oil jug online or at AutoZone or something. Just fill that up and take it to any major chain automotive store. They offer free disposal for used oil and filters

[u/Fur1ousBanner → u/incomplete_]

You can also reuse the last oil container that came with new oil to add the old one into

[u/h3rpad3rp → u/blue49]

My city has hazardous waste disposal locations at some fire halls.

[u/gl21133]

I was just laying on my bed doomscrolling because it was a fucker of a week and my big doofus of a cat hopped up, plopped down, rolled onto his back and gave me a googly eyed stare. I think his adoption fee was only like $45 but we did pay $5500 on a surgery to remove 22 hair ties from his big dumb belly. I still think I've come out ahead, he's a pretty great cat.

[u/JewelryBells → u/gl21133]

I have an expensive doofus cat, too. And I wouldn’t trade him for anything. ❤️

[u/Firm-Ad-3984]

Toilet auger. We bought a house in a new development with a terrible plumbing system. We were having a plumber come once a month to snake the toilets and finally my husband decided to get the one they use, and we have used it probably 50 times in 8 years.

[u/SoulWager → u/Firm-Ad-3984]

Is it getting clogged in the same place every time? That sounds like a situation bad enough it's worth tearing out drywall to fix it properly.

[u/KingOfTheEigenvalues → u/SoulWager]

My parents used to live in a house with plumbing issues, and after calling the plumber to unclog the pipes too many times, they just went to Home Depot and bought a $400 drain cleaning machine so they could do it themselves. The underlying problem was due to tree roots, and would have cost tens of thousands of dollars to fix. They rented the house, so neither them nor the landlord wanted to do anything about it. Must have been fun for the landlord to have to eventually deal with.

[u/Firm-Ad-3984 → u/SoulWager]

We ended up selling the house and live in another state (career change for my husband). But the auger still lives! And we even bought it its own bucket for garage storage, and it still gets used sporadically! Well worth the purchase.

[u/Ok_Excitement_9429 → u/Firm-Ad-3984]

Have you tried using the knife before flushing?

[u/SpaTowner]

Rice cooker, paid for itself in convenience if not actual financial returns.

[u/langleybcsucks → u/SpaTowner]

That’s what I was gonna say. Except my neighbour gave it to me for free because Amazon kept on sending them to her and she got sick of sending them back

[u/MeasurementPlus9021]

Had to wear suits to work. Bought a steamer and saved big bucks on dry cleaning

[u/SAINTnumberFIVE → u/MeasurementPlus9021]

Dry cleaners don’t just steam clothes though. Dry cleaned clothes are actually put in a big washing machine like regular clothes, only instead of water, an organic solvent is used that the machine evaporates away when done.

[u/fleemfleemfleemfleem → u/SAINTnumberFIVE]

Dryel sells a "home drycleaning kit" that works in your dryer. It doesn't do the deep solvent cleaning you'd get at a professional cleaner, but it will get wrinkles out and deodorize, so it will let you get some extra use out of dry clean only stuff between professional cleanings.

[u/Fit-Sheepherder-8809 → u/MeasurementPlus9021]

For anyone reading this: For the love of God, do not steam (or iron) your suits. Most suits , except the very expensive hand-made variety, are half-canvassed (or not canvassed at all), meaning layers of fabric in the jacket are glued together to give it structure. Exposure to heat will make the glue bubble and run, and destroy the jacket quickly.

[u/orbitaal]

Toyota Corolla. It has paid for itself many times over.

[u/miloblue12 → u/orbitaal]

When I was 15, my parents got me a 2003 Toyota Corolla and that thing lasted me until I was 32. What did I get next? Another Toyota Corolla of course.

[u/red_polkadot → u/miloblue12]

My teenage son drives a 2003 Toyota Corolla. It’s amazing how long they last!

[u/ClassBShareHolder → u/orbitaal]

A friend of my wife’s bought a brand new car after graduation in 1992. We thought she was crazy. She’s still driving that Toyota Corolla.

[u/bralma6 → u/orbitaal]

Toyotas never die. My FJ has about 215k miles on it and still going strong. I’m keeping it until the wheels literally fall off and I can’t fix it.

[u/cacarrizales → u/orbitaal]

Owned a Camry for about 8 years and it definitely paid for itself also. Unfortunately it was totaled, but now in a Lexus and should have many years to go now.

[u/Garreousbear → u/orbitaal]

I will drive my 2007 Corolla into the ground before I replace it with a newer Corolla.

[u/freelancehunter]

Spending $5000 to prevent trees from falling on my house

[u/devours_veggies]

My husband.

[u/NativeMasshole → u/devours_veggies]

I also choose this person's husband.

[u/poop_to_live → u/NativeMasshole]

7/10 reference

10/10 with rice.

[u/SerChonk → u/devours_veggies]

I got mine second hand. Previous owner did a bit of damage and neglected all maintenance, but with a bit of spit and polish I've managed to get him ship shape. I'm sure I can get some good 50 years out of him.

[u/freelancehunter → u/devours_veggies]

Who you marry is the most important financial decision of your life

[u/SufficientBottle7057]

I'm not sure I "own" it, but pet insurance. Paid for itself after the first emergency.

[u/Shittingmytrewes]

My hiking boots. They’re like 14 years old, still waterproof, still sturdy, padding still feels good. I am not a huge hiker, but I did it extremely frequently (day hikes) for several years, wore them camping, wear them out for fun cuz they’re comfy. I have gotten more than my $65 on sale out of them. Columbia for the win tbh.

[u/Confident-Key2627]

Espresso machine and grinder. Things got really bad at one point and I found myself spending $600 a month on coffee for myself and my daughter. This machine has paid for itself many times over the last five years. Even buying high-quality beans and milk, I’m saving tons of money every month. Plus I like my coffee better than anything I can buy so it’s a win-win. I can also adjust the sugar levels because some of those drinks at Starbucks and Dutch Bros are crazy sweet.

[u/FergusonBishop → u/Confident-Key2627]

$600/mo is WILD

[u/DescriptionNice9426]

Vacuum sealer

[u/hook14 → u/DescriptionNice9426]

Just got done putting away a lot of meat from costco in my vac sealer. About 2.5 yrs now and I lost count of how much it has saved us. Get a box of the pouches and never look back. I thought the rolls would be the best but the precut pouches are the real time / effort saver.

Also like to add the electric slicer (home model) I bought for $65 early last year. I make bread and wanted uniform slices and that did the trick. Easy to clean too.

But the bonus is that I can buy a half ham with bone and slice it down into sandwich ham and have a bone for soup. I just did that with the slicer and did a quick calculation. I got 4 pounds of sandwich ham (3 in freezer) and the bone with 1.5 lbs of chunks ham for beans. In addition was 2 separate 1.5 bags of chunk ham for other soups just in time for fall. Split pea is next week I guess.

So a $22 ham now is about $66 in value, ready to go when we need it.

This is my 4th half ham since I got the slicer. It paid for itself before I was done with ham #2. I will never go back.

[u/Daveplaysgtr]

My state paramedic certification. I spent $700 to go to medic class 32 years ago. Been working in the medical field ever since!

[u/GooseGosselin]

Vacuum sealer. Paid for itself 50X over with what I save by being able to buy meat on sale and freeze it into portion sizes, not throwing away freezer burned meat, and by making cooking easier so I do it more often. Owned it about 15 years now

[u/GreedyNovel]

A mortgage. I refinanced mine in 2020 when the interest rate was 2.25%, and invested the cash in the stock market. I made enough money from that to pay off my house completely, but won't because 2.25% is literally free money once inflation is taken into account.

[u/AcanthisittaHot2530]

A good pair of shoes. Bought them years ago and still wear them almost daily 😅

[u/FDias25]

My Kindle. I can get books for free and send them to my Kindle. I've saved hundreds of dollars so far.

[u/lestairwellwit]

Back a ways, I finally bought a riding mower for $450. I had a push mower that would take two hours to cut my grass. With the riding mower it took an hour. The second time I cut my grass, I decided to cut the grass of an elderly couple next door. Took me two hours. I didn't ask. I just thought what the hell.

The second time I mowed their yard he caught me. Came walking out and offered me 35 bucks for each time. (Which was less than commercial rates.) I said OK.

I cut his grass for two years, about 12 times a summer.

About twice what I paid for that mower.

When I moved into my apartment, I sold that mower for 300 bucks.

[u/Petridishmocktail]

Solar panels. Initially, it was a 7.2 year return. However, before I even got them installed Southern California Edison increased their rates and then got another rate increase approved making it 6.7 years. Ultimately, it was a 3.2 year return after we replaced the gas water heater with a heat pump and replaced the gas dryer (saving roughly $1,000 per year)... This also includes the excess electricity going to my wife's electric car as opposed to purchasing gasoline (saving roughly $2,500 per year).

[u/CaptainNanners]

First gen Toyota Tundra from 2002. Got it when I was 16, brand new, first owner and my only car for 24 years now.  That V8 has moved me, my gf now wife over a dozen times, landscaping our new house, moving bulk items for over 2 decades. And I’m pretty sure it’s got another 20 years to go. Just belts, oil and one spark plug changed. It’s an amazing privilege to have that reliability. 

[u/Spare_Reference8842]

My executive Costco membership

[u/xTheatreTechie]

Bought myself a farm jack to pull out an old fence so that I wouldn't have to dig it out. 

Pulls out the post and concrete too half the time. 

[u/ArtemisHanswolf]

A distilled water machine. I have very hard water that can ruin a nugget ice maker in no time. Using distilled water is a game changer and I no longer have to lug half a dozen gallon jugs every time I go to the grocery store.

[u/beesue2020]

My cat. I'm 67 and it my first cat. I'm shocked no only how muchni love him but how much he has improved my quality of life

[u/Th3-gazping_birb]

No break ("UPS" Uninterruptible Power Supply)

This has been in my father's office shoping list for like 5 years and when i finally bought one behind his back, that very month the power went out like 5 times.

[u/The_Velvet_Bulldozer]

2002 Tacoma that I got in 2006. Still running strong.

[u/Hlodvigovich915]

My own modem and router, instead of renting from the internet company.

[u/blevins2073]

My 3D printer. I went to school for architecture and most design projects required a physical model. The school had 3D printers available but it wasn't cheap since they charged by weight and print time. I bought an ender 3 and ended up saving hundreds by printing on my own and still use it for small projects like fixing things around the house.

[u/HeWillComeInsideUs]

my prius does 55 mpg

[u/Jennifarfeli]

Don’t have it anymore because our cats passed, but the Litter Robot. That self-cleaning litter box saved an insane amount on litter.

[u/sheekgeek → u/Jennifarfeli]

Surely it didn't save a thousand dollars worth of litter alone did it? I get paying for the convenience, but if it also literally saves on litter I might not have a choice but to get one. 

[u/cheesecake_413 → u/sheekgeek]

We've had a litter robot for 3 years and it immediately cut our litter use in half. It has already paid for itself, and I guess if you were using expensive litter it would pay for itself even faster

[u/Sir_Arthur_Vandelay]

More expensive insurance policies that provide proper coverage.

I dislike insurance companies as much as the next person, but they have saved my arse on several occasions. Though good insurance coverage is unfortunately becoming more difficult to find (probably because of dipshits like me who need repeated arse-saving).

[u/Jaylaw → u/Sir_Arthur_Vandelay]

Nice try, insurance salesman

[u/MrTestiggles]

My dog has chased away family friends who regularly try to borrow money so that’s been something

[u/Sweeper1985]

Solar panels and solar battery are paying themselves off so fast. I can't over-recommend.

[u/Lazy-Effective-2093]

Menstrual cup, I love not having to purchase tampons anymore.

[u/Glass-Shelter-699]

Snow blower.

[u/ArchaicBrainWorms → u/Glass-Shelter-699]

I've live on an extended corner lot and my block is like 60% elderly folk. I got a big ass Husqvarna snowblower and just do the whole block. By the time I'm geared up and going on my stuff, the additional effort to just get the whole block is trivial.

Plus it's fun

[u/animalchinonbetamax]

I currently have over a 1000% return on my masters degree in just the side gigs that it has qualified me for (that's 1000% over the past 20 years)

Also...my rice cooker. A $49 rice cooker will change your life!

[u/New_Section_9374]

5 cubic foot chest freezer. I got it when Trump was elected and filled it with meat. It has already payed for itself.

[u/gucknbuck]

Solar panels. Bought them in 2022, original payoff should have been 7-9 years but due to constant increases in rates they'll have paid for themselves by the end of summer next year.

[u/FeralCatJohn]

Our solar system. Paid $20k in 2013 for a 20+ year system in Southern California and it paid for itself in about 7 years. Sadly, we have crazy high electric rates.

[u/KarverMcClain → u/FeralCatJohn]

I’m so baked, I read solar system and was like, ohhhh here we go a guy who thinks he owns space! 😆

[u/challiran24 → u/KarverMcClain]

I thought the same and I’m not baked 🫪

[u/NinjaEuphoria]

A gun...cost 600$ made thousands robbing people

/s

[u/Straight-Lifeguard29]

3d printer! Learn to fix things around the house

[u/cr7808]

I spend a lot of time at the computer. A couple years ago I bought a nice computer chair for about $550. Definitely worth it.

[u/Outdoor-Snacker]

Sam’s membership. The pharmacy savings alone paid for it in a month.

[u/limbodog]

A 40 foot sailboat. I live on it. It's cheaper than the rent where I live by a good margin. It also lets me live in a neighborhood I love, and the people here are the nicest neighbors I've ever had. Granted, the money I've spent fixing it up probably eats into almost all the savings, but I still love it.

[u/VoidMunashii]

A countertop oven. We use it almost every day and with two of us we are rarely cooking enough to justify using the full-size oven.

Plus electricity is cheaper than gas where we are, so the small electric oven is cheaper to run than heating up the big oven.

[u/some_one_234]

Costco membership and credit card. Membership is like $55/yr but I get several $100 back with their cash back program. Plus gas is usually .05-.10 cheaper per gallon at their gas stations so an extra buck or two saved per week there.

[u/Flaky-Problem-9411]

Not sure if this counts - started a charm bracelet 30 years ago - good, solid bracelet. Added charms on birthdays, Christmas etc. solid, pretty charms. Had to have it appraised recently for insurance - gone from $19500 to $41000 in a little over a year. And I enjoy looking at it.

[u/Reapertownusa]

I use a soda stream to make home made energy drinks. Ive saved hundreds already whoch easily covers the cost of the machine and the co2 canisters. Also wife got an outdoor pizza oven, we love pizza and it has already paid for itself just from making 1 or 2 pi,zas a week in the 5 months we got it

[u/NativeMasshole → u/Reapertownusa]

Homemade soda and pizze? My dude, you're living the dream!

[u/Galloping_Scallop]

Hot water bottle, good blankets and door snakes. Saved me a fortune on heating bills.

[u/Luminaire_Ultima]

FoodSaver vacuum sealing system.

Those things are freaking amazing.

[u/thePHTucker]

Sleep Number bed. To be fair it was sticker shock at first but we've had it for over 10 years and it's still the best sleep ever. No more flipping or replacing mattresses for us.

[u/saintmaggie → u/thePHTucker]

Similar but mine is an adjustable bed. I have sinus issues and love it. It’s amazing for watching tv or reading.

I had to have surgery twice and I honestly don’t know how I would have survived without it. Every mom who has a c section should be able to get one through insurance lol

[u/MakeItHomemade → u/thePHTucker]

We have a Sleep Number and a Chilipad on it. Oh my God, our bed we go anywhere else it’s miserable.

[u/C_Gnarwin2021]

A pizza oven and pizza steel. Been getting pizzas better than a lot of places around me at a fraction of the price.

[u/hobbygod]

Label printer for shipping (while using pirate ship)

[u/Comfortable-Side1308]

Wood stove.  The neighborhood is all electric heat. Neighbors telling me their electric bills are 800-900/month.  

Wood is free.  There's always a downed tree somewhere and it's extremely cathartic and good exercise splitting it by hand with an 8lb maul or 4lb sledge/wedge.  

Every man should split wood.  Chics dig forearms and it makes you like Popeye. 

[u/floriemida]

My laptop, helps me work, learn new skills and save time

[u/Mayiamaru]

My tablet. Bought it for 300 and have since made around 1300 in commissions over the time I've had it. So yeah.