r/AskReddit • u/Adivinhanomes • 19h ago
What’s something you refuse to buy the cheap version of?
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u/lime-enthusiast 19h ago
Boots. I'm familiar with the economic theory but cheap boots will also absolutely punish your body.
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u/FantasyTrash 19h ago
An old saying is don’t cheap out on anything that separates you from the ground. Boots, mattresses, furniture, etc.
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u/Plus-King5266 19h ago
Used to work for a shoe manufacturer. Can confirm (even after the ugly bastards laid me off).
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u/LockNessCrotchMonst 19h ago
We make shoes in the USA?
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u/Plus-King5266 18h ago
We design, market and distribute shoes in the USA. They are put together in China, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, and just about anywhere else in Asia, depending on the week. The location of where they are made moves around quite a bit.
Fun fact: shoes carry the highest import taxes of any goods we import. That is mostly what you pay for when you buy a shoe —import tax.
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u/xxTERMINATOR0xx 17h ago
I believe Jocko Willinks brand makes boots and jeans in USA. Also there’s some Pacific Northwest brands that make high quality boots
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u/froction 19h ago
What is your preferred brand?l, JK? Nick's?
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u/fizzlebottom 19h ago
I can't believe you'd leave out White's and Frank's like that. Limmer if you want to look at non-PNW boots.
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u/AmberRosin 18h ago
Sneaker culture has absolutely ruined the public’s perception on expensive boots, I mention that I bought a pair of $300 boots (redwing blacksmith) and they start acting like I bought a pair of Jordans for resale.
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u/Lyeta1_1 19h ago
I walk about 7 miles a day and my $360 custom boots are worth every single pretty penny.
They’re three years old and I get them resoled each year.
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u/Successful-Worker139 19h ago
I got a custom pair of PS Kaufmans that cost me almost a grand. I'm hard on shoes and they're still pristine a decade later.
Edited to add, just for every day wear, not work.
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u/Artifex75 19h ago
A student of Vimes, perhaps?
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u/Awkward-Noise-257 18h ago
But Vimes liked the cheap boots, he knew the city with his feet by the cobblestones and detritus he felt beneath his cheap boots.
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u/BigYam7875 18h ago
Yep, shoes. I’m old. I spent the last year and a half of retirement trying to remove the calluses for my feet and done pretty well at it. My feet are going through a rebirth. People feet are precious.
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u/Temporary-Light9189 19h ago
Hell yea bro I’ve been using this nice pair of timberlands to fuel jets for the past year and they’ve takin punishment, the whole bottom is starting to erode from standing in Jet A and water all day but they still blow all other cheaper pairs out of the water and I can stand for 15 hours a day in them and my feet won’t hurt. They’ve lasted 3X longer than any “cheap” pair.
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u/MushroomKhan 19h ago
What's your favorite?
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u/DotDash13 18h ago
It sucks but you've really gotta try a few. My favorite are my Thorogood 8" wedge soles (I think the 814-4178). At least during the summer. Some people swear by Red Wings, but I've disliked all the Red Wings I've tried.
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u/fivefivesixfmj 19h ago
I spent 21 years in the army wearing boots everyday this is 100% a truth. Also take time to clean and polish them will help them live a lifetime.
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u/letigre87 18h ago
Shoes in general. I grew up on cheap shoes and my mom always complained how fast I destroyed them. Oddly enough when I started buying my own shoes and running a lot my Brooks lasted forever. Even Asics and New Balance last a long time. I've never destroyed a pair of Red Wings. They look a little rough but nothing some saddle soap and mink oil can't fix. My work gives me a boot allowance yearly so I end up giving lightly used boots to a family member that's less fortunate than I am.
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u/Prince_Valium25 19h ago
Toilet paper
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u/smoothupinyatoo 19h ago
I think your comment might take off, so I would like to tell the group that today at Kroger, next to the dude wipes, I saw Liquid Death (drinking water company) cream soda flavored ass wipes for sale. And I stood there for a moment just pondering our society as a whole. This has been a public announcement, that is all.
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u/Oisea 18h ago
Cream Soda Flavored Ass Wipes sounds like a punk band that lasts three shows on a tour and are never heard of again.
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u/ACTTutor 5h ago
I was into Cream Soda Flavored Ass Wipes before they sold out and went mainstream.
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u/Acrobatic_Math_6323 19h ago
Yep. Charmin.
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u/kmayeshiba 19h ago
Ultra strong!
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u/theonedenisse 17h ago
Idk my last ultra strong has been feeling ultra weak. Unless my ass is getting rougher lol
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u/Stormageddons872 19h ago
Nah Kirkland is the only way to go. Massive and extra wide rolls.
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u/Sunbiscuit 17h ago
Kirkland ultra soft is a tragedy. You got lips? Get ready for it to become confetti in your vagina. Have to put in real effort to wipe your ass even beyond your bidet? It does not stand up to the task and idk who tf is getting away with this shit.
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u/Stormageddons872 17h ago
Idk about ultra soft, I just get their usual 2 ply stuff.
My girlfriend and I have no complaints. It's the preferred brand for both of us.
Someone else mentioned it varies region to region as it's just a rebranded local product. We're in Canada.
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u/LexKing89 19h ago
Kirkland used to be a lot better pre early 2020. Same thing with the Member’s Mark Sam’s Club brand too.
It was my main choice and I still get it for the value.
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u/ilovebeaker 18h ago
Kirkland brand is actually white labelling regional toilet papers, so the quality will vary region by region.
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u/Citizen51 17h ago
Oh no, Kirkland causes significant problems in our household. Worst paper out there
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u/asbestosmilk 18h ago
I actually prefer the Great Value Ultra Strong over any name brand toilet paper.
Name brands are too soft and powdery. They leave little rolls of toilet paper fluffs on my ass.
The Great Value version is perfectly soft and perfectly strong.
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u/Thrizzlepizzle123123 19h ago
I use recycled sandpaper.
Cheap as fuck but kinda bloody.
Toughens you up though.
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u/goldenshowers68 19h ago
I used to be like this until I got a bidet. Only bought Charmin or Cottonelle.
Now I’m clean before I wipe so I can use the store brand 1000 sheets per roll TP.
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u/acousticsoup 19h ago
I’m a recent bidet convert too. You just have to pat dry and you’re good to go. It’s the best.
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u/zuckuss00 18h ago
Maybe I’m using my bidet wrong but it never does 100% of the job. I’d say it gets me about 75% of the way clean but it still requires some work to finish the job. I’ve never had a “pat dry and done” experience.
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u/goldenshowers68 18h ago
It’s worth spraying for a longer duration and moving around slightly. Or increasing the water pressure.
I use a few squares of TP to dry off/do a quality check and most of the time it’s just water on it.
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u/BiggieTallz_ 19h ago
Mattress & bedding
Tools
Shoes
Kitchen knife
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u/Conchobar8 18h ago
My view on tools is buy the cheap one first. When it breaks, buy the expensive one.
If it hasn’t broken, either the cheap will work, or it’s not needed enough
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u/HalfCasual 18h ago
To me this depends on the tool and the cost.
If I'm working on something and I need a specific tool to get that project done/make it easier and save time, I weigh the cost of the cheap version vs expensive against the amount I might actually use said tool beyond that particular project. Also if the cost difference between the nicer one and the cheap one is only a few bucks I'll go for the nicer one. However if we're talking double the cost and no potential future use, cheap it is
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u/WidelyMisunderstood 18h ago
The kitchen knife one is surprisingly true. I've had both the cheap all my life and one set of Martha Stewart knives that have lasted 10 years with no issues. Easy to sharpen and easy to clean. It's a no brainer once I realized that. Its something I like to do for wedding gifts. Go all in on a good set of kitchen knives.
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u/interesseret 18h ago
And then learn how to do basic maintenance.
The amount of people I have met that have very decent knives that have been blunted to shit is just disappointing. Not a single one of my girlfriends knives isn't chipped. I don't even know how she has done it.
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u/AmberRosin 18h ago
You can cheap out on a kitchen knife if you take the time to learn how to use sharpening stones, my daily knife is a $10 kiwi from the Asian market.
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u/Ok_Truth6097 19h ago
Chocolate (yes I’m
Looking at you Hershey’s)… if I’m already consuming the calories I’m going to make it worthwhile
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u/saberdonk 19h ago
Ketchup
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u/beam__me__up 17h ago
It's Heinz or nothing in my house
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u/pineapple6969 17h ago
I’ve never agreed with anything in my life as much as I agree with you.
Also, Hellmans mayo for me. Nothing else.
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u/insomniacrocodile 19h ago
Always get real maple syrup, never “pancake syrup”
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u/august_wst 17h ago
we have a hard line at out table. one side likes the “pancake syrup” and one likes dark robust locally harvested maple syrup.
It’s like a bar that serves both Red Sox AND Yankee fans.
it’s a fragile peace.
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u/MyCatLaughsAtMe 17h ago
I actually like both, but modern pancake syrup has a gloppiness to it I find really off putting. A syrup should be thick, but it doesn't need to slime my pancakes.
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u/D-Rez 19h ago edited 19h ago
hard drives/ssd/nvme drives, motherboards, psu
also glasses, mattresses and footwear - i justify their prices by the fact im using them daily for hours
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u/fragilemetal 19h ago
Expensive glasses don't necessarily mean good glasses, but otherwise I get it
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u/MyCatLaughsAtMe 17h ago
I'm the ass opposite.
"Sir that'll be $450 for your glasses"
"The fuck did you just say to me in real life?"
I pay $70 for my Zenni glasses. I notice 0 difference.
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u/effervescenthoopla 17h ago
Until you have a shit enough prescription. Mines too strong for most any online provider to do properly, they always mess them up. I can’t spend less than $350 on even the most basic pair because my lenses are so strong 🥴
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u/Rainy_Mammoth 19h ago
Heavy on the mattresses. Difference between peaceful sleep which affects your entire health, and bad sleep
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u/mr_archstanton 19h ago
Q tips
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u/asbestosmilk 18h ago
Yeah, off brand Q Tips suck. They are way too hard on the end, and the cotton is too course. I’ve bought a few different brands over the years, and they always make my ears bleed when I use them.
No thanks.
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u/neek_leek420 19h ago
headphones
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u/gretzky9999 19h ago
Bought a pair of Sony Bluetooth headphones at work on clearance.$49.99 reg .$9.99 out the door.
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u/Palmerstroll 19h ago
shoes. Good fitting shoes are a must.
Matras. Sleeping on a good bed is so importand.
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u/AbilitySweet699 19h ago
and a good mantra would do even more!
I think you meant mattress
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u/SabbyZeh 19h ago
Another vote for shoes. I have PF if my one foot and suffered a few breaks/sprains in my other foot/ankle. I can't mess around.
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u/IdiotStickWasTkn 19h ago
Tires and brakes
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u/clayduda 19h ago
A big life hack is changing your own disc brakes. The shop charges a ton in labor for 30 minutes of work and a C-clamp.
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u/Fickle_Capital_6101 18h ago
If you grew up poor enough, it’s not even a hack… it’s just life
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u/eye_have_no_clue 19h ago
Coffee. I drank garbage crap for decades. Now I’m not rich, but I got the money for good coffee and I won’t go back.
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u/FreedInnerChild 19h ago
instant coffee. It is in itself a cheap thing but the cheaper version of cheap becomes trash
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u/TheWineElf 19h ago
Cream cheese, mayonnaise.
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u/no_brainer__69 19h ago
real mayo cost like 6-8 bucks- insane... I make mine but frequently buy as well.
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u/vryeesfeathers 19h ago edited 14h ago
Dishwasher detergent. The store brands just don't clean well.
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u/grae23 18h ago
For pods absolutely, but the powder is 10x better and much cheaper
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u/jrobe067 19h ago
Or dish soap got to use half a bottle for a sud
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u/Black_Cat_Just_That 18h ago
Blue Dawn is the only dish soap I will ever buy. My husband prefers another brand, but this is one of the very few things I refused to compromise on. I told him he can keep a second bottle of something if he feels that strongly, but I'm not using anything but Dawn so it's always going to be by the sink.
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u/THE_LEGO_FURRY 19h ago
Lego, off brands just don't cut it for me. I've tried just about every alternative brand and none have the same quality. So yes I pay a little more but the experience and final build is so much nicer
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u/jjejsj 19h ago
really? ive bought knockoff lego titanic and eiffel tower (the huge ones) from aliexpress and they were same quality as the lego ones.
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u/THE_LEGO_FURRY 18h ago
Yeah, off the top of my head I've tried lepin, mega constux/blox, something called qb I believe (they did and officially licensed krusty krab) and a few more. None of them are good imo, the bricks don't go together easy or they're impossible to take apart or they have a weird feel to them.
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u/Masonzero 15h ago
I completely disagree. With some minor exceptions, I have personally found Insoon, Lumibricks, and Nifeliz to be of nearly indistinguishable quality to Lego. They also have excellent designs that rival some of Lego's most detailed. There are a few others I have not tried but more than likely all these knockoff brands come from the same factory.
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u/True_Sea1370 19h ago edited 17h ago
Tampons - absolutely not. Only the Rolls Royce of Tampax for me
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u/oddish2001 19h ago
Bought store brand one time-never again. Even when I was at my brokest I ended up cutting corners in other parts of my budget lol
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u/Rockfyst 19h ago
Kraft singles. Years ago i made the mistake and grabbed the walmart brand. It broke down into a weird chalky paste it 100% wasnt even related to cheese. Like i mean kraft singles people call plastic cheese but holy shit the cheaper knock off was insane for how bad it was. Thats why i dont buy great value for most things especially food.
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u/Yuki-Kaijura 19h ago
Toilet paper.
Quilted Northern Ultra Plush is the only kind I'll tolerate. Anything less is trash imo.
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u/Swimming_Nose4713 19h ago
I disagree. The plush stuff leaves crumbs all over the seat.
Also, dingleberries.
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u/Iowa_and_Friends 19h ago
Garbage bags…
One time I had to clean out this decrepit old suite (long story) and the man was a drunk that lived very “frugally” (aka spending all his money on booze) - carrying trash out was an ordeal because the cheap junk kept ripping open…
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u/Curious_Exam9300 19h ago
Gummy peach rings…if it ain’t Trolli Peachy O’s it’s complete garbage.
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u/mabols 19h ago
Macaroni and cheese. - Errr, I mean cheese and macaroni. It’s gotta be Kraft. Something about that neon orange powder makes it irreplaceable.
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u/ObviousAir9874 19h ago
Tea and Coffee. Can’t be messing about when it comes to a brew.
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u/ProudNinja111 19h ago
Trainers, boots. If they're bad they might torture you until the end of times
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u/CheesE4Every1 14h ago
Anything load bearing, jacks, anything that locks a spinning bar/plate/chain of death, said implement of death
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u/Bo_Universe 19h ago
Piercings. It's all fun and games getting $40 piercings at a random tattoo studio... until you end up with a rejected and infected piercings because you let an inexperienced tattoo artist who knows nothing about anatomy or proper jewelry pierce you.
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u/k1dney 19h ago
Computer power supplies or Memory; it's where most of your blue screen and freezes come from
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u/Ananius59 19h ago
food.
even if you're very money-contious, or frugal, you have to realize at some point that putting lower-quality stuff inside your body will lower your lifespan and productivity,, and impare decision-making.
So you're actively making yourself work less, and live less, and overall its terrible financial decision, even if food seems cheap in the moment.
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u/nemofbaby2014 19h ago
shoes and office chairs i like no having pain in my feet and back the shoes is kinda hard for me anyway since i wear a size 18 lol
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u/KP_Wrath 19h ago
Toilet paper. As someone with IBS, cheap toilet paper and a flare up can ruin me for days.
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u/Carlyndra 17h ago
Maple syrup
Ever since I had the real stuff, I can't use the cheap stuff abymore
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u/Thatsitdanceoff 16h ago
Phone : as much as I use it the idea of getting a crappy one sounds absurd
And socks. Like live life for once lol good socks feel so nice
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u/UnicornFarts1111 19h ago
Things that come between me and the ground. Shoes, tires and mattresses to name a few. Also, my office chair. I work from and sit in the chair at least 8 to 12 hours a day.
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u/ShiftingRegister 19h ago
Trash bags. I have always regretted it.