What frugal habit did you stop doing once you realized you were just punishing yourself for no reason?

The original poster shares their experience with hair dryers, explaining how years of buying $20-25 drugstore models created daily frustrations (noise, weight, poor results) until they purchased a mid-range Laifen dryer for under $100 and discovered the quality-of-life improvement was substantial. This prompted reflection on whether cheapest-always-equals-smartest for everyday items.

The community response was overwhelmingly positive and validating, with commenters sharing nearly identical experiences across different product categories. A kitchen knife user noted they previously wasted time sharpening cheap sets every weekend before receiving a quality knife as a gift. Others mentioned toilet paper, mattresses, coffee, pots and pans, leather shoes, and office chairs—all items where mid-to-premium purchases eliminated daily frustrations or provided long-term ROI.

A key consensus emerged: the real frugality lies in the "Buy It For Life" philosophy—investing in durable, mid-priced goods rather than false economy of repeatedly replacing cheap items. One commenter provided a concrete example: a $1000+ espresso machine that paid for itself within a decade of daily use while still functioning years later. Another noted that good tools like Knipex pliers, though 3x more expensive than cheap alternatives, perform so much better they feel like "the adult version."

Notable caveats were raised: one commenter pointed out that coated non-stick cookware is an exception since coatings fail within years regardless of price, so cheaper well-reviewed options make sense there. Another commenter humorously accused the original post of being stealth marketing for Laifen. One respondent revealed an unresolved tension—acknowledging the "buy quality" lesson intellectually while still hoarding scrap materials from childhood poverty, unable to fully break the scavenging habit even at 56 years old.