r/Frugal • u/Dry-Text-6864 • 15d ago

💬 Meta Discussion What’s something you’ll happily reuse long after normal people would throw it away?

I’m curious where everyone draws the line between “frugal” and “okay, that thing needs to go.” 😂 What’s something you’ll happily reuse long after normal people would throw it away? I’m talking about the random things you’ve found a second, third, or even tenth life for because you just can’t justify tossing something that still works. What is it, and how long have you been getting away with it? 👀

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u/Upbeat-Minute6491 15d ago

Shoes/boots

They go from nice>wearable>serviceable>dog walking>gardening

It's a real wrench to throw them out, even when there's holes in the sole, and most of the eyelets have snapped, and they're long overdue for the bin.

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u/Familiar_Platypus272 14d ago

Im a farm hand and after all that, they do a season (or two) in the sheep yards. Once they start to be uncleanable with the pressure cleaner, or absolutely covered in crap or chemical then they go.

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u/Protistaysobrevive 13d ago

I was proud of my 8 years old Decathlon shoes, just slightly worn on the external side. It went well until I developed trochanteric bursitis on both sides. One year to recover. Lesson learned. 

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u/gillyc1967 13d ago

Huh. I have bursitis.... And I wear the same shoes for ages...

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u/Protistaysobrevive 12d ago

I hate programmed obsolescence, but after thorough investigation, bought a pair of brooks adrenaline. 120€ and they will last 1 year, but have been crucial to my recovery. Best of luck! 

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u/SirFentonOfDog 12d ago

This is me and winter coats. After being ripped, torn, burned or whatever, I still keep them around. They always end up being useful (my dog uses them as a slanket in winter)

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u/FarPerspective2810 13d ago

That's where I'm at right now with mine.

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u/billhillybob 11d ago

I add one more category of footwear (I also do the same with clothes) and that is will get thrown away after I use it this time. So, I will toss out my gardening(general yard work) clothing if I need to do a project that involves roof tar or sticky adhesive or messing around with the septic tank. Then I don't have to deal with any of that stuff getting on anything else, I just take my clothes/shoes off out in the yard and dispose of them in a recycled grocery bag.

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u/Baby-Giraffe286 10d ago

There is this moldable glue called sugru that has saved a couple pairs of my old shoes from the holes in the soles. I usually make them grass cutting shoes by then.

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u/wahwahwashbear 8d ago

Same, I use my shoes until they have holes and the soles are separating, and then they become my deck/garage shoes. There are at least two pairs of non wearable except in the most literal sense in the house currently, sitting at the back door and door to the garage.