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People Explain Which Items They Never Buy On The Cheap

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People Explain Which Items They Never Buy On The Cheap
Image by mostafa meraji from Pixabay

We all love to save some coin. It's one of my favorite things in life. Even saving a quarter makes my day. But there are just a few things over time where going on the side of cheap, really isn't the best move. Sometimes, those few extra duckets spent are worth it. Let's hear from experience....

Redditor u/Wesology87 wanted to know about when "quality" counts the most by asking... What is something you WILL NOT buy the cheap version of?

I always buy generic. And I am proud about it. But once and awhile, especially when purchasing medication... I get nervous. Pillows can be cheap, and comfortable, but life saving meds... not so much. Let's compare notes.

Safety First

tangled up skydiving GIF by Thomas RhettGiphy

Safety gear.

BLACKWINGSgocaw

When I got my first harness, I kept giving my husband heart attacks cuz I'd do stuff like put it on the ground while putting my shoes on or something. He'd be like "OMG THERE COULD BE STUFF ON THE GROUND THAT MELTS YOUR HARNESS." And then I developed a new fear.

AggravatingCupcake0

The Boulder Holder

Bras. It's hard enough getting one that fits properly. If it fits nicely I don't care about the price.

Sunny-Cactus

I hate that my bras are so damn expensive. I recently tried a $15 Bali bra because I didn't want to spend another $60 on one bra. I seriously could not believe how bad it was.

Now I remember why I always buy expensive bras.

NonfatNoWaterChai

Investments

A winter coat and winter boots - they are SO worth the investment. You could get four or five - or more - good winters out of this investment.

I used to buy cheap, especially the coats as a good one can be costly, but a really warm, waterproof coat for winter makes the commute that little bit easier and life that little bit cosier. Sturdy, water-proof boots are also a great investment - no more cold toes and wet socks and the expensive ones really do last well.

I'm due a new coat for this winter and I've already started to put a little bit aside each paycheck for it.

LasRua

The Body Artist

Tattoos...

DeadHairUnderwear

The Hepatitis C outbreak in my neighboring county was traced to a single tattoo "artist". He made a tattoo gun out of an electric toothbrush and some fine guitar wire, and would take it to parties to give strangers tattoos (get a tat to commemorate this epic party brah!).

He had HepC himself, and would always go first to prove how good he was.

He sterilized the needle with a lighter, but he double dipped the ink, and managed to give dozens of people HepC. They eventually sent him to prison after he killed someone via sepsis from a seriously infected tattoo

The news story about his arrest didn't mention his name, but the Facebook comments were full of shit like "I bet it was <his name>, he gave my sister HepC".

Get tattoos from a professional shop, not some random dude.

Ut_Prosim

Back Support

happy office GIF by PRTGGiphy

An office chair is a great investment for the long run. Saves your back.

cozonacRO

Imagine my surprise when I was able to pick up two Herman Millers for $20 from someone liquidating their business assets 🤤.

Mr_Fraggle

See, that is a lot of... spend the coin ideology. A good office chair saves lives. And a safety harness is always a must... no matter what. Let's see who else won't compromise...

For $20?

Bored Married With Children GIFGiphy

PSU for a computer, get one from a reputable brand, not the $15 from some random brand no one has heard of. if you cheap out on a power supply you're asking for it to fail and take other components with it.

seanpokemon120

People Explain The Worst Thing That's Ever Happened To Them On Their Birthday

Feet Talk

Shoes. Mostly running shoes but all shoes really.

interstatebus

I only buy on sale items... Of name brands. So they could be a season or two old butt I'll never buy the fresh new pair.

INeedAUserName89

Mid-Range

I won't buy the cheapest electronics. Mid-range or higher is what I look for.

fixitorbrixit2

Best Buy cashier: "Would you like to purchase an insurance plan for that?"

Me: "It's a five dollar pair of earbuds. I think I'll be fine."

II_Confused

Sleep Well...

Pillow. $150 but feels like a poofy cloud. Have had it for 2 years now, so less than $.25 a day and going down.

Edit: I searched my old emails and found it for u guys! Hope it can help some of you out. It says side sleeper but I sleep on my back and and sides, love it. Good sheets help too I have Egyptian cotton 600 thread count. https://www.kohls.com/product/prd-3309939/royal-majesty-cotton-damask-check-side-sleeper-600-thread-count-pillow.jsp

Down fill, gusseted sides, and a decent fill weight are a recipe for success. If it gets a little low just punch in the sides and back to floof.

Skydolize

Catching Zzzzzz

Tired At Home GIF by IKEA USAGiphy

A BED.

If you have only bought crappy cheap beds your entire adult life, save your money for awhile and buy an awesome bed. That purchase can change your life. For real.

TitusMatinicus

The EYES have It!

Lasik eye surgery. Friend I worked with kept telling me I could get it for $500 in Colombia. Did it here in Georgia for $3k with a doctor who had done over 100,000 procedures. I'll stick with having perfect vision.

mcknightrider

To the Center

My co-worker and I had LASIK the same week. She went to a center 200 miles away and spent $250. I had mine done in town by a world recognized surgeon for $5k. I breezed through, she had complications for months and had to drive back to the center several times. Best money I've ever spent!

sleepisbeauty

Booted

Work boots. on your feet most the day, out in construction or sketchy areas for your feet? a great pair of work boots makes all the difference in the world.

edit: Thorogood is the brand of boots that changed my perspective on just how important great footwear truly is.

Glassclose

Chef it Up

Henry Danger Wow GIF by NickelodeonGiphy

Kitchen cookware.

Back2Bach

The difference of quality between knifes is night and day. I have Victorinox and a Zwilling & Heckel 8 inch chef knifes and while Victorinox is good, the other one is just amazing.

StealthyBasterd

The Great Outdoors

Camping tents. I've been Chinese water tortured on a rainy night in a cheap tent one too many times to ever skimp again.

UnassumingAlbatross

Just outdoors gear in general. Cheap stuff will break when you need it most. There might be a few exceptions but for the most part avoid the cheap crap you get from places like Walmart or Aly express.

HoverJet

Important Facts

Tampons. OB or nothing

Chocolate.

I love No Name brand stuff but I always get name brand Kraft Dinner!

JayneD-oh

Don't trust Balducci's...

Sushi

Feeling guilty that some kind soul gave me a Helpful award for this one-word reply, so here's some unsolicited advice. :-)

Grocery store sushi is usually a hard pass, but there are a few exceptions. Where I live (US East coast), both Balducci's and Wegman's have very high quality sushi. Balducci's in particular rivals many respectable sushi restaurants I've been to.

Both also offer sashimi and low-carb options (usually they'll make rolls using a very thin sheet of sliced cucumber in place of the rice). Whole Foods (at least the 3 I've tried) is surprisingly disappointing. While the quality is fine, the portions are small, and the fish-to-rice ratio is way too low.

brainbarker

And Shoes...

spongebob socks GIFGiphy

Socks. No more cheap socks for me.

From now on I only buy socks made from 100% merino wool. Typically Darn Tough socks since they have a lifetime warranty.

B**chy_Ghost

TP

Toilet paper.

aleagueofmyown

This is true, some people leave a hand towel by the toilet and wash often though that's a little much for me.

To further back you up, when drying off your wet boom hole you want that thick TP as the cheap stuff would disintegrate due from the water.

contheartist

Cheap Electrics...

Electronics. With cheap electronics you realise why they were so cheap so quickly. Cheap headphones for example.

By a mid range or high end product and you'll have it years, buy something cheap and you'll bee replacing it every few months or its so bad you hate using it.

TheHeroicOnion

In the Ear

bart simpson GIFGiphy

Q-tips. Suffered for two years because a 500 count was 2 bucks cheaper and I was to stubborn/cheap the throw them out.

Brap_Zanigan

Quality is quality. There are just somethings you can't skimp on. Trust me, I've tried. I love a good sale but are you paying for less then? Think about it.

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REDDIT

People Break Down The Missing Person Cases That Just Don't Add Up

Reddit user yourlastnames asked: 'what missing persons case is the most confusing / doesn’t add up?'

Content warning: suicide.

There are truly some strange unsolved cases out there, but there's nothing quite like hearing of a person who has vanished as if out of thin air.

While some of these cases have been explained away or even solved, there are some that remain a mystery that truly does not add up, no matter how the puzzle pieces fall.

Curious about these cases, in particular, Redditor yourlastnames asked:

"What missing persons case is the most confusing [to you] or just doesn't add up?"

The Last Ride of Terrance Williams

"Terrance Williams disappeared in 2004. He's the subject of a fascinating podcast called 'The Last Ride.'"

"The short version is that he was taken into custody in Naples, Florida, after being pulled over in the early hours for traffic violations. He was never seen again."

"The deputy that pulled him over tried to conceal the traffic stop even from his own organization, but staff opening a local business saw the whole thing."

"When the sheriff's department finally looked into it, they discovered the deputy was involved in a similar disappearance of a man named Felipe Santos in 2003. To this day the deputy claims no knowledge of Williams's whereabouts, despite being caught out in a series of lies."

- AlanMercer

Paddy Moriarty and Kellie

"Paddy Moriarty and his dog, Kellie. They went missing in an outback town in Australia with a population of 12 people."

"They were last seen leaving the pub riding his quad bike the one-kilometer distance to his house. He or his dog have never been found and no one has been charged in relation to his disappearance."

- Bigred0762

Susan Powell and Family

"Susan Powell went missing from her home in West Valley, Utah, on December 6, 2009."

"She is presumably dead. Her husband, Josh, was the main suspect and just a real piece of work. No one knows what really happened to her."

"Sadly in 2012, Josh murdered their kids and committed suicide after Susan’s parents gained custody of the kids."

- AlexisVonTrappe

"This case is so frustrating since his brother and father are both dead too. We’ll never know what happened to Susan, but I’m positive she’s in an old mine shaft somewhere. F**k Josh Powell."

- burittosquirrel

​The Last Call from Brandon Swanson

"Brandon Swanson. He drove into a ditch and called his parents for help. They stayed on the phone with him for 47 minutes while they drove around looking for him."

"They heard him say, 'Oh s**t,' and then the phone went silent. They eventually found his car far away from where he said he was but he was never found."

- kittengoesrawr

"Reading this was absolutely chilling. It seems at first glance that it's most likely he drowned, but that really doesn't make sense because the water was only 10 feet deep and they would have found the body."

"He just suddenly said, 'OH S**T!' and the phone went silent, but he did not hang up. The phone call continued with total silence from his end. What the f**k happened to him?"

- angelposts

Babysitter Mar Lou Bostwick

"Mary Lou Bostwick. She disappeared July 18, 1972, from Waverly, New York. She was dropped off by her dad to babysit at a friend's house. This was also her 16th birthday. Her mom stopped by later with a cake and presents."

"The people in the apartment told her that Mary never showed up. However, her bag was in the residence. Nothing else was ever found."

"There was another girl around the same age, Sharon Coston, who was abducted and murdered in a nearby town about a year later. October 1983 in Sayre, Pennsylvania."

"There was a man convicted of that, but he always denied doing anything to Mary. One of the people who testified against him and was given immunity was a suspect in Mary's case. Mary's mom thinks there's a connection, but nothing was ever really found."

"I've sadly never seen anyone cover her disappearance on any of the podcasts or YouTube shows."

- Vamp459

Derek Seehausen of San Diego

​"Derek Seehausen. My friend was dating him at the time of his disappearance, and he was actively planning his future in medicine, and was last seen in San Diego."

"I saw him about two months before he disappeared. Please send any tips."

- Hereforit2022Y

The Beaumont Children

"The Beaumont Children. Three kids go to the beach, are seen with a mystery man, and never make it back home."

"Never found out who the man was or where they went. Their parents just recently died without ever getting any closure."

- snguyenx96

Xavier Dupont de Ligonnes

"Xavier Dupont de Ligonnes. The whole family (parents and four kids) went missing overnight in 2011."

"Employers, schools, and the extended family received weird letters informing of their absence or departure (one of them saying they are going into a witness protection program). Two weeks later they found the corpses of the mother, the kids, and the dog hidden behind the house."

"They investigated and retraced the father’s whereabouts in the south of France. He was last seen leaving a hotel a few days before. The region was thoroughly searched, but he was never to be found."

- z4zazym

Branson Perry of Skidmore

"Branson Perry, aged 20, disappeared from Skidmore, Missouri in April 2001."

"He was working on his house with a friend, went to the shed to grab some power cords, and was never seen again."

- AdamR91

The Incomplete Story of Marshall Iwassa

"Marshall Iwassa. Good guy."

"He came back to his hometown to visit his family and friends, and everything by all accounts was good. He left to take the two-hour drive to where he was living and never made it. Instead, it was recorded he spent the entire night trying to get into his storage unit and then nothing."

"A week or maybe more, his truck was found 12 hours away on a back road in the middle of the woods burnt to a crisp with belongings thrown about everywhere, no sign of Marshal."

"From what I remember, the family was adamant that some of the things inside the truck, burnt or not, were missing, things they knew he had. The truck was even missing parts."

"It's been four years and there's never been answers. It makes me sad and fearful of long travels. From what I know of him, he was a fantastic friend; I hope they get closure one day."

- devbot8

Out Shopping Asha Degree

"Asha Degree."

"She went missing at the age of nine from Shelby, North Carolina, United States. In the early morning hours of February 14, 2000, for reasons unknown, she packed her bookbag, left her family home north of the city, and began walking along nearby North Carolina Highway 18 despite heavy rain and wind."

"Several passing motorists saw her; when one turned around at a point 1.3 miles (2.1 km) from her home and began to approach her, she left the roadside and ran into a wooded area."

"In the morning, her parents discovered her missing from her bedroom. No one has seen her since."

- EstateWeary5789

The Vanishing Marion Barter

"Marion Barter here in Australia."

"She boarded a plane overseas in 1997 and changed her name beforehand (didn't tell family). She apparently came back to Australia for a few days (according to passenger records) and completely disappeared."

"It's an ongoing investigation at the moment, there is a podcast about it called, 'The Lady Vanishes,' featuring her daughter."

"It's so tragically fascinating."

- CuddlySubject

The Grieving Bryce Laspisa

"Bryce Laspisa."

"He was driving to his parents' house (three hours) after an argument with his girlfriend, apparently due to his alcohol and video game addiction and abuse of prescription medication."

"Partway through the drive, he pulled off the highway and just sat there… from 9:00 AM to 3:'00 PM."

"A roadside assistance guy checked on him twice and said he seemed fine and coherent, and Bryce told him he would be carrying on back to his parents shortly."

"Sometime later, his car was found only a few miles away, driven off the embankment, and he was nowhere to be found. They never found him."

- Just_Raisin1124

News Anchor Jodi Huisentruit

"Jodi Huisentruit was a news anchor who disappeared in the early morning in Mason City, Iowa."

"There were signs that she was abducted and the investigation is still ongoing with new leads nearly 30 years later."

- Have_you_eaten_yet

Three-Year-Old William Tyrrell

"William Tyrrell. In 2014, the three-year-old boy went missing from his foster grandmother's yard whilst playing with his sister. His foster mother and foster grandmother were apparently watching them play outside, and the foster mother went inside to make a cup of tea."

"They then noticed they hadn’t seen or heard him in a while and searched the house and yard."

"In 2021, police began searching national parkland near the grandmother's home for human remains. They also revealed that the foster mother and grandmother were persons of interest in his presumed death."

"Earlier today, the foster mother pled not guilty to assaulting another foster child that was in her care (a 10-year-old girl). She has also been charged with intimidating and stalking a minor. Her husband has also been charged with the same crimes, but plead not guilty to all counts. The foster grandmother is now dead."

"Basically, police believe that William died whilst in the care of the foster family, and they disposed of his body to cover it up. Police are recommending that the foster parents be charged with perverting the course of justice and interfering with a corpse."

"His photos went viral at the time of the 'disappearance,' and he went missing whilst in a Spiderman costume, and the photo that was distributed was taken minutes before."

- Red_bug91

These stories are truly haunting, and it's no wonder that Redditors have worried themselves with what might have happened to these missing people.

We can only hope that answers come for at least some of these cases and that their closest loved ones achieve some sense of closure eventually.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.

To find help outside the United States, the International Association for Suicide Prevention has resources available at https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/

Senior citizen using a camera
Tiago Muraro/Unsplash

The realization you're getting older can smack you in the face at any given time, and boy-howdy is it fun!

It can be in the morning when you get up out of bed, and your body makes crackling noises, or when you can't seem to keep up at the gym and you cut short your running time on the treadmill.

That's just the physical.

When you suddenly have the epiphany that you're suddenly the oldest one in a group setting, it's humbling.

Curious to hear from strangers online who are no longer the young whipper-snappers they imagined themselves to eternally be, Redditor redmambo_no6 asked:

"Redditors with younger coworkers, what was your 'I’m officially old' moment?"

These moments of realization never get old. But people do.

Senior Kitty

"My childhood cat lived to 21.5 so teaching (freshman biology lab, so students were ~18) became very weird when I realized my cat was older than my students."

– mollusck_magic

Aging In Reverse

"I'm a preschool teacher. It's been a TRIP to watch parents go from Soooo much older than me, to the same age as me, and now they're younger than me!?!?"

– Smart_Alex

The Shook Pediatrician

"My kids pediatrician was also my husband's pediatrician when he was a kid. He was the first kid she had to come back as a parent and she was SHOOK."

– trixtred

Older Together

"See, that's what really kinda drives it home for me."

"I'm not bothered that I'm 48. But that means my school friends are 48, and that's weird for some reason. Like, I went to school with a guy who was wild and crazy. That guy is 48 now, and has a new grandbaby. Somehow, he's old, and I'm just 'getting up there '."

– ThatWeirdTexan

Relics of the past don't just pertain to humans.

Dialing It In

"Had a co-worker ask me, 'Back before cell phones, did you just have to wait around at your house for a call?' Uh, yeah, pretty much."

– Status-Effort-9380

"Reminds me of having to explain the concept of collect calls to my kids. The whole speed speaking where you were for pick up during the recording so your Mama never accepted the collect call."

– DaraScot

Legendary Aircraft

"Various colleagues were debating whether the Concorde had been real. They couldn’t fathom that supersonic civilian aircraft used to exist and now they don’t anymore."

"The Concorde last flew in 2003, when these colleagues were toddlers."

– geckos_are_weirdos

Foreign References

"We were talking about where we were on 9/11, and my coworker went quiet. He wasn’t even born."

"We also had a band that was famous in the 90s stay at the hotel, and he had no idea who they were, meanwhile I was so star struck as they were my entire childhood!"

– Itsagabby

Gravity is not our friend, and not just because of its effect on our faces.

The Day It Went Downhill

"When i fell down the last couple of steps on a stairway. No one pointed and laughed like I expected, instead they helped me up and asked me if I was okay. That’s when I knew."

– day_of_duke

It's About The Recovery

"F'k. That has to be a bummer."

"You fall. You know you're fine. You feel like an idiot. You get ready to wave to the crowd as they laugh and clap. But then... a hand is placed on your arm and you hear 'that was a big fall, are you ok?' You stay in shock for a moment. Of course, you're fine. Everyone is looking at you. They all have concerned faces. Sh*t. Two weeks later, the soreness finally subsides."

– minimalfighting

Ice Slip, You Slip, We All Slip

"This happened to me as well....walking my dog the day after a huge snowstorm. There were some rowdy teenage boys having a snowball fight across the street (schools were closed that day, of course). I slipped on the ice, my feet flew over my head and I landed solidly on my backside. As I struggled to get up I braced myself for the laughter and catcalls, but all I heard was "Are you OK Ma'am??' 'Do you need help??' I was in my early 50s and had never felt 'old' until that moment."

– Ouisch

Conversations with younger coworkers can be fun.

You can quote lines from your favorite TV shows and talk about the latest CD you bought at Target and brag about your new digital camera that takes better pictures than a smartphone.

And then you can watch the blank expressions on your coworkers' faces because they haven't a clue about what you speak.

Yeah. This has never happened to me...

Old.

person getting a tattoo

Collins Lesulie on Unsplash

The art of tattooing has been practiced across the globe since at least Neolithic times, as evidenced by mummified skin, art and the archaeological artifacts.

The oldest tattooed human skin was found on the body of Ötzi the Iceman from between 3370 and 3100 BC.

Tattooed mummies were recovered in almost 50 archaeological digs across the Earth with locations in Greenland, Alaska, Siberia, Mongolia, western China, Egypt, Sudan, the Philippines and the Andes.

But while advancements in tools and inks have opened up endless possibilities for body art, some designs have garnered a bad reputation.

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surgeons looking down at patient

National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

"I shall do by my patients as I would be done by; shall obtain consultation whenever I or they desire; shall include them to the extent they wish in all important decisions; and shall minimize suffering whenever a cure cannot be obtained, understanding that a dignified death is an important goal in everyone's life."

~ English translation of the modern abridged Hippocratic Oath

It is the hope of those seeking medical help that the medical professionals providing it will be just that—professional.

But no profession is immune to bad days, bad attitudes or bad apples.

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