Cost per use!
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s that sometimes you buy something expecting it to last a month… and it ends up sticking around for a decade. And honestly? It’s usually impossible to predict which one it’ll be.
We were chatting the other day about all the things we bought just to get by — like that $7 Kmart toaster you grabbed when you first moved into a share house… and somehow still have 10 years later.
So, I asked the SOTM team:
What’s your accidental best purchase?
You know, the ones where the cost per use is so low it’s basically free?
Here’s what they said:
Brooke:
What’s your best cost-per-use item?
"GHD straightener."
How long have you had it / when did you buy it?
"Year 8, so like 14 years ago."
Roughly how much did it set you back?
"$250 — saved all my Maccas money."
Do you see yourself getting rid of it anytime soon?
"NO! My mum has a new one and I swear it just is not as good as the original!!"
Emma:
What’s your best cost-per-use item?
"SodaStream... We go through at least 2 bottles a day so it’s basically paying me now… right?"
How long have you had it / when did you buy it?
"About 5 years ago in the middle aisle at ALDI."
Roughly how much did it set you back?
"I think it was about $60… but I’ve hacked the system and swapped my canister for a Billy Bubbles one and got a spare, so now I get cheaper gas delivered straight to my door."
Do you see yourself getting rid of it anytime soon?
"No chance. Sparkling water is life."
Georgia:
What’s your best cost-per-use item?
"Kmart 7 Cup Rice Cooker."
How long have you had it / when did you buy it?
"Pretty sure I got it in 2016, so we’re coming up to a decade together."
Roughly how much did it set you back?
"It was either $10 or $12. I just checked and it’s only increased in price slightly to $14, which in this economy feels like a miracle."
Do you see yourself getting rid of it anytime soon?
"Never. It’s a legacy item now. Basically a kitchen heirloom. And cooking rice on the stove is not for me."
Jess:
What’s your best cost-per-use item?
"Tupperware microwave rice cooker."
How long have you had it / when did you buy it?
"I got it for free from my mum’s friend’s mum."
Roughly how much did it set you back?
"$0 (but I recently had to buy a new one which set me back $40 — thank you to the SOTM queen Sophie for selling me hers!!)"
Do you see yourself getting rid of it anytime soon?
"No! When mine broke (which considering it was at least 20 years old is impressive), I scoured the world to find a new one."
Zara:
What’s your best cost-per-use item?
"So random but I bought a mini trash bin that clips onto the inside of your car door. It also comes with mini trash bags. It’s the best thing ever, so cute, and I couldn’t live without it."
How long have you had it / when did you buy it?
"Maybe 2 years ago?"
Roughly how much did it set you back?
"Maybe only $15 including the bags."
Do you see yourself getting rid of it anytime soon?
"Never!!! This baby will stay with me until the end."
Kiara:
What’s your best cost-per-use item?
"Marc Jacobs Tote Bag."
How long have you had it / when did you buy it?
"Got it right after I graduated high school, so 2019 (5 years strong!)."
Roughly how much did it set you back?
"I remember I bought it on sale for about $320 — it usually retails for around $400 — and I justified it at the time as a grad present to myself!"
Do you see yourself getting rid of it anytime soon?
"Absolutely not! It has seen me through 4 years at uni, several overseas holidays and hundreds of sleepovers. It is the perfect size and colour and super easy to upkeep!"
Bonus:
Alesha (from the Zella team)
What’s your best cost-per-use item?
"Ninja Foodi SmartLid Multi Cooker."
How long have you had it / when did you buy it?
"Coming up on 2 years now."
Roughly how much did it set you back?
"We were gifted it as a housewarming present by a family member - they retail for about $400."
Do you see yourself getting rid of it anytime soon?
"No chance — I use it almost daily. Air fryer, rice cooker, slow cooker, pressure cooker, we really can have it all."