# Your most "Bang for the buck" purchase **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 20, 2011, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-bang-for-the-buck-purchase/586086 "2011-06-20T00:47:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-bang-for-the-buck-purchase/586086/41 "2011-06-21T18:49:43Z")
One year in college, I got a job on campus and hung around for the summer, along with a crew of, well, we weren’t exactly total degenerates, but there wasn’t a lot of stress that summer – swimming hole, summer festivals, concerts, etc. Early in the summer someone was in the supermarket and grabbed one of those 12 inch multicolored semi-transparent plastic balls from the big wire bin. It went everywhere with us all summer, perfect thing to kick/throw back and forth while waiting in line, hanging out on the lawn, swimming, wherever. We called it the “dollar worth of fun”. Best fun for the dollar ever spent. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-bang-for-the-buck-purchase/586086/42 "2011-06-23T14:17:36Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > It’s a service, not an item, but the couple times in the last decade that we’ve used professional movers. The first time was like $250, the second time was more like $500, but not having to lug 25 boxes of books or bruise the shit out of myself carrying furniture was amazing. I loved not having to call in favors and impose on friends. It’s such a small price to pay for being able to start unpacking immediately instead of having to spend a day recovering and a week with a sore back and shins. YOU ARE NOT KIDDING!!! Best money I ever spent (several times) is on moving services! The entire cost was worth it on just one item… my piano. I saw 4 grown men struggling to get my piano up our porch stairs and realized I would have paid twice the amount. The last time I moved we had two moving van loads of stuff. Geez, it’s a good thing my kids are gone or we might have required three trucks! ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-bang-for-the-buck-purchase/586086/43 "2011-06-23T14:28:32Z")
For me, I’d say it was this [outdoor movie screen](http://images.cabelas.com/is/image/cabelas/s7_550284_999_01). We already had a Proxima machine, so by purchasing a $200 movie screen, we have instant Screen On The Green. We’ve already had people over several times over the last few months to grill some burgers, have a beer or two, and watch an outdoor movie. All we have to do is pick any movie on dvd, slap it in the laptop and we’re ready to go. It’s been great fun. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-bang-for-the-buck-purchase/586086/44 "2011-06-23T15:24:53Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Our [SodaStream](http://www.sodastreamusa.com/store.aspx?gclid=CMq3nubUxKkCFcov2godpWFGcw). The amount of soda, sparkling water, and other fizzy drinks we’ve made with it over the last year has been ridiculous. > [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > I’ve wondered about those. Do you have an opinion of their diet sodas? I’m not a huge fan of any of their syrups but I have found that sparkling water w/lemon or lime juice or their fruit essences are just fine for adding flavour to the water. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-bang-for-the-buck-purchase/586086/45 "2011-06-23T18:34:56Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > It’s a service, not an item, but the couple times in the last decade that we’ve used professional movers. The first time was like $250, the second time was more like $500, but not having to lug 25 boxes of books or bruise the shit out of myself carrying furniture was amazing. I loved not having to call in favors and impose on friends. It’s such a small price to pay for being able to start unpacking immediately instead of having to spend a day recovering and a week with a sore back and shins. Gotta agree with that. For our last move (nearly 9 years ago) we not only paid for the moving, we shelled out for the PACKING. We were both working full time, with 2 kids who were 5 and 8 at the time, and had neither the time nor the energy to deal with packing, and we’d have had several weeks of HELL trying to get everything boxed up. Those guys were worth every penny. And if you figure what we were earning, and add up the “cost” of having us do it ourselves, we saved a bundle :). Similarly: last fall, we cleaned out the garage, then I went over to Container Store and spent a fair chunk of change on Elfa shelving supplies. The hardest part is attaching the horizontal strips that hold everything. It took **Typo Knig** and me an hour to do one of them, with much sweating and swearing. We had the right tools etc, and knew what to do, it was just a matter of lining everything up right. So we put things aside, figuring we’d do a strip every day or so (we had a total of 6, I think). The next day, I noticed a contractor’s van at the neighbor’s house. I recognized the name (she’d recommended them to friends)… so I went over, knocked on the door, asked them if they’d be interested in a little extra work once they were done… They were - and an hour and 100 bucks later (and I think they undercharged me) it was done. Bottom line though: If it’s something you _could_ do yourself, but don’t have the time, or the skills to get it done efficiently, it can be REALLY worth it to pay a professional. ---
**Author:** ![Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron_Van_Horowitzski)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-bang-for-the-buck-purchase/586086/46 "2011-06-23T18:39:28Z")
[Slicer.](http://www.amazon.com/Chefs-Choice-632-International-VariTilt/dp/B000065ENH/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1308853727&sr=1-1) Not a commercial one, but a high-end home model. Have you priced grocery store cheese trays? Ouch. I go buy cheap block cheese at Woodman’s. I’m the cheese tray provider for my family and colleagues, and I think I saved equal money for the thing within six months. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-bang-for-the-buck-purchase/586086/47 "2011-06-23T18:47:20Z")
Without question, it’s my [Leatherman](http://www.amazon.com.br/ats/Pescamazon/letherman.gif) that I bought back in the late 80’s. ---
**Author:** ![Panurge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@Panurge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panurge)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-bang-for-the-buck-purchase/586086/48 "2011-06-23T18:58:20Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > Without question, it’s my [Leatherman](http://www.amazon.com.br/ats/Pescamazon/letherman.gif) that I bought back in the late 80’s. I’m very, very happy with my Leatherman as well. I never leave home without it and it has proved its worth on many occasions. Indispensable when traveling. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-bang-for-the-buck-purchase/586086/49 "2011-06-23T19:18:47Z")
Spent $1 on a crappy electric toothbrush at the dollar store and almost threw it out, then found out that it made a really good clitoral vibrator. It lasted for over a year of thrice(ish)-weekly use. Best dollar I ever spent at that age. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-bang-for-the-buck-purchase/586086/50 "2011-06-23T20:28:22Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > Spent $1 on a crappy electric toothbrush at the dollar store and almost threw it out, then found out that it made a really good clitoral vibrator. It lasted for over a year of thrice(ish)-weekly use. Best dollar I ever spent at that age. Thread closed. No other purchase can better exemplify “bang for the buck”. Although, perhaps SiamSam may best it. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-bang-for-the-buck-purchase/586086/51 "2011-06-24T08:59:37Z")
A set of [Bluetooth speakers](http://www.amazon.com/Spracht-WS-4010-Bluetooth--Stream-Wirelessly-Bluetooth/dp/B0023B1364/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1308904610&sr=8-17) for my iPhone. I can sit up to about 35 feet away from them or roam around the room and keep my iPhone by my side when listening to music. I can change songs, albums, or playlists and even control the volume all without having the phone tethered by an audio cable. They’re portable, take 4 AA batteries, but they also come with an AC adapter. They’re very small and lightweight, only about 5 ounces and only 7 inches long by 1 1/4 inches thick. They have great sound for speakers that size. They had an original price of $130, but Amazon has them greatly discounted. I paid $33 for mine, with shipping, they came out to about $40. Better than any speaker case, as I can keep the iPhone out in the open and free of anything that interferes with the controls. The second most bang for my buck is this [USB cable](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003L13BNI) with a line out. I plug my iPhone into my car stereo using the docking connector instead of with the headphone jack. It lets me control the volume of the music using my stereo’s volume control without worrying about the volume setting on the iPhone. As a plus, I can simultaneously charge my phone from the accessory outlet while driving. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-bang-for-the-buck-purchase/586086/52 "2011-06-24T12:55:22Z")
Can I answer with a gear purchase? The very best purchase we have ever made was our snow shoes. We initially thought we were wasting our money, but I can not count the number of incredible hiking days we’ve had in breathtaking landscapes all for a relatively small initial investment. If we want a winter adventure we just pack a lunch and spend bit of money on gas. We can even go spontaneously and the cost now is negligible. We’ve had truly amazing treks from the outskirts of the city to remote regions of the Gatineaux. Plus, when there was a terrible storm and the city essentially shut down, we got props for being the ones who showed up at work. We are each within walking distance of our office, although it can take awhile. So we just trudged to work as usual with no fuss on the unplowed sidewalks. Our snow shoes are without doubt the best and most appreciated gear purchase we’ve ever made. With the sheer enjoyment we’ve gotten out of them, they’ve earned back their cost at least a hundred fold. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-bang-for-the-buck-purchase/586086/53 "2011-06-24T14:07:08Z")
Home stereo stuff- Kenwood Basic M2A amp, C1 pre-amp, and a BSR equalizer, all in mint condition, for $10 at a yard sale. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-bang-for-the-buck-purchase/586086/54 "2011-06-24T15:34:41Z")
Video games. Team fortress, counterstrike, left 4 dead, etc. I paid about $5 each and got endless hours of amusement from them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-bang-for-the-buck-purchase/586086.md?page=2)