Cheap things not worth buying, even when they are $10

Which cheap things are not worth buying? Three kinds: gadgets that do one job you rarely do, items that fall apart in weeks, and anything that claims to keep you safe with no marks or proof.

A $10 item you use once costs $10 a use. A $40 item you use 400 times costs 10 cents a use. Price is not what makes something cheap or expensive.

What to skip

• Single-use kitchen gadgets. Egg slicers, avocado tools and banana hangers. A knife and a plate do the same job.
• Trend items. Anything tied to this month's fad. They tend to be in a drawer by spring.
• No-name chargers and power strips. These are electrical items. Without safety marks, you are guessing. See how to buy a safe phone charger.
• Items with big health claims. A cheap gadget that says it measures blood pressure or "detoxes" is almost never what it says.
• Very thin versions of heavy-use items. A 10 dollar umbrella or suitcase can break on first use. Check the walk-away signs in is the cheap version a smart buy or a trap.

One reason it matters

The main cost is not the $10. It is the space, the clutter and the second purchase when the first one fails. Many people buy the cheap one, replace it, then buy the good one anyway. That is three purchases for one need.

Quick check before you add it to the cart: can you name three times in the next month you will use it? If not, skip it.

Where the answer flips

Cheap is fine when the job is simple and the item has no moving parts or safety role. A spatula, a dish brush, a plain mug or a pack of microfiber cloths do their job at the lowest price. Our list in things worth buying under $25 has more.

It also flips when you are borrowing or trying something. If you are not sure you will like a hobby, buy a cheap or used starter. The goal is to learn, not to own it for life.