What is something really stupid you purchased that turned out far better than expected?

https://lemmy.world/post/1400491

What is something really stupid you purchased that turned out far better than expected? - Lemmy.world

I bought a piece of 1.5 inch stiff foam to try to fix a sag in a bet. It didn’t work but having that thick piece of solid foam around has been a life saver. Need something flat to put a laptop on? Throw it on the foam. Going to be doing something that requires you to be on your knees for a while? Get the foam! It went from stupid purchase to something I’d gladly replace if it broke.

A cheap little green alien soft dog toy. My dog has destroyed every soft toy we’ve ever given her except that one. The head ripped a little at the seam, but we just re-sewed it. She hasn’t made a big hole to pull out the stuffing somehow. And she loves it.

I wanted to get a backup, but the company doesn’t make that toy anymore. I got an alternative from them and it got torn apart within a few days. I guess it was too good of a dog toy.

The best dog toys seem to be the children’s plushies att IKEA. They are built to be abused.
Quite ironic, considering IKEA popularized cheap disposable furniture.
Compared to other particle board furniture I’ve had, I’d say IKEA produces affordable furniture rather than cheap. I don’t go for the bottom tier stuff (which tbf does look cheap), but the IKEA furniture I’ve used has lasted well so far, including through a move (some disassembled, some moved as is). It’s all still solid while I had an expectation that it would end up flimsier after a move.
Ikea has cheap-ass furniture and high-end furniture as well. The more expensive stuff tends to be quite durable.