what’s your “i’m too tired to think but still not paying that price” version of stuff like hair dryers？

i feel like there’s this weird middle zone in frugal life that nobody really explains well. like you’re not trying to buy the absolute cheapest thing anymore because you’ve already been burned by that… but at the same time you’re definitely not in the “just spend more for quality” camp either

hair dryers are the perfect example for me. mine still technically works but it’s loud, takes forever, and somehow still leaves my hair kinda frizzy. every time i think about replacing it, i end up going down the same rabbit hole. reviews, comparisons, people arguing in comments, the whole thing

and then obviously dyson comes up. people swear by it. faster drying, less heat damage, whatever. but every time i see the price my brain just hard stops. i can’t get past the “this costs more than my groceries for a month” feeling

so then i start looking for alternatives and that’s where it gets messy. half the internet says mid-range brands are basically the same performance, the other half says they die in a year and you end up rebuying anyway. i’ve seen so many threads that turn into “dyson too expensive what are the best alternatives” and somehow nobody agrees on anything

like… is there actually a consistent middle ground here or is this just one of those categories where you either overpay once or underpay repeatedly

what’s your personal rule for this kind of thing? not just hair dryers but anything in that awkward price tier. do you go by lifespan, daily use, brand trust, or just vibes at that point

because my current system is basically: avoid buying, overthink for weeks, then panic purchase something random when the old one finally dies… and i’m starting to realize that might be the least frugal strategy possible

curious how other people here handle this without spiraling into 30 tabs and decision fatigue lol