Things that will pay for themselves within a year

[shultice24]

A new air filter for your car. When I bought my current Civic, the previous owner had not kept up on the maintenance very well and it desperately needed a new filter; $15 later, and my average mpg slowly climbed from about 30 or so to 34/35. It didn't take long for that little booger to pay for itself at all.

[cschin4]

Here's some frugal tips:

Buy a couple of plastic spray bottles. I now only buy a couple of cleaners. I buy concentrated Murphy's oil soap. Put a couple capfuls in the bottle and add water to make my own cleaner. And, then I do that with Mr. Clean. Those 2 bottles pretty much meet all of your cleaning needs except at times I want to bleach things. But, I don't buy a lot of other cleaners and i buy concentrate so it lasts for a long time when you make your own.

[Broken Arrow]

Maybe this doesn't quite fit, but what about a 1 year CD? It doesn't pay for itself per se, but it will pay you!

[KTP]

If you live in Alaska, buy a $15 gold pan and get out in some of the public areas where panning is allowed. Good exercise and this time next year you will have 1 or 2 ounces of gold you can sell for $800 to $2000. Don't get sucked into (pun intended) buying a gold dredge or anything more expensive than a pan and an old screwdriver for getting the gold out of cracks in the bedrock.

[Granite]

Zojurushi bread machine - worth every penny. I have had one for 11 yrs. Still works and makes great bread.

Vita Mix mixer - makes sauce, margaritas, smoothies, can even shred soap for making laundry detergent

[LivingAlmostLarge]

A dog or cat. Although long term it will cost a lot more than $500. But it does have intangible returns.

[cschin4]

If you live in Alaska, buy a $15 gold pan and get out in some of the public areas where panning is allowed.

Interesting. Do you easily recognize the gold when you find it? And, who do you sell it to? Does it go for more or for less in it's natural form?

[ScrimpAndSave]

I love the crockpot suggestion!!!

[mom-from-missouri]

Minni's list and rechargeable batteries and recharger, storm doors or insulated upgraded windows, woodstove and or wood, lawnmower to do your own lawn or garden tools to grow a food garden

[myrdale]

I just invested in a nice set of pots and pans. I don't know that they will necessarly pay themselves off in a year, but I have what I need now to cook about what ever I want.

Another good one would be books related to what you do at work. I might spend $150 on engineering books every year and I think they have paid for themselves several times over.