r/Frugal • u/TheAlphaCarb0n • 1d ago

My frugal win this week: Rechargeable batteries 💻 Electronics

I moved into a new place recently and have been dreading the big grocery bills of buying all the occasionals like cooking oil, soy sauce, dish soap, etc etc.

The other day while unpacking stuff, I needed batteries for a remote. I smugly remembered that I'd recently charged up some AAs, so I found them and I was good to go.

Why it felt like a win is that I bought those batteries like 6 years ago. They've been used and recharged dozens of times and still last way longer than off the shelf disposable batteries. And I think I paid like $50 for a kit of 30 something mixed batteries. I've also saved a ton of material waste!

Buy rechargeable batteries!

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u/TenOfZero 1d ago

I really don't understand why people buy alkalines, sorry baby a few devices that will work well with rechargeable batteries, but 98% of things will.

It's not even only a frugal win, it's just an efficiency wind not having to go buy new batteries.

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u/TheAlphaCarb0n 1d ago

I didn't even know some things wouldn't work with rechargeables, I've yet to encounter that.

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u/330homelite 1d ago

One thing that rechargeables aren't as good in is a led device designed for alkaline batteries.

NIMH battery voltage is slightly less than alkaline batteries so the light output is a little less. Also, I have noticed that my flashlights and area lights get warm when using NIMH batteries. It may or may not be due to the low internal resistance in the batteries. (but I still use them in there)

Other than that, rechargeable batteries are the best.