Recently, I bought a brand new hoodie for $40. I was excited to wear it and thought it would be a great addition to my wardrobe. However, within weeks, the fabric started pilling at the sleeves. I was disappointed and frustrated that the quality didn't live up to the price.

But instead of just accepting it and letting my money go to waste, I decided to return the hoodie. I didn't want to settle for a subpar product, and I wanted the company to know that their product was insufficient. Plus, I didn't want to contribute to waste by keeping a hoodie that I wasn't happy with.

Returning an item that doesn't meet our standards is not only a frugal choice, but it's also a way to hold companies accountable for their products. By returning it, we're sending a signal that we expect better, and that we won't settle for anything less.

Of course, this advice only applies to items that have a good return policy and are within the return period. But many stores do offer generous return policies, and taking advantage of them is a smart move.

So, next time you're tempted to keep a product that you're not happy with, remember that returning it is a frugal choice. You deserve products that meet your standards, and companies deserve to hear our feedback when they don't deliver. Let's not settle for anything less!