I'll say it: the $20 repair kit from the flea market in Elgin was smarter than any new console
I got a used soldering kit and a bag of spare buttons for $20 at the flea market in Elgin two years ago, and it fixed six old controllers for me while my friends kept buying new ones at full price. People in this hobby love to say repairing stuff is a waste of time and you should just grab the next cheap deal, but I've saved way more money doing the opposite. What's the cheapest fix that kept a game going for you when everyone told you to toss it?