The Sam Vimes “Boots” theory of socioeconomic unfairness, often called simply the boots theory, is an economic theory that people in poverty have to buy cheap and subpar products that need to be replaced repeatedly, proving more expensive in the long run than more expensive items.
I have a bag full of cheap-ass wired earbuds that sound tinny and awful, half are broken in at least one ear. But most I got for free somewhere or for less than 5 bucks off of some site. At one point or other I’d received a proper headset and wireless earbuds as gifts, and those have lasted 8 and 4 years so far respectively, with fairly consistent use.
My main trick used to be getting Senheisers extra thin/light model, because they were basically guaranteed to break inside the warranted period (mostly due to cable breaks from my pockets), and then they’d replace it basically for free, or a few bucks to upgrade to the next model.
And then the bastards made a set good enough that it lasted me 6 years.