Howdy!
I’m a CPF migrant just getting back to lights from a 2+ year absence. Since becoming permanently and severely disabled I find myself looking towards budget lights (basically CPF doesn’t really match my buying/shopping habits anymore.)
The transition been much hard then I expected! Basically caviar tastes with a hotdog budget. LOL!
AZ
Hello AZ,
Welcome to BLF, they’re a nice bunch here. I’ll bet you’ll find something you’ll like at some point, maybe modding your new budget FL’s and making them what you! want them to be will be what makes the switch much easier.
When you get the hang of rebuilding your budget lights then it will be caviar performance on a hotdog budget 
Welcome to BLF!
Yep. Even though my soldering skills suck now (i.e. it now takes me 1/2 hour + to make a solder point which used to take me 10 seconds -> among other things I solder one handed now,) I was dismayed at the few budget lights that I received and just HAD to mod them.
It’s weird. It feels like somewhere down the line I got all “snobby” with my flashlight hobby. Going back to modding “budget” lights feels a bit gratifying and in a way back to basics. Sorta like when I 1st got drawn into this hobby.
Also, so far I do find myself liking the feel of this forum. Even before my stroke I always felt like I was being nickel and dimed on that other forum.
Welcome to BLF, alphazeta! :party:
Welcome .
Welcome to the forum AZ. 
Welcome, AZ! It’s definitely possible to have good quality flashlights on a budget—it’s just a little more work. A few years ago the missus and I had some medical hardships that forced us to count every penny, and after that we stayed frugal because it’s fun to get good deals on all the stuff we buy. You came to the right place to save money.
Thanks for the warm welcome everyone. It’s been awhile since I’ve felt so comfy in a forum.
Although I somewhat miss chasing ti all over the place -> it has felt nice getting back to good “bang for the buck” purchases. It’s something I got away from all these years. I’m glad I’ve found it again. I remember it was a $~10 dx elly (when the Cree XRE came out) that was my 1st light. I remember thinking “…$10 for a light? seems kinda steep…” LOL
Be well everyone.
AZ
Welcome to BLF AZ ! ! ! :party:
I’m pretty sure you will like it around here, but your wallet will hate it.
We may spend less money on flashlights, but new lights keep flooding the markets and online vendors every week and they’re all so adorable.
A big ’ol TX howdy backatcha!
helo az
Welcome! If you can mod, you can dramatically improve the performance of your lights for very little money, although some of these lights are so inexpensive that the mods sometimes cost more than the light. There are some members here that will mod for you, but that's not exactly a budget option.
I'm sure there are budget options here as well :-) (I'd be glad to do one or two mods for you -within my skills-, but I'm not very good at deadlines)
Have a pleasant time at this friendly forum, alphazeta!
Welcome to BLF, hope you enjoy your stay here. 
Nice to have you aboard. I think you will be amazed about how much quality you can get for so few bucks with the help of folks around here. I was. And as my screen names says, I’m a *V*alue *F*or *M*oney addict
Welcome to BLF! Many here have done it too. Better that than being called a CPF refugee!
Welcome to the forum AZ, glad to have ya!
Great bunch of folks here, a surprising number of them just about always ready to jump in and help ya out of a pickle. So dive in and have fun, but put someone else in charge of your budget if possible as there’s so many ways to spread it around!