Yes, I remember there was a grey leopardprint cardigan for £6 or £8 that lots of girls bought at the time; it was so popular it appeared again in the stores a few months later, so everyone else could have a second chance of getting one.
There's also the false economy of the £1 belt that breaks after you wear it a few times, during the mere act of bending the material to thread it through the buckle.
However, I did once get a woollen coat in a dark wine shade, that's perfectly tailored from shoulders to waist, for around £20, which has lasted me two winters and is still good for more wear to come.