the gains do not make up for the losses (idiom)
得 · 11 strokes
Depicts a hand (寸) grabbing a shell (貝), used as currency in ancient China, to convey the meaning "get". Originally written as 㝵. The 彳 (movement) component was added later.
不 · 4 strokes
Pictograph of sepals of a flower. The modern meaning "no" is a phonetic loan.
偿 · 11 strokes
Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 尝 represents the sound. Simplified form of 償.
失 · 5 strokes
Depicts a person with their hair loose. Based on the original meaning "leisure; carefree", now written as 佚. The meaning later shifted to "lose" and "fail".
为了省钱买便宜货，结果用了两次就坏了，真是得不偿失。
I bought a cheap item to save money, but it broke after just two uses — the gain really didn't make up for the loss.