Looking for budget-friendly mods that actually improve performance

I’ve been tinkering with my daily driver and I’m curious what everyone’s go-to performance mod is when you’re on a tight budget. I see a lot of exhaust and intake kits out there, but I’m really after something that gives a noticeable bump in power or handling, not just more noise. What’s the one upgrade under $500 that made the biggest real-world difference for your car?