The term "paying for itself" implies that a particular investment or expense is generating enough returns or savings to cover its cost over time. To describe this concept using synonyms, some common phrases include "self-funding," "self-sustaining," "self-financing," "self-supporting," and "profitable investment." Other similar terms include "cost-effective," "economical," "saving money in the long run," "worth the investment," and "return on investment." Whatever the phrasing used, the idea is that the investment or expense is generating enough value to justify its initial cost, making it a wise choice that will benefit the investor or organization in the long run.