A low-cost simple one-dimensional spring-mass system was constructed to investigate damped oscillations. The suspended mass in the system can move freely inside a cylinder containing a fluid. It provides an in-depth experience for demonstrating various concepts under oscillations. It can be used to probe the magnitude of damping forces in liquids such as water by analysing the oscillation of an immersed mass. Such low-cost apparatus can provide a powerful platform for instructions and a rich pedagogic experience. The manuscript presents an excellent idea that can be used as a simple laboratory exercise to explain damping in undergraduate courses on vibration.