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31 Things To Buy That’ll Save You Money In The Long Run
We hope you love the products we recommend! Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication. 1. Wood polish and conditioner that’ll revive all sorts of heirloom…
We hope you love the products we recommend! Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.
1.
Wood polish and conditioner that’ll revive all sorts of heirloom and sidewalk finds so you can bring your great-grandmother’s rocking chair back to fighting condition for the nursery. You just may find all kinds of new projects to tackle with this potion to keep ya’ busy all year!
Amazon, amazon.com
Enhances the natural beauty and depth of grain on finished *and* unfinished wood. For use on antiques, dining tables, kitchen cabinets, wood doors and trim, etc.
Promising review: “I’m not able to sand and stain my floors until spring but they are so dry and worn. I bought this hoping to keep them moisturized until we can refinish and I am amazed with this product.” —nicole feather
Get it from Amazon for $8.48.
2.
Water bottle-cleaning tablets so you’ll get way more use out of that Yeti tumbler instead of getting grossed out by stains and then springing for a new one. That positive impact on the environment (and your pocketbook) only helps if you keep using that reusable drink container.
Promising review: “I wasn’t sure if this was a gimmick or not. Turns out it works really well. I have four metal thermos-like containers that are used to keep tea warm every day. Over time, the tea stained the insides and was very difficult to remove. I added one of these tablets to the container, filled it with hot water, and let it sit for a few hours. When I came back to rinse it out, I was literally amazed at how clean it was. I think it looked cleaner than when they were new. I called my wife over to show her, and she was equally impressed. Awesome product!” —Robert A Moreno II
Get 12 tablets from Amazon for $8.
3.
Reusable makeup remover pads (with a mesh laundry bag) for creating less waste AND cutting the cost of disposable pads. RIP to the mountain of mascara-streaked waste I’ve created.
Amazon
Promising review: “I was trying to find a low-waste way to remove my makeup and these are great! I’m done wasting my money on fancy makeup removers from Sephora. Now it’s just a little coconut oil for me, and take it off with one of these bad boys. I’ve washed them once so far and the makeup came off completely, though they did not perfectly retain their original shape. They are soft enough (even after washing) to not irritate the sensitive skin around my eyes. I just need one per day, as opposed to two or three cotton balls soaked in my previous makeup remover.” —Suzannah
Get a 16-pack from Amazon for $9.99 (available in six color combos).
4.
And micellar cleansing water that’ll gently remove your waterproof makeup at a budget-friendly price. No more trashing your stained washcloths!
Amazon
Amazon, amazon.com
Promising review: “The book is set up very logically. Having the table of contents organized by main ingredient (grains, rice, beef, pork, turkey, egg, fish, potato etc.) makes it easy to see what options are available based on what the reader has on hand. There are many vegetarian recipes too!
I had no idea my IP was so versatile and had only cooked pork and chicken in it previously. When reviewing the book, I’ve tried at least 9 recipes: cinnamon steel cut oats, polenta with honey and pine nuts, herb turkey breast, lamb curry, shrimp curry, seafood paella, easy beef stew, ham and egg casserole, ratatouille. All dishes came out beautifully cooked and moist” —Scott
Get it from Amazon for $12.83.
6.
Or if you’re still one of the IP holdouts (to each their own!) a budget-friendly, plant-based cookbook that could be just the thing to kickstart your goal to begin meal planning — even if you’re merely vegan-curious.
amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review: “As a vegan, I prefer to cook at home rather than eat in town. It has been a lot of fun making the recipes out of this book. I’ve prepared some dishes to my non-vegan coworkers and they loved them. Toni does a great job in simplifying cooking, while saving me money and getting extra veggies in my diet. Very minimal cooking experience is needed. There’s enough recipes here to prepare breakfast, lunch, dinner, desert, and snacks to keep me busy for the entire summer. This is a must have book for vegans or anyone else wishing to try a plant based lifestyle.” —Timothy Place
Get it from Amazon for $15.79.
7.
Fridge shelf liners designed to absorb excess moisture and keep fresh groceries fresher for a tad longer. Here’s to produce that’ll still be fresh even though your friends lured you out for an unexpected mid-week dinner.
Amazon
Promising review: “Thanks for creating such a simple item that’s much needed in the home. The paper towels are thanking you too. Before I found these, we were going through loads of paper towels in our crispers. This is durable and the patterns look great too.” —Fayola
Get three 12″x24″ liners from Amazon for $6.99 (available in two patterns).
8.
Oral hygiene dog chews that could be worth a try before you default to a (pricey) under-anesthesia pro dental cleaning. These before and after pics don’t lie.
Promising review: “My cocker spaniel has terrible teeth. Several different vets have been insisting on dental cleaning under anesthesia for years now, but I’m terrified to have to put her through that. I’ve been using Greenies for years with no difference at all. This product was the last resort before scheduling that dental cleaning procedure. I took a before picture to ensure I’m not just imagining improvement to avoid having to put her under anesthesia. After 2 weeks of switching between Vibrac CET VeggieDent and Vibrac CET Enzymatic (she gets bored of the same treats quickly) I checked Lola’s teeth and almost cried!!!!! This product is an absolute miracle. Before and after picture included (taken 2 weeks apart).” —Mystique
Get a bag of 30 chews from Amazon for $20.99.
9.
A soft menstrual cup designed for people who have a history of bladder sensitivity or found other firmer cups to cause discomfort or cramping. You don’t *have* to resign yourself to spending money on lots of tampons just because a cup didn’t work for you before!
Amazon
This cup is made of an ultra-soft silicone formula in a bulb shape designed to make it easy to insert and open and an indented stem that’s flexible and easy to use.
Promising review: “I struggled with the DivaCup, size 2, though upon first glance it should be perfect for me. This, though, was a dream after an online quiz recommended this brand as a better option. I have a more shallow and titled uterus, which caused constant discomfort and leaking with Diva 2, even though I am in my 30s, have delivered three times, and have an average flow. Saalt stays in place, even while I use the bathroom — something I could not do with Diva — and also does not leak! So comfortable for both sleep and active workouts, too!” —Pamela Busarello
Get it from Amazon for $28.99 (available in two sizes).
10.
A wall-mounted scratching post that’ll entice your cat more than your brand new couch. Eek.
Amazon
Promising review: “I have two of these for my cat and they’re helping save my furniture. These are GREAT. My cat ignored all cat towers but loves these.” —CBCB
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
11.
Charcoal shoe inserts to help you ~lazily~ fight the funk any time your footwear’s in storage, lest you have to throw out another pair of your kid’s sneakers because they’ve tainted the mudroom.
Amazon
Promising review: “Our boys play a lot of sports but we bought these specifically for our teenage son’s soccer cleats. We tried spray and sneaker balls but they didn’t touch the smell. These Moso Bags were recommended by a teammate’s mom and they are great. His cleats were so gross if he took them off in the car I had to roll down the windows. When these bags are in you can’t smell the cleats. If you stick your nose up in his shoes they still have an odor but I feel like they are constantly having to battle the funk so they are doing a great job. He can also stick his cleats in his bag and not make all his kits smell. These are definitely worth the purchase.” —Aimee
Get a pair from Amazon for $9.95.
12.
Indoor plant food spikes to help your plant bbs THRIVE.
Promising review: “I’ve been using this fertilizer for 10 days. And now I can see the plant’s deference! It’s resurrecting, isn’t it? I’m very happy!
-third week now. Getting better and better!!!
-added a current picture after two months using this.” —MARY H.
Get a 48-pack from Amazon for $2.24.
13.
And some houseplant sticky stakes to lure in and annihilate gnats, thrips, and fruit flies in a “disgustingly effective” upgrade to your indoor garden.
Promising review: “Holy cow these suckers work! I’m so grossed out by the result, but at the same time I have a sick sense of satisfaction. I used these in my house plants that are breeding fungus gnats like crazy. I used them in conjunction with beneficial nematodes, and they definitely cut down on the number of gnats in our house. Unfortunately I added a new house plant, plus repotted one that had outgrown its prior home, and we are wrapped up in them again. I’m buying another package of sticky traps as soon as I finish this review!” —Megan
Get a 14-pack from Amazon for $13.88.
14.
A fireplace whitewashing kit for a transformation on the cheap. Don’t even LOOK up how much it’ll cost you for a new fireplace surround. Trust me.
Amazon
Includes everything you need to whitewash a range of brick colors. Designed specifically for brick and should NOT be used over ceramic glazed or coated masonry. The paint is water-based and coated surfaces will not allow for absorption.
Promising review: “Love it, easy to use and very clear instructions. I used the ration for thicker coverage i did not want too much of brick showing through. Great quality and everything you need comes in the box kit. Worth it for me. Rags included as well as a great quality brush even the plastic tarp and painters tape. Perfect kit to get my project done!” —Erini
Get it from Amazon for $39.95.
15.
Stain-lifting pads made to tackle icky pet stains. You love ’em but you don’t have to live with their stains. Here’s to avoiding renting a carpet cleaner to deal with accidents.
Promising review: “Our poor older pup started having some incontinence issues and had several accidents in the house. I was really frustrated until I found these. They work amazingly well. They’re small, so if the area was larger I had to use two or three, but they pulled up stains and saved the house from being smelly. I even used one on an older stain (that I’m pretty sure wasn’t pet related) and it came up after leaving it on for about 24 hours. I make sure to keep a supply of these in the house at all times now.” —MC
Get a pack of 20 from Amazon for $24.99.
16.
Wool dryer balls to help reduce wrinkles and your drying cycle time by up to 25%.
Amazon
Promising review: “Are these economical? I would say yes. We used a fresh dryer sheet in every load, maybe 10 per week. Boxes of 50 are just a few dollars, but we didn’t want the scents on our clothes. Now five year later, we have NOT bought (10 boxes a year times 5 years) 50 boxes of dryer sheets so we saved a net of $150 over that time. Not a huge amount, but in our case saving money, without loss of function, is valuable in itself.” —L.Booth
Get a six-pack from Amazon for $8.99.
17.
Cat paw chair socks that’ll keep your floors looking perfect — especially if you’re a renter who KNOWS your landlord is looking for any excuse to not return your security deposit.
18.
Incredibly potent air sanitizer to eliminate any horrible smell with a startling efficiency. Spray a bit for all the ineffective flowery air fresheners of yore.
Amazon
My mom uses this stuff and it CLEARS out any undesirable smell.
Promising review: “I have battle tested this at home in the bedroom of two teenage boys. It ELIMINATES nasty smell wether it comes from body odor, flatulence or etc. Amazing. Then battle tested it in our small bathrooms after the boys got done dropping their brown snakes. One small spray, close the door and 60 seconds later it’s like it never happened. SOLD…..” —Todd J. Thompson
Get it from Amazon for $10.79.
19.
A book about roommates that can help you find a solid roomie and walk you through some awkward talks in case you’re already in a less-than-stellar situation.
Barnes & Noble
Promising review: “I love this book! Very creative, cute, and hilarious. If you’ve ever had (or currently have) a roommate, you can relate to the advice, anecdotes, and hand-drawn pictures!
Need to drop some subtle hints to your current roomie? This book makes a great gift filled with lots of passive do’s and don’t’s for all shared living situations!” —Austin L. Rundall
Get it from Amazon for $8.49+, Barnes & Noble for $8.49+, a local bookseller on IndieBound, or find a copy at your local library.
20.
And a toiletries shower locker in case you share a shower with folks who seem to also have a taste for luxury shampoo and conditioner. YOUR shampoo and conditioner.
Promising review: “I put a unit in the kid’s shower for my daughter, as she is always complaining of her brother using her bathing goods. My son has a large mirror in his room, and this unit fits perfectly in the bottom of the mirror to function as a little cabinet (additionally it is see through so I can see anything my son hides in there.)” —Amazon Customer
Real Life. Real News. Real Voices
Help us tell more of the stories that matter
Become a founding memberGet it from Amazon for $29.99.
21.
Mesh laundry bags so you have enough for your bras and other delicates. Also, put your socks in one so you’ll never lose one again?!!??!!
Amazon
Get six from Amazon for $10.97.
22.
A *legit* temporary tattoo service that lets you test run your own design for up to 18 days so you can get a real look and feel for your skin art before you take the plunge.
Check out pricing for custom tattoos from Inkbox here or check out the selection of pre-made designs here.
23.
A super adaptable sofa you can add on to over time, which will be so much cheaper than investing in a new couch when your family grows.
@Lovesac / Via instagram.com
FYI, each *light* piece (meaning side, back, and base) easily comes apart and can be covered in a range of covers. And so many are washable! So it’s a safe bet if you live with messy kids, adults, pets, etc. Also, be sure to check out the accessories options.
Get a couch with two seats and four sides from Lovesac for $1,600.
24.
A highly rated hair dryer that’ll last, quickly dry your locks, and de-frizz. It’s a favorite of pro stylists!
BuzzFeed
This is our mid-price pick for the best hair dryers on BuzzFeed Reviews.
Promising review: “This dryer is awesome. Love how quickly it dries my hair. I even used it to dry out my truck when it got waterlogged and wouldn’t start. A few minutes of my trusty Babybliss Pro under the hood had it started in no time. My dog loves it too, unlike weak hairdryers this one actually has enough power to part her hair when it’s wet. Good stuff.” —Eryn Wolfstark
Get it from Amazon for $59.95.
25.
A rapid egg cooker that’ll help avoid a repeat of the Deviled Eggs Disaster of Thanksgiving 2019. And 2018. And 2017. And 2016. But I don’t wanna dredge up the past.
Amazon
Promising review: “This thing is NO JOKE the easiest thing I’ve ever used in my life. Pretty sure it’s idiot proof. And I’m an idiot in the kitchen. I love hard-boiled eggs, but I’m the kind of cooking-illiterate person who can’t even boil water right. So I bought this puppy, read the directions carefully, got 6 eggs, and in 15 minutes, the buzzer went off and VOILA! Hard boiled eggs! I put them all in a bowl of ice water right after the buzzer went off, just for a minute or two (That was a tip in the instructions). That really made the shells come off easily. In one piece even! It was a joy to make these! They were perfectly cooked, nice and yellow in the centers, tasted awesome. I’m gonna make a bunch more and use them as quick snacks. This appliance is so great and cheap! I couldn’t believe how well it worked. It’s really small and all the pieces are plastic or metal, but it works like a charm, so who cares! A+++++ Highly recommended.” —Emily
Get it from Amazon for $16.71+ (available in five colors).
26.
A tooth-whitening pen that’s vegan, cruelty-free, AND easier on sensitive teeth than (pricier) whitening strips. (Your teeth are totally going to do that *ding* thing when you smile.)
BuzzFeed
27.
Reusable K-cups you can pair with bulk-buy coffee to seriously cut down on waste AND your caffeinated bottom line.
amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review: “We received our four-pack of reusable coffee K-cups Monday and have been using them non stop since. They are easy to use and easy to clean. we are all day coffee drinkers that live in an area with limited trash service so it is nice to not have all of the added waste from disposable K-cups. We have also saved money buying coffee this week because the ground coffee and bulk coffees are less expensive than the disposable K-cups we had been using. We will be purchasing a second set soon.” —JoAnna Kuntz
Get four from Amazon for $9.95.
28.
A roller stamp that’ll cover up sensitive info on bills and other mail for a little peace of mind.
Amazon
This is easier than using a shredder!
Get it and three ink refills from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in three colors).
29.
Mini spatulas that’ll help you get every last bit of your pricey holy grail beauty products. Or even your cheap drugstore foundation. Every. Drop. Counts.
amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review: “This product is amazing! My all time favorite foundation has been discontinued so naturally I went out and bought a bunch of them. I want to make sure I am getting every drop of foundation I can. I was using a qtip but the cotton was adsorbing the foundation. My husband told me I needed a spatty daddy. I had no idea was it was but he ordered one for me. I thought it was kind of gimmicky but thought it was worth a try. OMG it’s amazing!!! I was able to get so much more foundation out of the bottle! I was able to scrape the sides so clean you can even see through the glass bottle. I am 100% sold on these little spatulas!” —Natqall
Get two from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in two colors).
30.
A BuzzFeed’s Tasty seasoning kit with five spice blends that’ll liven up your standard weekday dinners and help you avoid the temptation to order pizza again.
Amazon
I have this and am NOT a good cook. I’m incredibly lazy and hate the thought of actually going to the grocery store and buying ingredients for things. But! I threw in some of the Savory (a drool worthy mix of tomato, basil and oregano) into a pot of bottled marinara sauce I later dumped on top of some pasta noods and it helped make it taste SO much better. I’ve also used the zesty seasoning to jazz up grilled chicken for a salad that ended up tasting store-bought as a result!
Get them from Amazon for $23.89.
31.
A couple of silicone masking brushes that won’t eat up your holy grail mask like brushes with bristles or using your fingers to apply would.
Promising review: “I love these! I no longer dread putting on my face products. I was using my fingers to apply the product to my face, it was so messy and got in my nails too. When I came across these silicone brushes I knew I had to have them. They are amazing and the low price is a steal. These brushes really changed my routine. I use my facial products more often because I’m no longer worried about the annoying mess. The silicone brush is very flexible and spreads the product on my face nicely. Cleaning the brush is a simple task, just rinse and pat dry. Highly recommended!” —Wells Family
Get them from Amazon for $4.20.
Looking for more great Amazon finds? Check out some of our favorite cheap things to buy on Amazon, some of the weirdest things on Amazon you might actually want, or read through all the rest of our incredible Amazon product recommendations.
Looking for the perfect gift for any occasion? Check out all of BuzzFeed’s gift guides!
Allison Krausman / BuzzFeed
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