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We know it seems counterintuitive, but buying certain products now will actually save you money later. Here are some of our favorite money-saving products!
Note: This post may contain affiliate links. What does this mean?
Here are some of our favorite money-saving products!
2. Haircut Tools: 2020 taught many people that they can cut their own hair (or their spouses hair!). We were actually doing this before it became trendy and can attest to how easy it really is! It saves not only money but time! We like this haircut clipper set, as it comes with a variety of clipper lengths (for cutting short hair) as well as scissors (for cutting long hair).
3. Food Containers: Food and eating out makes up the second largest expense (after rent/mortgage) for most people. There are lots of ways to save money when it comes to food, but you need to have the right tools! These Pyrex storage containers are one of our favorite kitchen tools for saving money. They’re great for making casseroles as well as storing leftovers. We love batch cooking and doubling recipes, and these storage containers a big enough to hold lots of leftovers.
5. Silicone Baking Mat: Another way to save money in the kitchen is by replacing disposable products with reusable products. Not only is this more sustainable and environmentally-friendly, it’s good for your wallet. One easy and super affordable thing you can swap is a washable and reusable silicone baking mat to replace aluminum foil or parchment paper.
6. Reusable Sandwich Bags: Sandwich bags are another thing you can stop buying once you invest in reusable ones! This is especially useful if you have sandwich eaters in the house! We’ve tried and like the Stasher brand of reusable sandwich bags. They are easy to clean by hand rinsing or just throwing them in the dishwasher.
7. Reusable Paper Towels: Reusable paper towels, or unpaper towels as they’re sometimes called, are meant to replace paper towels. Etsy is your go-to place for finding reusable paper towels. We love these ones from the shop “marleysmonsters” – plus they have all kinds of styles and designs.
8. DIY Coffee Products: Depending on your coffee habits, this will look different. The goal is to make coffee at home so appealing that you won’t want to go out and buy coffee. Maybe for you this involves buying a milk frother. Or maybe it involves an espresso machine.
For us, our coffee station is made up of this coffee grinder and the Ninja coffee bar. If you love your Keurig machine, definitely invest in a reusable k-cup, which allow you to use your Keurig with any ground coffee. This will definitely save you money!
We also pick up a variety of coffees, creamers, spices and whipped cream to make drinking at coffee at home more appealing. Another tip is to upgrade your drink ware if you really want the full experience – like these glass mugs or reusable Starbucks mugs (that you can personalize!).
Related: 3 Reasons Glass Mugs are Better
9. Basil Plant: Growing your own food is cheaper than store-bought. The problem is, it’s not as easy or achievable as some make it out to be. During 2020, we bought a variety of vegetable seeds and plants (the supposedly easy ones too!)….yet we harvested zero vegetables. The basil was the ONLY plant that survived and is still healthy as we speak. That’s why we’re recommending getting a basil plant. From personal experience, this plant is actually easy to keep up with. And if you use basil in your cooking (which you should, because it’s delicious!), it will definitely save you money. You can buy a whole basil plant for around the same price as a few basil leaves from the grocery store.
12. Blankets: Alternatively, layer up and use blankets instead of turning on the heat in the colder months. Investing in a warm, comfy blanket will save you money if it prevents you from wanting to turn on the heat.
13. Door Draft Stopper: If cold air is coming in your home under the doors during winter, then you’re wasting money on your heating bill. Minimize the cold air coming in (and the warm air escaping) by investing in a door draft stopper. This is a much less expensive solution than replacing the entire door. Check out Etsy for a homemade one that’s sure to fit any decor! We especially like the ones made from Etsy shop Six Sew Three – they have tons of great reviews, patterns/colors and are made and tested in New Hampshire!
14. Smart TV: If you don’t have a smart tv and are still paying for cable, consider upgrading your tv and canceling the cable. With a smart tv, streaming becomes a breeze! Hulu or Netflix is much cheaper than cable! Plus, many smart televisions comes with free tv programs as well.
15. HDTV Antenna: You can also buy an HDTV antenna to access several FREE local tv channels. There’s a variety to choose from- typically, the greater the signal reception, the larger the price-point. HDTV antennas are perfect for those who are keeping cable for the local news or who don’t have a smart tv.
16. Cell Phone Case & Screen Protector: Cell phone cases and screen protectors are must-haves in our book. After resisting them for the longest time and cracking multiple phone screens, we can attest to the fact that buying a phone case and screen protector will save you money. And if your kids have an iPad, get them a case & screen protector too!
17. Smart Thermostat: A programmable thermostat isn’t enough…you’ll want to get a ‘smart thermostat‘ to realize energy and money savings. According to EnergyStar.gov, “Smart thermostats that earn the ENERGY STAR label have been independently certified, based on actual field data, to deliver energy savings“. The Google Nest is probably the most well-known smart thermostat (with the EnergyStar label) and the one we have and can personally recommend.
18. Low-Flow Shower Head: A low-flow shower head can save you water and thus money on your water bill. This one gets good reviews among low-flow shower heads. It’s cheap, easy to install (just twists in), and is made by a well-known brand with a lifetime warranty.
20. Wool Dryer Balls: Wool dryer balls save money by reducing dryer time. They are also great for reducing static cling.
22. USB Chargeable Candle Lighter: If you’re a candle junkie, then you probably go through multiple lighters. Next time you need a candle lighter, invest in a USB chargeable candle lighter, and it will be the last lighter you need to buy. As the name implies, it’s rechargeable and powered by USB, so just plug it in when the battery gets low!
23. Website: This one won’t save you money, but can make you money – even better if you ask us! If you’re feeling entrepreneurial, then 2021 can be the year you start your website-based business. There is a small cost to starting a website, but if you play your cards right, you can easily make that money back (and then some!).
To learn more, click here: How to Start a Successful Mom Blog | Step-by-Step Guide
24. Artificial Christmas Tree: Buying a fake or artificial Christmas tree will definitely save you money compared to buying a real tree. Many people feel strongly one way or the other on the fake vs. real tree debate, but if you’re looking to save money, the fake tree is ultimately a winner!
25. Nail Polish: If you pay for manicures or pedicures, consider ditching the salon and DIY in an effort to save money. Buy some fun nail polish colors that get you excited! Another reason to skip the nail salon is to avoid toxins. When you buy your own nail polish, you can invest in better brands. This brand from Target, Ella + Mila, is made in the USA, Vegan/PETA -certified and are free of these 17 controversial things: “Acetone, Animal-Derived Ingredients, Bisphenol-A, Camphor, Ethyl Tosylamide, Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Gluten, Glycol Ether of Series E (Gycol ethers derived from ethylene oxide), Nonylphenol Ethoxylate, Parabens, Phthalates (including DBP), Styrene, Sulfate, Toluene, Triphenyl Phosphate (TPHP/TPP), or Xylene“.
26. Reusable Period Cup: Buying a menstrual or period cup will save you money in the long run. There is a slight learning curve, but we actually find them to be more convenient, simply due to the fact they have to be changed out less frequently. There’s so many benefits to using a menstrual cup – saving money is just one of them!
27. Reusable Makeup Rounds: Stop buying disposable makeup wipes or cotton rounds, and buy some reusable facial rounds. They are machine washable so you can just throw them in with next load! This shop from Etsy has a ton of prints to choose from – from fun to sophisticated.
28. Budgeting Tools: This may be the most obvious thing on our list. If you’re looking to save more money this year, consider investing a few bucks in some tools that will help get you there. YouTuber BudgetGirl has several useful downloadable templates – our favorites are the monthly budget tracker and printable debt payoff and savings trackers.
The next two items are much more expensive than those listed above – though they will still save you money in the long-run!
29. Electric Car: An electric car will obviously save money on gas, but it goes much further than that! Car maintenance is practically non-existent compared to traditional cars. An electric car may be more affordable than you think. Used electric vehicles like the BMW i3, can be had for around $15,000. If you prefer leasing new, you can often find great lease deals (likely less than your current car payment!).
30. New Windows: If you have an older home, replacing the windows is a very expensive home improvement project to take on. However, you will likely realize energy savings with new windows. Not only that, you will improve the equity in your home – so if/when you go to sell, your home will be worth more because of the newer windows. In some states, you may also be eligible for discounts from home insurance if you get new windows (specifically if you are in a hurricane zone and get hurricane windows).
Thanks for reading! Now go crush those money-saving goals!
