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A girl's guide to frugal living. Sharing delicious, frugal recipes and easy DIY tips to help save you money!

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Six Affordable Lunches You’ll Love to Make at Home

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Prepping, budgeting, and menu planning, part of the daily grind is figuring out what you’re meal schedule will be. Whether you’ve got a week full of classes or a 9 to 5 job commitment, knowing when and what you’ll be eating is part of that preparation process. And why not make it fun? Fill your days with delicious meals that are affordable and easy to whip up at home as well.

Below you’ll find six of our favorite lunch recipes. We’re pairing them with side dish ideas, alternative suggestions, and hints at what you can easily prepare ahead of the hustle and bustle of a Monday morning. Dive in and let us know what your favorites are!

Six Affordable Lunches You’ll Love to Make at Home

Teriyaki Chicken from The Budget Mom

teriyaki chicken lunch idea meal prep recipe

  • Major Ingredients: Chicken Breast, Mixed Veggies, White Rice, Teriyaki Sauce
  • Alternatives Suggestions: Nix the chicken and make this a vegetarian meal – fill up on more veggies tossed in the sauce.
  • Side Ideas: Spring Rolls from Dinner, Then Dessert

Flavorful, guiltless, and under $20 for a week’s worth of prepped lunches, these teriyaki chicken spreads will satisfy you Monday through Friday. You can go heavier or lighter on the flavoring and switch out the white rice for brown depending on your preference. And as mentioned previously, you can nix the chicken and double up on the veggies

Mediterranean Hummus Tuna Salad Sandwich from Byte Sized Nutrition

Mediterranean Hummus Tuna Salad Sandwich

  • Major Ingredients: Sabra Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, Tuna, Feta, Bell Pepper, Olives, Onion, Your choice of bread and toppings (arugula, tomato)
  • Alternatives Suggestions: This same recipe can easily be made with chicken.
  • Side Ideas: Baked Sweet Potato Chips from Eat Drink Paleo

A bold spin on a classic recipe, this Mediterranean meal will be a favorite among your go-to lunch ideas. Use it to create a sandwich or have it alongside some crackers or greens. You can mix in chicken instead of tuna as well if you’d like.

Antipasto Pasta Salad From Eating European

Antipasto Pasta Salad

  • Major Ingredients: Genoa Salami, Bologna, Rotini, Mozzarella Cheese, Cherry Tomatoes, Roasted Red Peppers, Green Olives, Artichoke Hearts
  • Alternatives Suggestions: You can easily create a vegetarian version of this salad by nixing the meat altogether. Drizzle some Balsamic on it when you’re finished!
  • Side Ideas: Shaved Fennel Salad from The Taste SF

Whip up a batch of this pasta salad and you’ll be able to eat on it all week long – and the family will too. There are so many variations of this that you can make as well. Personalizing it with your favorite toppings, adding or nixing the meat, and then topping it with different “dressings” can be a fun chore to take on.

Buffalo Ranch Chicken Salad from The Pinning Mama

Buffalo Ranch Chicken Salad

  • Major Ingredients: Chicken, Avocado, Hot Sauce, Onion, Celery, Carrots, Mayo, Ranch Seasoning MIx
  • Alternatives Suggestions: Replace the chicken with tuna if you’d prefer. You can also stuff a tomato instead of an avocado depending on your mood!
  • Side Ideas: Greek Cucumber Salad from Slim Pickin’s Kitchen

Here’s another bold and flavorful spin on a classic recipe. Some chicken salad is delicious, sure, but add a kick of buffalo to really make lunchtime a nice break out of the day. You can replace the chicken with tuna and then add avocado or tomato to your bowl for extra delicious bites.

Burrito Bowls from Everyday Meal Prep

Burrito Bowls

  • Major Ingredients: Chicken, Black Beans, Corn, Salsa, Green Chiles, Lettuce, Green Onion
  • Alternatives Suggestions: Replace the chicken with steak, turkey, or ground beef. You can also make this meatless!
  • Side Ideas: Baked Tortilla Chips from Healthy Nibbles.

These burrito bowls are a good time as well – because they’re so easy to personalize and get creative with. Add more or fewer veggies. Add different meat or forget it altogether. Carry around some cheese and sour cream on the side. The options here are endless – and the prep is easy!

Garlic Parmesan Kale Pasta from Budget Bytes

Garlic Parmesan Kale Pasta

  • Major Ingredients: Chicken, Kale, Garlic, Olive Oil, Tomatoes, Pasta
  • Alternatives Suggestions: Make it vegetarian by doing away with the chicken and swap out the kale for spinach is you’d prefer.
  • Side Ideas: Garlic Bread from Don’t Go Bacon My Heart

This recipe is great for meal prepping as well. It’s an easy-to-follow guide and it’s packed with flavorful – and low prices. You could jazz up the recipe even more by adding steak instead of chicken!

 

Spend Less Money By Knowing & Tracking Your Expenses

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Know and track your expenses to start spending less

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Figuring Out Your Expenses Can Be Overwhelming

Spending less money can be as easy as knowing what it is exactly you are spending your money on. Once you get an overview of your expenses, it becomes easier to manage them, and ultimately both cutout expenses and minimize them.

Basically, in order to cut the fat out of your spending, you need to know the anatomy of the beast. How can we begin to trim our spending habits and develop better ones without first identifying where our money is disappearing off to? Let’s decide together to tackle it from the ground up.

Here’s a jump start to get you going!

Pick Your Favorite Tracker for Expenses

Track your expenses by creating a tracker

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Keep Track Manually with Sheets

The original data tracking system! Tracking using sheets can be done with either Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel.

We recommend using Google Sheets over the latter as it is online compatible and can be accessed anywhere, on any device, so you’re never without a moment where you can’t input new data or check your spending. It’s also free.

Create a Personalized Bullet Journal

Sometimes the best way to get involved with tracking your expenses is to make a creative project out of it. Bullet Journaling is a great way to spur engagement with what’s going on in your life and can help keep you on track.

Get started with a dotted journal (bullet journal), and if you really want to drive right in, consider purchasing a kit with stencils and colored pens.

Also, here’s a nifty YouTube video by Ashley Ann Laz who sets up her bullet journal for monthly budgeting and uses an actual numbered example for end-of-month budgeting:

Utilize a Spending App

For those with limited time, or wanting extra features along with tracking can look to the multitude of apps available to help make our financial lives easier.

One of the more popular choices these days is Mint. Create budgets, get alerts about account charges, and receive tips for saving money. You can even access your credit score for free.

Identify Where Your Money Goes: Bills & Spending

Identify what your expenses are and where your money goes

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In order to start figuring out how to lower your expenses and cut out unnecessary spending is to first identify where it is your money is going and log it! Take everything you spend and start inputting it into your tracker of choice.

It might seem cumbersome to do it all at once, but once you do, that hard part is over and you’ll have a nice baseline to keep track of. After that, you can start taking advantage of the many ways we can start spending less and start saving.

Recurring Necessities

Here are some of the major recurring spending that most people have to pay for. Everyone is different and it’s important to start tackling your individually-based purchases after you get the major basics out of the way.

Home

Whether it’s rent or a mortgage, it’s probably taking up the brunt of your expenses. For homeowners, it can get a little more tricky as a home’s needs and upkeep can manifest in different costs. Doesn’t mean you can’t track them in a way that helps give you peace of mind for anything that comes.

Car

Fortunately, car expenses can be relatively easy to track as a lot of its costs come at regular intervals (excluding emergencies)

Potential Expenses:

  • Gas
  • Insurance
  • Car Payments
  • Oil & Filter
  • General Maintenance

Utilities

Unfortunately, not everything is included in the rent and if you’re a homeowner this is all up to you. Find out exactly how much you’re using now and how much you could cut back on based on your needs and what you can live without.

Potential Expenses:

  • Gas
  • Heat
  • Water
  • Electricity
  • Trash Removal
  • TV & Internet

Monthly Subscriptions

There has been an explosion of monthly online subscriptions in the past years. It might seem like a harmless $5, $10, $15 a month, but they add up quickly and before you know it it’s taking a large share of the budget.

Food & Drink

This is one part of your budget that can really fluctuate to a harmful degree if you’re not careful. Spending money from impulse purchases, cravings, takeout… the reasons are endless and sometimes so are our stomachs, but your funds are not. Fortunately, there’s a lot of options available to you such as learning to maximize your grocery shopping gains.

Potential Expenses:

  • Anything bought to consume outside the home.
  • Anything not cooked at home 🙂

Staples & Repurchases

Anything you need to regularly replenish to live your life can range from skin care products to toilet paper.

Certain items, like toilet paper, need to be repurchased more regularly while others not so much when you invest in buying items of quality that last.

Potential Expenses:

  • Toiletries
  • Makeup
  • Skincare
  • Clothes
  • Shoes

Pets

This one can be tricky as its easy to spend an exorbitant about of money regardless of the cost when it comes to the care of your pet. That doesn’t mean there isn’t sale opportunities and other ways to cut down costs without affecting you and your pet’s quality of life.

Potential Expenses:

  • Pet food
  • Waste removal
  • Yearly vaccinations & medicines for things like tick season.
  • Vet checkups or emergency visits
  • Miscellaneous items (toys, winter clothes, etc.)

Extra & Unavoidable Spending

This is not to say that anything you buy outside the necessities isn’t necessary. Sometimes you need a new pair of jeans because your ye old favorite pair ripped or you need more pencils for your next passion project. Perhaps your friend has invited you to a birthday party or you need to buy a gift.

These kinds of purchases can be sentimental and hard to approach from a budgeting perspective, so do your best to feel your best about the choices surrounding them and don’t worry too much!

Emergencies

Emergency funds are different from savings. Having an emergency fund can be essential to avoiding debt or financial complicates in the event of something happening. It can be important to factor into your budget if you aren’t already investing in making one or have one already.

What Can You Do Now

Track expenses and start saving

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After you identify and track all your expenses you can start budgeting and minimalizing your expenses – basically, start saving! You can now break down each category until you’ve got your spending managed in a way that it reduces the financial stresses we can often feel, a lot of which stems from the unknown.

Now that you have an eagle eye on your expenses, you can also start venturing out into the world of frugal living and minimalism now that you’ve got your financial situation tracked. Whatever you choose to do, having this bit of organization will help you make much more informed decisions about your life and lifestyle.

[Buying Guide] Quality Watches Under $150

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Shelling out thousands of dollars on a new watch just isn’t feasible for most people. But just because you don’t want to put a dent in your savings account doesn’t mean you have to nix the quality of the piece you want to add to the collection. Instead, just learn what to look for!

We’ll give you some quick tips and details to pay attention to while shopping – and then you can sift through some of our favorites under $150 on the market right now. Check out our buying guide for quality watches below!

What To Look For: Do’s & Don’ts

Before you embark on your shopping excursion, it’s important to know what you’re looking for – besides a lower price tag. When shopping for quality, there are some important parts of your watch that you want to keep in mind while searching for the perfect piece including:

Do

  • Do go for Japanese movement watches or Quartz.
  • Do look at fabric, rubber, or metal straps.
  • Do watch it work. You don’t want to buy a dud, plain and simple.
  • Do go for standard, whole-created designs; plastic or metal specifically.

Don’t

  • Don’t buy anything with fake metals or plated precious metals. This will fade over time, discolor your skin, and just appear to be cheaply made.
  • Don’t go for the big names – it’s time to think outside-the-box.
  • Don’t stir toward Swiss Made or with Chinese movements.
  • Don’t imitate the most expensive designs on the market. Instead, find your own unique styles that you love.

Where Do I Shop?

Thrift Stores

Even if you’ve never thrifted before, you have no idea how many happenstance gems you could find just by popping into a few stores – whether it’s a local spot or even a Goodwill. You could run into a designer piece for more than a fraction of the cost.

*Quick tip: check out the locked cases in Goodwill stores for the items deemed “pricier” pieces.

Larger Retail Stores

Larger retail stores – or department stores – always have really great sales going on and they carry multiple designers. It’ll be worth the look especially throughout the holidays when tons of specials are run.

Online

This is the most obvious spot to start your watch search. You can find a plethora of amazing – and inexpensive – watch designs by scouring the Internet. Although you need to be aware of knockoffs, and questionable “stores,” there are spots that offer a quality buying experience along with their quality watches.

Some places to sift through: eBay, Amazon, Kohl’s

More Quick Tips To Follow

  • You don’t have to have a leather strap to have a quality watch. Instead, you’ll save a few bucks by looking at fabric or metal instead.
  • Following up with no imitations – let’s reiterate that statement in another, important way – STAY AWAY from knockoffs.
  • Lay off the extra features – such as water resistance – if you don’t really need them.
  • Stray from the cheap trends. For example, extra-oversized faces and extra-fake gold tones won’t cut it.

7 Quality Watches Under $150

SNK809

SNK809 watch

  • Where: Amazon
  • Price: $146
  • Size: 37 mm
  • Water Resistance: 30 m

This beauty is a versatile design that can become an everyday watch but also play alongside your dressier nights. It has an automatic, stainless steel face and a black canvas strap with a price tag just below what we deem to be an accessible price for quality product. It’s truly an incredible value – just like its reviews show.

Gotham MVMT

Gotham MVMT

  • Where: MVMT Watches
  • Price: $140
  • Size: 41 mm
  • Water Resistance: 5 ATM

If you’re looking for something on the trendier side check out MVMT watches, along with this Gotham piece and its super sleek charcoal strap, there are tons of other designs to sift through. But with this piece, you get a modern structure with water resistance. And there are options to add other straps as well – black leather and metal links.

 

Citizen Eco-Driven Chronograph

Citizen Eco-Driven Chronograph watch

  • Where: Amazon
  • Price: $143
  • Size: 40 mm
  • Water Resistance: 30 m

Citizen is another brand that most are familiar with and it’s a trusted source. Thankfully, they too have a lot of chic options that fit the budget. For something with a more sophisticated finish, check out this beauty. It has a Japanese quartz movement and features a stainless steel band.

 

 

MWC G10 LM

MWC G10 LM watch

  • Where: Huckberry
  • Price: $95.00
  • Size: 39 mm
  • Water Resistance: 50 m

Over at Huckberry, you’ll find this military style watch for a super affordable price. Its design and mechanics is based on the standard issue Ministry of Defense for general purpose use. The face features illuminating numbers, hands, and quartz movement.

 

 

Fossil Minimalist Carbon Series Three-Hand Luggage

Fossil Minimalist Carbon Series Three-Hand Luggage Watch

  • Where: Fossil
  • Price: $125
  • Size: 44 mm
  • Water Resistance: 50 m

Fossil has some beautiful watches and this one is no exception. It comes with a blue satin dial, a diamond at the 12-hour marker, and a warm, leather strap. If you’re looking for a unique design, one that strays from classic black, this is it.

 

Timex Weekender

Timex Weekender watch

  • Where: Amazon
  • Price: $37
  • Size: 40 mm
  • Water Resistance: 30 m

We’re all well-acquainted with Timex watches – they’re trusty and timeless too. And this little number has an old-age, antique vibe with a price that will induce smiles. It’s a quartz piece that works as a great gift, especially for someone who is known to the game or someone who just needs a quick and comfy everyday piece for their collection.

Michael Kors MK8184 Classic Watch

  • Where: Amazon
  • Price: $129
  • Size: 48 m
  • Water Resistant: 100 m

For those that are on the hunt for a showstopper, we just found the winner. This is a Michael Kors steal from Amazon and we’re swooning for the warm gold and black contrast. It’s water resistant, comes with a 2-year warranty, and has a chronograph function.

 

12 Generic Alternatives to Brand Name Products That Don’t Suck

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generic grocery shopping

Don’t let the term “generic” sway your decision to buy any more. Why? Because there are actually a lot of products that are not only easy on the wallet but work wonderfully and taste great too. And we’re sharing our top choices today.

Name brand just doesn’t mean the same anymore. From Target’s “Up and Up” and “Market Pantry” options to Walgreens’ “Nice!” line, there are a lot of popular spots that are offering up more affordable household staples – from the pantry to the laundry closet. Let’s have a look at 12 generic alternatives to name brand products that don’t suck! Not even a little!

12 Generic Alternatives to Brand Name Products That Don’t Suck

Equate Sunscreen

equate sunscreen

  • Online & In-store: Walmart
  • Price: $6.98 for a twin pack

You have to be smart here, but we’ve outsmarted those name brands. When buying sunscreen, make sure you’re hitting a couple of different marks. Firstly, make sure to buy above SPF 15 to prevent sunscreen. Also, make sure the bottle is marked “broad spectrum” to protect against both UVA and UVB rays. This one hits all marks and knocks it out the park.

 

 

Market Pantry Milk

Market Pantry Milk

  • In-store: Target
  • Price: About $1.98 per gallon

Most of the store brand milk is processed at the same plants as name brands. Just go with the generic with this one. A lot of them are quite literally identical to name brands like Darigold or Purity. And you can’t taste the difference!

 

 

Kroger Frosted Toasted Oats with Marshmallows

Frosted Toasted Oats with Marshmallows

  • In-store: Kroger
  • Price: $1.49

If you look really closely you may be able to tell the difference between this one and its Lucky Charms big sister. But, when it comes to taste, it will be hard to notice a true difference. Save yourself a bit with this buy.

 

 

 

Nice! Disinfectant Wipes

Nice! Disinfectant Wipes

  • Online & In-store: Walgreens
  • Price: $6.99 for a twin pack

These will get the job done for a great price. Actually, you’ll be saving around $2 by going with this generic brand while still killing the flu virus around your home. Go easy on the budget this time around and try these out. The bathroom will be cleaned either way!

 

 

Kroger Extra Strength Pain Reliever

Krogers Extra Strength Pain Reliever/Fever Reducer

  • Online & In-store: Kroger
  • Price: $2.48

Medications are already regulated by the FDA and have to follow certain regulations. Grab the name brand that you’re used to taking and then pick up the generic brand – now look at the ingredients. Nine out of ten times you’ll see identical lists of ingredients and you can save a little bundle by going with the store’s option.

Great Value Ice Cream

Great Value Ice Cream

Just try some of the flavors. You may go into this binging session with preconceived notions but if they’re satisfying your sweet tooth in the same ways as Purity or Breyers why not save the nearly $2 that you could be with purchase?

 

Market Pantry Mini Twist Pretzels

Market Pantry Mini Twist Pretzels

  • Online & In-store: Target
  • Price: $1.99

And these will satisfy your salty cravings without missing a beat. It’s hard to mess up pretzels and these are just as crunchy and delicious as our favorite Rold Golds. Grab these for the kid’s snacks or your next game night with friends.

 

 

 

Nice! 100% Pure Honey

Nice! 100% Pure Honey

Real, pure honey can cost a good amount, but at Walgreens, you can get a quality product without splurging too harshly. Baking, in your tea, or drizzled on desserts – the taste is of clear comparison. There’s even a lengthy list of fabulous reviews that provide even further evidence to its great taste along with its accessible price tag.

 

 

Market Pantry Ketchup

Market Pantry Ketchup

  • Online & In-store: Target
  • Price: $0.89

This is the ketchup I buy and there’s virtually no difference in taste – just the color – which is seemingly more natural than the Heinz we all know and love. Do yourself a favor and buy this from now on.

 

 

 

Up & Up Paper Towels

Up & Up Paper Towels

  • Online & In-store: Target
  • Price: $0.99 per roll

These paper towels will get the job done just like other brands we love. If you’re super picky, you can stick with your Bounty or Scott. But, you’ll be saving money and still wiping up your messes at home without any trouble.

 

 

 

Great Value Baking Powder

Great Value Baking Powder Double Acting

  • Online & In-store: WalMart
  • Price: $1.00

Grandma may swear by a certain brand but there’s really no difference in a Clabber Girl versus a Great Value. Save the extra budget to use elsewhere on the grocery list – like with your meats (which you should NEVER go generic with). You’ll get an end result that still tastes great.

 

 

 

Kroger Produce

Kroger Produce - Fruits & Vegetables

  • In-store: Kroger
  • Price: Varies

Kroger produce is usually A+, as in the pre-packaged ones. You don’t have to get Dole to get good-for-you and fresh ingredients for the night’s meal. Instead, this store brand offers up really good looking fruit and veg.

 

How-To Properly Store Bread & Other Baked Goods

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rows of baked goods

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How do I keep my cookies from sticking? How do I make sure my bread stays soft? How long does pie stay good enough to eat? Have no fear, we’re here to save your bread and baked goods from a terrible fate – ending up in the trash can half-eaten.

Below, we’re sharing ten essential tips for how to store all of this yumminess properly – so it’s good enough to come back to and finish off after that first round is enjoyed. Let’s dive into the details and figure out what goes in the fridge, what gets covered with foil, and what needs to share a space with a single slice of sandwich bread.

10 Tips On How To Properly Store Your Bread & Baked Goods

Keep At Room Temp

When it comes to bread, keep them at room temperature. You may think the best move is to throw them in the fridge, but in reality, it’ll go stale in there faster. Instead, after a few days on the counter, wrap it up and provide a space for it in the freezer instead. Thaw it out when you want some alongside dinner and discard the rest.

Keep the Crunch

How do you keep the crunch of a biscotti, cookie, or cracker? Well, cover them loosely and keep them at room temperature (they’ll last around 5-7 days). Tins usually work well for these because the seal isn’t as airtight as newer containers.

Long Live Muffins

There are a couple routes to take when it comes to storing your muffins. Firstly, wrap them up in paper towels to keep them moist and grabbable. Or you can put a batch in the freezer to maintain the freshness with ease.

Delay the Icing

Okay, the trick when it comes to the cupcake is to hold off on the icing. Only squeeze on a layer of the sugary sweetness for those that are going to be eaten right away. For the rest, place them in a sealed plastic bag until their time to be snacked on comes to call.

Let Them Cool

It’s the biggest mistake made all the way around. No matter what you’ve baked, make sure to let the creation COOL COMPLETELY before you figure out your storage plan. Wrapping up or containing too early can ruin your goods far too soon and cause mold to happen (from the condensation of the heat).

Stay Away From Windows

This may not be something you’d think about when storing the baked goods and that’s precisely why it’s on this list. There are usually windows in the kitchen and it’s important that our baked good isn’t in the line of fire. The heat from the sun can warm up our cookies or bread when it doesn’t need to be and cause sweating inside its storage.

What About the Bagels?

So, you don’t want to stick your bagels in the fridge. They do better at room temp too. But very much like regular bread, you can store them in the freezer to keep up their freshness until you or the family are ready to toast them up and slather on some cream cheese.

Undercover Cakes

Most think that cakes belong in the fridge after they’ve been sliced the first time. But, that’s just not the case. Instead, your cake will stay fresher by keeping it at room temperature too! Cake covers are essential and make sure to press on some plastic wrap onto exposed pastries – your frosting can work as a moisture cover to the rest of your creation.

Stay Away From Atop the Fridge

Throwing bread up on top of the refrigerator may seem really convenient but it’ll be the death of your bread. The top of the fridge actually gets really warm and will dry your bread out. It can also cause condensation in the bread’s bag – gross.

Add A Slice

When it comes to softer bits like cookies, brownies, or bars, you’ll need something airtight. Grab a freezer bag, Tupperware container, or even a jar that will keep the air out and the chewy goodness in. But, the trick to keep in the moistness is to add a slice of bread inside of the container.

The Benefits of Buying Items For Life

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Why Buy a Product for Life?

We spend a lot of money purchasing products that assist us in our day to day lives. And why not? Products are so accessible these days, why create a collection of items when I can instead buy cheap and use once, and not care if it breaks because I can always buy another later.

In current times where everything you own can be replaceable at the drop of a hat, it begs the question of what is the benefit of buying it for life instead of just buying it for now?

Fortunately, the benefits outweigh the initial cost which can definitely feel like a lot. It’s difficult to part with our hard earned money to buy things we might actually need.

Other times, we end up making repeat purchases of similar items that add up way past the purchase point of a single quality item. Items that are a dime a dozen with a low price point to match are an easy trap to fall into that can cost you a large lump sum in the long run.

Don’t wait for situations to pop up where you think you might need a specific item. Prepare in advance and anticipate your long-term needs by investing now and saving consistently in the years to come.

Cut down on the surprise emergency situations that arise by investing in durable products early that are known for heavy usage.

Repeat Buys Cost Both Time & Money

Think about the process you go through every time you purchase something. There’s the price of the item itself and the time it takes you to make the decision and actually purchase it. Now imagine repeating this several times.

While it may be that buying the same or similar item multiple times will eventually add up to the price of the more ‘quality, expensive item’, this isn’t always the case.

Time to Add Up All the Factors

Take into account the factors that add to the price (energy, time, & money) of buying an item.

On foot: Taking travel into account, that could be potential gas used or public transportation ticket used, and distance traveled going both ways. There’s also the time spent navigating the store and waiting at checkout.

Online: Potential shipping charges and wait times for delivery. Plus the added factor of never knowing if you’ll have to go through the process of a return. We all know what kind of customer service headache that can be.

Bottom line, time is always spent – and time costs energy and money, so why not spend it wisely?

Peace of Mind Can Be Bought

It’s not just about buying products for the long term just for the sake of not having to replace it. It’s about finding items that contribute to a more efficient, comfortable life.

Knowing you’re covered when a problem arises or a situation occurs can bring relief. You can rely on the old faithful to work as well as the day you bought it to get the job done without breaking down.

Environmentally-Friendly

Buy it for life is environmentally friendly

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Frankly put, It is better for the environment to not create excessive waste. This is no exception.

Quite a bit of natural resources is expended when creating products. These resources are often finite things like water. Then when we’re done with them when they break or outlive their lifespans, we throw them out, creating more waste.

In short, the less we needlessly spend on repeat purchases, the fewer resources are used, and the fewer things end up in landfills polluting the environment.

Lifetime Purpose

Resale Value

Because quality items are meant to last a lifetime, they’ll always have a purpose and therefore a resale value. Knowing this can help the blow to the wallet from buying it in the first place.

This way you’ll always have the option to recoup some of your investment should you need to sell it.

An example of a lifetime product is a Vitamix or a Kitchenaid. These will always have value and are a common hand-me-down through the generations. In fact, many of these items that we buy for life are items that can be handed down to the next generation, further increasing its lifespan.

What You Want, Why You Need It, & Where You Should Get It

The simplest way to figure out where you could start investing in quality items is by looking at your own needs and habits.

A great place to start is where there are current or potential gaps in the future. Time to ask ourselves some more questions to figure out what those gaps in order to fill them.

Ask Yourself What You Need

Are you frequently replacing a particular item? Is anything wearing down or on the verge of breaking? Consider replacing it for the last time.

Is there any moment when using a product that you’ve thought to yourself how frustrating it was to use? Or maybe the product wasn’t as effective at solving that particular problem? Consider upgrading to a buy it for life product.

How to Find Items Worth Buying

First and foremost, research. Research the best quality item within its niche, whether its an appliance, a tool, or what have you. Start narrowing down the item by how it best fits your needs by researching items to see what exists and what’s available (or accessible).

Once you’ve found your selections for potential purchase, where do you go from there? Time to check to see if the item lives up to the hype and comes from a reputable seller.

Make Sure You Know Where You’re Buying It From

Be sure to thoroughly vet a product and its manufacturer for these things:

  • Reputation – Is this company well known for its product? Is this a company that’s been in existence for a sizable amount of time to have built a reputation for quality products?
  • Reviews – Are the reviews from reputable sources and are verified (bought by real paying customers) purchases?
  • Business specialty – Does the company specialize in this product? Companies specializing in a particular product will often take more care to create a more durable, quality product.
  • Materials – What is the quality of the materials the product is made with? Where is it sourced?
  • Return policy – What is the return policy and its process for returns? Is there an extra charge?
  • Warranty – Always check what kind of warranty the product may or may not have. Account for lifetime guarantees, limited warranty conditions, and any fine print.
  • Customer Service – Many companies will have a customer service reputation, finding out what kind of service you can expect will help you down the line should you need to contact them for assistance.

Note: For second-hand merchants such as Craigslist, Kijiji, Letgo, Offerup, and yard sales, things can get a little bit more tricky as a lot of information about the product isn’t as readily accessible for you to confirm the quality of the product. Be careful, be mindful, and take care to purchase wisely.

Proper Care Can Last Forever

One of the most important reasons why a lot of these items last so long is because of proper care and maintenance keeping them fresh and in proper working order.

Don’t worry, though! That doesn’t mean you have to spend an inordinate amount of time caring for your things. Most items require either minimal maintenance, spot checks, or need to be thoroughly cleaned on a cycle potentially spanning a month to a year. This information can be found in most manuals, if not from a quick Google search.

Don’t neglect the working state of your products, and they won’t let you down when it’s time to get up and working.

Everyday Items You Can Buy For Life

Jump start your buy it for life journey with a couple of ideas on items worth considering as an investment. Below you’ll find our list of product basics to start off with that are commonly used in our households or by our own person.

Kitchenware & House Appliances

KitchenAid & appliances for life

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  • Blenders
  • Can Opener
  • Food Processor & Stand Mixers
  • Coffee Brewer
  • Cast Iron Skillet
  • Knives
  • Utensils
  • Vacuums

Clothing & Accessories

Buy it for life clothing & accessories that last a lifetime

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  • Jeans
  • Shoes/Boots
  • Backpack, Purses, & Bags
  • Wallet
  • Eyeglasses
  • Socks

Tools & Equipment

Buy quality tools & equipment for life

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  • Phillips Head Screwdriver
  • Wrench
  • Maglite
  • Zippo
  • Hammer
  • Tape Measure
  • LED Flashlight
  • Pliers
  • Drill/Driver
  • Multitool

If that’s not enough, check out this insanely extensive list of 106 items to buy for forever.

Closing Words of Advice

Don’t ever feel pressured to suddenly start replacing everything you own or adding in new additions for the long haul. We don’t need to absolutely buy everything we own for life, especially not right at this moment. In fact, I advise against it.

Buying multiple quality items upfront can seem like a good idea, but not always cost-effective in our day to day lives where we have many expenses to account for.

Remember:

  • Spend less, not more. This applies to both time and money.
  • Shop smart to buy items that will make your life easier.
  • Gradually lessen the burden by switching things out as you absolutely need them.

Buying for life is a long-term investment for a reason. It’s not an investment anymore if you’re left with a financial burden. Most importantly, always do what is best for your individual everyday needs, first and foremost.

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