Things to buy to save money? 

I know this sounds counter intuitive, but hear me out… 

There are a plethora of things that we are spending money on a regular basis anyway, but by choosing these clever products, it will not only save money in the long run, some of the them are also better for the environment. 

We have saved money from these products over the years, and I want to help you to do the same. 

Which is why… 

In this post, I have compiled a full list of 35 things to buy to save money for you and your family. 

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.

1. Laundry Egg

When I bought the Ecoegg, my husband had a face like ‘really!’ 

This odd looking thing is a money saving, eco-friendly and hypoallergenic alternative to washing detergent. It uses natural cleaning pellets that contains no harsh chemicals. 

One of these eggs lasts for 720 washes, which is equivalent to 3 years of washing. Can you imagine how much money you can save from not buying traditional laundry detergent for 3 years? 

As for my husband, he is now a converted fan of the Ecoegg =) 

Ecoegg, 720 Washes £23.99 / $47.99

2. E-cloth

After trying several products to keep our black granite kitchen tops clean and streak-free, this is the one we landed on.  None of the liquid granite cleaners works like this, and to make it even better, all you need are the cloths and water, completely detergent free.  Then to keep them clean just throw them in the laundry with your clothes.

E-cloth Cloth, £7.89 / $8.34

3. Aldi Multi-Surface Cleaner

At £0.49p this product is amazing, it cleans and protects wood, glass, plastic and metal, it really is multi-surface, so you can ditch all those sprays that are under the sink and just use this instead.

4. Slow Cooker / Crockpot

This handy gadget is our kitchen staple. Any meat that comes out of the slow cooker is always tender and flavourful, which makes it very kid-friendly.  For a family of 4+, we batch cook and freeze for additional meals. This not only saves us time but plenty of money instead of buying ready-made meals or getting take-aways. 

Crock-pot Slow Cooer 6.5 L (8+ people), £39.99 / $37.91

I know many have converted to Instant Pot, I am still on the fence as in how much I would use the instant feature… I’d love to hear what your thoughts are in the comments below.

5.  Home Coffee Maker

We live in such a coffee culture, which also means that we are spending waaaaay too much on buying coffee from the coffee shop every year.

Instead of making your daily run to the coffee shop, why not invest in a nice home coffee maker?

This timale, filtered coffee machine will ensure you wake up to the smell of fresh coffee every morning. I prefer filtered as

Melitta AromaFresh Grind and Brew, 1021-01, Filter Coffee Machine, Glass Coffee Jug Included, Adjustable Grind Level and Intensity, Black/Stainless Steel. $141.22

6.  Kids Presents (bulk buy)

Got children with busy social lives? I get it. 

For our girls, birthday parties are regular events. Which means we spend about £50 a month just on birthday presents alone… To save money, we bulk buy birthday presents whenever there is a sale. 

7. A Menstrual Cup

Let’s talk about our “Aunt Flo” here for a second. Switching from using the traditional tampons and pads to a reusable menstrual cup is not only good for your health and wallet but also better for the environment. There are so many types of menstrual cups out there. This is the one that’s great for beginners.

Enna Cycle Menstrual Cup with Applicator Twin Pack, £20.33.

US options: [This is actually the one I use, and very happy with it] FemmyCycle Custom-Fit Menstrual Cup, $46.99

8.  Knife Sharpener

All knives, regardless of the marketing blurb will go blunt, that’s why you always see chef’s sharpening their knives on the TV.  However, using a sharpening steel as they do is a skill, and if not done correctly will damage your cutting edge.  Instead, take the skill out of it an investment in the Vonshef sharper.  This little gadget has real grinding wheels built-in and guides to help you get the perfect angle, resulting in super sharp knives, which are actually safer to use. 

Professional Electric Two Stage Knife, £20.88 / $31.14

9.  Razor Cleaner/Sharpener

This is another item where my hubby pulled a face, but to his surprise (again), this gets added to the list of things to buy to save money.  

This great little gadget not only sharpens the razor blades, it acts as a great holder/blade protector when travelling.  To be honest it doesn’t sharpen the blade, it works by removing the soap build up from the blades, keeping them looking like new, and prolonging the life of each blade, up to 60 shaves per blade!

RazorPit, £12.98 / $23.98

10.  Dishwasher Settings – Link to Salt, Tablets, Glass Cleaner

Have you ever looked at the dial located inside your dishwasher? The one with numbers?

It’s for adjusting the dishwasher operation depending on the softness or hardness of your water, which you can find out from your water supplier website. 

Not setting this correctly can result in damaging lime build up in the machine, reducing its life.  It will also get the most out of your detergents. 

Be sure to use the cost-effective Aldi Magnum tablets, dishwasher salt, and rinse aid to get the best from your machine – no more dull glasses!

11.  Soap Refills (Save Money on Paying for the Pump Every Time)

Through the pandemic, I have struggled to buy liquid hand soap – I am sure you must have as well. 

What I was able to buy more easily were the refills.  This not only saves you money, is actually available, but helps the environment as well.

12. Furniture Pads

By placing these small little pads under neath of your chairs and furniture, will save your expensive wooden floor from being scratched.

This small investment is well worth the money when the alternative is to replace the wooden floor. Don’t you think? 

Furniture Pads Floor Protector 235 pcs, £11.91 / $15.91

13. Steam Mop (No Cleaning Products)

It seems like many of us these days are opting for hard floors over carpets, which means we are a little easier on letting the kids or dog trudge through the house – leaving little footprints. 

Using a steam mop is a great way to clean the house. After the initial purchase, all you need is water and the reusable cleaning cloth.

I have been impressed by the VAX products as they work well and are reasonably priced.

Vax S86-Sf-CC Steam Fresh Combi Classic Multifunction Steam Mop, £69.99

US Options: Steam Mop Cleaner 10-in-1 by PurSteam: $89.97

14. Led Light Bulbs

LED lightbulbs use 90% less energy than halogen and last 50 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

Now they have been around a while, the prices have dropped, making this an easy decision on saving money. 

Be sure to know the watts of the bulb you are replacing so you get the same lighting level.  Also if you use dimmer switches, make sure the bulb is suitable for dimmers. 

15. Led Security Lights

Adding another item to the list of things to buy to save money are the LED security lights. 

Following on from the interior lights, don’t forget to upgrade your energy sapping exterior security lights. 

Ours are always turned on by the local fox family, so I am happy we now have LED’s meaning the foxes aren’t costing me a fortune every night!

16. Reusable Makeup Remover Cloth

If you are a regular makeup wipe user, check out these reusable makeup remover cloths. Highly raved by online beauty gurus on how well it takes the makeup off, even for stubborn mascara. 

For pack of 2, you can always have a clean one in hand when the other is in the wash.

Reusable Microfibre Face Cloth (2 Pack), £9.99 / $9.96 (5pk)

17. Reusable Straws

Straws are not just for children. They come in handy when I wear lipstick or simply don’t want my lips to get wet. 

When the UK officially banned plastic straws in Apr 2020, I was forced to get the alternative – The resealable metal straws. 

In fact, now I prefer these metal beauts which never collapse like the plastic or paper ones, and it’s a much more sophisticated option for adults =) 

H&S Metal Straws with Cleaning Brush, £4.99 / $5.94

18. Silicone Food Storage Bags

These are my recent addition to the list of things to buy to save money. You probably know by now, as a family, we are a big fan of batch cooking. But then I realised we were throwing away so many plastic bags from the frozen meals, as a result, creating so much unnecessary waste… 

So now instead, we got these reusable silicone food storage bags, that are microwavable, freezer and dishwasher save. 

I’m much happier with our environmentally conscious choice while saving more money from not wasting any more single-use plastic zip-lock bags. 

Premium Reusable Silicone Food Storage Bag, £19.99 / $19.99

19. Wine Vacuum & Stopper

Are you ever able to put the cork back in the bottle? And save some for another day? 

Well, if that’s you, make sure you invest in a wine vacuum. 

This clever little device removes the air from the bottle, meaning you can keep an open bottle for much longer as the air will not be causing the wine to deteriorate due to oxidation. (Sorry it doesn’t work on sparkling wine.)

Vacu Vin Wine Saver Concerto, £8.99 / $12.99

20. Water-Saving Shower Head

Investing in a water efficient shower head can save you approx. £200 a year on your utility bills (assuming you have a water meter).  

Not only this Onic shower head can save water up to 50%, it also has the additional filtration system that purifies the water, which is great for your hair and skin.

Ionic Shower Head, £14.87 / $13.99

21. Phone Case

I know this is a no-brainer for many, but you’ll be surprised that there are still people who don’t have a phone case. 

We all know phones are thin and slippery these days, therefore, the chances of dropping it is? 

HIGH. 

So rather than risking of spending hundreds to fix a cracked screen or even more by getting a new phone altogether, do yourself a favour by adding this less than £10 item to the list of things to buy to save money.

22. Filtered Water Pitcher

The next time on the list of things to buy to save money is water filter. 

Instead of getting bottled water, get a water pitcher with filter. This will transfer the taste of your tap water and save money at the same time. 

BRITA Marella Water Filter Starter Pack w/ 3 Cartridges, £21.57 / $37.11

23.  Reusable Stainless Steel Water Bottle

In addition to replacing bought bottled water with your filtered water, get a reusable stainless steel water bottle. All together, there is no sacrifice to the taste of your H2O, while saving money and helping with the environment. 

Why stainless steel? 

It’s more durable and doesn’t change the taste of water. 

720 DGREE Stainless Steel Water Bottle, £25.97

US option: Takeya Vacuum0Insulated Stainless0Steel Water Bottle, $25.02

24. Vacuum Storage Bags

The vacuum-sealed storage bags are a great space saver and money saver. Especially for those bulky duvets, extra towels, and winter clothing, they are perfect to compress them into a much smaller volume.

This will save you money in purchasing additional storage units and free up loads of space. 

Spacesaver Premium Vacuum Storage Bags, £19.99 / $25.99

25.  Programmable Thermostat

No more coming home to a cold house.

Smart thermostats link to your phone or computer and allow you to control your heating and hot water wherever you are.

They also have smart features that learn your temperature settings to save you energy as its more efficient to maintain a certain temperature rather than letting you house get cold and then heat it back up again. 

It also links to other smart devices like Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can even ask for the temperature to be changed. 

Google Nest Learning Thermostat, 3rd Generation, £180.74 / $242.47

26.  Yoga Mat and Free Weights

Going to the gym use to feel such a necessity for us as a family, but ever since the lockdown, we had to find other ways keep ourselves active. 

Going out for a run or a bike ride are great alternatives for cardio, but don’t forget to invest in a yoga mat and some free weights as flexibility and strength are just as important. 

27. Peloton Bike

Going for runs and outdoor bike rides are great ways to replace gym memberships in the summer but not so enjoyable during the cold and rainy seasons. 

So investing in a spinning bike or a treadmill will definitely help to keep you active without being constrained by weather.  

However, I recommend a Peloton bike. 

This is TOTALLY not necessary, but if you rely on being motivated by some of the best instructors in the world, you are going to LOVE it. 

I got the bike right before the lockdown. Both my husband and I have been using it on a daily basis.  In combination with yoga and free weights, we have not missed going to the gym. 

I know the upfront cost is HIGH, but replacing a gym membership with Peloton, you will be able to get your payback in 1-2 years. 

28. Clothes Drying Rack

Using a dyer for every single piece of your laundry can be costly. In fact, many clothes these days recommend air dry anyway. 

Installing a clothes drying rack in your garden can prolong the life of your clothes and save your utility bill. 

We’ve gone with the wall mounted style, as you can close up completely when not being use, which doesn’t make such an eye sore for the garden.

Brabantia WallFix Retractable Washing Line, 24m, £95.53

US option: Hummm think this is only a UK thing…

29.  Gel Nail Kit

Who doesn’t like to have nice nails?…Especially those gel nails that last you for at least 2 weeks. 

But spending at least £25 ($35 in the US) a visit, plus the time to book the appointment and get to the nail salon, is just not cutting it for me. 

Instead, I invested in a Gel nail kit. So now I can do it whenever I want at home, and got my money worth after 4 uses. 

Mylee Complete Professional Gel Nail Polish LED Lamp Kit, £89.99

US Option: Beetles 12 Color Home DIY Gel Nail Polish Starter Kit, $33.89

30.  Lunch Bag

On average, Brits spend £6.08/day eating lunch. By bringing your lunch everyday, you can potentially save £1350 a year.  

So get a lunch bag and start packing your lunch for work. 

If you can’t heat up your lunch at work, you can go as fancy as this one, that comes with a 2 in 1 plug that you heat up electrically in your car or in the office. 

Electric Heating Lunch Box, $31.09

31.   Desk Riser

This item saved my back – literally. 

With a typical desk job, I developed severe back pain a few years ago. This was caused by long periods of sitting. I went through sessions of physical therapy, it did little to ease my pain. 

I finally invested a desk riser so I can spend most of my working hours standing. This is a cheaper option than the adjustable desk but works just as well. 

Now I no longer have a pain in the back. In addition, I’ve also been benefited from being able to concentrate more while standing. 

With working from home becoming our new normal post COVID-19, investing in an ergonomic desk riser is a great way to save money on your physical health in the long run. Stand Up Desk Riser Workstation, £159.95 / $99.99

32.  Silicone Muffin Cups

If you are in a household that makes a lot of cup cakes, this one is for you – Silicone muffin cups. 

Rather than getting the traditional paper ones, you can use these over and over again, all with a small price to pay. 

AmazonBasic Reusable Silicone Baking Cups, Pack of 24, £11.99 / $12.27

33. Dryer Balls

Well, since we’ve covered the lady issue in this post, it’s only fair to talk about balls for a minute.

But before you run away with your imagination..

These clever balls are handmade wool balls that you throw in the tumble dryer help to shorten drying time by 20-40%, which is significant for one of the biggest energy consumption appliances you own.

It also softens laundry, reduces wrinkles, static cling, tangling, lint and any hair that always seems to get in there. They even last over 1000 loads!

ecoKiwi Tumble Dryer Balls, £9.99 / $9.99

34. Automatic Radiator Bleed Valve

This simple device allows any air that builds up in your radiators to bleed away. 

This means no more radiators that are cold at the top.  It also reduces system noise, protects the boiler as they don’t like air, and saves you a job of bleeding the radiators. 

Having your radiators working properly then means your heating system is running efficiently which will save you money.

HV30 Aladdin Self Bleeding Automatic Radiator Valve 1/2″ BSP Single Valve, £5.81

35. Eco Kettle

Do you know that kettle is one of the most energy hungry appliances in your kitchen?

And it’s probably the most frequently used item, especially with many of us working from home. 

I only found this out after we had our smart meter fitted and the technician demonstrated the energy monitor by turning on the kettle. 

So next time you shop for a kettle, look for an eco kettle, which can give a 66% energy saving.  If you live in a hardwater area, maybe avoid the glass-sided options, as it won’t look as good once that builds up. But you should be removing that anyway to keep any kettle boiling faster with less energy.

Russell Hobbs 21600-10 Illuminating Glass Kettle, $48.77

Final Thoughts on Things to Buy to Save Money… 

Well, here you have it – The 35 things to buy to save money. 

I hope some the items already made it to your household, and I have introduced a few that you are going to try. 

By making these smart choices, you are not only able to save money but also reduce the waste for the environment.  

That’s a win-win in my book. 

I’d love to hear your recommendations on things to buy to save money for your household. 

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35 Things to Buy to Save Money