So, I'm over on Pinterest and this graphic (to the right) catches my eye. "27 Things That'll Save You a Shitload of Money in the Long Run."Okay, I think to myself, I'm game. I click on the link, which leads me to an October 2015 BuzzFeed artcle with a slightly different title ("27 Gloriously Simple Things That'll Save You So Much Money.")
Now, the pictures in the graphic should have clued me in that these things aren't really practical items that will save me money. More likely, they're just cool things I'll need to spend money on now and maybe I'll save money later. Or maybe they'll sit in a drawer until I finally toss them out because they didn't really work after all.
To that end, I start scrolling through the list...
...
1. Ethylene Gas Apples
Little apple-shaped plastic balls. Seriously? Like I need more crap to keep track of in my refrigerator.
These plastic apple-shaped objects are supposed to help keep your produce longer by absorbing the ethylene that fruit off-gasses (which causes fruit to ripen & go bad more quickly).
Cost on Amazon is $8.99 for a set of two "blue apples." Each is supposed to last 3 months. One-year refills cost $10-$17.
Refills?? So, I have to buy MORE crap because I bought too much produce in the first place and didn't eat it all in time?
Some people swear by them. Others don't.
According to one user, in order for these to work best, you can't just throw them in the veggie drawer in the fridge. You'll need to put the blue apple in a large Ziploc bag with whatever food you're trying to keep fresh. Great, now I need to add Ziploc baggies to my grocery list.
Instead, why not save more by, I don't know, perhaps...
Sounds snarky, I know, but it's a fairly simple solution. Sure it doesn't address why you're buying so much in the first place, but I'll leave that to you and your therapist to figure out.
If you're finding your produce is going bad before you can eat it, simply buy less produce on a weekly basis. Good deals on produce are only good if you actually use it up.
Alternatively, chop it up and freeze it if it's starting to get a little soft and wrinkly.
Kitchen gadgets are cool, but more likely than not, you'll end up tossing these in the trash or the recycle bin—which doesn't really help the planet or your budget.
A plastic, space-aged dome thingy that looks like it should be on the U.S.S. Enterprise (NG). This is supposed to help keep your cut herbs fresh for up to two weeks. You know what else keeps herbs fresh? Soil.
The Herb Saver costs $18-$30 on Amazon.
You can save more by not buying the herb saver in the first place.
Buying this won't make you feel more fulfilled, or a better cook, or even a better gardener.
You can get the same results by cutting your herbs and putting them in a mason jar with water & storing it in the fridge (or on the counter). You can even put a baggie over it, if that would make you feel better.
Even better, though, is if you have a slightly sunny window with a sill—you can keep fresh herbs all year round by having potted plants on your windowsill. No fancy plastic house & reservoir necessary.
At $159, I'm not sure how this little planter saves me "shitloads" of money. At best it can fit 3 small herb plants and I have to invest in the hydroponic fertilizer and growing medium. It's definitely a cool gadget, but honestly, if you're on a budget, this isn't going to save you squat.
You can save more by forgoing the Hydroponic planter and growing herbs on your windowsill. I can plant 3 herbs in pots on my windowsill—for less than $10.
These pretty little glass globes cost $22-$29 over on Amazon (for a set of 4) & hold between 10-15 oz. of water (not quite 2 cups). While they're pretty, you'll need to fill them weekly (depending on your soil, the overall temps, amount of rain you get, type of pot you've planted in, etc.). And in the winter, you'll need to store them away so they don't crack.
Save more by opting for practicality over pretty glass globes.
You can get the same functionality with recycled bottles and water spikes like those shown below (which cost about $12 for a set of 5). (Just FYI: I accidentally left mine out over the winter and they still work). I use these primarily when I'm going to be away & need to ensure that my plants get watered.
Or, you can just try to remember to water your plants when you're home & get a friend to come water when you're not.
At any rate, $29 glass globes probably aren't going to save you loads of money (although they will probably look really cute planted next to the dried floral arrangements that now grace your planters.
If you're someone who drops their phone and doesn't have a protective cover on it, then yes, this may indeed be a money saver for you, because having your cell phone screen replaced is not cheap. The BuzzFeed article links to a $24 protector with so-so reviews. You can find tempered glass screen protectors for less though, so shop around and read the reviews.
...shopping around and reading reviews.
I found other tempered glass screen protectors with better reviews in the $7-$14 range.
Or buy a phone case that protects the edges from impact-related cracks.
I'm not sure what the bit about helping "your laptop last longer" is about, because it's a plastic (acrylic) bed tray... you know, for eating breakfast (or working) in bed—it doesn't have fans or cooling capability. In fact, the CB2 website, where it is sold, doesn't mention anything about helping laptops last longer.
As far as I can tell, someone at BuzzFeed just thought it was cute. At $80, I'm not sure how it's going to save you loads of money. I certainly wouldn't count on it to extend the life of your laptop computer.
...just not buying this.
First of all, let me just say that I love this stuff. But let's be clear, it doesn't keep your cords from fraying or breaking, and it doesn't mend cables that are already broken—it just provides a bendable protective cover (your cords are still frayed under there). And it's also not permanent. If you're working with something that takes a lot of use (cell phone case, computer cords), it has about a one year life-span before you have to replace it.
Cost for a pack of 8 on Amazon: $22.
If you have a lot of things that need fixing or reinforcing, then go to town. It's definitely more fun to work with than electrical tape. That said...
Save more by using electrical tape.
A roll of electrical tape will run you about $5-$7 for about 66 feet. And you can get it in multiple colors.
Here's another plastic container to save your fruits. This time, shaped like an avocado and meant to house... you guessed it, one avocado. I'm not sure why, honestly. All the product description says is "New from Tupperware, the Avocado Keeper. Made to keep your avocado fresh in the refrigerator. Dishwasher Safe."
The cost for one Avocado Saver is $17 (+ shipping, even if you have Amazon Prime).
Here's the thing, if your avocados aren't yet ripe, you leave them on the counter. If they are ripe and you want to slow down the ripening process, you just put it in the refrigerator. You don't need an avocado shaped container to keep it in. It already has one of those—it's skin. And if you're not eating them before they go over the edge, then maybe you're buying too many avocados at a time. Although, I must admit, being the avocado lover that I am, I don't understand how anyone could have ripe avocados and not be eating them constantly. If I could grow one in my backyard, there were be an entire avocado grove.
Save more by not buying another plastic container to keep fruits fresh.
If you need to slow the ripening process down, just put the avocado in the refrigerator, sans container.
If you're storing a partial avocado in the fridge, rub the exposed (cut) part of the fruit with a little vegetable oil—this will keep it from getting brown. Then put it in a baggie or storage container.
Seriously, someone over at BuzzFeed likes the fruit and vegetable shaped plastics. I'm guessing they had the little plastic vegetable set when they were a kid.
Basically, it's a plastic container shaped like a Sweet Pepper. One of the selling characteristics is that "It is easy to spot in the frige" (sic)... because IT LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE A SWEET PEPPER.... using that logic, one would assume that just the plain-old peppers would be equally easy to spot in the fridge, but what do I know.
Cost: $8-$14 for one Pepper Saver. (God help you if you have more than one cut pepper in need of storing.)
Any container will work to keep your sliced peppers longer in the fridge—it doesn't have to be shaped like a pepper.
...just not buying this.
I know, it's getting a little ridiculous... BUT, to be fair, I could see how this might be good for someone with younger kids who might squeeze too much toothpaste out of the tube... or someone who maybe doesn't have the physical ability to squeeze—in which case, this thing is awesome sauce. The BuzzFeed article links to the Amazon page for the iLifeTech Hands Free Toothpaste Dispenser Automatic Toothpaste Squeezer and Holder Set (sic). It's made of plastic and doesn't use batteries (so Yay for that). It's uses a simple push/lever mechanism that squeezes a dollop of toothpaste onto the brush head.
Cost: $12.99
I would not judge you for buying this. Seriously. Especially in the hopes that it would save you money, but if you're an adult with the ability to squeeze your own toothpaste, maybe choose not to bring more plastic gadgets into your house. Just a thought. But you're a grown up, so do what you gotta' do.
...squeezing your own (damn) toothpaste.
Absolutely. I am 100% on board with this one. There is no need to have disposable travel mugs (is there even such a thing, or do they just call those paper cups?).
This is one instance where I'd suggest paying more for a quality, stainless steel travel mug (double wall insulated perhaps).
Or you could save more by...
...going old school and getting yourself a thermos. Those bad mamajammas are all the rage now, AND you're not limited to just carrying beverages (although technically, I guess you could put soup or chili in your travel mug, but somehow that cuts really close to the "ewww" factor).
The next time you're at a thrift store, check to see if they have any old Stanley thermoses. If so, grab 'em—those suckers have lifetime warranties.
This is another head scratcher. I'm not sure how buying the AeroPress Coffee Machine will help save you shitloads of money, unless you just don't own a coffee maker and the only way you procure coffee is by buying it ready-made at Starbucks. So, yes, in that scenario, this will save you tons of money. So will buying any coffee maker or coffee press for that matter. Even buying an expensive Nespresso machine with the single serve pods will save you money over a daily Starbucks habit.
The AeroPress is on the lower end of the cost spectrum at $33, and like a French Press, you'll need to heat the water before you add it to the press. For a full tutorial on how to use the AeroPress check out this YouTube Video.
Eventually, you'll need to buy micro-filters for the press, but they're fairly inexpensive ($11 for 700 filters—that's a lot of coffee, my friend).
Of course you could save more by...
...using the coffee maker you already have
-or-
...buying a coffee maker at the thrift store
-or-
...buying a French Press*. Cost: $10-$30 (no filters needed)
-or-
...buying a Pour Over filter* that fits atop a coffee cup or coffee carafe. Cost: $11-$35 and you don't need replacement filters, ever.
-or-
...making your own cold brew with a mason jar & some cheesecloth. No coffee maker needed.
*And just FYI these are not affiliate links.
Subscriptions are all the rage lately, and many can save you money. The coffee subscriptions that Buzzfeed linked to, however, will not. In any way.
They linked to three different subscription services: Craft Coffee*, MistoBox Coffee Shop*, and Citizen Bean*.
Craft Coffee was the most promising, in that it had the widest selection of coffees, including some Counter Culture varieties (the coffee we like in our household). And they even offer a guaranteed price match. Of course, when you buy coffee on sale any given week, you're probably not going to go home and get online just so the mail-order company will match the price from your local grocery store. It's just not terribly practical. In order for that to work for me, you'll need to not only match the price, but give me a discount for not buying it at the store while I was there... & I just don't see that happening.
The other two options were more expensive, with Citizen Bean offering a 3-month subscription for $80 but not telling me how much coffee that actually gets me. Thanks, but no. That might work for folks who are gaga over your beans (of which I am not one), but...
...keeping your eyes peeled for local sales on your preferred brands & using coupons or rebate apps.
If you like the idea of subscription services, then maybe checkout Amazon's Prime Pantry*.
While CSA's aren't going to save you a ton of money. I support them whole heartedly. If you have the means, you should too.
A CSA is Community Supported Agriculture—local farms will offer a type of subscription service in which, on a weekly basis, you'll get a box (or bag) of produce for a set price. In our area, the price is equivalent to buying organic produce at the grocery store, but we get a greater variety of veggies and we like that we're directly supporting our local farmers.
You can find local farmers and CSAs through LocalHarvest.org.
Budgetarily speaking, it's not going to save you tons of money. If you can't grow your own vegetables, then buying from local farmers is a good and conscientious thing to do.
...growing your own food.
Again, if you aren't eating your food fast enough to know whether or not it is fresh, then perhaps you're buying too much food at any given time.
The Food Sniffer (to which the BuzzFeed article links), is a nifty gadget (touted as an "e-nose") that costs $130. It even talks to your smart phone, although I'm not sure why you need your smart phone to know if your meat is fresh.
According to the website, "Once wirelessly connected to your smartphone via app, it measures raw meat gas levels, analyzes results and instantly tells you the level of its freshness and safeness to eat."
I'd interject here that your nose can probably tell you, equally well, if your meat, poultry, or seafood is off.
...buying less food and eating it in a timely fashion &/or using your nose.
I'm guessing the logic here is that if you buy and use candles, then buying soy candles will save you money because they last longer.
Okay, I buy that.
Of course, the BuzzFeed article links to a 6-pack of Mrs. Meyers Soy Candles, costing (at the cheapest) $60.
The selling points on the Amazon product page: "lead-free wick" and "Jar can be reused as a juice glass." So I guess you're not only buying 6 candles, but a set of juice glasses for $60. Whoa, buddy!
That said, several of the reviewers recommended that you probably shouldn't use the jars for food, even if you clean them really well, as some of the candle scents are synthetic and not meant for consumption. Good to know.
...buying fewer candles.
I'm not a huge candle person, so I opt to have a few emergency candles around the house, but mostly we forgo the candles.
On the occasion we are gifted with candles (which is very nice, btw), we usually end up re-gifting them.
Because... water conservation. Here, BuzzFeed linked to a website offering The Waterpebble—a "water activated" shower timer to help you conserve water. The website states that it can save you up to $300 a year on your water bill. It's a small, battery operated, plastic disc that lights up (green = start shower, yellow = half way through, red = end shower). The cost is $12.
From what I can tell, it allows for a 4 minute shower—which would drastically cut most people's water bills.
Of course, it's dependent on your water / sewer provider. In NC we pay by the 'unit' not the gallon. Units allow for a range of consumption (i.e. 100-200 gallons). If we fall into that range, then we get charged the same amount whether our usage is on the high end or the low end of that unit.
This is another one of those gadgets that probably works best with kids—in both getting them into and out of the shower.
Otherwise...
...getting a low flow shower head, or setting a kitchen timer.
This is another one that I am absolutely on board with. Drying racks or clotheslines can definitely help you save money on the energy bills. And while the folding / collapsing style rack is handy in tight spaces, it doesn't let you hang a large load to dry. Clotheslines are a bit better and more cost effective, but not everyone has a place to hang them.
The rack that the BuzzFeed article linked to* (pictured) costs between $22-$27.
If you're doing a LOT of laundry, you might want to find a sturdier option.
Or you can buy a retractable clothesline* ($10-$20) to put up in your laundry room, bathroom, or outside.
...using a clothesline that will allow you to dry more clothes at one time.
Again, I'm completely on board with water filters. If I had my druthers, we'd have a reverse osmosis filter, but that can be a bit pricey. The stop gap for us? Filtered water pitchers.
Is this going to save you money? It might if you buy a lot of bottled water. But if you're perfectly fine with drinking water directly from the tap, then this won't save you anything.
Brita pitchers cost between $20-$36, and the filters need to be replaced every couple of months (filters cost about $5-$15 each). The pitchers themselves are BPA free, but will last longest if hand-washed. We replace ours every few years because the plastic starts to break down or it cracks.
... using tap water, well water, or being able to afford a built in filtration system.
In the end, this is still very much a purchase for those with privilege and means.
This would be great if eggs didn't already come in their own cartons.
It's not like it's removing items from the landfill. (Unless of course, you're collecting eggs in an egg basket from your own hens). The rest of us are still buying pre-packaged eggs, which we would then have to remove from the carton to place them in this clear reusable, plastic tray (which, I might add, is not terribly practical considering the lid just sits on top... and it has to be washed by hand—not dishwasher safe).
Cost per tray: $7
...using the "egg tray" that the eggs already come in. It's even stackable & labeled "eggs" for easy identification.
In particular this* lunchbox, which costs $13 and is made of plastic.
It's a Bento-style lunch box with 3 compartments (the middle one has a lid to keep liquids from spilling).
While bento-style lunch boxes are super cute. It's not the lunch box that will save you tons of money. It's the action of making and taking your lunch to work or school—rather than buying it.
The lunch box can be a motivator for packing said lunch and in that respect, I'm all for buying a lunch box or some sort of transportation device to get the lunch from point A to point B while keeping it warm or cold.
There are lots of BPA-(and lead)-Free options*, that are dishwasher, microwave, freezer, whatever safe.
...nope, sorry, I don't have a better suggestion... just pack your lunch.
You can brown bag it, or put it into a cooler, or a vintage lunch box... or a Geisha bento box... whatever works for you.
Here we have another cute little gadget, for you Goopers out there, that you totally don't need. A fruit infuser water bottle that has an inner core in which you put your sliced fruit, then you pour your (filtered) water in the water reservoir that surrounds it & voila! Infused water! You have the added bonus of drinking your water without the fruit awkwardly splashing you in the face or ever touching your lips.
You know what else infuses water? Putting your sliced fruit right into the water glass. Sure, you'll have to deal with the fact that your water isn't segregated from your fruit, but I'm guessing you can handle it, after all you did dress yourself this morning.
Fruit infuser water bottles cost anywhere from $9 to $25, are usually made of BPA-free plastic that you probably should be hand washing (because if they get hot and crack, even if they're BPA-Free, you probably should stop using them).
...just eating the damn fruit. Don't waste it by "infusing" your water then tossing it.
Why do you need to infuse your water anyway? It's not like you're getting the benefit of the fruit's nutrients through osmosis. Stop being so Bougie and just eat the fruit!
Yes! Absolutely! Reusable cloth towels will totally save you money over disposable paper towels.
Although, honestly, I doubt you need a set of 16 that cost you $40*. Yes, $2.50 per towel is a good price, and these are cute. They're essentially Linen/cotton blend fabric and you can probably find similar items at a thrift store.
Also popular is Birdseye cotton* (set of 12 for $13).
...using what you have, buying cloth napkins/towels from thrift stores.
In particular, BuzzFeed thinks you should have this one* for $50.
The assumption here is that by grinding your own coffee and your own spices you'll save money. The problem is, the cost of ground coffee vs. whole bean is the same, so grinding it yourself doesn't save you any money. Besides, most grocery stores have industrial whole bean coffee grinders that allow you to grind the coffee in the store.
Buying whole spices vs. ground can be cheaper, mainly because whole spices are bulkier than ground.
...skipping the spice grinder and buying spices in bulk.
If you're concerned about your coffee staying fresh, then put your ground coffee in the freezer until you use it.
The idea here, I assume, is that pre-washed salad is more expensive than regular old lettuce that you have to wash yourself (or have your nanny wash). So, with the salad spinner, you can have the pre-washed feel for the cost of buying regular heads of lettuce. (that and you get to push the button and watch it spin—weeeee!)
Right, okay, so the Oxo salad spinner costs about $30
Or you could just wash and pat you lettuce dry with a towel (unpaper or paper, your choice)
Or maybe...
...dealing with slightly damp lettuce.
You know, to keep you from eating your Oreos too fast. Also known as self-control.
But if you don't have any self-control, or you're trying to limit your kids accessibility to sweets, then for $55 you can exert self control without having to exert self-control.
"Sorry... nothing I can do, it's in the Kitchen Safe (registered trademark)..."
Although, I guess you have to have some amount of will-power/self control to actually get the cookies into the Kitchen Safe and lock it.
Or you could save more by..
...just not buying sweets that you have to lock away from yourself.
(This may be something else you can talk to your therapist about.)
Again, a resounding YES! I am totally on board with reusable snack bags. Not only does it save money, but it also saves the environment. So definitely a win/win. You'll have to wash the bags, but you can do that, right? I mean, you're saving money, so why the heck not?
The only issue? The Reusable snack bags that BuzzFeed linked to cost between $10 and $22 each. Yep. $10 for a snack sized reusable baggie. (I can buy 150 generic ziploc snack baggies for $3 on sale.)
Etsy has a slew of options though, most of which cost between $3 and $6. Or if you're super crafty (or even only slightly so), you can make your own.
...buying from etsy or making your own.
In general, if a "money saving" list is telling you to spend lots of money, you're probably not going to be helping your budget out much, even in the long run.
The things I like in this list are the reusable products that replace stuff we'd normally use and toss out on a regular basis:
The rest of the list is basically encouraging you to consume more under the guise that these products will make your life easier. When really, they end up adding to the clutter in the cabinets, the junk drawer(s), the basement, the garage, or wherever else you collect the detritus of life.
*FYI, these are not affiliate links.
If you're finding your produce is going bad before you can eat it, simply buy less produce on a weekly basis. Good deals on produce are only good if you actually use it up.
Alternatively, chop it up and freeze it if it's starting to get a little soft and wrinkly.
Kitchen gadgets are cool, but more likely than not, you'll end up tossing these in the trash or the recycle bin—which doesn't really help the planet or your budget.
2. Herb Saver
A plastic, space-aged dome thingy that looks like it should be on the U.S.S. Enterprise (NG). This is supposed to help keep your cut herbs fresh for up to two weeks. You know what else keeps herbs fresh? Soil.
The Herb Saver costs $18-$30 on Amazon.
Buying this won't make you feel more fulfilled, or a better cook, or even a better gardener.
You can get the same results by cutting your herbs and putting them in a mason jar with water & storing it in the fridge (or on the counter). You can even put a baggie over it, if that would make you feel better.
Even better, though, is if you have a slightly sunny window with a sill—you can keep fresh herbs all year round by having potted plants on your windowsill. No fancy plastic house & reservoir necessary.
3. Self Watering, Self Feeding Hydroponic Planter
At $159, I'm not sure how this little planter saves me "shitloads" of money. At best it can fit 3 small herb plants and I have to invest in the hydroponic fertilizer and growing medium. It's definitely a cool gadget, but honestly, if you're on a budget, this isn't going to save you squat.
You can save more by forgoing the Hydroponic planter and growing herbs on your windowsill. I can plant 3 herbs in pots on my windowsill—for less than $10.
4. Water Globes
Save more by opting for practicality over pretty glass globes.
You can get the same functionality with recycled bottles and water spikes like those shown below (which cost about $12 for a set of 5). (Just FYI: I accidentally left mine out over the winter and they still work). I use these primarily when I'm going to be away & need to ensure that my plants get watered.
Or, you can just try to remember to water your plants when you're home & get a friend to come water when you're not.
At any rate, $29 glass globes probably aren't going to save you loads of money (although they will probably look really cute planted next to the dried floral arrangements that now grace your planters.
5. Shock Absorbent Screen Protector
If you're someone who drops their phone and doesn't have a protective cover on it, then yes, this may indeed be a money saver for you, because having your cell phone screen replaced is not cheap. The BuzzFeed article links to a $24 protector with so-so reviews. You can find tempered glass screen protectors for less though, so shop around and read the reviews....shopping around and reading reviews.
I found other tempered glass screen protectors with better reviews in the $7-$14 range.
Or buy a phone case that protects the edges from impact-related cracks.
6. Acrylic Bed Tray ("that'll help your laptop last longer.")
I'm not sure what the bit about helping "your laptop last longer" is about, because it's a plastic (acrylic) bed tray... you know, for eating breakfast (or working) in bed—it doesn't have fans or cooling capability. In fact, the CB2 website, where it is sold, doesn't mention anything about helping laptops last longer.As far as I can tell, someone at BuzzFeed just thought it was cute. At $80, I'm not sure how it's going to save you loads of money. I certainly wouldn't count on it to extend the life of your laptop computer.
...just not buying this.
7. Fixing Rubber (a.k.a. Sugru Fix That Thing moldable glue)
First of all, let me just say that I love this stuff. But let's be clear, it doesn't keep your cords from fraying or breaking, and it doesn't mend cables that are already broken—it just provides a bendable protective cover (your cords are still frayed under there). And it's also not permanent. If you're working with something that takes a lot of use (cell phone case, computer cords), it has about a one year life-span before you have to replace it.Cost for a pack of 8 on Amazon: $22.
If you have a lot of things that need fixing or reinforcing, then go to town. It's definitely more fun to work with than electrical tape. That said...
Save more by using electrical tape.
A roll of electrical tape will run you about $5-$7 for about 66 feet. And you can get it in multiple colors.
8. Avocado Saver
Here's another plastic container to save your fruits. This time, shaped like an avocado and meant to house... you guessed it, one avocado. I'm not sure why, honestly. All the product description says is "New from Tupperware, the Avocado Keeper. Made to keep your avocado fresh in the refrigerator. Dishwasher Safe."The cost for one Avocado Saver is $17 (+ shipping, even if you have Amazon Prime).
Here's the thing, if your avocados aren't yet ripe, you leave them on the counter. If they are ripe and you want to slow down the ripening process, you just put it in the refrigerator. You don't need an avocado shaped container to keep it in. It already has one of those—it's skin. And if you're not eating them before they go over the edge, then maybe you're buying too many avocados at a time. Although, I must admit, being the avocado lover that I am, I don't understand how anyone could have ripe avocados and not be eating them constantly. If I could grow one in my backyard, there were be an entire avocado grove.
Save more by not buying another plastic container to keep fruits fresh.
If you need to slow the ripening process down, just put the avocado in the refrigerator, sans container.
If you're storing a partial avocado in the fridge, rub the exposed (cut) part of the fruit with a little vegetable oil—this will keep it from getting brown. Then put it in a baggie or storage container.
9. Pepper Savers
Seriously, someone over at BuzzFeed likes the fruit and vegetable shaped plastics. I'm guessing they had the little plastic vegetable set when they were a kid.Basically, it's a plastic container shaped like a Sweet Pepper. One of the selling characteristics is that "It is easy to spot in the frige" (sic)... because IT LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE A SWEET PEPPER.... using that logic, one would assume that just the plain-old peppers would be equally easy to spot in the fridge, but what do I know.
Cost: $8-$14 for one Pepper Saver. (God help you if you have more than one cut pepper in need of storing.)
Any container will work to keep your sliced peppers longer in the fridge—it doesn't have to be shaped like a pepper.
...just not buying this.
10. Automatic Toothpaste Dispenser
I know, it's getting a little ridiculous... BUT, to be fair, I could see how this might be good for someone with younger kids who might squeeze too much toothpaste out of the tube... or someone who maybe doesn't have the physical ability to squeeze—in which case, this thing is awesome sauce. The BuzzFeed article links to the Amazon page for the iLifeTech Hands Free Toothpaste Dispenser Automatic Toothpaste Squeezer and Holder Set (sic). It's made of plastic and doesn't use batteries (so Yay for that). It's uses a simple push/lever mechanism that squeezes a dollop of toothpaste onto the brush head.Cost: $12.99
I would not judge you for buying this. Seriously. Especially in the hopes that it would save you money, but if you're an adult with the ability to squeeze your own toothpaste, maybe choose not to bring more plastic gadgets into your house. Just a thought. But you're a grown up, so do what you gotta' do.
...squeezing your own (damn) toothpaste.
11. A Reusable Travel Mug
Absolutely. I am 100% on board with this one. There is no need to have disposable travel mugs (is there even such a thing, or do they just call those paper cups?).This is one instance where I'd suggest paying more for a quality, stainless steel travel mug (double wall insulated perhaps).
Or you could save more by...
...going old school and getting yourself a thermos. Those bad mamajammas are all the rage now, AND you're not limited to just carrying beverages (although technically, I guess you could put soup or chili in your travel mug, but somehow that cuts really close to the "ewww" factor).
The next time you're at a thrift store, check to see if they have any old Stanley thermoses. If so, grab 'em—those suckers have lifetime warranties.
12. An AeroPress Coffee Machine
This is another head scratcher. I'm not sure how buying the AeroPress Coffee Machine will help save you shitloads of money, unless you just don't own a coffee maker and the only way you procure coffee is by buying it ready-made at Starbucks. So, yes, in that scenario, this will save you tons of money. So will buying any coffee maker or coffee press for that matter. Even buying an expensive Nespresso machine with the single serve pods will save you money over a daily Starbucks habit.The AeroPress is on the lower end of the cost spectrum at $33, and like a French Press, you'll need to heat the water before you add it to the press. For a full tutorial on how to use the AeroPress check out this YouTube Video.
Eventually, you'll need to buy micro-filters for the press, but they're fairly inexpensive ($11 for 700 filters—that's a lot of coffee, my friend).
Of course you could save more by...
-or-
...buying a coffee maker at the thrift store
-or-
...buying a French Press*. Cost: $10-$30 (no filters needed)
-or-
...buying a Pour Over filter* that fits atop a coffee cup or coffee carafe. Cost: $11-$35 and you don't need replacement filters, ever.
-or-
...making your own cold brew with a mason jar & some cheesecloth. No coffee maker needed.
*And just FYI these are not affiliate links.
13. A Coffee Bean Subscription
They linked to three different subscription services: Craft Coffee*, MistoBox Coffee Shop*, and Citizen Bean*.
Craft Coffee was the most promising, in that it had the widest selection of coffees, including some Counter Culture varieties (the coffee we like in our household). And they even offer a guaranteed price match. Of course, when you buy coffee on sale any given week, you're probably not going to go home and get online just so the mail-order company will match the price from your local grocery store. It's just not terribly practical. In order for that to work for me, you'll need to not only match the price, but give me a discount for not buying it at the store while I was there... & I just don't see that happening.
The other two options were more expensive, with Citizen Bean offering a 3-month subscription for $80 but not telling me how much coffee that actually gets me. Thanks, but no. That might work for folks who are gaga over your beans (of which I am not one), but...
...keeping your eyes peeled for local sales on your preferred brands & using coupons or rebate apps.
If you like the idea of subscription services, then maybe checkout Amazon's Prime Pantry*.
14. A CSA Subscription
A CSA is Community Supported Agriculture—local farms will offer a type of subscription service in which, on a weekly basis, you'll get a box (or bag) of produce for a set price. In our area, the price is equivalent to buying organic produce at the grocery store, but we get a greater variety of veggies and we like that we're directly supporting our local farmers.
You can find local farmers and CSAs through LocalHarvest.org.
Budgetarily speaking, it's not going to save you tons of money. If you can't grow your own vegetables, then buying from local farmers is a good and conscientious thing to do.
...growing your own food.
15. Freshness Sensor for Your Meats
The Food Sniffer (to which the BuzzFeed article links), is a nifty gadget (touted as an "e-nose") that costs $130. It even talks to your smart phone, although I'm not sure why you need your smart phone to know if your meat is fresh.
According to the website, "Once wirelessly connected to your smartphone via app, it measures raw meat gas levels, analyzes results and instantly tells you the level of its freshness and safeness to eat."
I'd interject here that your nose can probably tell you, equally well, if your meat, poultry, or seafood is off.
...buying less food and eating it in a timely fashion &/or using your nose.
16. Mrs. Meyers Soy Candles
I'm guessing the logic here is that if you buy and use candles, then buying soy candles will save you money because they last longer. Okay, I buy that.
Of course, the BuzzFeed article links to a 6-pack of Mrs. Meyers Soy Candles, costing (at the cheapest) $60.
The selling points on the Amazon product page: "lead-free wick" and "Jar can be reused as a juice glass." So I guess you're not only buying 6 candles, but a set of juice glasses for $60. Whoa, buddy!
That said, several of the reviewers recommended that you probably shouldn't use the jars for food, even if you clean them really well, as some of the candle scents are synthetic and not meant for consumption. Good to know.
...buying fewer candles.
I'm not a huge candle person, so I opt to have a few emergency candles around the house, but mostly we forgo the candles.
On the occasion we are gifted with candles (which is very nice, btw), we usually end up re-gifting them.
17. A Shower Timer
Because... water conservation. Here, BuzzFeed linked to a website offering The Waterpebble—a "water activated" shower timer to help you conserve water. The website states that it can save you up to $300 a year on your water bill. It's a small, battery operated, plastic disc that lights up (green = start shower, yellow = half way through, red = end shower). The cost is $12.From what I can tell, it allows for a 4 minute shower—which would drastically cut most people's water bills.
Of course, it's dependent on your water / sewer provider. In NC we pay by the 'unit' not the gallon. Units allow for a range of consumption (i.e. 100-200 gallons). If we fall into that range, then we get charged the same amount whether our usage is on the high end or the low end of that unit.
This is another one of those gadgets that probably works best with kids—in both getting them into and out of the shower.
Otherwise...
...getting a low flow shower head, or setting a kitchen timer.
18. A Drying Rack
This is another one that I am absolutely on board with. Drying racks or clotheslines can definitely help you save money on the energy bills. And while the folding / collapsing style rack is handy in tight spaces, it doesn't let you hang a large load to dry. Clotheslines are a bit better and more cost effective, but not everyone has a place to hang them.The rack that the BuzzFeed article linked to* (pictured) costs between $22-$27.
If you're doing a LOT of laundry, you might want to find a sturdier option.
Or you can buy a retractable clothesline* ($10-$20) to put up in your laundry room, bathroom, or outside.
...using a clothesline that will allow you to dry more clothes at one time.
19. Brita Filter
Again, I'm completely on board with water filters. If I had my druthers, we'd have a reverse osmosis filter, but that can be a bit pricey. The stop gap for us? Filtered water pitchers.Is this going to save you money? It might if you buy a lot of bottled water. But if you're perfectly fine with drinking water directly from the tap, then this won't save you anything.
Brita pitchers cost between $20-$36, and the filters need to be replaced every couple of months (filters cost about $5-$15 each). The pitchers themselves are BPA free, but will last longest if hand-washed. We replace ours every few years because the plastic starts to break down or it cracks.
... using tap water, well water, or being able to afford a built in filtration system.
In the end, this is still very much a purchase for those with privilege and means.
20. Clear Reusable Egg Tray
This would be great if eggs didn't already come in their own cartons.It's not like it's removing items from the landfill. (Unless of course, you're collecting eggs in an egg basket from your own hens). The rest of us are still buying pre-packaged eggs, which we would then have to remove from the carton to place them in this clear reusable, plastic tray (which, I might add, is not terribly practical considering the lid just sits on top... and it has to be washed by hand—not dishwasher safe).
Cost per tray: $7
...using the "egg tray" that the eggs already come in. It's even stackable & labeled "eggs" for easy identification.
21. A Lunchbox
In particular this* lunchbox, which costs $13 and is made of plastic.It's a Bento-style lunch box with 3 compartments (the middle one has a lid to keep liquids from spilling).
While bento-style lunch boxes are super cute. It's not the lunch box that will save you tons of money. It's the action of making and taking your lunch to work or school—rather than buying it.
The lunch box can be a motivator for packing said lunch and in that respect, I'm all for buying a lunch box or some sort of transportation device to get the lunch from point A to point B while keeping it warm or cold.
There are lots of BPA-(and lead)-Free options*, that are dishwasher, microwave, freezer, whatever safe.
...nope, sorry, I don't have a better suggestion... just pack your lunch.
You can brown bag it, or put it into a cooler, or a vintage lunch box... or a Geisha bento box... whatever works for you.
22. A Fruit Infuser
Here we have another cute little gadget, for you Goopers out there, that you totally don't need. A fruit infuser water bottle that has an inner core in which you put your sliced fruit, then you pour your (filtered) water in the water reservoir that surrounds it & voila! Infused water! You have the added bonus of drinking your water without the fruit awkwardly splashing you in the face or ever touching your lips.You know what else infuses water? Putting your sliced fruit right into the water glass. Sure, you'll have to deal with the fact that your water isn't segregated from your fruit, but I'm guessing you can handle it, after all you did dress yourself this morning.
Fruit infuser water bottles cost anywhere from $9 to $25, are usually made of BPA-free plastic that you probably should be hand washing (because if they get hot and crack, even if they're BPA-Free, you probably should stop using them).
...just eating the damn fruit. Don't waste it by "infusing" your water then tossing it.
Why do you need to infuse your water anyway? It's not like you're getting the benefit of the fruit's nutrients through osmosis. Stop being so Bougie and just eat the fruit!
23. Reusable Cloth Towels
Yes! Absolutely! Reusable cloth towels will totally save you money over disposable paper towels.Although, honestly, I doubt you need a set of 16 that cost you $40*. Yes, $2.50 per towel is a good price, and these are cute. They're essentially Linen/cotton blend fabric and you can probably find similar items at a thrift store.
Also popular is Birdseye cotton* (set of 12 for $13).
...using what you have, buying cloth napkins/towels from thrift stores.
24. Spice and Coffee Grinder
In particular, BuzzFeed thinks you should have this one* for $50.The assumption here is that by grinding your own coffee and your own spices you'll save money. The problem is, the cost of ground coffee vs. whole bean is the same, so grinding it yourself doesn't save you any money. Besides, most grocery stores have industrial whole bean coffee grinders that allow you to grind the coffee in the store.
Buying whole spices vs. ground can be cheaper, mainly because whole spices are bulkier than ground.
...skipping the spice grinder and buying spices in bulk.
If you're concerned about your coffee staying fresh, then put your ground coffee in the freezer until you use it.
25. Salad Spinner
The idea here, I assume, is that pre-washed salad is more expensive than regular old lettuce that you have to wash yourself (or have your nanny wash). So, with the salad spinner, you can have the pre-washed feel for the cost of buying regular heads of lettuce. (that and you get to push the button and watch it spin—weeeee!)Right, okay, so the Oxo salad spinner costs about $30
Or you could just wash and pat you lettuce dry with a towel (unpaper or paper, your choice)
Or maybe...
...dealing with slightly damp lettuce.
26. Snack Container (a.k.a. Kitchen Safe)
You know, to keep you from eating your Oreos too fast. Also known as self-control.But if you don't have any self-control, or you're trying to limit your kids accessibility to sweets, then for $55 you can exert self control without having to exert self-control.
"Sorry... nothing I can do, it's in the Kitchen Safe (registered trademark)..."
Although, I guess you have to have some amount of will-power/self control to actually get the cookies into the Kitchen Safe and lock it.
Or you could save more by..
...just not buying sweets that you have to lock away from yourself.
(This may be something else you can talk to your therapist about.)
27. Reusable Snack Bags
Again, a resounding YES! I am totally on board with reusable snack bags. Not only does it save money, but it also saves the environment. So definitely a win/win. You'll have to wash the bags, but you can do that, right? I mean, you're saving money, so why the heck not?The only issue? The Reusable snack bags that BuzzFeed linked to cost between $10 and $22 each. Yep. $10 for a snack sized reusable baggie. (I can buy 150 generic ziploc snack baggies for $3 on sale.)
Etsy has a slew of options though, most of which cost between $3 and $6. Or if you're super crafty (or even only slightly so), you can make your own.
...buying from etsy or making your own.
Total amount spent in order to save you money: $1,200-$1,500+
Number of new gadgets you'll need to find space for: 25
In general, if a "money saving" list is telling you to spend lots of money, you're probably not going to be helping your budget out much, even in the long run.
The things I like in this list are the reusable products that replace stuff we'd normally use and toss out on a regular basis:
- Travel Mug (or thermos) to replace disposable cups
- Cloth towels to replace paper towels
- Reusable snack bags to replace plastic baggies
And things that help us change our behaviors:
- Lunch box or bag to motivate you to take your lunch rather than buy it
- Laundry rack or clothesline to air dry your clothes rather than using the dryer
- Water filter to encourage you to drink more water and fewer store-bought beverages.
The rest of the list is basically encouraging you to consume more under the guise that these products will make your life easier. When really, they end up adding to the clutter in the cabinets, the junk drawer(s), the basement, the garage, or wherever else you collect the detritus of life.
*FYI, these are not affiliate links.
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