What are the best "Buy once use for a lifetime" purchases?

lets_talk2566 · 2023-09-11T00:16:57+00:00

My grandmother was born in the late 1800s I'm still using her cast iron pans daily.

Bird_Brain4101112 · 2023-09-11T01:29:17+00:00

If you haven’t really settled down yet, keep it to a minimum unless you have a stable place to store stuff if you have to move

HalcyonDreams36 · 2023-09-11T00:10:00+00:00

Good knives. It's okay to buy them one at a time. (Mine are a mix of Wustof Trident and Henkels. They hold an edge like no one's business, and make cooking actually fun. Going on 25 years, and they are still amazing.)

Actual stainless steel cookware, or cast iron. (For steel, all clad is the big name, but Cuisinart will make you just as happy and you can find them on sale for a big set under 100$ now and then. Absolutely worth it.)

On the not forever but still worthwhile front: good shoes and a good mattress.

dogsRgr8too · 2023-09-10T23:28:37+00:00

There's a buy it for life subreddit you might want to look at.

tommydelgato · 2023-09-10T23:18:41+00:00

Cast iron pots and pans

2workigo · 2023-09-10T23:24:44+00:00

A set of good quality starter tools - hammer, a couple of screwdrivers, pliers, etc.

1creeper · 2023-09-11T00:43:20+00:00

not exactly a lifetime, but my Casio watch was around twenty bucks and has a ten year battery.

Ecstatic-Catch-7149 · 2023-09-11T01:26:18+00:00

Believe it or not but… Corelle dish sets! Yes, the very ones you can find at Walmart and similar. They LAST. I’m actually annoyed cuz I assumed mine wouldn’t last so long that I could just buy more. I’m still waiting 20 years later. Lmao.

jaysoo3 · 2023-09-10T23:59:36+00:00

A good set of knives. If you don't want to buy a set, just get a really good chef's knife and learn how to sharpen it. I honestly don't know how people live with cheap knives that dull quickly.

TheAnimeHistorian · 2023-09-11T00:08:57+00:00

Correl brand plates and cups are resistant to shattering and chips and can last for decades. Just be sure to buy new ones as some of the older plates that you can find in thrift stores used lead in the paint.

Or0b0ur0s · 2023-09-11T00:19:16+00:00

Baseline Toyota sedans. The only reasons to replace them are cosmetic, and if you drive out of state on a weekly basis, racking up miles like few people do. A Corolla or Camry will rack up a quarter million miles and take maybe a timing chain and nothing else except consumables (batteries, tires, brake pads, filters, etc.), even if it takes 20 years.

If you're going to buy a car new, this would be the one. I bought one at age 30 and I truly think I will still be driving it when I become too old to operate a motor vehicle, as long as it continues to meet emissions standards.

As I think a Car & Driver article once said, describing the Corolla, "It can have 4 flat tires and a tank full of sugar and it'll still get you to work on time." It's the best-selling make of automobile on Earth, for all human history, for a reason. It took the title from the VW Beetle when VW stopped making them for a few decades.

There's a story about some business owner who routinely traveled from, like Montana to Texas in his Toyota pickup and drove it absolutely into the ground. He was at or near a quarter-million miles and the truck was not very old at all.

When he tried to trade it in at a dealer, Toyota Corporate from Japan swooped in and bought it from the Dealer so they could ship it back home and dissect it to analyze the wear patterns on everything in detail. That's how focused on longevity the company is. You don't see that in car makers these days. Hell, you probably didn't ever see that...

cattleya915 · 2023-09-11T00:19:26+00:00

Two things I can think of that haven't been listed: 1. Merkur safety razor. It'll cost you about $45, but all you'll ever need to replace is the blades.

Sturdy luggage. I have duffels and totes from LLBean and The North Face that I intend to keep forever.

Edit: just realized my duffels are from The North Face, not Under Armor.

MyNameIsSkittles · 2023-09-10T23:32:20+00:00

If you do a lot of cooking and like a good blender, a vitamix is 100% worth the price

jumpstar09 · 2023-09-11T03:41:16+00:00

One thought since you mentioned you’re young and frugal.. if you plan to live with roommates I probably would recommend AGAINST buying nice kitchenware (pots, pans, cast iron, etc.) It’s a lot less painful when a roommate fucks up a cheap pan than a cast iron.

Also, a cheap twin or double mattress might be better if you’re planning to move every year or so, and you’re single. But at some point you may settle down with a partner and then it will make more sense to upgrade.

Also, furniture in general when get dinged up when you move and you never know what’s gonna fit the next space. Some things do make sense to buy cheap (or find good quality, but used) while you’re young!

ExtraJohnson · 2023-09-11T05:58:07+00:00

Lodge cast iron cookware
Corelle plates and bowls
Toyota
Good hand tools
A good thermos
Speed Queen Washers
The old Shakespeare Ugly Stick fishing rods
Weber Kettle Grill
Zippo Lighter
Fireproof safe
Swingline 747 Stapler
Wire rack shelving
Real leather wallet (I use one made by Mr. Lentz)
Crockpot
Wahl Clippers
Carhartt duck jackets and coveralls
Legos
Electric griddle
A good can opener
A solid ice cream scoop

juniperandmulberry · 2023-09-11T00:39:34+00:00

Get a set of sharpening stones for your knives and learn how to use them. Yes, you can absolutely drop hundreds of dollars on the really gorgeous, good knives - but honestly? My favourite knife right now is a little paring knife I got for $0.50 at a thrift store 8 years ago. I sharpen it as needed, and sure it's starting to show its age, but it's still going strong. Without the ability to sharpen it, I'd have ended up replacing it years ago. I have nicer, bigger knives, but that tiny paring knife is what I end up using most often.

In my opinion, the most frugal way to live is by taking care of what you have for as long as you can. It doesn't have to be super high end as long as you learn to maintain it.

lumberlady72415 · 2023-09-10T23:35:12+00:00

We bought a huge, heavy duty blanket that we have used every winter. It was on the clearance aisle at walmart. Was $200, marked down to $25. Best purchase yet and that was in 2016. Other things we have purchased we have had to replace due to wear and tear. But so far that blanket has been a 'buy once, use for a lifetime'. Until it absolutely falls apart, we will keep using it. Though I can't see that falling apart happening anytime soon.

sonictrash · 2023-09-11T02:09:00+00:00

A good vacuum cleaner. Don’t waste time with cheap junk. Spend the money, and clean in good health for a long time.

MeridianHilltop · 2023-09-11T00:24:25+00:00

Pots and pans (edit: calphalon, 10-set). NO TEFLON. I spent $200 15 years ago, and mine look HIGH-FALUTIN and work even better.

FlashyImprovement5 · 2023-09-11T00:54:06+00:00

Cast iron 9 inch skillet. Can cook almost anything

Cast iron 3 quart or larger Dutch oven. Can cook almost anything and bake almost anything

Kitchen aid mixer. Best mixer with lots of attachments

Speed Queen washer and dryer. These last for DECADES.

All American Canner. Can be used as a large stock pot for soups, for canning low acid foods or high acid foods

allis_in_chains · 2023-09-10T23:29:11+00:00

Staub or Le Creuset Dutch oven pots. They will last you for a lifetime, though the initial purchase price is high.

ztreHdrahciR · 2023-09-11T01:09:22+00:00

We got cloth napkins, a bunch of them, and reduced our paper towels by like 95%. We have a roll for spills that we want to throw away.

ElPulpoTX · 2023-09-11T00:11:30+00:00

Condoms.

kavalejava · 2023-09-11T00:26:02+00:00

Good furniture, a good lasting dresser for example can last for generations.

ElPulpoTX · 2023-09-10T23:58:58+00:00

Measuring cup, I hate using the cheap ones- the writing washes/scuffs off.

Perfect-Agent-2259 · 2023-09-10T23:35:29+00:00

Sonicare toothbrush. Might not last forever, but for the 10+ years it does last, it'll save you on dental bills.

CCsince86 · 2023-09-11T00:02:02+00:00

Canning supplies. Home canning saves so much money and really helps when pennies aren't stretching.

FeedtheMultiverse · 2023-09-11T00:38:21+00:00

Get a good cast iron pan and or dutch oven. It's the only thing to survive my parent's house fire and still be in use decades later, those things are practically indestructible.

I bought a hammock stand instead of a bed about a decade ago when my mattress was getting old, and for a fraction of the fee of a good mattress I have had a good night's sleep. Not good for co-sleeping though, or having a sex life... I don't have either of those issues. Still, I suspect the hammock stand will last for life. I've replaced the hammock itself once due to wear on the rope portion, although I could have just replaced the rope I also wanted to change the color to better match my bedroom, and it was like $40 to replace at most. The stand is showing no wear after being used daily for a decade.

We got a solid wood TV cabinet, book shelf and china cabinet set used because we have a lot of knick knacks and needed a TV cabinet for a TV given to us from a friend, the furniture was already decades old, also very likely to last for life compared to my Ikea type furniture. Very heavy, huge pain to move around, but very sturdy. Since we got it used the price wasn't much higher than Ikea type furniture but the quality is much higher. We got it from a retired couple downsizing.

Have an antique Singer sewing machine that's like a century old and it still works... got a kerosene lantern that's a solid 70 years old, that still works (just needs new wick and kerosene every now and again if you want to use it for its intended purpose, obviously).

I got a menstrual cup when I was 18 and used it for about a decade before I replaced it (I've ended up using 3 in my life because I bought a different size to try it out when I replaced), and cloth pads which also last for years, instead of single use protection. Not quite buy it for life, but chances are at most I'll buy 1 or 2 more before I stop needing them, which makes my period protection a fraction of the cost of disposable pads or tampons.

My mom made her own cloth diapers when she had babies and used the same diapers for multiple babies. She bought a snap press as one of her tools for for making them. That snap press has lasted for decades of snap-adding, be it adding a snap to a collar or a homemade cloth pad or a bag... this tool is definitely a buy it for life tool, if you ever need to add snaps to something. At most it needs a little grease so it swings down smoothly. Again, no signs of wear after many years of use. If you plan to sew items for your use, a snap press might be a worthy purchase.

And I described it in another comment, but instead of a powered mower, we got a manual push mower (lawn is pretty small) and it doesn't require gas, electric, the only upkeep is occasionally sharpening the blades. As long as the blades are maintained or replaced if needed, it will probably last forever.

Also... NSFW buy it for life. (Spoiler contains comments on buy it for life sex toys of several varieties.) I have several dildos and vibrators. One I bought is a metal dildo from Njoy. There's no way that this is ever going to break in my lifetime. Glass and stone can shatter if dropped, wood can too although I have wood models that are still in decent condition after multiple years... silicone can be cut, torn, and degrade after a while... but the metal one I own is a bought-it-for-life dildo. There's no way it can chip or break down. If you want a buy it for life sex toy, metal is the way to go. Both dildos and plugs are produced in metal. Definitely the best frugal choice, although not everyone may enjoy the firm material.

For vibrators, the closest to a buy it for life is probably going to be a cord-powered wand massager, because every single battery and rechargable toy I've ever owned has given up the ghost after some time but the famous Magic Wand still works after years of use. The cord could still fail, or the engine, but at least there is no battery to fail. Most of the rechargable battery powered ones die after a couple of years of use, and the battery is impossible to replace, and their charging cords are proprietary so even if the engine and batter endure, when the cord goes, you're SOL if they stopped producing that toy. I've had this happen, so I recommend getting a wall-powered vibrator if you want the most frugal, long-lasting choice, even if it's not the Magic Wand there are other comparable options.

I also recommend positioning aid pillows as a buy it for life option for enhancing your sex life. Although the foam may degrade after extensive use I still have a positioning aid foam pillow that's in good condition after a decade. As long as the cover will remove for laundering it should last for many years. Finally, for those who are interested in kink, I would recommend leather cuffs with belt-style attachments over velcro cuffs made of fabric-style materials. I got a cuff-style toy with a snap-in clip and the clip is already breaking down after a few uses, whereas the belt-style leather cuffs with metal rivets and attachments are still in solid shape after over a decade. The same applies to whips, I would recommend buying a leather flogger with a braided leather handle over a vinyl and plastic handle flogger. You're going to get long-lasting kinky gear if you get metal and leather items.

INFeriorJudge · 2023-09-11T00:05:18+00:00

My Oneida tableware (forks spoons etc) and my Wusthof knife block set are 21 years old and still good as new.

Rabiesalad · 2023-09-11T01:51:42+00:00

Buy one quality 12" carbon steel pan and one quality 12" stainless steel pan (3 ply with a lid for the stainless). Make sure both are completely metal so you can put them in the oven.

Learn how to use them.

You will never need to buy another pan again. A non-stick pan is only truly necessary for the most sensitive dishes, which the average person NEVER MAKES. I make perfect over-easy and scrambled eggs in my carbon steel. For some reason, at least the culture around here (north america) everyone seems to be trained to think they need a non-stick pan for everything.

These are the tools restaurants use, and for a reason.

Fish turner (spatula). Stainless steel. You will find yourself never wanting to use another spatula again except for very specific uses. Use it for eggs, pancakes, and any other general use.

Quality digital oven safe thermometer and a quality quick read thermometer.

Investing in quality kitchen stuff makes you a better cook; makes cooking and cleanup easier. Once you get used to your home cooked meals being better than 95% of what you get at a nice sit-down restaurant, you will save tonnes of money, be healthier, and live a life of flavour.

Other than tools and some things that make diy repairs easier, I think investing in the kitchen has pretty much the biggest frugal payoff.

Junior_Ad2955 · 2023-09-11T00:32:55+00:00

Red Land Cotton bedding and towels also, especially the sheets they will replace them if they get holes, tears, or pill and they are the best sheets we’ve ever used

Gew-Roux · 2023-09-10T23:57:14+00:00

I bought an $800 bike rack for my vehicle. I could have bought a cheapo for $150. But mine is light weight, all aluminum for easy installation and can stay on all year without rusting. If I bought one that was more of a hassle, I wouldn't use it. And it would wither away being left on all year

dalekaup · 2023-09-11T01:24:19+00:00

Hand tools. I'm 61 and I still have the socket set I was gifted for Christmas from when I was 17. I work on my cars regularly and that socket set is one thing I use for every repair. Still in the original plastic case.

hunnidbaggers · 2023-09-11T03:13:05+00:00

Your health. It is expensive - literally and metaphorically.

Exercise. Eat well. Minimize alcohol consumption. Brush and floss your teeth.

I believe Warren Buffett once said that people would take such great care of their car if they knew it was the only car they could ever have for the rest of their life. He then argued that we all get one body and should act accordingly.

generic-curiosity · 2023-09-11T04:48:00+00:00

Darn Tough Socks, or just high quality socks, wish I had know about them during my active duty years. No holes, no crunch, no weird seams, wool means no smell, and happy feet.

I gifted my friend a pair for her birthday and her husband STOLE them and has worn them nearly everyday for work since. I call them magic socks because they don't seem to wear through or out (oldest pair is 5 years at this point.)

JM_101_ · 2023-09-11T02:12:32+00:00

Metal lunch boxes and containers are great. No smashing them up if you drop them etc. More expensive to buy but they will last a lifetime

doilysocks · 2023-09-11T00:01:06+00:00

Rice Cooker! Esp make sure it’s an Asian one, those will come apart for cleaning.

krzychoo · 2023-09-10T23:41:11+00:00

Wife. Paid 2 cows and goat but she is worth it

onesun43 · 2023-09-11T03:12:41+00:00

A good leather belt. I’m wearing the same one I bought 25 years ago.

bowoodchintz · 2023-09-11T01:19:39+00:00

Down duvet inserts. Yes, they are very expensive if you buy the best. But they are magical and I can’t recommend them enough. We have one for everyone in our family and not one complaint. My preferred brand is Matouk. We tried cheaper ones a decade ago and they didn’t last. These are just as fluffy, warm and delightful as the day I bought them.

gardenina · 2023-09-11T01:29:49+00:00

A French press for coffee and tea will outlast a machine. Also manual egg beaters.

MojaveMac · 2023-09-11T03:14:46+00:00

High quality dressers. Usually from the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s. Back when furniture was American made out of old growth hardwood. Bonus, mid century modern stuff will continue to look great and is in style right now. You can work really hard (or get lucky) and find a dresser or even a set of dressers for $100-$500 or splurge and get a refinished one for $1,000-$3,000. Still way less than new “high” quality dressers.

TigerMcPherson · 2023-09-11T02:17:59+00:00

If you menstruate, a menstrual cup is a million times cheaper, safer, more hygienic than tampons or pads.

JohnBosler · 2023-09-11T04:40:26+00:00

Get a bidet. I went from buying a 12 pack of toilet paper once a month down to the same 12 pack once every 6 months. As well as it is healthier cleaner and less stinky.

A good stainless steel thermos for water

A whole home water filtration kit. Cheaper than buying bottled water and hauling it home. Or dying from whatever impurities are coming through those pipes.

Good tools can save a lot of money. Anything that you constantly use that breaks down learn how to fix repair and maintain it.

Learn how to cook. Find food that you like to eat and learn how to make it. It's the difference between 2 to $5 per meal and going out to eat and spending 15 to 30

Cast iron griddle last forever good for anything you need to put a char on steaks hamburgers fajitas stir fries.

Quality stainless steel knife

Quality plastic cutting board 2 ft by 3 ft

Learn how to repair your vehicle

Learn how to repair your home

A quality set of shoes - Red Wing - might last 3 years compared to 6 months of a cheaper shoe. These shoes will allow you to walk all day long without your feet hurting which means you can get more done in a day.

FearlessJuan · 2023-09-11T00:35:47+00:00

Safety razor. I have a Henson one that will last forever. I change the blade every 3 months. The trick is to wash it and dry it after each use. The blades are very inexpensive. I got 100 blades included for free when I bought it. That's 25 years worth of shaving.

drvalo55 · 2023-09-11T01:14:59+00:00

Cast iron skillet or inherit one.

Solid wood furniture. Vintage is typically made better and is more affordable than ikea.

There are a number of things in my home that I have had for 40 or more years and some items inherited older than that.

I have dansk missing bowls, for example. Sturdy stainless flatware (Oneida). Vintage baking/casserole dishes. If it has been around for almost 100 years and still works well, it will likely be around longer if you take care of it.

Freshrubbery · 2023-09-11T02:37:06+00:00

You should browse the Buy It For Life subreddit and focus on the items that either have lifetime warranties or keep being brought up over and over.

My mom always told me to get a basic set of Corelle dishes and Oneida silverware and they will last you forever. I bought those 15 years ago and she's right so far. They're not even damaged.

Also browse the BIFL fail subreddit to see what issues people have with the items mentioned if any.

But one of the best pieces of advice I've heard for power tools is: buy the cheapest one first, if you use it enough to break it, buy the nice one. Because sometimes people end up buying things they don't really need.

Another thing, and this is just from me, look into reusable/eco-friendly options. If an item is truly reusable, then it should go a long way. Items like this could be silicone sheets (instead of lining your pans with foil or parchment), beeswax wraps (instead of plastic wrap - but make sure you get a good one and research it, these vary in quality), "unpaper towels" are flannel squares that you wash and reuse, and an O-Cedar dual action flip mop and an all purpose spray to use with it (instead of expensive Swiffer pads and wet jets or the bucket + mop system. This one is a huge saver and the easiest mopping method to boot - message if you want details, because I could go on about this one), and there's more, but it's all subjective to how you live.

Key-Ad-8944 · 2023-09-10T23:22:47+00:00

Solar, if your climate and electric rate, makes it financially advantageous. My initial investment had a ROI of under 4 years. Now that I have paid off the initial investment, I have no electric costs and generate a small surplus. I expect to continue to have no electric costs for many years in the future, saving ~$4k/year.

woemoejack · 2023-09-11T01:21:21+00:00

Vacuum sealer and a chest freezer. Buy meat in bulk when it is on sale and freeze what you dont cook right away. Expanded cold storage is pretty cheap to run and saves a lot over time when you can stock up on sales.

chiselinc · 2023-09-11T02:22:38+00:00

This is different from a lot of the answers, but I'm sure you've got sufficient product recommendations by now, and this is a "meta" supplemental tip that I wish I grasped younger!

When you make a new purchase, especially any sort of technology or device, give at least a cursory glance at the manual or paperwork that comes with it, and save that document. You don't need to get fancy- a shoebox or bag full of product manuals is fine to start. Having them to refer to when you need them is worth its weight in gold- a key piece of info on a lot of digital devices is how to "hard reset" them, which can be highly specific to each device.

Since you're super young and likely more paperless than I, you could also go through the manuals upon purchase, snap close phone camera captures on any potentially useful pages, and store those in an album or folder called "manuals" for future reference ☺️

dalekaup · 2023-09-11T01:20:33+00:00

Cast iron cookware - it'll last a lifetime but if you marry someone who doesn't like cast iron it'll just sit in storage. So decide now if you are willing to make that compromise.

MerryMisandrist · 2023-09-11T00:44:32+00:00

Here are a few.

Lecruset or Staub Dutch ovens Henkles Knives (real ones from Germany) All Clad pans Vitamix blender Kitchen Aid mixer

godofgainz · 2023-09-11T00:57:13+00:00

Wahl hair clippers. Sadly, even they have declined in quality over the years being made of more and more plastic. If you can find one made in the 90s though, it will last forever.

QueenPantheraUncia · 2023-09-11T02:59:22+00:00

If you're really young your best option is to buy the cheapest item of whatever you are thinking about purchasing, then if you actually break it or use it enough then buy a good one.

I bought a lot of high-quality items when I had more disposable income. My lifestyle changed significantly after a few years and none of those items suited me anymore.

As I get older too, the items you actually use regularly just degrade over time.

I bought a 20-dollar corded power drill a few years ago because I don't use drills enough to make purchasing a battery-powered one worth it. I've used it a handful of times over the years and also lent it to other people who didn't find buying a battery-powered drill worth it many times (turns out people also don't want to lend out power battery-powered drills!). I'm happy with that purchase.

Leftist-Ostritch-2 · 2023-09-11T03:51:11+00:00

If you really want to save money on paper towels, I learned from my mom to cut up old beach/shower towels to use as paper towels. Pop a little trash can under the sink and wash when it fills up! Definitely a trash can with a good lid and bag though! You can do the same with swiffer/bona mops as well, just use fabric instead of the disposables.

My partner and I also use the cast iron his grandma used for years almost daily. It can go basically anywhere and very easy to care for!

I got the majority of our glasses, plates, bowls, and baking utensils from goodwill, all good quality. Just know what to look for and while everything might not match, you can find great ceramics and glass there! We got a matching set of 4 glass beer steins for 20, multiple baking dishes 6-10 bucks each, and some gorgeous serving platters! Make sure to go to the goodwills in nicer areas first!

Effective_Positive_8 · 2023-09-11T04:25:02+00:00

Buy a sewing kit and learn how to use it. It amazes me how people throw clothing and other things away just because they have a rip or a hole. I've known people who will throw away pants or a shirt because a button came off and they don't even know how to sew on a button.

lugnut172 · 2023-09-11T01:04:46+00:00

My kitchen aide mixer. I've had it for 20 years and use it at least twice a week. I've gotten attachments for Christmas.

DrummingNozzle · 2023-09-10T23:42:51+00:00

There's a whole subreddit full of ideas on this question... You need r/BuyItForLife

oboejoe92 · 2023-09-11T00:15:24+00:00

Sounds like the whole r/buyitforlife subreddit.

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