25 Investments That Will Save You Money In The Long Run (2024)

Table of Contents
We asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us about their favorite purchases that have saved them money. Here are the economic results: 1. Reusable Norwex microfiber cloths that will cut your cleaning costs. 2. A SodaStream to replace your LaCroix addiction. 3. A pair of wireless headphones that won't break on you. 4. A set of wool dryer balls to replace dryer sheets and make your laundry extra fluffy. 5. A bread machine so making delicious homemade loaves can be so much easier (and cheaper than buying bread all the time). 6. A French press that will cut down on your cold-brew bills. 7. A food saver so freezer burn can be a thing of the past. 8. An on-the-go water bottle with a built-in filter. 9. A drying rack that'll save money on your electric bill *and* help your clothes last longer. 10. Reusable sweeping and mopping pads you can use with a Swiffer Sweeper Wet/Dry. 11. Reusable bento boxes that will encourage you to actually make your lunch. 12. A contract-free phone plan that'll save you money. 13. A family-sized (it holds 18 cups!) Brita dispenser so you can skip all those bottled water purchases. 14. A food subscription to provide all the ingredients you need and cut down on food waste. 15. A sewing kit (and maybe some lessons) that will keep you out of the tailor's. 16. A small chest freezer to stock up on amazing grocery deals. 17. A slow cooker that'll make buying (and cooking!) in bulk more logical. 18. A menstrual cup so buying expensive tampons and pads can be a thing of the past. 19. Reusable grocery bags that will save you a lot of cents (while saving the environment). 20. A book to teach you how to budget, pay off debt, and save money. 21. A water bulb that'll keep your plants alive by watering them over time. 22. A refillable K-Cup so you can use any coffee in your Keurig machine (and create less waste). 23. Gel nail polish and a curing light for creating long-lasting manicures at home. 24. A Kindle that will save you money and shelf space. 25. And a color-coded(!) app to track your spending and keep you up to date on bills. Want to be featured in similar BuzzFeed posts? Follow the BuzzFeed Community on Facebook and Twitter. FAQs

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and itspublishingpartners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

Like retail therapy for your bank account.

by Maitland QuitmeyerBuzzFeed Staff
25 Investments That Will Save You Money In The Long Run (3)

Zoe Burnett

We asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us about their favorite purchases that have saved them money. Here are the economic results:

1. Reusable Norwex microfiber cloths that will cut your cleaning costs.

25 Investments That Will Save You Money In The Long Run (4)

amazon.com

"Seriously. I bought my first set of cleaning cloths in January and I have yet to purchase any cleaning supplies. The only chemical I use to clean is toilet bowl cleaner. I use water and Norwex cloths to clean every other surface in my home. Life-changing and money-saving!" —M. Piquette

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $47.50.

2. A SodaStream to replace your LaCroix addiction.

25 Investments That Will Save You Money In The Long Run (5)

amazon.com

"I use filtered water and then add citrus, basil, or basically anything I want or have on hand. I have saved a fortune not buying LaCroix and I have DIY pamplemousse on demand!" —Kristin K.

Get it from Amazon $109.80.

3. A pair of wireless headphones that won't break on you.

25 Investments That Will Save You Money In The Long Run (6)

amazon.com

"I used to spend money every few months on new earbuds because the wire kept wearing out. So I cut the middleman [and the wire] and got a luxurious pair of Parrot Ziks. Haven't had to buy earbuds for years now." —Rachel Elizabeth Miller, Facebook

Get these recommended headphones from Amazon for $198.88.

Or try these cheaper but very highly rated wireless headphones from Amazon for $24.99.

4. A set of wool dryer balls to replace dryer sheets and make your laundry extra fluffy.

25 Investments That Will Save You Money In The Long Run (7)

amazon.com

"They help fluff up and evenly dry my down comforters/coats, and they're a natural, chemical free alternative to fabric softener sheets. Six balls cost [under] $15, and they last for years." —Casey Austin, Facebook

Get a set of six from Amazon for $11.99.

5. A bread machine so making delicious homemade loaves can be so much easier (and cheaper than buying bread all the time).

"Unless I'm being, fancy flour/yeast/etc costs about 40p per loaf (50 cents) compared to £1.20 ($1.60) for an equivalent loaf in the supermarket. —Hannah Haydock, Facebook

Get a 2-pound bread machine from Amazon for $58.49.

6. A French press that will cut down on your cold-brew bills.

amazon.com

"I love iced coffee. I drink it all year! Before getting the French press, I tried making over night iced coffee in a ziplock container... Let's just say it was a disaster. At night I fill my French press up with water and coffee grounds. By morning it's perfect. So instead of buying an iced coffee for about $3 at Starbucks, I can buy an entire container for around $10. Super easy and delicious." —Brittani June B., Facebook

Get this French press from Amazon for $16.99.

7. A food saver so freezer burn can be a thing of the past.

25 Investments That Will Save You Money In The Long Run (11)

amazon.com

"It’s an investment up front, but when you save food items for months and sometimes years without spoilage, it’s very worth it! You can buy in bulk, then seal it whole or portion it out to save even more! I love buying more expensive items like meat and cheese on sale to always have it on hand." —Kristi-Marie Standing

Get it from Amazon for $64.95.

8. An on-the-go water bottle with a built-in filter.

25 Investments That Will Save You Money In The Long Run (12)

amazon.com

"I can fill it up anywhere and have filtered water, so there's no need to buy bottled water." —Mary Catherine H

It's also great for making infused waters!

Get the larger size from Amazon for $21.35 (available in two sizes and eight colors).

9. A drying rack that'll save money on your electric bill *and* help your clothes last longer.

25 Investments That Will Save You Money In The Long Run (13)

amazon.com

"I love mine and have saved not only on my electric bill but also on laundry sheets. And it is collapsible for easy storage!" —Your Opinion Is Moo

Get it from Amazon for $29.44.

10. Reusable sweeping and mopping pads you can use with a Swiffer Sweeper Wet/Dry.

Amazon

"You can use any kind of floor cleaner you like — save even more $$$ by making your own floor cleaner (there are tons of recipes on Pinterest)." —Samantha B.

Get them from Amazon: a five-pack of reusable microfiber dusters for $15.48 and a two-pack of reussable microfiber mopping pads for $10.01.

And get a Swiffer Sweeper Wet/Dry Kit from Amazon for $11.94.

11. Reusable bento boxes that will encourage you to actually make your lunch.

25 Investments That Will Save You Money In The Long Run (14)

amazon.com

"I spent about $20 on reusable bento boxes. It encouraged me to cook my own meals at home using the sale flyer from the grocery store instead of grabbing something on the run. It easily saved me half as much money on food as I was spending previously." —Tonya Brown, Facebook

Get a set of four from Amazon for $13.95 (available in three color sets).

12. A contract-free phone plan that'll save you money.

"We only spend $50 a month and have unlimited talk, text, and internet." —Cassy Michael

Check out the $45 plan at Straight Talk.

13. A family-sized (it holds 18 cups!) Brita dispenser so you can skip all those bottled water purchases.

amazon.com

"We were spending a fortune on bottled water because our tap water tastes awful. The Brita is amazing, our water tastes great now, and no more buying expensive (and environment-destroying) water bottles!" —Felicia-Marie Gauthier, Facebook

Get it from Amazon for $39.59.

14. A food subscription to provide all the ingredients you need and cut down on food waste.

25 Investments That Will Save You Money In The Long Run (18)

Hello Fresh

"Joining Hello Fresh has saved money and space. I have a smaller fridge, and all that excess shopping ended up being wasted before I joined." —Tina Johnson Smithee, Facebook

Plans start at $6.99 per meal.

15. A sewing kit (and maybe some lessons) that will keep you out of the tailor's.

25 Investments That Will Save You Money In The Long Run (19)

containerstore.com

"I had found the perfect outfit for graduation senior year, it just needed to be taken in. My parents gave me the option of them paying to get it taken in or getting matching shoes. I got the shoes and a $20 sewing kit and had my grandmother show me how to fix it in an hour. Between altering and re-hemming my own clothes and doing the occasional fix for other people, I have saved/made a couple grand since then." —Jamekin

Get it from The Container Store for $6.99.

Take a beginner's sewing class at Udemy for $19.

16. A small chest freezer to stock up on amazing grocery deals.

"I bought a cheapo little chest freezer so I could stock up a little extra when meat went on sale. Then I learned to buy bulk fresh fruit when it was cheap and in season and freeze it for breakfast smoothies. Eventually I managed to cut my food budget for five by 20% *and* we eat healthier! Pro tip I learned from a friend's misfortune: Buy a freezer alert thermometer! They are less than $20 and will alert you to a power outage *before* everything spoils." —Kathleen Hoskey, Facebook

Get this freezer from Amazon for $239.99.

17. A slow cooker that'll make buying (and cooking!) in bulk more logical.

25 Investments That Will Save You Money In The Long Run (22)

amazon.com

"It means I spend less per portion because I can buy a whole bag of carrots (for example) instead of just one or two — I make stuff in bulk and freeze portions. I'll do 15 minutes prep in the morning before going to work (or even the night before) and it will be done by the time I get home. They are pretty versatile too. I've done curries, stews, roast joints, chili, and even cake." —Hannah Haydock, Facebook

Get a 6-quart slow cooker from Amazon for $39.99.

18. A menstrual cup so buying expensive tampons and pads can be a thing of the past.

25 Investments That Will Save You Money In The Long Run (23)

amazon.com

"In addition to being better for you and the environment, it pays for itself after two or four periods. Way cheaper to invest in this once rather than continually have to buy tampons." —Lauren S.

Get it from Amazon for $26.87.

19. Reusable grocery bags that will save you a lot of cents (while saving the environment).

"Here, the plastic/paper bags costs money (25–50 cents each) so over the years I've probably saved $200–300, and cloth doesn't dig in as hard on your hands." —Emma Cha Black, Facebook

Get a 10-pack of reusable bags from Amazon for $34.95.

20. A book to teach you how to budget, pay off debt, and save money.

25 Investments That Will Save You Money In The Long Run (26)

amazon.com

"Paid off $75K in debt. Seriously changed our lives. Best $20 we ever spent." —Leah Wilson

Get it from Amazon for $8.99.

21. A water bulb that'll keep your plants alive by watering them over time.

25 Investments That Will Save You Money In The Long Run (27)

amazon.com

"My house plants thank me for that one." —Hans

Get a set of three from Amazon for $19.97 (available in six color sets).

22. A refillable K-Cup so you can use any coffee in your Keurig machine (and create less waste).

25 Investments That Will Save You Money In The Long Run (28)

amazon.com

"I love treating myself with my French press, but for mornings when I really need to have a single cup of coffee on the go, I like to use the Keurig. And those K-Cups definitely add up (plus they’re horrible for the environment). With the reusable cup, I can add any kind of coffee I want and it tastes just as great!" —Mary Cruz

Get a pack of four from Amazon for $13.95.

23. Gel nail polish and a curing light for creating long-lasting manicures at home.

"I’m a bartender so if I want my nails to stay nice after excessive hand washing, opening bottles and other constant damage by using my hands and nails, I have to get the gel polish at the salon. Since I’ve been getting them done twice a month for years, I’ve learned how to do them by myself. I recently went on Amazon and bought my own light and polish, which are the same brands my favorite salon uses. It was a bit pricey up front but saves me around $80/month." —Stephanie C.

Get the light from Amazon for $31.99 and the OPI gel polish from Jet for $14.95+ (available in three colors).

24. A Kindle that will save you money and shelf space.

25 Investments That Will Save You Money In The Long Run (31)

amazon.com

"I bought my Kindle so I wouldn’t spend so much money on physical copies of books. It has saved me tons of money, not to mention shelf space!" —Cheakpeasarenice

"Sign up with BookBub. You’ll get an email with e-book bargains every day. You pick the genres, they’ll tailor to your preferences. I get books for 99 cents, sometimes even free!" —Anne R.

Get the new Kindle Paperwhite from Amazon for $129.99.

25. And a color-coded(!) app to track your spending and keep you up to date on bills.

"It may seem tedious to log every purchase, but if you’re a student like me and have limited money, get a spending tracker! Just download any app, and if you need to pay to upgrade and get full features, DO IT. It will be worth it. I have saved so much money by just keeping track of where my money is going." —Pooki

Download Homebudget from the App Store and Google Play for $4.99.

Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Want to be featured in similar BuzzFeed posts? Follow the BuzzFeed Community on Facebook and Twitter.

25 Investments That Will Save You Money In The Long Run (2024)

FAQs

How much will I have if I invest $100 a month for 40 years? ›

The numbers may surprise you -- in a good way

In fact, if you invest $100 a month over 40 years, you could end up with a portfolio worth $531,000. However, that number hinges on a very big assumption, and it's that your portfolio is generating an average yearly 10% return.

How can I make $1000 a month in passive income? ›

Passive Income: 7 Ways To Make an Extra $1,000 a Month
  1. Buy US Treasuries. U.S. Treasuries are still paying attractive yields on short-term investments. ...
  2. Rent Out Your Yard. ...
  3. Rent Out Your Car. ...
  4. Rental Real Estate. ...
  5. Publish an E-Book. ...
  6. Become an Affiliate. ...
  7. Sell an Online Course. ...
  8. Bottom Line.
Apr 18, 2024

How to passively make $2000 a month? ›

Wrapping up ways to make $2,000/month in passive income
  1. Try out affiliate marketing.
  2. Sell an online course.
  3. Monetize a blog with Google Adsense.
  4. Become an influencer.
  5. Write and sell e-books.
  6. Freelance on websites like Upwork.
  7. Start an e-commerce store.
  8. Get paid to complete surveys.

What can I double my money in 7 years? ›

For example, if your investment earns 6% per year on average, you would take 72 divided by 6 to determine that it will take 12 years for your money to double. Based on the above, you would need to earn 10% per year to double your money in a little over seven years.

How much will I have if I invest $500 a month for 10 years? ›

What happens when you invest $500 a month
Rate of return10 years20 years
4%$72,000$178,700
6%$79,000$220,700
8%$86,900$274,600
10%$95,600$343,700
Nov 15, 2023

How much is $200 a month for 20 years? ›

Investing as little as $200 a month can, if you do it consistently and invest wisely, turn into more than $150,000 in as soon as 20 years. If you keep contributing the same amount for another 20 years while generating the same average annual return on your investments, you could have more than $1.2 million.

How much money do I need to invest to make $1 000 a month? ›

A stock portfolio focused on dividends can generate $1,000 per month or more in perpetual passive income, Mircea Iosif wrote on Medium. “For example, at a 4% dividend yield, you would need a portfolio worth $300,000.

How much do I need to invest to make $500 a month? ›

Some experts recommend withdrawing 4% each year from your retirement accounts. To generate $500 a month, you might need to build your investments to $150,000. Taking out 4% each year would amount to $6,000, which comes to $500 a month.

Can a single person live on $2,000 a month? ›

Retiring on $2,000 per month is very possible,” said Gary Knode, president at Safe Harbor Financial. “In my practice, I've seen it work. The key is reducing expenses and eliminating any market risk that could impact your savings if there were a major market downturn.

How to make 10k a month? ›

In this guide, we'll share the 10 best ways to make $10,000 per month, including:
  1. Sell Private Label Rights (PLR) products 📝
  2. Start a dropshipping online business 📦
  3. Start a blog and leverage ad income 💻
  4. Freelance your skills 🎨
  5. Fulfillment By Amazon (FBA) 📚
  6. Flip vintage apparel, furniture, and decor 🛋
Feb 23, 2024

What is the Rule of 72 proof? ›

Using the rule to estimate compounding periods

For instance, if you were to invest $100 with compounding interest at a rate of 9% per annum, the rule of 72 gives 72/9 = 8 years required for the investment to be worth $200; an exact calculation gives ln(2)/ln(1+0.09) = 8.0432 years.

Why is the Rule of 72 important? ›

What Is the Rule of 72? The Rule of 72 is a simple way to determine how long an investment will take to double given a fixed annual rate of interest. Dividing 72 by the annual rate of return gives investors a rough estimate of how many years it will take for the initial investment to duplicate itself.

How can I double my money legally fast? ›

The classic approach of doubling your money involves investing in a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds and is probably the one that applies to most investors.

How much will $100 a month be worth in 30 years? ›

Investing $100 per month, with an average return rate of 10%, will yield $200,000 after 30 years. Due to compound interest, your investment will yield $535,000 after 40 years. These numbers can grow exponentially with an extra $100. If you make a monthly investment of $200, your 30-year yield will be close to $400,000.

How much is $100 a month for 25 years? ›

How $100 a month can help make you wealthy
If you invest $100 a month for this many years......this is how much you'll end up with.
15$41,939.68
20$75,603.00
25$129,818.12
30$217,132.11
2 more rows
Oct 1, 2023

How much do I need to invest to have $1 million in 30 years? ›

To save a million dollars in 30 years, you'll need to deposit around $850 a month. If you make $50k a year, that's roughly 20% of your pre-tax income. If you can't afford that now then you may want to dissect your expenses to see where you can cut, but if that doesn't work then saving something is better than nothing.

What happens if you invest $1,000 a month for 20 years? ›

Investing $1,000 a month for 20 years would leave you with around $687,306. The specific amount you end up with depends on your returns -- the S&P 500 has averaged 10% returns over the last 50 years. The more you invest (and the earlier), the more you can take advantage of compound growth.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Allyn Kozey

Last Updated:

Views: 6263

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (63 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Allyn Kozey

Birthday: 1993-12-21

Address: Suite 454 40343 Larson Union, Port Melia, TX 16164

Phone: +2456904400762

Job: Investor Administrator

Hobby: Sketching, Puzzles, Pet, Mountaineering, Skydiving, Dowsing, Sports

Introduction: My name is Allyn Kozey, I am a outstanding, colorful, adventurous, encouraging, zealous, tender, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.