11 Household Appliances That All Frugal People Invest In
Written by
Justice Petersen
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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There are several household appliances that, despite the potential hefty price, are great investments and will save you money and time in the long run. (As the saying goes: buy once, cry once.) Especially if it’s something that will frequently be used, financially savvy shoppers have several appliances they recommend purchasing if you’re looking to save money. Here are 11 appliances that budget-conscious shoppers still tend to invest in.
Also see these eight appliances that are not worth the cost.
Rice Cooker
A rice cooker is a much-needed appliance, especially for frugal cookers who enjoy cheap, easy meals. A rice cooker frees you from keeping your eye on the stove and allows you to keep leftovers, thus saving you money on future meals or additional groceries. According to HuffPost, rice cookers can also be used for cooking porridge, noodles, curry and even cake. This Aroma Housewares rice cooker is $45.00 on Amazon.
Slow Cooker
Slow cookers offer great convenience in that you can cook a meal for a long period of time. They are a great frugal investment because they save money on both energy and grocery costs. Slow cookers are low wattage, so cooking a meal over eight hours will require less energy than using an oven. Also, using a slow cooker allows you to cook larger quantities of food that can be used for leftovers or repurposed for multiple meals. You can find a decent-sized Crock Pot slow cooker at Walmart for $42.88.
Air Fryer
Like a slow cooker, an air fryer can save you money on energy costs, as it uses less power than cooking with an oven. Additionally, air fryers include multiple other benefits. Air fryers offer healthier eating since they use little to no oil and cook food using hot air. They are also easy to clean and provide quicker heating and cooking time than an oven. Get your hands on a Ninja air fryer for $79.99 on Amazon.
Bread maker
While a bread maker might seem like more of a splurge than a frugal investment, buying a bread maker can result in great savings. According to Medium, baking two loaves of bread a week in a bread maker could save you $250 to $500 a year. For a family of four that eats homemade bread every day, annual savings could be well over $500. As well as the financial benefits, purchasing a bread maker allows you to avoid harmful ingredients like oil or additives and reduce plastic waste from bagged store-bought bread. Invest in a Cuisine Art bread maker from Williams Sonoma for $129.95.
Sewing Machine
While owning a sewing machine allows you to create your clothes, blankets or other household necessities, you don’t need to be a seasoned sewer to benefit from a sewing machine. If you own a garment that is in decent condition but has a hole in it, a sewing machine can save your clothing item from being thrown away and ensure your money spent on clothes isn’t wasted. You will also save money from not needing to buy replacement clothing. Find a beginner’s Brother sewing machine at Walmart for $88.00.
Instant Pot
An instant pot is another energy-efficient household appliance, similar to an air fryer or slow cooker. Furthermore, an instant pot can be used as a slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker and warming pot, to name a few. By investing in an instant pot, one could potentially save money by buying one instant pot instead of multiple appliances. Buy a versatile Instant Pot from for $79.99 at Target.
Coffee Pot or Espresso Machine
For coffee lovers, buying a coffee pot or an espresso machine can save you money from not needing to buy a cup of coffee at a coffee shop several times a week. According to Homes and Gardens, purchasing high-quality coffee beans and an expensive espresso machine is still cheaper and will save more money than buying a small latte every day. This Keurig single-serve coffee maker is $149.99 at Best Buy.
Stand Mixer
Stand mixers may be costly, but trusty stand mixer brands are guaranteed to last many years, making it a worthwhile investment. Stand mixers are versatile appliances that can be used for kneading bread dough, baking and ice cream making. Due to it’s efficiency and various uses, stand mixers save time and money for users. We found a Hamilton stand mixer at Target for just $44.99.
Food Vacuum Sealer
By vacuum sealing perishable items like meat and fruit, they are able to last longer. According to FoodSaver, vacuum sealing your food allows your groceries to last nearly five times longer than if you were to store it in the fridge. By making your food last longer, this reduces how often you visit the grocery store and therefore saves frugal shoppers money. Best Buy sells an Anova vacuum sealer for $59.99.
Filtered Water Pitcher
Filtered water pitchers are an essential item for those who live frugally. Instead of frequently buying bottled water, you can refill a filtered pitcher from your kitchen sink. This is especially useful for those who can’t get tap water from their refrigerator and aren’t able to make any permanent changes to their home. Get a Brita water pitcher for $17.99 on Amazon.
Clothes Steamer
A steamer for your clothes can serve many financial benefits, such as reduced laundry expenses, reduced dry cleaning costs, and an extended lifespan for your clothes. According to Medium, clothes steamers are quicker to use than an iron and can be used for multiple kinds of fabrics, thus saving you electricity. Find a Conair handheld steamer at Khols for $49.99.
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