4 of the Best Things You Should Buy in 2025, According to Experts
Written by
Laura Beck
Edited by
Jenna Klaverweiden
Commitment to Our Readers
GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.
20 Years
Helping You Live Richer
Reviewed
by Experts
Trusted by
Millions of Readers
Everyone hates to waste money. That’s obvious. But it’s easy to get carried away and buy every shiny new product in sight. But you want to invest in the right products — the ones that will be useful and will last.
Or maybe you’ve been putting off a big purchase, wondering whether 2025 is the year to pull the trigger. Here’s a closer look at four purchases that will be worth your money in the year ahead.
Instant Pot
The Instant Pot is just flat-out one of the most versatile kitchen gadgets you can buy. This multicooker is iconic for a reason. It’s perfect for just about everyone — as long as you want to save time in the kitchen. And the Instant Pot is more than just a pressure cooker. You can also slow cook, sauté and steam.
“If you still don’t own an Instant Pot, then 2025 is the year you need to finally jump in and get one!” said Melissa Cid, consumer savings expert at MySavings.com. “There are so many great restaurant-quality Instant Pot recipes that will keep you from wanting to dine out as often. Plus, Instant Pot saves you a ton of time, many recipes have little prep, you simply dump in your ingredients and the instant pot cooks it up in minutes.”
Cid also advised that Target frequently has sales and bundle deals on Instant Pots. Also watch Kohl’s and Amazon, which both have price drops several times per year.
Air Fryer
For anything the Instant Pot can’t handle, add an air fryer to your kitchen arsenal. Air fryers are great for making perfect fries, wings and veggies with little to no oil. You can also bake, roast and more.
Sarah Jankowski, director of user growth at Shopkick, insisted that an air fryer is a must in 2025. “They save time, reduce energy use and make meal prep efficient,” she explained.
Good Housekeeping ranked the Ninja Air Fryer Max XL the best air fryer for 2025. It costs $129.99 on Amazon.
Smart Thermostat
Make 2025 the year of saving energy by upgrading your home with a smart thermostat. With one of these installed, you can control your home’s temperature from anywhere using a smartphone app. Not only that, they can learn your habits and create a smart schedule to automatically adjust for the best balance of comfort and energy savings.
“A smart thermostat can lower energy costs year-round,” Jankowski said. She advised buying during spring sales at stores like Home Depot or Lowe’s.
“Be sure to set regular maintenance alerts for optimal performance,” she added.
Ecobee and Nest are both great options. You can reduce your carbon footprint and cut down your energy bill at the same time. Check with your energy provider too. They may give you a rebate to make your new thermostat even cheaper.
But either way, the investment will pay for itself quickly. In fact, a smart thermostat can save users an average of 8% on their utility bills, as reported by Kiplinger.
Luxury Investments
Anthony DeLuca, CFP, expert contributor at RetireGuide, suggested using shopping as a form of investing. He advised that some luxury goods can actually appreciate in value. This can also be a way to hedge against inflation.
“General examples of these items include specific watches, handbags and classic cars,” DeLuca said. “Rolex, for example, averages 15% above retail in the secondary market. Women’s handbags are in even greater demand. The Chanel Bag flip in 2024 increased between 6% and 8%, annually. Birkin bags by Hermès vary drastically, but some profit margins are upwards of 70%.”
If you’re going to shop this way, then be sure to choose pieces that have proven resale value. Be sure to do your research before spending the high upfront cost.
Editor’s note: Pricing and availability may vary depending on location.
More From GOBankingRates
