5 Reusable Kitchen Items To Buy That Will Save You Money in the Long Term
Written by
Dawn Allcot
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
More than half (52%) of all consumers hesitate to embrace an eco-friendly lifestyle because they believe it will cost more money, according to research from Deloitte published by Sustainability Magazine in 2022. But when it comes to household goods, you might be surprised to learn that many reusable items not only are good for the environment but also can help you save money in the long term.
Here are five reusable kitchen items to buy that could end up saving you money.
Also see five items to stop buying right now for a more minimalist lifestyle.
Coffee Pods
If you use a single-serving Keurig, you know how the cost of coffee adds up! Sure, it’s cheaper than specialty brews from your local coffee house, but you still pay an average of $0.67 per cup, as reported by EcoFreek.
If you switch to a reusable pod, that same cup of coffee will cost just $0.26. If you drink four coffees a day, you could save more than $500 in a year. Plus, if you invest in reusable pods, you can choose a higher-quality coffee or even grind beans yourself for fresher tasting coffee — and still save money.
Reusable Sandwich Bags
Reusable sandwich bags are another option to save some money.
Target sells a five-pack of Re(zip) reusable sandwich bags for just $19.99. According to the website, each of these bags replaces hundreds of single-use bags. A box of 280 Ziploc sandwich bags from Target sells for $10.99.
Stock up on a few reusable bags at once, and you won’t have to keep buying single-use bags during each grocery trip, helping you save.
Glass Storage Containers
It can be tempting to stock up on plastic storage containers, like Walmart’s Mainstays food storage containers, for meal prepping or storing leftovers. A five-pack sells for about $5. While you can wash and reuse them, they won’t last forever, and they’re not oven safe.
Plus, many reviewers remarked on the poor quality, saying the lids don’t lock well and break easily. One reviewer even said they’re “not reusable,” meaning you could be buying these over and over again.
On the other hand, this five-pack of 3-cup Pyrex clear glass food storage containers sells for just over $25 and can last a lifetime. They are also safe for the dishwasher, freezer and microwave.
Refillable Juice Boxes
If you have kids, you know how many juice boxes or Capri Sun pouches you can go through in an ordinary week. To save in the long run, consider refillable juice boxes.
The Precidio Design Drink in the Box juice box container from Target features the same fun, easy-to-hold rectangular shape as a cardboard juice box and comes in a variety of fun colors. The plastic juice box costs $14.99. That’s a higher initial cost than what you’d pay for juice boxes, but it’ll save you money in the long term.
An eight-pack of 4-ounce Juicy Juice boxes at Target costs about $3, while a 64-ounce bottle of apple juice costs just $2.19. So once you recoup the money from the original purchase, you’ll be saving each time you shop for juice.
You can also choose healthier juices or add water to regular juice to reduce the sugar content to save even more money.
Water Filtration System
By now, most people know the high cost of bottled water, which can range from $0.20 or so per bottle if you purchase a case at Costco to $2 or more for an individual bottle at a gas station or convenience store.
On the other hand, you can purchase a 6-cup Brita pitcher for less than $20 at Walmart. Brita Elite filters cost less than $20 each on Amazon, but they last six months. So now you’re up to a $60 total investment per year for the pitcher and two filters. You can add another $10 to $30 if you want to include an insulated, reusable water bottle to take your water from home on the go with you.
Brita claims these filters replace as many as 1,800 single-use bottles of water per year, which could cost $3,600 at convenience store prices or $360 at a wholesale club. Either way, it’s clear that filtering your water at home yields substantial savings.
Editor’s note: Pricing and availability may vary depending on location.
More From GOBankingRates
