Cheapism/DALLE-E 3
The old adage that you get what you pay for is usually true. If you want a pair of leather boots that will last forever .... well, you’re going to pay upwards of $200. But some buy-it-for-life (BIFL) products buck that trend.
In a recent r/BuyItForLife thread with over 1,000 comments, Redditors shared their favorite “inexpensive” BIFL purchases, all of which can be had for less than $50.
Prices and availability are subject to change.
Prices vary
If you have Corelle dinnerware from when the company debuted its plates and bowls in 1970, we wouldn’t be surprised if it’s still around. The company’s Vitrelle glass — a three-layer laminate — is famously durable. On Reddit, commenters shared stories about how their Corelle dishes refuse to break, with one user writing that they have a 25-year-old dinner plate from the company that is still in tact.
$45 from Amazon
“I will never go back to garbage plastic disposable razors,” writes one happy Merkur customer. The German safety razor brand has been around for 120 years, and while disposable razors are more common these days, Merkur has a small contingent of die-hard loyalists. “I’m so happy to see safety razors getting the credit they deserve,” one fan adds.
$27 from Amazon
A Redditor shares that they’ve had their Victorinox SwissCard for 15 years. The thin multitool fits in your wallet and boasts 10 functions, including a pair of tweezers, a screwdriver, and an emergency blade.
$15 from Amazon
Spending over $10 for tweezers might seem like overkill, but Redditors swear by Tweezerman’s premium offerings. “Love my Tweezermans. Just be careful not to drop them!” a Redditor shares.
Prices vary
You don’t have to stick with brand names to find quality products. One Redditor’s inexpensive BIFL pick is a random $1 metal spatula they found at a thrift store. Despite its low price and lack of branding, it is “just really well made.”
While there’s a slim chance you’ll find the same one at your local thrift shop, Redditors endorsed metal spatulas as a whole. “My old metal spatula with a walnut handle, handed down in a box of kitchen crap from my grandma almost 20 years ago, finally broke around 5 years ago,” another Redditor writes.
Related: 10 Essential Grill Tools for $20 or Less
Prices vary
Redditors have all sorts of nice things to say about this long-standing French knife company, which got its start making blades for peasants. Despite its success, Opinel hasn’t strayed far from its humble past, offering low-cost knives that are “the best,” in the words of a Redditor. “Bought all my groomsmen Opinel knives,” another fan writes. “They’re great. Use mine all the time when I’m out mushroom hunting.”
$25 from Amazon
“Everyone should have a nice utility knife,” reads one top comment. They’re especially great for Amazon Prime addicts, as they make breaking down and opening boxes super easy. Another Redditor recommends the Milwaukee FASTBACK, which comes with a few extra features like a built-in screwdriver.
Prices vary
You can’t open a r/BuyItForLife thread without someone recommending a cast-iron pan. They’re affordable, indestructible, and versatile.
$24 from Amazon
Although these are “kind of expensive as far as mugs go,” they have “the best curve and the best handle,” writes one Redditor. They’re so perfect that this commenter keeps an extra one at their parent’s house.
Related: Perk 'Em Up with These Great Gifts for Coffee Lovers
$12 from Amazon
This peeler is so great that a Redditor buys them for their friends. “I think it's sturdier than the ones that are 'stick' shaped; those tend to bend with all the pressure from usage,” writes another.
Related: 30 Kitchen Essentials That Are Built to Last