21 Products That Will Save Canadians Money In The Long Run
Like retail therapy for your bank account.
BuzzFeed Staff, Canada
BuzzFeed Staff
We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.
We asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us about their favorite purchases that have saved them money. Here are the economic results:
1. These reusable Norwex microfiber cloths that will cut your cleaning costs.
"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
Price: $55.99 for the cleaning cloth and window cloth package.
2. A SodaStream to replace your LaCroix addiction.
"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.
Price: $111.68. Available in other styles, colours, and sizes.
3. A set of wool dryer balls to replace dryer sheets and make your laundry extra fluffy.
"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.
Price: $48.88 for a five-pack of reusable microfiber dusters and $19.99 for two-pack of reusable microfiber mopping pads.
Get a Swiffer WetJet starter pack for $29.99.
5. A bread machine so making delicious homemade loaves can be so much easier (and cheaper than buying bread all the time).
6. A menstrual cup set that will have you waving goodbye to tampons and pads.
The set comes with four reusable menstrual cups and two collapsible menstrual cups.
"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.
Price: $24.98. Get an organic menstrual cup cleanser wash for $20.17.
7. This cute on-the-go water bottle with a built-in filter.
"I can fill it up anywhere and have filtered water, so there's no need to buy bottled water." —Mary Catherine H
Price: $18.49. Available in eight colours.
8. A French press that will cut down on your cold-brew bills.
"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 and by the time it's morning, it's perfect. So instead of buying an iced coffee for about $3 at Starbucks, I can buy an entire press for under $20. Super easy and delicious." —Brittani June B., Facebook
Price: $17.99.
9. A set of four reusable bento boxes that will encourage you to actually make your lunch.
"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
Price: $18.44.
10. This family-sized Brita dispenser (which can hold 18 cups!!!) so you can skip all those bottled water purchases.
It comes with a filter and fits easily inside most fridges.
"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
Price: $49.97. Also available in different colors and sizes.
11. This set of produce containers that will keep your valuable fruits and veggies fresher for longer.
"These containers are amazing. My berries last at LEAST a week without going mushy or moldy. The large one will hold a full package of spinach and it will last for two weeks looking and tasting fresh! I also use the small one for that half pepper or half avocado and it lasts so much better than in a regular container." – Leah Perry, Facebook
Price: $24.97.
12. A food saver that will quickly make freezer burn a thing of the past.
"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
Price: $79.99. Get a package of food vacuum bags in bulk for $29.87.
13. A drying rack that'll save money on your electric bill and help your clothes last longer.
"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
14. This 16-piece sewing kit that will keep you out of the tailor's.
"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 hundreds since then." —Jamekin
Price: $9.99.
15. A slow cooker that'll make buying (and cooking!) in bulk more logical.
"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
Price: $52.98 for an 8 quart slow cooker and Little Dipper accessory that will keep your sauces at temperature. Available in other sizes and colours.
16. This pack of five reusable grocery bags that will save you a lot of cents (while saving the environment).
17. A best-selling book that will teach you how to budget, pay off debt, and save money.
"We paid off $75K in debt. It seriously changed our lives and is the best $25 we ever spent." —Leah Wilson
18. A water bulb that'll keep your plants alive by watering them over time.
19. A pack of refillable K-Cups so you can use your favourite ground coffee in your Keurig machine (and create less waste).
"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
Price: $16.69 for pack of six.
20. A pack of gel nail polishes 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.
Price: $32.99 for a pack of six gel nail polishes and $34 for a UV curing light.
21. And finally, a Kindle that will save you money and shelf space.
"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.
You looking at your bank account and realizing how much $$$ you've actually saved:
Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.