10 Items Even Frugal People Should Buy

There are certain items even frugal people should buy. Find out what they are here.

There is a myth out there that frugal people never spend money. That’s simply not true. Frugal people DO spend money. However, when we splurge on an item, it needs to be of good quality and last a long time. Items worth spending money on include things that save time or money, or greatly increase comfort or happiness for a single, upfront cost. Here are ten items that we believe even frugal people should buy:

1. A Robot Vacuum

Generally speaking, items that save you time are usually worth it to buy. For us, that includes a robot vacuum. We have two dogs and one cat, so there is a lot of hair floating around our house! We have a Shark Pet Pro stand-up vacuum that we use once a week and love. It has a function that keeps hair from binding up the roller. It is so nice to not have to clean out the roller, so wanted a robot vacuum that did the same thing.

Luckily, Shark also makes a robot vacuum with the same feature. It is fully programmable, and has hair-removing and self-emptying features. We set ours to run everyday. Our robot starts at 8:00 a.m., goes back to dock to empty itself or charge, then picks up where it left off. It is truly amazing and saves us a lot of time vacuuming every week. It is definitely something even frugal people should buy, especially if you have pets.

2. Items that Support Your Hobbies

There are many hobbies that require only one initial purchase that can lead to hours of entertainment. In our opinion, these are items even frugal people should buy. These items include things like kayaks, paddle boards, or even a website domain if writing is your thing. Our paddle boards were less than $199 and $299 a piece, and have provided up with plenty of fun times. These are the kayaks and paddle boards that we have. They do not require ongoing maintenance, making them an affordable gift to yourself that keeps on giving.

3. A Good Coffee Maker

The average American spends $92 a month on coffee, or $1,104 a year! You can save a lot of money by making your own coffee at home, rather than picking up it up Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts. We have this Keurig coffee maker, which I purchased on sale for $60. It is still working great a few years later. You can find flavored K-cups on Amazon for around $0.30-$0.36 cents a piece, making your total amount spent on coffee per month less than $10!

4. An Instant Pot

An Instant Pot such as this one, or a multi-function pressure cooker, is certainly something that even frugal people should buy. Instant Pots save both time and space in your kitchen by having seven function in one, including an electric pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, saute, yogurt maker, and warmer. Pressure cookers help to save money on food because you can purchase less expensive cuts of meat and cook them in your pressure cooker to make them more tender.

5. Personal Development/ Advancement

Personal development and advancement definitely counts as something even frugal people should spend money on. This would include things like college, other educational classes, new language programs, and books. Just be sure to cost-compare when it comes to these items. For example, I will be returning to school shortly for my nurse practitioner certification. I looked at a variety of programs that ranged from $433 to over $811 a credit! With courses being at least three credits, that really adds up! Be sure to look for discounts through your employer on your self-improvement activities. Many provide some reimbursement if the skill you are pursuing is directly related to your job.

6. Seeds and Other Supplies to Grow Your Own Food

If you have a green thumb, you shouldn’t feel bad about investing in some seeds and other supplies to grow your own food. Personally, I am cursed with a brown thumb, but my family had a garden growing up and the bounty that came from a little packet of seeds was well worth it (think tomatoes and zucchini!). The initial investment will more than pay for itself once your garden starts producing. Checkout a little indoor garden such as this one to get started.

7. Tools Required for DIY Jobs

If you are somewhat handy, tools are another item that you should buy even if you are frugal. Luckily for me, I have a very handy husband. Instead of calling a plumber this weekend when our faucet broke, Jason got out his tools and did a little YouTubing and got it all fixed up. This probably saved us over $200. Not to mention other projects he has done around the house (and many more to come, haha).

8. A Lunchbag

It’s probably no surprise to you that brown bagging it save you a lot of money over eating meals out. But did you know that it could save you $2,000 to $4,200 a year?! That’s a big wad of cash! Get yourself a quality lunch bag and Thermos to start bringing your breakfast, lunch and coffee to work. Then you can pocket that money for a couple of cheap vacations like this one!

9. Good Shoes

The last two items that even frugal people should buy are related to comfort. If you have ever spent a day in uncomfortable shoes, you know why these are on the list. We firmly believe that if you have comfortable shoes, you will be more productive and get more enjoyment out of our experiences. When I was floor nursing I accomplished way more in my trusty Crocs than in a tight pair of tennis shoes. Think of the last time you walked around and amusement park with uncomfortable shoes. It probably put a damper on your day. Wouldn’t it have been more enjoyable if you had proper footwear? Being comfortable will give you the most value for the experiences you spend your hard-earned money on.

10. Mattress/Mattress Topper/Bedding

Did you know that the average person spend a total of 26 years of their life in bed?! If you are going to spend that much time there, you should make sure it is comfortable. Even frugal people should invest in a quality mattress, mattress topper, and bedding. When you are well-rested, you are able to be more productive throughout the day and make better decisions regarding your financial future. Truth be told, our mattress is nothing special. I purchased it at a warehouse sale at a local furniture store. However, I did splurge on a high quality mattress such as this one from Costco. Now our bed feels like sleeping on a cloud, making for a much better night’s sleep.

What are some items that YOU think even frugal people should buy?

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