MoneyMagpie Editor and financial expert Vicky Parry reveals the best household gadgets that are worth investing in to save more money in the long-term
It’s important to save money whenever you can in life, no matter whether you’re scrimping at the end of each month or living in luxury. Having a financial buffer is important, but so is enjoying life!
That’s why, sometimes, it is worth spending a little bit more to get a gadget that makes your life easier or more enjoyable in some way. And it’s even better when those gadgets can save you cash in the long-term!
E-Reader (and a library card)
For any avid reader, books are a necessity. But they take up a lot of space and can also cost a lot of money for each one. E-readers are perfect for people who read a lot of books, especially if they do so on a commute or while travelling.
You can store hundreds (usually thousands) of books on one small device with a long battery life, rather than lugging physical books around at great cost for each one.
E-Books are generally cheaper than physical books, especially if you choose a subscription service such as Kindle Unlimited or Kobo Plus, which let you access a huge catalogue of e-books for a set fee each month.
But you can also get them for free! Libraries now use apps like Libby, Hoopla, and BorrowBox and some e-readers integrate with them. Load up your library card and borrow e-books just like you would physical books. This is also a great way to support authors, as they can still collect a royalty payment for library books – it doesn’t cost you anything, but they get a small amount for their work.
Coffee machine
If you regularly buy takeaway coffee or like to enjoy a freshly ground Colombian roast first thing in the morning, a proper coffee machine will make your day enjoyable. More than that, it could save you a fortune in the long run if it means you give up buying several takeaway coffees each week!
Pod machines like Tassimo and Nespresso are convenient but the cost per pod can make them more expensive in the longer term, and it’s hard to customise your drink. There are now lots of affordable espresso machines on the market, which give you more control over your coffee choices. Some, like the Morphy Richards compact espresso machine, use both pods and ground coffee so you can make the most of deals on either type to save money on your coffee habit every day!
Smart plugs
If you’re often finding appliances left on overnight that you meant to turn off, or need something to charge only during off-peak energy tariff hours, a smart plug is a godsend.
You can set timers to turn appliances on and off at times that suit you, or even operate remotely when you’re out of the house – perfect if you’re worried that you left your hair straighteners on.
Eco shower head
If low water pressure is the bane of your shower routine, an eco shower head could make all the difference. They are designed with a narrower entrance to the shower head, which increases pressure. If you’ve ever pressed your thumb over the end of a garden hose and taken the pressure from lacklustre to ‘water fight extraordinaire’, it’s the same principal.
Eco shower heads not only make your shower more enjoyable, but they also mean you could save on water costs overall, especially if you have a water meter. That’s because you won’t need a ten minute shower just to rinse shampoo out of your hair anymore, as it’ll get done in three minutes instead! Over the course of a year, this can save a significant amount of water (and therefore money).
Air fryer
They were originally touted as a fad, but air fryers are here to stay. People love them because they are convenient and it’s easy to make almost anything in them. They’ll fit in most kitchens – and can be used by those who might not have access to a kitchen, too.
Air fryers are very efficient, cutting cooking time for most things. They use a lot less energy than an oven too, so they’ll save a lot of money over time if you use your air fryer more than your oven. They’re also handy if you’re not a great cook, or have a tendency to get distracted while cooking. The timers on air fryers mean things will cook only for the set time and not burn, unlike pans forgotten on the stove or in the oven. This also makes them safer for people unable to use hobs or ovens to cook independently.
Single basket air fryers are ideal for single people, while dual baskets allow for entire meals to be cooked at the same time for up to 6 people in some models.
Reusable battery charger
If you use a lot of devices with batteries, you could be spending an unnecessary fortune, not to mention causing environmental impact when you dispose of them. Rechargeable batteries are very useful, and mean you’ll never run out when you need one!
You can charge several batteries at once, and either have a charger that takes the most common sizes you use (such as AA or AAA), or a multi-size charger. Even better, combine with a smart plug to charge on off-peak time to save money.
Heated airer
Heated airers are perfect for drying clothes faster at a low cost. A tumble dryer costs around £1.50 each hour-long cycle, compared to around 14p for a heated airer. They work even more efficiently if you pair with a small dehumidifier, too.
Heated airers make it easy to dry clothes faster but perhaps more importantly, help prevent problems caused by having damp clothes indoors for long periods of time. Constantly hanging damp clothes that take days to dry can induce mould growth, which is hard to spot if it’s behind wallpaper or furniture, and can cause health issues.
Some subscriptions
Not all subscriptions can save you money. But if there is a service type that you use all the time, it can be a great way to save – especially if you share an account with someone else to split costs.
Spotify Family, for example, allows several people in the same household on the account, saving a chunk of cash each year. But if you’re buying your own individual subscription, remember to check out Spotify gift cards first, because that could save you around £30 on an annual subscription as an annual gift card is £120 compared to £143.88 paid monthly through the app.
Readly is another great example of a subscription that could save a lot of cash, if you like reading newspapers and magazines. It costs £12.99 a month, but with magazines around £5 each that means you only need to read one per week to save money. They also currently have a two-month free trial to test it out – and keep an eye out for gift card reductions on annual memberships, too (particularly around Christmas time).
Subscribe and Save offers on your regular purchases, such as dog food from specialist suppliers, can be worth subscribing to as well. Just make sure you know the cancellation and pause terms, so if you decide it isn’t for you, you can get out of the contract without huge fees.
- Some of the brands and websites we mention may be, or may have been, a partner of MoneyMagpie.com. However, we only ever mention brands we believe in and trust, so it never influences who we prioritise and link to.