MoneyMagpie Editor and financial expert Vicky Parry reveals which gadgets are worth investing in to save money in the long run
While we’re all trying to save money at the moment, it’s tempting to not want to spend any cash on frivolous items.
However, sometimes you have to spend a little money up front to save a lot more in the long term. Check out these gadgets and how an up-front investment can save you a lot of money over the course of a year.
Make your own coffee at home
If you love coffee and find yourself buying them when you’re out and about, it’ll eat into your savings. Home coffee machines have come on leaps and bounds in recent years – and dropped significantly in price, too.
Coffee snobs might want to invest in a more expensive model which grinds beans, but those who want barista-level coffee in minutes without the noise or cleaning hassle of complex machines should look to the pod options. The L’OR Barista Sublime coffee machine makes either two regular coffees or one large one, with Nespresso and other compatible pods, in a compact model that fits any kitchen counter. It’s currently on sale in a mega bundle, too: for just £59.99, pick up the compact coffee maker and 100 capsules (aka 100 drinks).
If you’re not a hot drink person but prefer something bubbly and cold, consider investing in a SodaStream. They’re efficient and cost-effective if you’re someone who loves fizzy water, cola, or other bubbly drinks at home – and the SodaStream Art Mint is on sale for £79.99 instead of £139.99.
Borrow e-books from the library with an e-reader
E-readers are incredibly useful for many reasons. You can carry hundreds of books in your pocket, with a long-lasting battery that will last weeks. The e-ink screens are kind to the eyes, and you can change the font size – perfect for those who struggle to read small font in printed books.
More than that, some e-readers like Kobo allow you to have more than their own app – and that means you can use BorrowBox and Libby apps, to borrow from your local library. All you need is a library card and you can request e-books for free.
If you are a big fan of e-ink screens, consider a multi-purpose tablet that you can use for other things, like writing your own notes. The Boox Note Air 4C is a good example of this, as it runs on Android and offers more functionality than straightforward e-readers.
Heated airers
Tumble dryers cost a lot of money to run, up to 50p per hour. Many of us with small kitchens also don’t have space for one! A heated airer folds away when you don’t need it, but can speed up drying your clothes as they hang out by a significant amount.
A heated airer costs between 4p to 14p an hour to run, depending on how large it is and if there is an assistive fan included to dry clothes faster. They also had some heat to the room, helping to keep damp away from the walls on colder days.
Multi-tasking dehumidifiers
Speed up your clothes drying even more with a dehumidifier next to your heated airer. These gadgets remove moisture from the air, meaning you can cut drying time by hours and reduce the risk of costly mould build-up in your home.
Some dehumidifiers offer extra functions, and it’s these which can significantly save you cash in the longer term. For example, the Meaco Low Energy Dehumidifier and Air Purifier not only dries clothes much faster, but also includes a HEPA filter to help clean the air and reduce allergens in the environment.
Smart plugs
Smart plugs turn any appliance into a smart appliance. Turn them on and off at will from an app on your phone – saving energy when you’re out of the house or even simply can’t reach the wall socket because it’s behind the sofa.
Old-school timer plugs are another option to save money, especially if you use them to charge your devices on an off-peak tariff at night but switch off the power before the higher peak tariff comes back. They are also useful for things like running a portable heater for an hour in the morning before you wake on cold days, or even limiting your kids’ screen time by switching off the computer or games console at a set time each night.
Free water saving gadgets
You can save money with all kinds of water saving gadgets from Save Water Save Money. From toilet cistern blocks to tap washers and diffuser fittings, all it takes is a quick quiz to find out which gadgets will suit you best. You could save a lot of money over the course of the year with their shower timers, hosepipe fittings, and even subsidised water butts.
When you start the quiz, you need to enter your postcode and you will be taken to your relevant regional water company website to complete the process and get your free water saving gadgets.
If you haven’t yet had a water meter installed, consider getting one unless you are a large household or heavy water users. You’re billed for the water you use, rather than an estimate based on property size – and this could save you hundreds of pounds a year.
Reduce food waste
If you find that your fresh food goes off faster than you can eat it, the Shelfy is a fridge purifier by Vitesy that extends the life of food. It doubles the shelf life of fruits and vegetables, such as a 7-day extension for strawberries and 12-day extension for cucumbers.
It’s also worth looking at meal prep apps, like the SortedFood Sidekick app, which aims to help you make a weekly grocery list and recipes with zero waste by the end of the week.
Wearable hot water bottle
As the colder nights draw in, consider getting a wearable hot water bottle. They are far more practical than a standard bottle, as you can move around hands-free and even wear them in the office, under your winter coat on a long walk, or in the car.
Hot water bottles hold a lot of heat for a long time, and are inexpensive to both purchase and use. They also don’t run out of battery! Wuka’s wearable hot water bottle is comfy to wear as it is quite long, while there are lots on Amazon that are cheap and small, making it ideal if you plan to wear it out and about under (or over) your clothes.
- 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.
