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The Best Long-Lasting Purchases That People Swear By: 50 Products That Are Worth The Investment
Interview With Author
In our consumerist society, our minds are always looking for something to spend our money on.
Whether we need it or not, it’s here, it’s half-price, it’s the last one available. We make a purchase and get a quick dopamine release only to realize whatever we just bought is a questionable, often poorly made, and short-lived deal we won’t get far with. A couple of months, at best.
But the corner of Reddit known as “Buy It For Life” shows that not everything is meant to stack up in the landfills that are already polluting our planet. On the contrary, some things, like that baby crib in which you spend your first years in this world, or your dad’s belt you'll never remember him without, are meant to last what seems like forever.
Below we wrapped up some of the most interesting examples of things people bought for life, so scroll down. And after you’re done, be sure to check out our previous features (here, here, and here) with more posts from “Buy It For Life.”
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Old Wooden Furniture Lasts Many Lifetimes
This Cradle was used by my grandfather and his 5 siblings 115 years ago. Then my father and his 5 siblings. Then me, my two brothers and 13 of my cousins. And lastly many of my cousins children and here, my third child
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#2
My Wife Isn’t A Jewelry Person But Loves To Cook. I Wanted A Forever Gift For Our Engagement So I Got Her These. I Get Them Sharpened For Our Anniversaries. Today Makes Ten Years
Christophe Beunens 2 years ago
That is a really lovely gift. She thinks about you every time she cooks, and she curses you, when she cuts herself.
#3
Authentic 1910 Singer Sewing Machine Inherited From My Great Grandmother. Still Works
Bored Panda reached out to the moderator of the Buy It For Life subreddit, who goes as Robot_ninja_pirate on Reddit, to talk about their awesome community that unites 1.4M people who share practical, durable and quality-made products made to last. Created back in 2011, the group is more than a decade old, but has managed to stay as relevant as ever.
With the world turning towards a more sustainable way of living, and people rethinking their values about consumerism and spending, Buy It For Life (BIFL) stands as a strong community with an important mission.
#4
Bought Those Haglöfs Boots On My 18th Birthday. This Week I Celebrated My 50th Birthday
#5
I Have Bought So Many Beanies In My Life That All Eventually Rip But This Pokémon Beanie Has Been A Regular Wear Since I Was 3
It has no rips or discoloration. They don’t make them like they used to.
#6
Vitantonio Pizzelle Iron (Italian Cookie Maker) From The 70s Or 80s
The moderator Robot_ninja_pirate believes that the BIFL community sits at an odd crossroads for these [sustainability] trends. “On one hand, we want to promote sustainability and buying higher-quality products, which means buying things less often.”
“But since we have 1.4 million subscribers, it means new people are sharing new products every day. The products that many people never knew existed and might then want to go out and buy. It can almost conflict with the point,” the moderator explained.
#7
Since I Saw The Other Old Stove, Thought I’d Post Mine
#8
I Brought A 1920s Perfection Heater Back To Life. Now It's Ready To Last Another Few Lifetimes. It Will Be Mostly A Display Piece Now, But It Does Still Work And Will Be Handy As An Emergency Heat Source
#9
1934 Chicago Mansion Still Has Its Original Jewett Custom Built-In Refrigerator
Moreover, the moderator explained that they “have to be quite vigilant to promote grassroots efforts from the real users sharing items with real-world use. But advertisers see this as an easy place to advertise their products and pretend to be real users.”
When asked whether the moderator sees any signs of the cost of living crisis in the community, the Redditor said that “it has certainly made people become aware of their purchasing habits and what is and isn't frivolous spending as budgets get tighter.”
#10
1956 Frigidaire Range
#11
I Heard We Were Posting Vintage Cast Iron
#12
World's First Automatic Coffee Machine. 1952. Been In The Family For 70 Years. Still Works Perfectly
“However, it might also cause people to have to skimp on things and really evaluate what truly is BIFL and what they are just overspending on. Channels like Project Farm, for example, do an excellent job showing where spending more money does not always mean a better product,” the moderator said.
He added that he worries “about BIFL becoming trendy and that people will hop on the bandwagon and then jump off when it's not as current anymore rather than committing to the ideology (an extreme example, but think like the miniature pig trend for a few years).”
#13
Since We Are Doing Clocks. Here Is Mine From The 90s
#14
My Grandfather's Laundry Bag From Ww2. I've Been Using It For The Last 15 Years Or So And I Used It Through My Military Career Too
#15
Does My 1993 Volvo 240 Count? Odometer Broke A Few Years Ago At 346k. Runs Like A Champ Still
BIFL had a large influx of new users at the start of this year (throughout Jan and Feb) but the moderator said that it has normalized to its regular growth rate again this month. “We let our community sort of dictate the flow of the subreddit rather than us, however, we are always looking for feedback and how we can improve the subreddit if your readers think we could be doing something better,” Robot_ninja_pirate concluded.
#16
My Wife's Whirley-Pop That Her Grandmother Used. Still Makes Perfect Popcorn Every Time
#17
Greek Tortoise. A Little Pricey At ~200-500$ But Will Last You Around 125 Years If Well Cared For
#18
This Camera Has Been Going Strong Since The 1960s - Everything Still Works Flawlessly
#19
I Refurbished A Henry! These Things Are Indestructible
#20
Bolesławiec Pottery/ Polish Pottery. The Left One Is 50+ Years From My Grandma. The Right One I Got For Christmas. Still The Same Design! Even Found A Replacement Lid For My Teapot That Was Broken 20 Years Ago
Amanda Rose 2 years ago
My sister and I have some of these. We each took some of our mom's collection after she passed. They are gorgeous and well made for sure!
#21
L.l. Bean Duck Boots From 1939
#22
Fellow Teachers Need A New Stapler Every Couple Of Years, But My Ace Pilot 404 Endureth Forever!
#23
1936 Ge Quiet Blade Fan
#24
44 Years Old And Still Going Strong
#25
My Mom’s 1982 Ge Toaster. Same Age As Me. Used Every Day
#26
My Bike Just Turned 28 Years Young. I Still Ride It To Work Every Day, Rain Or Shine
#27
Just Picked This Baby Up. With A Little Work This Thing Will Outlast Me. 185j 1954
Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago
Looks like the Singer I learned to sew on in 7th grade Home Ec class. 1972-1973. Exactly the same green color too.
#28
My Dad Wore This Watch Daily For 44 Years
#29
I Inherited This Blender From My Grandmother. I Have No Idea How Old It Is. Still Runs Like A Top Though
Auntriarch 2 years ago
My mother still has her mid 60s Kenwood, a few chips from all the moves, but works perfectly
#30
This 1985 Spirit Of St Louis Field Radio That I Got From My Grandpa
#31
This Scissors, Over 50 Years, Belonged To My Grandmother. No Idea The Brand Tho
#32
Was Handed Down My Late Uncle's 80s Stand Mixer, Still Works Like A Dream
The Darkest Timeline 2 years ago
It’s no wonder the design hasn’t changed much - hard to improve on such a great piece of hardware
#33
18 Years Later, Thinking This Catfish Will Out Live Me
#34
My 2001 First Gen Ipod, Still Going Strong
Christophe Beunens 2 years ago
the good old times, when apple made durable applications with a great design, for a respectable price
#35
My Mom’s Tupperware Brand Pickling Container Used Continuously Since 1979. This Thing Is A Beast
Vanessa Panerosa 2 years ago
This exact one is currently in my mom’s fridge, been happily keeping her favorite condiment fresh since before I was alive!
#36
Fender Stratocaster - A True Buy It For Life
#37
My Mom Gave Me This Mini Oven 30 Years Ago. It’s From The 60s. I Can’t Count How Many Times I’ve Used It. It Now Lives In My Rv, And Is Definitely My Favorite Appliance!
#38
My Dad Was Gifted This Radio When He Was 13, Still Uses It During His Morning Shower Every Day
#39
My Dad Is So Excited About Having His Carhartt For More Than 20 Years Now!
#40
Japanese Scissors. Daily Use For 7 Years. Inherited From My Late Grandpa. Carbon Steel - Bluish Tint
#41
Finally Did Some Retail Therapy. $80 At Walmart. Told My Mom That These Would Outlast Her, And Me, And Anyone Else Who's Going To Get These
#42
My Rival Crock Pot 3150. 50-Ish Years Old And Still Cooking Family Dinners Without A Hitch
#43
Hand Me Down Name Tag Trail On This Child’s Jacket
#44
Ray-O-Vac Sportsman Red Flasher Lantern Circa '72
#45
My Son’s Towel Is An Heirloom
#46
Solar Calculator Bought Circa 1985. Needs Brighter Light Now, Otherwise Works Perfectly, Even In Hexadecimal
#47
"The Longest-Lived Micrometer Than Can Be Bought." J.t. Slocomb Micrometers And Stand, All Fully Restored By Myself. Each Mic Is Between 70-120 Years Old, And They're All Still Accurate
#48
Got This Backpack When I Started High School In 1997
AndThenICommented 2 years ago
That backpack was allll the rage in 1997. You were a nobody if your didn’t have that leather bottom hanging low, bouncing against your butt 😂 memories
#49
I’ve Had This Texas Instruments Scientific Calculator Since 6th Grade, It’s Now Getting Me Through Finals In My First Semester Of College
#50
My Old Sony Mp3 Walkman From 2008 Still Works And Is Filled To The Brim With 00s Greatest Hits
#51
Reynolds 3000ft Plastic Wrap Box That’s Been In My House Since 1996. Finally Used The Last Of It Today
#52
Had A Pair Of Vintage Snap On Pliers That Weren't Cutting It Anymore - Snap On's Lifetime Guarantee Sent Me A New Pair For Free
#53
Misen Knife Was Dropped Resulting In The End Snapping Off. Misen No Longer Ship Outside Of The Us So They Gave Me A Full Refund 4 Years After Purchase Making Good On Their Lifetime Guarantee
#54
A Pair Of Levis From 1880 Found After A Mine Shaft Was Discovered
#55
Philcone "Disher" Ice Cream Scoop- Still Used And Works Perfectly
#56
I Am A Leatherworker. I Had A Tradition Of Making The Men In The Family Wallets. But They Still Use Them 10 Years Later, So Now I Have To Come Up With Something Else
#57
My Grandpas 1953 Snap On Outlived Him
Blondieybat 2 years ago
Snap on tools are the best. My husband has some that are indestructible.
#58
Bought This North Face Jacket In Back In 2013 And It’s Still Going Strong As My Work Winter Jacket
#59
Been In Every Car I’ve Had Since 1986
#60
My Neighbor Has Been Through 3 Lawnmowers In The Past Decade, And Meanwhile I Still Use This Craftsman II Tractor From 1987
#61
Our 1962 Ge Double Oven Stove. Everything Works Perfectly, Except We Can’t Find A Replacement Heating Element For The Small Side Oven
#62
Logitech Mx518 - 17 Years Old Last Month
#63
Craftsman Tool Box At A Thrift Store
Labellesouris 2 years ago
I love my Craftsman from the '60s. These tools will live forever if you keep up with them! Woohoo!
#64
Made Pizza Last Night, And It Occurred To Me That I've Had This Bread Machine For About 25 Years. It's Always Worked Flawlessly
Strontium Dog 2 years ago
Awesome. Trivia: In 1995 the Goldstar brand merged with Lucky Chemical... to become electronics giant LG.
#65
My Mom's 34 Year Old Microwave From 1988
RafCo (he/him/ele) 2 years ago
OMG i remember my mother's first microwave. She tried using it for everything. It was a rough couple of years. Soggy bread, chewy meat, idk how to describe that cake. I have a microwave that I only ever use for popcorn.
#66
In Swartzentruber Amish Communities When You Purchase A Casket You Get A Matching Rocker. So You Buy It For Life And For Death
OnAFreakingRollercoaster 2 years ago
Wait. Are people buying the coffins in advance? Or the rocking chair is for the relatives left behind? Or what 🤔
#67
The Last Fly Swatter I’ll Ever Buy . Amish Made With Thick Hide Leather , Rivets And A Hickory Handle And It Was Only $8
#68
Swedish Sledges; Bought 40 Years Ago. Still In Use
#69
This Mega-Lo-Mart Camping Chair I Got For My 6th Birthday (I'm 34)
#70
Stiletto Tbii Framing Hammer, Used Daily For Almost 20 Years
#71
Metal Razor With Reusable Steel Blades (6 Years And Running)
#72
22 Years Of Hunting, Snowmobiling, Ice Fishing, Shoveling, & Everyday Use Finally Caught Up To Them: Lacrosse Snow Kings
#73
Alarm Clock Lasted Over Two Decades And Somehow Knows When Daylight Savings Is Still
M O'Connell 2 years ago
Notice the signal strength indicator in the upper right? It knows what time daylight savings is because it receives the radio signal from station WWVB in Fort Collins Colorado. WWVB is operated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and broadcasts time code data on the low frequency 60kHz band (below AM radio). Similar stations exist in in other countries.
#74
Dry Guy Four Prong Shoe Dryer. Used 6/Wk For Around 18 Years. The Knob Broke Off But They Were Smart Enough To Have A Keyed Shaft Such That A Butter Knife Works As A Replacement. Still Works As It Did 18yrs Ago!
#75
9 Years Ago I Purchased This Zojirushi Rice Cooker. It Performs Just As Good Today As It Did Back Then
#76
Y’all Convinced Me! I Got My First Pairs Of Darn Tough Socks Because Of This Sub!
Florence O'Grady 2 years ago
I don't hike. I do have to walk a lot, though. I don't have a car so I walk or use the city bus. Where can these be bought, please? Anyone know.
#77
My Speed Queens Came In! Dr7 And Tr7
#78
How About Things That Will Last Multiple Lifetimes. Here Is My 101 Year Old Winchester Model 12 Shotgun. This Example Shows Some Outer Finish Wear, But Is Mechanically Immaculate. It Has Been Carried For Hunting, But Only Shot Seldomly
#79
Osprey’s “All Mighty Guarantee” Does, In Fact, Stand By “Any Reason”
Mimi M 2 years ago
I just bought an Osprey 55L Fairview - the kind with zip-off daypack. It'll last forever! Here's a pic - note that it isn't made any more in that model, i got the last one, on sale half off (around a hundred bucks): https://www.amazon.com/Osprey-Fairview-Womens-Travel-Backpack/dp/B06W55HCZ6
#80
Not Sure If 11 Years Of Daily Use Counts As Bfl, But This Coffee Grinder Is Still Going Strong!
Shelli Aderman 2 years ago
I have a Mr. Coffee brand coffee grinder I bought back in college in the early 90s, and I’m still using it today!
#81
Proud Parents. Santa Brought Us Twins This Year!
Mike Fitzpatrick 2 years ago
Those timers are like having gold. So much more reliable than the microelectronics on the models we get today. FYI, I'm not talking out of my keyster, that is from a repair person.
#82
My Fiancé Replaced His 20+ Y/O Herman Miller With The Exact Same Chair, Just New! He Probably Could've Repaired The Other, But He Wanted Some New Features
#83
Worlds Best Christmas Tree Stand. Krinner Tree Genie. Made In Germany
Little Wonder 2 years ago
I bought a live tree this year. it's only 3 feet tall for now, but in 10 years it'll be taller than me.
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What do you think ?
Cosmetica Solist 2 years ago
Planned obsolescence is one of the biggest root causes and issues of the climate and environmental crisis we're. This is a good reminder that things breaking after a few years or less is a manufacturing choice, costing people incredible amounts of money and destroying our planet
Moose 2 years ago
My awesome grandpa got us a North Face VE25 tent for a wedding present. 32 years later, still take it camping and backpacking regularly. It's holding up much better than my back! DSCN5253-6...8c9dce.jpg 
Rachel Reynolds 2 years ago
My dad still uses his John Deere 430 circa 1984. I've done some work on it, but most of the parts are original. Nothing Runs like a Deere.
Cosmetica Solist 2 years ago
Planned obsolescence is one of the biggest root causes and issues of the climate and environmental crisis we're. This is a good reminder that things breaking after a few years or less is a manufacturing choice, costing people incredible amounts of money and destroying our planet
Moose 2 years ago
My awesome grandpa got us a North Face VE25 tent for a wedding present. 32 years later, still take it camping and backpacking regularly. It's holding up much better than my back! DSCN5253-6...8c9dce.jpg
Rachel Reynolds 2 years ago
My dad still uses his John Deere 430 circa 1984. I've done some work on it, but most of the parts are original. Nothing Runs like a Deere.
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