“Buy It For Life”: 30 Impressive Products That These People Only Had To Purchase Once (New Pics)
I vividly remember being a child and hearing my mother brag about how old our vacuum cleaner was. “We’ve had it for decades!” she would boast, noting that, “They just don’t make them like that anymore!” Now that I’m an adult who's purchased a vacuum of her own, I have to admit that I understand why she was so proud.
Today, we’re celebrating all of those purchases that ended up becoming life-long commitments thanks to quality and durability, pandas. We’ve taken a trip to the Buy It For Life subreddit and gathered some of our favorite pics from the community down below. From indestructible household appliances to pens that have written countless notes, enjoy viewing these purchases that were certainly worth the investments!
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My 1959 Frigidaire Custom Imperial
Aurora Solar Calculator. Couldn't Confirm Its Actual Age, But My Mom Said, "It's Definitely Older Than You." I'm 39
I love how the design of the calculator did not change at all after so many decades.
Most Of My Hifi Components Are Getting On For 50 Years Old In The Next Few Years. All Still Working Perfectly
We all want to make smart purchases and keep our belongings around for as long as possible, but nowadays, there’s a lot of pressure from corporations and society to keep up with the latest trends. "If you don’t have the newest phone or the fanciest earbuds, you’re missing out! Technology is advancing incredibly rapidly, so there’s no need to use things until they give up on you. Just purchase something new as soon as you have the chance! Right?" This “newer is better” mindset can be detrimental to our mental health and our wallets, so sometimes, it’s refreshing to have a reminder that taking care of things and making sure they last forever is actually very cool.
That’s where the Buy It For Life subreddit comes in. This group is dedicated to sharing “practical, durable and quality made products that are made to last,” and thankfully, many people have gotten on board with the group’s mission. The community has amassed an impressive 1.5 million members over the past 12 years, and users are incredibly active in sharing the purchases they’re most proud of. Keeping items around for life is economic, sustainable and honestly, pretty impressive, so we’re happy to showcase some of the group’s best finds.
From My Great Grandparents House
My Stapler Is This Old
Yet Another Stanley Insulated Jug. But This One Is About 100 Years Old
12 years ago, the creator of Buy It For Life shared their mission statement in the subreddit to make it clear what the group’s goals are. They explained that the community was inspired by the subreddit r/ShutUpandTakeMyMoney, which shares great purchases members have found. However, not every item shared in that group will last a lifetime, so BIFL was created “to fill a niche for only high quality and durable products.”
Today, BIFL is a thriving community which shares suggestions for a wide range of products. The group even has a “Request Series” featuring clothing (headwear, gloves, shirts, jackets, belts, underwear, pants, socks and footwear), bags (luggage and backpacks), kitchen appliances, tools (knives and flashlights), beverage containers, music players, items specifically for women, gifts, a wallet compilation and even brands that are not BIFL approved. If you’re looking to make a big purchase, it might be wise to consult this community first!
My Grandmother’s Oven, Circa 1966. Many Holiday Meals Were Cooked With Love Here, Right Up Until The Day She Passed. Aside From One Shattered Glass Door That Was Replaced, Everything Still Works!
My 25 Year Old Rivendell Atlantis With Home Made Bags. A Perfect Bicycle
This Bosch Drill Is From 1987, Gifted To Me From My Dad. Its Been In The Family 1 Year Longer Than Me
We’re big fans of the Buy It For Life community here at Bored Panda, so it’s actually not the first time we’ve featured the group. And lucky for us, we were previously able to get in touch with one of the subreddit’s moderators, Robot_ninja_pirate, who shared how keeping the group’s goals a priority becomes tricky with so many members.
“On one hand, we want to promote sustainability and buying higher-quality products, which means buying things less often. But since we have [over a] million subscribers, it means new people are sharing new products every day,” they explained. “There are products that many people never knew existed and might then want to go out and buy. It can almost conflict with the point.”
After Replacing Our Fridge Twice In The Past 12 Years With Brand New Models, I Finally Gave Up And Just Put Our Garage Fridge In The Kitchen. It Fits Perfectly, And Has Been Running For Decades, And Could Probably Be Repaired vs. Thrown Away If We Ever Need To Fix It
My Grandpa’s 85-Y.o. Frigidaire From 1938 Still Works!
Here's A 1925 General Electric 6" Desk Fan In Near Mint Condition. It's Been Cleaned, And Had The Blades Polished. It Still Has Its Original Paint. It Had The Power Cord Replaced With A Modern Reproduction. It Doesn't Get Used Much As It Might Be A Little Dangerous
The moderator noted that their team has to be “quite vigilant to promote grassroots efforts from the real users sharing items with real-world use,” as advertisers often want to take advantage of the community by disguising themselves as real members.
But the group can be incredibly useful for those of us who have been impacted by inflation. “[The rise of living costs] has certainly made people become aware of their purchasing habits and what is and isn't frivolous spending as budgets get tighter,” Robot_ninja_pirate told Bored Panda.
My Buddy Has Had This Alarm Clock Since The 80s
This Backpack Has Done 10 Years Of School And 8 Years As A Tool Bag Packing Around ~30lbs Of Tools With No Signs Of Stopping
Still Using Grandma's 1940's Egg Poacher For My Morning Breakfast
We had one very similar to this when I was growing up. Except ours had a non-stick coating on the cups. I used it the most, so when I left home at 20, I took it. One day I made poached eggs and wanted to make more. I forgot to top up the water. All the non-stick coating melted and smelled awful. Fire alarm went off. Oops.
“However, [increased living costs] might also cause people to have to skimp on things and really evaluate what truly is BIFL and what they are just overspending on,” the moderator continued. “Channels like Project Farm, for example, do an excellent job showing where spending more money does not always mean a better product.”
Project Farm is a channel where “all sorts of things” are tested “to help viewers make informed purchasing decisions and avoid getting ripped off.”
Vagarant Traveler C.e.o. 17" Backpack Briefcase In Coffee Brown
‘70s Pioneer Sx 780 Receiver. All Capacitors And Resistors Replaced A Couple Years Ago
90s Polly Pockets Are Almost Indestructible, Better Well Made Than The Newer Versions. Now Our Children Get To Play With Them!
While BIFL is incredibly popular at the moment, Robot_ninja_pirate did admit to Bored Panda that he worries it might not last forever. He fears it might simply “[become] 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).”
1979 West Bend Popcorn Maker
This Old Sony Phone Before The Merger With Ericsson, Still Connects To Networks Here In Poland
I just found my really old cell phone from the 90’s or so. I’m looking for a cord to plug them in and charge them to see if I can turn them on just out of curiosity.
This Ice Cream Scooper We Inherited From My Grandma When We Moved Into Her House
Apparently, the group had a huge influx of new members during the beginning of 2023, but it has started to slow down to its usual numbers in recent months. “We let our community sort of dictate the flow of the subreddit rather than us,” the moderator explained. “However, we are always looking for feedback and how we can improve the subreddit.” So if you all have any suggestions, pandas, the moderators are happy to hear them!
My 1993 Montgomery Wards Lawn Mower Still Runs And Cuts The Grass As Good As When It Was New!
My 1977 Kosmos 1 Pocket-Sized Biorhythm Calculator. 46 Years Of Crunching Numbers
Staedler Mars That Is 25+ Years Old
In today’s world of planned obsolescence and fast fashion, it may not be trendy to hold onto your possessions forever, but it certainly is wise. Your wallet and the planet will thank you, plus vintage furniture and clothing is totally in. So if you’ve been thinking about replacing that 30-year-old dresser or you have your eye on a new car, despite the fact that yours is working just fine, you might want to reconsider. And the BIFL community will certainly welcome you with open arms!
My First Potato Peeler (Sparschäler) I Got This Sparschäler 10 Years Ago Already Used By My Grand Mother. It Is Still A Mass Product And You Can Buy It For Round About 5 USD. But This One Is Made In West Germany So At Least 33 Years Old And Almost Daily In Use
Ever since childhood I used these too peel potatoes or sometimes apples and carrots. They are so much better than knives and like the name suggest, you save with them. - Sparschäler=savepeeler means, you save on the product you are planning because you don't cut to much of it. Today, I must admit, I prefer the green ones from Tupper because the gap between the blade and the edge is slightly narrower and save even more.
We Got These For Our DIY Kitchen Renovation For $2000. Barely Used And Working Great! Hopefully The Fridge Is Truly Bifl Because I Never Want To Move That Behemoth Ever Again
Bifl Home Audio-The Mcintosh Mc275
We hope you’re enjoying these photos of great purchases that have lasted a lifetime, pandas. If you are still using appliances or tools you bought decades ago, be sure to pat those items on the back and let us know in the comments below what they are! Remember to think in the long term when making new purchases, and if you’re looking for even more pics that will inspire you to make commitments when you buy something new, you can find Bored Panda’s last article featuring the Buy It For Life subreddit right here!
I Bought This Breville Sandwich Iron When I Left Home At 18. I'm Now 50 And She's Ready To Go
I Got This Jack Wolfskin Backpack When I Was 6 In 2007. Still Use It Daily After Almost 16 Years
My son was trying to keep his backpack from Kindergarten through HS. Only lasted until 6th grade. He took great care of it, too. He was so bummed.
Opinel No.6 In My Pocket For 5 Years. $20 And Sharper Than Any Knife I’ve Ever Known
the only reason to change it : by sharpening it, there is no metal left :D but it takes about 60 years
Buy It For Multiple Lives. I Inherited The Family Pennsylvania Tuxedo
Red Wing Work Boots, After 20+ Years Of Home Renovations And A Few Mosh Pits
The Heirloom Flour Measure And Sift. I’m 4th Gen User. This Tool Is Outlived 3 Lives, I’m Next
My Grandpas Chainsaw He Bought In 1966 To Clear Land To Build The House He Still Lives In. And To Note I Still Use The Chainsaw When I’m Doing Yard Work For Him
Dad still has a couple of the old green poulan chainsaws that are nearly 40 years old and still running. Though they're a but like odysseus boat by now.
1980 Cub Cadet. 43 Years Old And Ready For Another Mowing Season
Old Philco Refrigerator Still In Use At My Local Fish And Game Club!
When Mom Busted This Out, You Knew The Meal Was Going To Be Good
Our Fully Restored Ge Brass/Cast Iron Fan…
That is a work of art. Just keep the kids fingers away from it.
Vintage Original Zojirushi Thermal Pot In Mint Condition
1987 Play-Doh Multi Tool
Circa 70s/80s Ernie And Bert
92 Toyota Pickup, 500,000k, Daily Driven... And Worked
Wedding Gift Circa 1977. This Old School Crockpot May Outlive Me!
My Rubbermaid Laundry Basket Has Been In Continuous Use Since The Early 80s. You Can Still Buy These New
Steelcase Chair I Got For $6 At A Thrift Store. Not Sure If The Mfg Date, But It's At Least As Old As I Am. Best Workbench Stool Ever
We have new steelcase chairs at where I work, they are awesome. So much adjustment and so comfortable.
My Speed Queens Have Arrived
I personally like these better than the fancy front loaders with so many options and settings.
Kenworth K100 Working For 30 Years
Ahhhh… Tonka, The Prime Example Of Buy It For Life Toys. Found For $12 Total At The Goodwill, Bound To Bring Me Years More Enjoyment
Shock Cousteau Spent 2 Days Submerged In A Hot Tub
My Mother-In-Law Bought This In 1978 And It’s Still Going Strong
I Got This Pot From My ( Now Passed) Aunt, She Got It When She Married In Early 50's !
Bifl Request: This Style Spatula. Thin Stainless Springy Bottom Part, Strong Handle
1975 Presto Harvest Gold Yellow Pressure Cooker
Just a note on old pressure cookers. They can and do explode now and again. Over the years you can get micro-cracks in the locking lugs that eventually fail. Pressure cookers are supposed to be lab tested at some interval -- can't remember what it is now. They mostly never get tested, most aren't used long enough to reach that point, but for aluminum ones especially I'd be a bit leery of using one over maybe 10-15 years old, especially if it has been used regularly.
Corning Ware Percolators. The Guy I Bought Them From Said He Used Them All The Time, They Look Brand New
Still Going, 60’s Microwave Oven
1960ties Microwave oven....? Any passing airforce jet could pick that thing up on it´s radar detector.
The Battery In This Little Alarm Clock Has Been Going For Almost 30 Years
•before/After 1987 Vermont Iron Elm In Midnight Green• (Story In Comments)
Just Bought A House With This In The Kitchen. I Love It
Can’t beat singing and dancing while cooking….now where did I put the cassettes?
Merkur Safety Razor. About 10 Years Old Now, Still Like New
My Dad's 1970s Crown Gas Range Stove!
It Won’t Win Any Beauty Contests, But This Rice Cooker Has Been Making Rice For My Wife And Now The Both Of Us Since The Mid 1980’s
Grandfather Purchased This Cub Cadet In 1974. Almost 50 Years Later, It's Still Running Strong. It's Mostly Original Down To The Tires
Was Given A Patio Set Because It Needed To Be Refinished. It Just Needed A Little Clr And Teak Oil
Spotted At An Airbnb
I See We're Posting Bifl Rice Cookers. Here's My 1964 Tatung!
This Salad Shooter At My Parent’s House Is Still Kicking After 32 Years
My Boy Scout Pocket Knife
When I was an infant, my father travelled to Europe and picked up a swiss Army Knife. When I was 13 he gave it to me. I'm near 60 now... Treasure that thing so much.
A True Bifl Jacket, The Stevenson Jacket Made By Boathouse. I’ve Had Mine For Over 15 Years, Rowed Multiple Seasons In It, Wore It Shoveling Snow, Commuting In NYC, And Hiking. A Waterproof 3 Season Jacket You Can Still Purchase
Bose Wave Clock Radio. Used Everyday For Over 30 Years. Works Perfectly And Sounds Better Than Most New Bluetooth Speakers. Made In USA
My 6 Year Old Pair Ofblundstones vs. My Brand New Pair
Gramp's Razor I Got From Him 26 Years Ago. I Can See Why They Stopped Making Stuff This Good. It Lasts Too Long
She Turns 30 This Year
My Dad Bought Me This Hp 48sx In 1992. Still Works Perfectly And I Still Use It
I still have my TI-83 plus Silver edition. I'm not giving it up as long as it works!
2007 Toyota Prius - 330k Miles, 5 Wrecks, And 1 Divorce Later It’s Still Going Strong!
30 Year Old Dishwasher I Got For Free 5 Years Ago, Still In Daily Use And Refuses To Die
My Aunt’s Ge Spacemaker Coffeemaker From 1988, Used Nearly Everyday Since
Teva Hurricane Xlts. Blue Pair Is Brand New And Orange Is Closing In On 15yrs Old Of Heavy Outdoor Use Kayaking, Hiking, Fishing And Camping. A Solid 80$
$29 At The Antique Store, 29 Minutes In The Sandblast Cabinet, Ready For Another 50+ Years Of Service. Before/After Pics Of A Made In The USA Columbian Bench Vise
My Most Used Appliance For The Last 12 Years. Presto Griddle. I’ve Been Through Multiple Nonstick Pots And Pans, But This Thing Still Works Like New
We got one of these as a wedding present in 1993. It still makes the best pancakes. we use it at least twice a week.
Plow Truck My Grandpa Bought Brand New Back In ‘79, Been Working Every Winter
Unlikely Bifl - Grandma's Clock
My Apple II From 1982 And My Imac. Only The Apple II Still Works And It Was In An Abandoned Factory
Best Spatula I Have Ever Used
Holes drilled in it to reduce air resistance and improve swing speed when used for spanking ;)
Ford 4100 At Least 50 Years Old
Good tractor. People have been restoring a lot of these old ford tractors lateley, in my area.
Got A Herman Miller Office Chair For Free On Facebook Marketplace, It’s Super Comfy And Feels So Well Made! Minnie Approves!
Stainless Steel Gator French Press
Mother In Law Melted Kettle I’ve Had For 15 Years. How Do I Clean It Off!
There is a product called "bartenders friend". I have found it works well with a nylon scrub brush. Forms oxalic acid but does not damage surfaces.
Vacuum After 3 Years And 1200+ Car Details
Was Given This Ms Natural Keyboard Pro On Day 1 At My Job. 23 Years Later, I Was Told That New Equipment Will Be At The New Offices. Still Going Strong
Parker Jotter Purchased When I Started Working 35 Years Ago
This Is My Fourth Hm Aeron Chair I Bought From Fb Market Place , This One I Got Yesterday For $40
1992 Acura Legend. 203,000 Miles. Daily Driver. Everything Works
Hailo Bins: 40 Years Old (Left) And 1 Month Old (Right)
Peugeot Is A Brand That’s Been Recommended For Bifl Pepper Grinders. Even Though I Bought This One Secondhand, Peugeot Replaced This Piece That Looked Ugly And Worn For Free. In Its First Life, It Was A Wedding Gift
This pepper mill is around a hundred years old.
Had This Patagonia Supercell For Like 10+ Yrs Now
Psa: Oil Your Electric Fans/Electric Motors With The Correct Oil!
Camelbak 100l Hydration Pack. Issued To Me In The Army In 2006. I Broke The Mouthpiece, They Sent Me A Whole New Reservoir, Tube, The Works
This Sears Kenmore “Coldspot” Refrigerator Has Been Chugging Along Since 2004
Schlage Sent Me A Full Replacement Set
13 vs. 4 Years Of Daily Walkers
I have a pair of Dr Martens that are about 25, they are still fine.
Small And Extremely Effective
hahahahha Yeah, this isn't going to last you for life. Love your optimism though. It's antenna from a radio with the tip removed, that you use to blow on fires to help them catch if anyone is wondering. A guy ended up with literally hundreds of boxes of broken antennas and started selling them for $20 each to people who think they're not broken antennas. Great marketing. Still as flimsy as the broken antenna they are.
in the future, archaeologists will say "this civilization stopped in the 80’s-90’s, the survivors only created plastic trash."
My Dad was discharged from the US Army in 1957. This was his duffel bag. It went to college with my older brother in 1977, and with me in 1982. It went to college with my older daughter in 2016, and although she doesn't know it yet; it's going to college with my younger daughter next year. It has served me as luggage, laundry hamper, and moving box through four states of residence in the last 40 years and it was almost 30 years old when I got it, which makes this bag at least 70 years old. The clasp still works, the grommets are still strong and in place, and the handle and shoulder strap are still intact. Dad died in 1984 and I will keep this bag the rest of my life. Duffel-648...33edff.jpg
You just reminded me, I have a pair of '80s era military surplus boots that are still intact. From back when military grade meant "takes a beating and still lasts forever". Unlike now where it means "made by the cheapest bid".
Load More Replies...in the future, archaeologists will say "this civilization stopped in the 80’s-90’s, the survivors only created plastic trash."
My Dad was discharged from the US Army in 1957. This was his duffel bag. It went to college with my older brother in 1977, and with me in 1982. It went to college with my older daughter in 2016, and although she doesn't know it yet; it's going to college with my younger daughter next year. It has served me as luggage, laundry hamper, and moving box through four states of residence in the last 40 years and it was almost 30 years old when I got it, which makes this bag at least 70 years old. The clasp still works, the grommets are still strong and in place, and the handle and shoulder strap are still intact. Dad died in 1984 and I will keep this bag the rest of my life. Duffel-648...33edff.jpg
You just reminded me, I have a pair of '80s era military surplus boots that are still intact. From back when military grade meant "takes a beating and still lasts forever". Unlike now where it means "made by the cheapest bid".
Load More Replies...