Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
GOBankingRates
7 Expensive Essential Household Items and the Cheaper Version of Each One
By Addie Johnson Talbott,
2 days ago
Moyo Studio / Getty Images
Even if you’re taking home a big salary, there’s no reason to throw money away on high-end household items when swapping cheaper ones will make you just as happy. Lifestyle creep is real, and household budgets can balloon quickly, making a dent in your savings and investment goals.
Check out these seven items — both big ticket purchases and everyday needs — that prove that choosing a less expensive, well-reviewed product might give you more bang for your buck. Let this list inspire you to find more ways to free up funds you can put towards your future .
Shark Navigator Lift-Away : Typically $147-$249 — offers strong suction and multi-surface cleaning similar to Dyson, though it lacks some advanced features, like smart sensors.
Bissell Cleanview Swivel : $118.50 on Amazon — Offers decent performance on carpets and hard floors. It’s not as powerful, but it’s lightweight and user-friendly.
Shark and Bissell models receive consistent positive reviews for being effective and durable. The trade-off is fewer high-tech features and slightly less suction power.
Tuft & Needle Original : $645; on sale for $516 for Labor Day — made from adaptive foam that’s responsive and breathable, making it a comfortable budget-friendly option.
Whirlpool Side-by-Side : around $1,200 — provides a spacious layout, energy efficiency and reliability without smart features.
No smart screens or advanced connectivity — just reliable cooling, good storage space and durability. After all, do luxury fridge features add that much value to your everyday life? Try putting all the money you save in a high-yield savings account or investing it, which will likely make you happier in the long run.
Ikea Uppland : $799 and up — comfortable, classic and known for its durability and removable, washable covers.
Wayfair Verified Sofas : $300 and up — wide variety of high-quality products that often go on sale.
While Ikea lacks the premium feel and high-end fabrics of luxury brands, this option is comfortable and comes with a 10-year limited warranty. Wayfair’s sofas strike a balance between customizability and price, though they may be less durable over time.
The Brita is ideal for small households or apartments, while the iSpring system offers thorough filtration at a fraction of the cost of whole-house systems.
Kirkland Signature Ultra Clean : $22.99 for 152 pods — offers similar cleaning power as Tide with good stain removal and long-lasting scent for more than 40% less.
Molly’s Suds Laundry Powder : $36.09 for 240 loads — eco-friendly, non-toxic powder detergent made with plant-based ingredients that’s great for sensitive skin.
Costco’s Kirkland brand often wraps around a product that is the same or very similar as name brands. Molly’s Suds is eco-friendlier and more ideal for those looking for a non-toxic, sustainable option. Pods can be more convenient, but powdered options often reduce waste.
Mrs. Meyer’s Hand Soap : $4.99 for 12.5 ounces — made with plant-derived ingredients and essential oils, offering a pleasant scent and eco-friendliness.
Trader Joe’s Pomelo Pink Grapefruit Hand Soap: $3.99 for 17 ounces — affordable and widely available.
Mrs. Meyer’s offers an eco-friendly alternative with a natural, enjoyable fragrance, and Trader Joe’s is a budget-friendly, no-frills option. The trade-off is a more basic scent and less luxury feel, but both get the job done.
Household budgets can get bloated fast, and it’s easy to overestimate how much value you will get out of extra bells and whistles. Finding cheaper alternatives balances quality, durability and value without compromising functionality. By trading fancy features or slightly better performance for something that will work well for almost everyone, you can funnel the savings into better financial well-being in the long run.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Comments / 0