I’m a huge proponent of using an item until you absolutely can’t any longer. My shoes are worn until they’re completely ripped open, and my devices aren’t replaced until they no longer turn on. But ideally, I wouldn’t ever have to replace the things I buy, because they would last for the rest of my life!
If you’re also a fan of making purchases that hold up for decades, you’ve come to the right place, pandas. We’ve compiled the best posts of all time from the Buy It For Life subreddit down below. Enjoy scrolling through and celebrating these items that people have definitely gotten their money’s worth from, and be sure to upvote the ones you’d like to have at home too!
#1 Oak Chest. Storing Family S**t Since 1682. Lock Still Working
#2 1935 Wedgewood With Everything Included
#3 My 1959 Frigidaire Custom Imperial
We all want to get the most bang for our buck when we purchase something new. Whether you’re in the market for a new car, a new air fryer or a new pair of jeans, you want to make sure that you don’t have to purchase another one for a very long time. But in the day and age of planned obsolescence, how can we know that what we’re buying will truly stand the test of time?
A great place to start is the Buy It For Life subreddit. This community is dedicated to sharing “practical, durable and quality made products that are made to last.” And the group has amassed an impressive 2.5 million members over the last 13 years, so you can be confident that, no matter what product you want to learn more about, you can probably find it there!
#4 I Thought You Guys Might Like My 1920s-1930s Magic Chef Stove With 6 Burners, 2 Ovens, And A Bread Warmer
#5 (Bsa Motorcycle) Same Couple On The Same Motorbike In 1955 And 2015
#6 Me In My Snoopy Sweater In 1981, My Son In The Same Sweater In 2017, And My Daughter In The Same Sweater In 2020
We’re big fans of the Buy It For Life community here at We, so it’s far from the first time we’ve covered the group. We hope that if any of you pandas out there are looking to make a big purchase soon, these photos might help inform you of the brands that will be worth your money. After all, there’s nothing worse than shelling out for a product you were promised would be great and then finding out that it was a huge disappointment.
And unfortunately, that seems to happen often nowadays. When I was a kid, my mom bragged endlessly about the refrigerator we had been using for 20 years, her 15-year-old vacuum cleaner and the washing machine that had been around since before she had any children. She was so proud of these purchases that worked just as well as they did on day one, and she dreaded the day that she would ever need to buy new ones. And I have to admit that, as an adult, I finally understand her excitement about these items.
#7 Bought It In ’88 With Money My Grandmother Left Me. My Mother Was Upset That I Spent My Inheritance On Something As Ephemeral As A Bicycle. I’ve Ridden Thousands Of Miles On It, Including A Double Century In 2000. Now It’s My Townie Bike, For Shopping, Commuting, And Errands
#8 Oxford Bookbag From 1880 Or So. My Grandpa Got It Used When He Started High School In 1951. It Has Since Been Used And Enjoyed By My Mom, Uncle, Aunt And Myself And Is Still Durable
#9 My Dad Owns A Piano Business (I Work There Occasionally Helping Him Rebuild Pianos) I Just Bought My First House And The Same Week He Calls Me And Says He Got Me A Present. A Mover My Dad Knows Was About To Take This To The Dump For Someone But Called My Dad First And He Nabbed It. 1892 Knabe
When you make a major purchase for your home, such as a large appliance, you will likely do plenty of research to ensure that you get the best one for your purposes. But once you’ve bought it, how do you know how long it’s supposed to last? Well, according to The Spruce, the lifespan of a refrigerator should be about 13 years, while an oven and stove should last you 13 to 15 years. Washing machines are expected to work for a decade, and microwaves usually last about 9 years. Your dishwasher also shouldn’t give you any problems for 9 to 10 years.
#10 Not Really What The Sub Is About, But I Figured It Was In The Spirit
#11 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
#12 Bifg (Buy It For Generations): My Viking Husqvarna 21a, From Early 1960’s. Belonged To My Grandma. My Son Is The 4th Generation To Use This Machine… Spending Quality Father-Son Time Teaching Him How To Sew Useful And Beautiful Things That Will Also Last A Long Time
But if you feel like your household appliances aren’t lasting as long as they used to, you’re not going crazy. They probably aren’t! Everything Breaks explained on their site that modern appliances tend to have shorter lifespans for several reasons. First, they’re more complex. They have more functions and more parts. They might include cameras, connect to Wi-Fi, have touch screens, etc., and the more complex they are, the easier it is for something to go wrong.
#13 Since I Saw The Other Old Stove, Thought I’d Post Mine
#14 Rolleicord 6×6 Film Camera From The 60’s Still Going Strong And Some Examples Of The Pictures It Makes
#15 1934 Chicago Mansion Still Has Its Original Jewett Custom Built-In Refrigerator
Everything Breaks also notes that most appliances aren’t properly tested before hitting the market to ensure that they work as well as they’re supposed to. Without rigorous testing, many issues arise after consumers have already installed these items in their homes. There’s also not a ton of competition in the appliance market, which means major brands don’t have to try as hard to continue making sales. And of course, companies are quick to take any cost-cutting measures they can, which may end up costing their customers much more in the long run.
#16 Our Singer Sewing Machine, 100 Years Old And Works Perfectly
#17 My 97 Year Old Waterman 52
#18 Oregano – Mom Got A Piece Of An Oregano Plant From Her Aunt When I Was A Kid. She Transplanted Some To One House, Then Another And Another, Then To My Place, And Again When I Moved. We Have Never Purchased Oregano In My Entire Life. It Even Pops Up In The Lawn, Makes Grass Cutting Smell Nice 🙂
CNBC has also addressed the issue of appliance lifespans shrinking over the years. Apparently, between 1995 and 2005, homeowners were replacing their appliances every 12 to 13 years. Today, however, most consumers say things need to be replaced every 8 or 9 years. And aside from just having to purchase the new item, inflation makes a new appliance cost about 34% more than it did 15 years prior, Todd Tomalak told CNBC.
#19 Bought Those Haglöfs Boots On My 18th Birthday. This Week I Celebrated My 50th Birthday
#20 My Great Uncle’s Watch That Lived Through Combat In WW2. Wound It Up And It Still Works Perfectly
#21 This Truck Outlived Its Owner And Became A Family Legacy
Making purchases that will last a lifetime is much easier said than done. You can read endless reviews online, watch videos about the product on YouTube and take recommendations from friends, but how do you know that the product will still be standing in 12 years? Companies can pay employers or consumers to write glowing reviews on their websites. And if a product hasn’t been on the market for over a decade, nobody really knows how it will hold up over time!
#22 Lunch Box From ’89. Thermos From ’97. New Old Stock. I’m So Excited
#23 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
#24 Herman Miller Eames Lounge Chair And Ottoman. Passed Down From My Late Grandfather. Circa 1960s
But if you want to do some research before buying a big item, you can always check out sites like Buy Me Once. This site has a similar mission statement to Buy It For Life, as it promotes long-lasting products that their team stands behind. “To ensure everything is made to last, we examine the products themselves, their manufacturing story, and develop meaningful relationships with the makers. We only work with people we trust,” the creators note on the site.
#25 In 2000, I Was Studying Overseas & Cringed As I Forked Over $10 For The Plainest Pencil I Could Find In The University Bookstore. I Had No Idea It Would Become My Forever Favorite & I’d Carry It Everywhere For The Next 22 Years
#26 Found This On The Curb. All Accessories In The Bowl. Works Beautifully
#27 Fixed Up An Old Tanker Desk! These Things Last Forever. Lots Of Orbital Sanding, Bondo, Sanding, Blocking, Priming, Taping, Painting! Looks Perfect In My Home Office
We hope you’re enjoying scrolling through these photos, pandas. Keep upvoting the items that you’re impressed are still standing, and feel free to share in the comments below what the best purchases you’ve ever made were. Then, if you’d like to check out even more great buys that have been shared in the Buy It For Life group, you can visit this We piece next!
#28 About 80 Years Old. Hand Me Down Cast Iron Skillet, Used Daily
#29 Old Family Heirloom At Least 100 Years Old
#30 Grandmother Still Has Her WWII Frigidaire Refrigerator, Still Works Without A Hitch!
#31 My In-Laws Were Brilliant: Le Creuset, Purchased 1977
#32 Horrible Picture (Sorry) But Our Aga Stove That Came With The House Will Survive Us All! This Thing Is Built Like A Tank And An Absolute Delight To Work With
#33 Found This KitchenAid Mixer From The 1970’s For $35. New Grease And Paint And It’s As Good As New
#34 Was Told To Post My Grandparent’s Desk Here. (228 Years Old)
#35 Most Of My Hifi Components Are Getting On For 50 Years Old In The Next Few Years. All Still Working Perfectly
#36 Still Using Grandma’s 1940’s Egg Poacher For My Morning Breakfast
#37 Kids Played The Most With This 25-Year-Old Toy Despite All The Gifts They Got
#38 Vitantonio Pizzelle Iron (Italian Cookie Maker) From The 70s Or 80s
#39 For Christmas, My Grandpa Gave Me The Sheepskin Coat He Wore In His 20s. He Is 70 Now! Still In Mint Condition 🙂
#40 My Grandfather’s Grandfather’s Pocket Watch, Which Made It Through WW1, And Still Works!
#41 Here’s The Before And After Finished Product On My $5 Allen Edmond’s. These Bifl Shoes Were Destined For The Dumpster But I Was Able To Bring Them Back To Life. The Dye Color Is Uneven Between The Left And Right, But I’m Just Gonna Let It Bug Me For A While Until I Get Around To Fixing It
#42 My Pioneer Receiver From 1974, Freshly Serviced And Ready For Another 50 Years
#43 In 1927 This Desk Was Moved Into This Office And Has Been Here Ever Since. Now That’s What I Call Buy It For Life. Leopold Desk Company
#44 World’s Oldest Pairs Of Levi’s Jeans Found In A Goldmine 136 Years Later
#45 I Bought This Palette Knife Over 30 Years Ago And Have Created Countless Paintings With It
#46 Original Game Boy Still Works Like A Charm
#47 My Mom’s Hair Dryer Has Been Used For 42 Years And Stopped Working For The First Time. Turns Out It Was Just A Faulty Cable, So I Replaced And It’s Up Again
#48 Greek Tortoise. A Little Pricey At ~200-500$ But Will Last You Around 125 Years If Well Cared For
#49 1956 Frigidaire Range
#50 My Buddy Has Had This Alarm Clock Since The 80s
