9 Cool Money-Saving Gadgets That Pay for Themselves

It may seem like a paradox, but sometimes you have to spend a little money to save a lot of green. Investing in just a few little upgrades like energy-efficient lighting, energy usage monitors, and handy kitchen helpers can help shave dollars off your energy and grocery bills. Take a look through this list of smart buys and consider picking one up for your home. Your wallet just may end up thanking you.

Even if you’re diligent about turning off electronics before your leave the house, plugged-in devices still use standby electricity or “vampire power.” Stop energy moochers with Belkin’s 12-outlet surge protector, which has plenty of room between outlets, plus two USB-A and one USB-C ports for charging your electronics. Stop standby electricity use by flipping the switch to all of the devices plugged into the strip. When the strip is turned on, your gear is protected by 3,480 joules of overcurrent and overload protection.

We love vacuum sealing for short- and long-term food storage. With the FoodSaver Handheld+, you’ll save oodles on groceries because you’ll be able to use the sealer to make the most of weekly sales, buy in bulk, and meal plan: Use the FoodSaver+’s handheld tool to seal plastic FoodSaver containers for short-term marinating. Use the main appliance to vacuum seal meats for freezing and, as one BobVila.com editor does, put away grains and beans in Mylar bags for long-term food storage.

Skip the hassle of wiring and running cords outside, and harness solar power instead. These modern solar landscape lights from Gigalumi activate at night and shut off to charge at dawn. Rain and snow are no match for the solar lights’ weather-resistant design, so you can leave them up all year long. 

Turn the lights on when you enter a room. Turn the lights off when you exit. However, many people end up paying the electric company more than they have to on their light bill. Here’s the good news: You can trim that expense with a product like the Lutron Maestro. Leveraging motion-sensor technology, the light switch can turn the lights on and off for you, automating your home lighting and saving you energy (and hassle) along the way.

Do you ever feel like you buy apples, lettuce, cucumbers, and more, only to find them wilted and ruined after a few days? Cut down on waste and cash spent constantly replacing produce with a Bluapple freshness extender. This handy helper absorbs ethylene gas—which signals produce to ripen—for up to three months, to keep your favorite healthy snacks fresher, longer. Just toss it in with your crisper and be amazed at how much you can save on your grocery runs (up to $600 for a family of four!). 

Part of saving money on your energy bill is identifying your high spending habits, which also includes knowing which appliances and electronics are costing you extra. The Poniie Electricity Usage Monitor is a simple way to track how much your TV or microwave really costs you to run. With this information you can determine which items are energy suckers that need to be unplugged or replaced. 

You probably don’t think about it much, but light bulbs are some of the most frequently used items in your house. On and off throughout the day, you want to make sure you’re using the most energy efficient option. Upgrade the bulbs in your home to the Philips Hue LED Smart Bulbs. Through its app or your Amazon Echo you can control the lights and set schedules whether you’re at home or not.

A fresh bunch of parsley or cilantro doesn’t last more than a couple days past grocery shopping day, when stored conventionally. Deprived of moisture, delicate herbs quickly wilt, and when stored laying flat, they can invite rot, wasting your produce in the process. Save your pennies by storing smarter. This herb keeper works like a vase, holding herbs upright in a shallow bath of water until you need them—whether that’s two days after the purchase date, or two weeks.

Energy Star certification, voice control, and the ability to program it from a smartphone or tablet are all features that we’ve come to love and rely on with the Nest. Other features that really set this product apart from other top home thermostats are its Savings Finder—the app’s suggestions for things homeowners can do to save even more on their utility bills—and the HVAC monitoring. Google Nest will alert you if something seems awry with your HVAC system, and recommend if servicing is warranted.

 

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