Nate
Reddit’s “Buy It For Life” forum is a treasure trove of well-made, durable goods designed to last a lifetime. From thrift store finds to newly purchased items, enthusiasts share their favorite long-lasting products. The philosophy behind “Buy It for Life” isn’t just about cool factor—it’s an investment in quality that saves money over time. Remember, they really don’t make things like they used to.
In our throwaway culture, where cheap, disposable purchases are the norm, opting for something built to endure can be a revolutionary act. Why settle for ephemeral items when you can own something permanent? With “Buy It for Life,” you buy once and enjoy forever.
1. “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”
2. “This Truck Out Lived Its Owner And Became A Family Legacy”
3. “My Mom Bought This Clothes Hamper For Me In 3rd Grade. I’m 28 And Still Using It. Oh, And My Son Likes To Play In It”
4. “My Grandfather’s 1964 Cub Cadet He Purchased New. He Used It Regularly Up Until The Early 2000s. The Family Decided To Get A Full Restoration Done On It. After A Year, It’s Ready To Go Another Lifetime”
5. “1935 Wedgewood With Everything Included”
6. “My 1950 O’keefe & Merritt Stove Still Works Like A Charm. I Call Her Christine”
7. “My 100+ Year Old Weekly User”
8. “(Bsa Motorcycle) Same Couple On The Same Motorbike In 1955 And 2015”
9. “Old Family Heirloom At Least 100 Years Old”
10. “My Son’s Teddy Bear. And Mine. And My Dad’s. And His Dad’s. Circa 1930s”
11. “Who Needs A Spotify Subscription, Or Even Internet, With These Babies, And My Cd Collection!”
12. “The Riddler Has Given Me Nearly 30 Years Of Quality Drinkware. I Still Use It To Sip On Some Bourbon Every Night. McDonald’s Just Doesn’t Make Things Like They Used To”
13. “53 Years Old And Runs Like A Top. They Don’t Make ‘Em Like This Anymore”
14. “Rubber Boots From 1962, Still Waterproof After 61 Years”
15. “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”
16. “These Have Lived In My Grandparents Trunk My Whole Life Now I Get To Pull Them Out At Family Gatherings”
17. “Corelle Dishes- My Mom Bought These At 18 When She Moved Out. She’ll Be 63 This Year”
18. “Kenmore Stove 61 Years Old”
19. “50+ Year Old Coleman Stove Still Works”
20. “Clark Stopwatch. It Caught My Eye At A Flea Market. Paid $2 Bucks. The Timing Is Still Dead On Balls Accurate”
21. “This Was In My Grandparents Home Until I Moved It To My House 13 Years Ago. It Is Still Working And In Use. I’m Sure They Paid An Exorbitant Amount In Rental Fees To Ma Bell Over The Years For It”
22. “It Is With Grave Sorrow That I Announce Our 52 Year Old General Electric Refrigerator Has Chilled Its Last Grocery (Defrost Heater No Longer Available)”
23. “My Grandpa’s 1965(Ish) Hp 21 Calculator”
24. “45 Year Old Radio Clock My Mother Got In 1978 When She Was 12 Years Old, Still Used Everyday”
25. “Forklift I Saw Being Used. Owner Said Its From The Sixties”
26. “Needed A New Coffee Machine, Got This For £25 Used”
27. “Til That In Japan, They Buy Their Child One Backpack. That’s It, Not One Every Year”
28. “Braun Hl 1 – Stood On My Grandfathers Desk Running Daily Since The 70s. Now It’s Standing On My Desk “
29. “My Sister Got Me These Marker-Like Pens Ten Years Ago”
30. “11 Year Sandals Finally Replaced”
31. “A Palette Knife I Bought Brand New More Than 30 Years Ago — I Created Countless Paintings With It”
32. “An Old Neglected Old Wrench That I Rescued. It’s Still Got A Lot Of Life Left In It”
33. “32 Year Light Bulb Finally Dies”
34. “E-Waste Is Hard To Avoid”
35. “-Before And After 1980 Vermont Iron Elm Wood Stove- More Info In Comments”
36. “32 Years And Counting- Top Left Broiler Is My Favorite Part”
37. “Well My Niece Here Just Turned 21. I Wish I Aged As Well As My Jumper”
38. “Two 1995 Seadoos. Been In My Family Since New. Other Than Basic Maintenance, These Are Still Reliable And Fun Nearly 30 Years Later”
39. “While My Blade Holder Is Definitely Bifl (Merkur 15 Years Ago) It Gives Me An Existential Crisis To Realize I May Have Just Bought A Lifetime Supply Of Blades For $5. I Tend To Use A Blade 6 Months To A Year And I’m 40 Years Old”
40. “Received This Danby Microwave As A ‘Moving Out’ Gift In 2001. It’s In Great Shape And The Only One I’ve Ever Owned”
h/t: r/BuyItForLife