We used to be people of repair and resourcefulness, taking pride in our ability to tinker with the longevity of our things. But nowadays? Not so much. We may try to recycle, but as soon as something breaks we’re looking for a replacement. Luckily, our ingenuity can match our laziness.
The subreddit r/BuyItForLife has 973k members and it’s dedicated to practical quality products that were made to last. Like a phone from 2006. Or a sewing machine from the early 20th century!
The person who founded this online community, u/Petrarch1603, got the inspiration for it from r/ShutUpandTakeMyMoney. “I noticed that sometimes [it featured] useful products that I was interested in buying. Unfortunately, I also noticed a lot of gimmicks and cheaply made products too,” they explained.
Now, r/BuyItForLife is twice the size of its predecessor. I guess people really appreciate pristine craftsmanship!
#1 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
Image source: CPetersky
#2 Buy It For Multiple Lives! 1916 Singer 66, My Main Sewing Machine
Image source: mcculloughpatr
#3 Rolleicord 6×6 Film Camera From The 60’s Still Going Strong And Some Examples Of The Pictures It Makes
Image source: 8zil
#4 Colman Snow-Lite Low Boy Cooler From The 60s. Gifted To Me From My Grandparents Who Picked It Up From A Thrift Store Nearly 20 Years Ago. Still Holds Ice For Nearly A Week!
Image source: Ahobo1
#5 My Great Uncle’s Watch That Lived Through Combat In Ww2. Wound It Up And It Still Works Perfectly
Image source: polarbeargirl9
#6 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
Image source: mariatoyou
#7 Was Told To Post My Grandparents Desk Here (228 Years Old)
Image source: thebobrup
#8 Graphgear 500 Mechanical Pencil. The One On Top I’ve Used For 20 Years, The Other Is Brand New
Image source: MayOverexplain
#9 My Girlfriend Uses This Sewing Machine To Make Masks. Her Great-Grandmother Bought It New Back In 1925. It Still Works Perfectly
Image source: archpope
#10 Lunch Box From ‘89. Thermos From ‘97. New Old Stock. I’m So Excited
Image source: ANCAP127
#11 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
Image source: chadlikemad
#12 My Grandmothers Wedgewood Oven. At Least 70 Yrs Old
Image source: Cdl505
#13 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
Image source: 3LlamasInATrenchCoat
#14 These Russian Valenki Felted Wool Boots, Made Entirely Out Of Hardened Wool That Served Me So Well Here In Texas In Ver The Past Couple Days. No Soles, No Form, Basically Like Wearing Snow Proof 2 Inch Thick Hard Wool Socks. Had Them For 5 Years, No Sign Of Wear
Image source: Nickadeamus36
#15 Finally, All The Thrifting Has Paid Off
Image source: L320Y
#16 I Bought This Palette Knife Over 30 Years Ago And Have Created Countless Paintings With It
Image source: Familiar_Big3322
#17 Staplers?? Huh. Here’s My Tried, Trusted, And Tantalizing Cadet Model 302. Ain’t She Pretty?
Image source: enderofgalaxies
#18 It’s Time To Switch My Ipod Classic (2006) For Spotify. Have Been Using It Daily For 15 Years But Spotify Is Just Too Convenient. Rest In Peace Little One
Image source: Fluegelnuss420
#19 Dr Martens 1460 (UK) Purchased 1992
Image source: shalpin
#20 I Restored A Neglected Old Wrench. It Wasn’t Ready To Retire
Image source: Familiar_Big3322
#21 GF Gave Me This For My Birthday. I Expect To Be Using It For The Rest Of My Days. French Made, Le Creuset, Enameled Cast Iron Sauce Pan
Image source: Synthdawg_2
#22 My Dads Levis Jacket From 1980! I’ve Been Wearing It For About A Year Now
Image source: seanssy
#23 My Grandma Gave Me Her Gingher Scissors Today (In The Original Box!), She Used Them For Ages Before She Taught Me To Sew With Them About 15 Years Ago. Beautifully Sharp Now, Just As I Remember Them Being Years Ago
Image source: emiluffy
#24 Bought A Set Of Silicone Resealable Bags 4 Years Ago And They’re Used Every Day And Still In Perfect Condition. Haven’t Thrown A Single Zip-Loc Away In All That Time!
Image source: Ikbensterdam
#25 These Cross Pens Were My Grandfathers From The 1960s. He Worked As A Test Fail Analysis Engineer For General Dynamics. These Pens Were Used To Try To Win The Space Race, And Now I Use Them Every Day As I Work To Follow In His Footsteps
Image source: RVCA_rocker17
#26 Arkansas Traveler Tomatoes. Originally Purchased In 1970… 51 Years Ago. Buy Heirloom, Buy It Once
Image source: topbunn
#27 Just Got Done Detailing My Grandpa’s 1971 Schwinn Racer! These Bikes Were Built For Life That’s For Sure!
Image source: WillisTheApe
#28 A Customer Of Mine Finally Decided To Upgrade… Motorola Razr, Purchased November 2006
Image source: liveditlovedit
#29 Barber Chair, 100 Years Old And Reconditioned!
Image source: dmburke007
#30 Proudly Bought It With My Paper Route Money 50 Years Ago Because It Was The Heaviest One :) Good Choice – Still Works Perfectly. Audition, Made In Hong Kong
Image source: HippySol
#31 This Camping Table Set Bought By My Grandparents In The -60s Just Saw Its Fourth Generation Of Users. The Tent Is On Generation Two
Image source: Gahouf
#32 Frye “Fulton” Leather Boots. Bought In 2010 For $350.00, Worn On Every Date, Family Holiday, And Special Occasion Since. Now, Luck Enough To Wear Them To Work
Image source: MxCmrn
#33 40 Years Of Laundry. My Parents Bought This In 1980 When They First Got Married. It’s Also Live A Life As A Pretend Boat And Turtle Shell When I Was Little. It’s In Great Condition And I’m So Happy To Be Giving It More Life
Image source: Hollyinhd
#34 My 1965 Gillette Slim Adjustable – Built Like A Tank!
Image source: UpsetProfessional_
#35 Thrifted From Bulgaria Around 2 Decades Ago. Rail Road Worker Steel Toe Boots. Haven’t Moved An Inch Since The Day I Got Them
Image source: TheVoidWithout
#36 Restoring The Wooden Beams Of My House And Found This. (More Like “Buy It For The Next 6 Generations”)
Image source: zulangewach
#37 My Dad Bought A New Knife After 50 Years
Image source: guitarbldr
#38 Any Love For Purdy Paint Brushes? Wash Them Out Well And They’ll Last Decades. I’ve Had This One For 15 Years. It’s Painted Three Apartments
Image source: johnn11238
#39 The Legendary 90’s Toyota Land Cruiser. 24 Years Old And Only Needs Routine Maintenance
Image source: A12851
#40 Vorwerk Tiger 251. Built In 1982 And Still Sucks Harder Than Your Mother’s
Image source: ScatLabs
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