10 Everyday Investments Under $100 That Actually Improve Your Life

• Investing doesn't always mean financial assets; everyday items can enhance your life.
• Simple non-financial investments can save time, reduce stress, and help improve your overall well-being.
• Items discussed include a high-quality chef knife, reusable water bottles, and meal prep containers.
• Tools like budgeting apps and electric kettles can streamline your life and cut unnecessary costs.
• Comfort and health investments, like cushions and LED light bulbs, can lead to long-term savings and wellness.

You’re told to invest, and I say 9.9 times out of 10 you’ll think of the stock market, ETFs, and your 401k. While those are all sound, reasonable, and highly encouraged, what if I told you that there are 10 everyday items that you can buy for less than a hundred dollars that can improve your life?

These are small, thoughtful non-financial investments that can save you time, reduce stress, and even save you money in the long run. So today we’ll go into some affordable investments that will completely change your life for the better.

I’ll be going over a few products quite broadly, but if you’re interested in more specific purchases that you can buy, I’ll link them down in the description below. So without further ado, let's get into it.

The first is a good high-quality chef knife that will save time and just be safer overall. A sharp, well-balanced chef knife is one of the most essential tools in any kitchen, and if taken care of properly, will last a lifetime.

Cooking becomes safer, faster, and more enjoyable when you're not struggling with dull, inefficient blades. A sharper knife means less slipping, which leads to less visits to the ER and dipping into that emergency fund. Ouch. Investing in a high-quality knife means you need less paring knives.

It doesn't necessarily mean your knife won’t become dull; all knives do eventually, so make sure to pair your knife with a $10 sharpener to keep it in optimal condition. Meal prep in general costs about $1 per person compared to $13 when eating out, and over time a solid chef knife can save you thousands while enabling you to cook at home more efficiently.

Consider some good knife sets and always choose the right knife for the task at hand.

The next is a reusable water bottle. Investing in a high-quality reusable water bottle, such as a stainless steel insulated one, can save you hundreds annually. Americans spend, on average, $1,200 per year on bottled water.

By switching to tap or filtered water, you can reduce your expenses. There’s no need to go crazy on a super expensive bottle. You can even pair it with a $40 home water filter for clean, great-tasting water without recurring costs. Remember, you’re not buying self-protection from a bear; you’re buying health and convenience.

Next, we have coffee. If you’re like the other 1 billion people in the world that enjoy coffee daily, then you can also enjoy the convenience of making it yourself at home. A programmable coffee maker will allow you to wake up to a fresh cup every morning. The average price of a latte is about $4. If you buy one every weekday, your caffeine intake will cost you $1,275 annually.

Not only does the coffee maker save you time, but it also reduces the hassle of wondering if your name was spelled correctly or mixing it up with another customer's order. Timer functions allow your coffee to be ready when you are, making your mornings more pleasant and productive. Spending $70 on a coffee maker will pay for itself in a few weeks of skipping cafe visits and buying coffee beans in bulk.

Next on the list are meal prep containers. Eating out is one of the most significant drains on the average budget. Americans spend on average $3,500 annually dining out, and even fast food. What used to be a cheap alternative is now more expensive; there's no more dollar menu, and the value menus aren’t really a value anymore.

Meal prepping helps you control your portion sizes, stick to dietary goals, and saves time by reducing the need to cook daily. Investing in some good solid containers, ideally from the same brand where all the lids and containers work together, will save you headache and money in the long run. Bringing your lunch to work just three times a week can save over $1,000 annually.

Like any diet or financial habits, diving right in is always difficult and often ineffective, so ease into it and slowly ramp up over time.

Moving on, consider subscriptions to budgeting apps. In a world where everything just costs more money, subscription services can take a huge toll on your finances. But the only subscriptions that are truly worth it, in my opinion, are budgeting apps.

Budgeting can take time; it can be stressful and complicated, but with a budgeting app, you can make it as passive as possible. Apps like You Need a Budget or Rocket Money can track your expenses, set savings goals, and manage your debt with minimal effort.

Think of it like this: It's all about opportunity costs. Consider your Netflix, HBO Max, or that subscription box you get for those shading supplies. Even though you still grow sprouts on your face, removing just one of those subscriptions and reallocating it towards a budgeting app will be a much better investment.

Ignorance isn’t bliss in this case; many people choose to look the other way instead of focusing on their expenses. Information is power. Knowing how much is coming in and out of your accounts will help you retain and maintain control over your own life.

Studies show that people who use budgeting tools save an average of $100 in the first two months and $6,000 in the first year by cutting unnecessary expenses. Many of these apps offer free trials, allowing you to test them out before fully committing.

Next, let’s discuss an electric kettle. As K-man once said, “I had the power,” and that’s no different when you have an electric kettle. An electric kettle is convenient for boiling water, tea, coffee, and even those hotter-than-death instant noodles with a fiery chicken on it.

It’s energy-efficient and boils water faster than any stove or microwave. An electric kettle will save you minutes every day. It is safer than using a pot on the stove and is overall incredibly convenient.

It can also reduce electricity usage for boiling water by up to 50% compared to a stove and, of course, keep you nice and cozy in the winter with that hot chocolate.

Moving on, we have an electric toothbrush. Dental hygiene is critical for overall health, and an electric toothbrush offers much better cleaning than manual ones. Many models include timers and pressure sensors to help you with optimal brushing techniques. Healthier teeth mean less risk of cavities, gum disease, and bad breath, and more importantly, it eliminates the need for expensive dental procedures.

No one really likes the dentist, so don’t give the nice lady at the front desk a reason to have you come back for that root canal. A $75 LED toothbrush can save you hundreds or even thousands in dental bills.

Next up are LED light bulbs. Switching to LED light bulbs can drastically cut your electricity costs. While LEDs are more expensive upfront, they use about 75% less energy and will last 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

The average lifespan is about 25,000 hours for an LED bulb. If you use an LED bulb for three hours a day, it lasts over 22 years. That means less replacing bulbs and it saves money in the very long run.

If you have other smart devices, you can program and automate them to dim at night or at a certain time, adjusting color temperatures and hues for better movie nights. The average household saves about $225 annually by switching to LEDs. It’s worth mentioning that a lot of utility companies offer rebates or incentives for buying energy-efficient bulbs, lowering your overall costs.

Finally, we have a good old cushion. So many of us are tethered to our computers in the office or even working from home. According to the CDC, Americans spend between 6.5 to 9.5 hours sitting every day.

Invest in a cushion for your tush. While a top-of-the-line office chair can easily cost you $1,000, you can also invest in an ergonomic cushion to improve your posture and reduce back pain, which can save you hundreds in chiropractic and medical expenses. If we’re going to spend so much of our lives sitting, why not sit comfortably?

Look into specialized cushions, memory foam, or gel-infused models to help distribute weight evenly and reduce back pain. The great thing is that most cushions are portable; you can use them at home, in the office, and even in the car. A decent cushion will run you $30 to $60, and it’s a worthwhile investment for something you can use for about 3,000 hours a year.

And there you have it! Those are 10 everyday non-financial investments you can make for under $100 that will bring you a happier, more productive, and simpler life.

Many of these items focus on eating and embracing technology in our appliances. When we think of investments, we often think about the stock market, but we can also make more immediate investments that make what is usually a hassle more passive and allow us to focus our time and attention on what truly matters.

There are probably another 100 more everyday investments you can make. So, what are some that I didn’t go over? Let me know in the comments below, and please leave a like and subscribe so you don’t miss out on any other videos.

Sometimes we become so ingrained in buying our convenience that it costs us more than it is really worth. This is true for delivery services too. Check out the next video on how Doordash, Grubhub, and UberEats are robbing you. Delivery services come across as investments for convenience, but they aren’t really worth it at all. Yet, many of us fall into their trap.