Most Used Items in 2024
**Just a heads-up: this post may include some affiliate links, so if you make a purchase, we might earn a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. Rest assured, we only share items & resources that we personally use and love!
Disclaimer before you explore this list that hits close to home for us. We are on our own debt journey with student loans and figuring out how we can increase our monthly cash flow. We actually made the decision to stop using our credit cards as much as we do now so we can better control what we purchase and how much we purchase items. Remember, it’s ALWAYS 100% off if you don’t buy it! So, for those who struggle with spending or are working to budget more, this might not be the post for you! You can read more about our thoughts on intentional shopping here.
More Margin, More Intention, Less Clutter
The following are items we’ve viewed to be worth the cost to create more margin, more intention, less clutter or less waste in our lives.
Home
Stasher Bags
We’ve slowly built our stasher bag supply over the years and have found them so incredibly useful. They hold up incredibly well (we’ve only had to toss 1 in the last 8 years since having them) and are a great option to not use then throw away plastic bags (which we still do🤪, but less now with the stasher bags!)
Stasher Platinum Silicone Food Grade Reusable Storage Bag, Aqua (Bundle 4-Pack Small)
Branch Basics
Branch Basics is a staple in our house. We started using it last Christmas and have been impressed with how well it works and the number of things it works on! For example, the concentrate makes laundry detergent, hand soap, all-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, and bathroom cleaner. But the concentrate and oxygen boost together can clean a plethora of things -- they even created a free PDF on what it can do.
Starter Kit - This link gives you $10 off your first purchase.
Foaming Soap Dispenser
We use these in tandem with the branch basics and have replaced all the soap pumps in our house. We used to spend loads of time researching safe, non-toxic, decently-priced hand soap every time we were almost running out. Using these soap dispensers and branch basics has taken away the mental load of figuring that out each time.
Foaming Soap Dispenser with Stainless Steel Pump, 12oz
Robovac
We will forever talk about this being one of the best purchases we've made to date. Again, for those who struggle with allergies and want to vacuum regularly but don’t have the time to do so every other day, this is FOR YOU! It has saved us so much time and made our home feel cleaner and tidier without the added work!
roborock Q7 Max Robot Vacuum and Mop Cleaner (the one we have has since been discontinued, but this one is closely comparable!)
Air purifier
We did a lot of research. Nothing against Air Doctor, but after reading lots of reviews, watching videos that compare the items, and looking at the prices of different air filters, we decided to go with the Blueair series. We got a big (like humongous) one for downstairs (211i Max model) and then one for each bedroom (511 model). We each struggle with allergies and realized that having something that cleans the air on a regular cadence was a huge plus for our health.
Health
Active Skin Repair
We use active spray for so many uses! It’s helped with burns, bug bites, diaper rash, and more. We always keep it stocked in our house.
Active Skin Repair First Aid Healing Skin Spray
Bath Tub and Shower Water Filter
Our town flushes out the water system every year to disinfect the lines (which is a good practice, of course), but the chlorine smell that comes out of our faucet every spring is almost unbearable. We use a water filter for drinking water, but we wanted something that filtered out some of the excess stuff in our shower/kids’ bath water. They have both worked great. The tub filter is super easy to install. The shower filter isn’t hard by any means but does require taking the shower head off.
Crystal Quest White Bath Ball Water Filter
AquaBliss High Output Revitalizing Shower Filter
Kids
TonieBox w/ Creative Tonie
Our oldest wakes up so early. I mean it. So early. It used to frustrate us because it provided very little time for us to have a quiet time in the morning. We stopped fighting it and instead have embraced it. Mark invites our oldest to have a quiet time with him. We recorded bible stories on the creative tonies for our oldest to listen to. Mark has enjoyed having that time with her and letting her see what it looks like to make time to spend with God each morning. *Both the box and creative tonie are required to record your own stories, songs, etc.
Reusable Kid Pouches
Have you ever priced out the cost per pouch that you purchase for your toddlers? Even the applesauce ones? They are SO expensive. We decided to try something: buy good quality, organic produce (carrots, apples, peaches, sweet potatoes) and mix it with some spices and coconut milk. Our girls LOVE these homemade pouches. I think we did the math at one point, and they came out to a small fraction of what we were spending in the store. Try it out!
Simple Modern Reusable Baby Food Pouches for Toddlers
Books
Love People, Use Things By Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus
This book is the latest from the Minimalists and I really enjoyed it. It does take some time to get through because there are questions for reflection at the end of each chapter on what is standing between you and where you want to be with your finances, self, relationships, etc…At its core, it reminds us that we are here to “love people and use things, because the opposite never works.”
** qualifier to check your library first