The 11 best cheap alternatives to expensive everyday items
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Sometimes, it's worth splurging on expensive products, but other times, it just isn't.
Everyday necessities are just one of those things where spending tons of money isn't a must. Actually, most inexpensive brands will do the same job as their pricier counterparts, with the advantage of saving you hundreds of pounds.
If you want to save some cash, we rounded-up the best alternatives to the everyday products we all need, but which won't leave a hole in your wallet.
Sturdy Phone Case
As far as sub-£10 sturdy phone cases go, this Anker one is the best by a mile.
Sure, the LifeProof Fre is more aesthetically pleasing and slightly more durable as it's snowproof, waterproof, dirt-proof as well as being drop-proof. That being said, the Anker is a no-fuss, no-frills case which will protect your phone against pretty much whatever life throws at it. It's so good, that we included it in a round-up about the most rugged phone cases you'll ever use, as it can hold its own against much pricier options.
Anker actually tested their phone case by dropping it six times from three feet onto its corners and back on a hard concrete floor. Needless to say, the case (and the phone) didn't sustain any damage, which is fairly impressive.
Cast Iron Pan
Cast iron pans are probably the most versatile items in your kitchen. Whether you want to stir fry vegetables, sear chops perfectly, bake the perfect mac'n'cheese in the oven, or create the perfect sauce, they are the one indispensable item everyone should own.
If you cook a lot, if would make sense to invest in a £90 top of the shelf Le Creuset skillet with a lifetime warranty, but the price tag might be a bit much for the occasional cook. When it comes to quality without the exuberant price tag, Lodge is the perfect alternative. For under £30 you get quality cook wear at a bargain price which is all anyone could really ask for.
Coffee Machine
We wrote about the humble, sub-£30 AeroPress before and we're still huge fans of this upgraded French Press. While it's design may be simple, ynlike others, Aero uses a micro filter which means that the particles which make your coffee bitter or gritter won't get through. If you don't have almost £200 to splurge for an amazing coffee experience, AeroPress will do the trick perfectly.
Electric Toothbrush
An electric toothbrush is a must-have for anyone conscientious about oral hygiene.
That being said, those nifty gadgets can get rather pricey. The beautiful Sonicare Diamond Clean, for instance, will set you back a whopping £115, while the newest addition to Oral-B's Bluetooth-enabled series boasts the same exuberant price tag.
If you want to take care of your pearly whites without breaking the bank, the Oral-B Pro 600 is only £20 and has an almost perfect five-star rating on Amazon UK, as well as more than 1,500 customer reviews. Not only that, but it also boasts a pressure sensor and a timer, making it one of the strongest, yet most inexpensive options out there.
Lightning Cables
There's no worse feeling than having to replace a £20 lightning charger. Luckily for us, there are tons of alternative MFi certified chargers on the market which won't break the bank. Anker probably has the sturdiest lightning cables out there, but AmazonBasics have the most inexpensive ones. There's not much more to say, apart from the fact that for just over £5, you'll be keen to buy spares for the office, and won't care if they break.
Personal Blenders
A protein shake or smoothie is a great way to start the day for those who don't have time to sit down and eat in the morning. Personal blenders can get expensive though, especially if it's a Nutribullet. There's no doubt that the more expensive blender is probably more powerful, but this AmazonBasics one is perfect fro those who need a no-frills gadget to make the perfect smoothie.
Noise-cancelling Bluetooth Headphones
Noise-cancelling headphones are life-savers to all commuters. That being said, their price tags can get rather steep – at almost £300 a pop, the Bose QuietComfort is arguably the best on the market. Audiophiles should probably invest, but for those who don't want to splurge, Sony's MDR-ZX770BNL are a great £100 alternative. For that price, they're pretty decent headphones and definitely won't disappoint.
Action Camera
Owning an action camera is essential if you enjoy adventure holidays. Not only are they much lighter and much more compact than DSLRs, but they can also hold their own against great cameras when it comes to picture and video quality. That being said, not everyone needs the amazing quality the GoPro HERO5 offers and will be perfectly happy with a sub-£50 ThiEye i60e.
ThiEye i60e, £44.99.
ThiEye i60e, £44.99.
Knives
Wusthof have been making amazing kitchen knives for over 200 years. However, as always, amazing quality comes at a price. In this case, a whopping £350. Needless to say, the occasional cook doesn't necessarily need or want to invest.
The Joseph Joseph Elevated Knives Carouselis a perfect alternative for people who want quality, without the crippling price tag. One of the greatest features of this block set is the rotating carousel which helps reduce mess.
Tablet
An iPad Pro is very much a luxury product which could easily replace a laptop. That being said, not all of us need a tablet with all the bells and whistles. Amazon's Fire HD 8 is perfect for those who need a tablet on which to browse on or simply need a lighter alternative to their computer when on the go. Sure, there's much less storage space compared to the whopping 128 GB of the iPad Pro, but a micro SD card will easily solve that issue.
In-ear Headphones
Everyone needs a sturdy pair of wired in-ear headphones in case your Bluetooth headphones run out of juice, or if you don't want to splurge on a more expensive pair. We already wrote about the five best in-ear headphones under £20, but the ones which stand out above the rest are these Xiaomi ones. They're so in demand that the seller had to drive the price up a few quid, but they're still the best for those who love that extra "thump" to their bass.
They certainly don't boast the noise cancelling technology the Bose QuietComfort in-ear headphones do, but for under £25 they do the job rather nicely.
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