Money-saving items that pay for themselves -- Savings Experiment

If you're trying to live a frugal lifestyle, it can seem counterintuitive to spend extra money on products. However, certain items can actually help you save more in the long run. Here are a few to consider.

First, think about investing in a slow cooker. The average family spends about $50 at a restaurant, and ordering out a few times a week can quickly add up, but with a slow cooker you only pay a fraction of the cost in ingredients to make a great meal. Just throw them in the cooker and by dinnertime your meal will be ready.

Next, swap out your incandescent bulbs for cost-effective LEDs. Incandescent bulbs use more energy, costing up to eight times more on your electric bill. While LED's be a bit costly, they last up to 23 times longer, which means less replacement and less money spent.

Finally, you can eliminate rental costs from your cable company by buying your own modem. Many people don't realize that they're being billed up to $10 a month to "rent" their cable modem. Instead of paying that fee regularly, invest in a modem that's compatible with your cable provider for about $100 and you'll break even in less than a year.

The next time you're at the store, remember these money-saving products, because sometimes you have to spend money to save money.

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