Normally, we look for opportunities to save money in everyday life. So while it may seem weird to purposely spend extra, there are times when it pays to spend a little more to save money in the long run. Here are 5 prime examples:

Reusable Water Bottles

We humans are supposed to drink a lot of water each day. And while we know that refilling a reusable water bottle is the way to go to save money, it can be tempting sometimes to just pick up a water bottle, or buy a case of water for your home. Avoid the temptation and get yourself a handful of reusable bottles that are easy to pick up and refill. You can even invest in one of those bottles that have built-in carbon filters if you’re interested in removing impurities from tap water. Carry that bottle wherever you go and you’ll have the option to have water wherever you go.

Cloth Napkins

Do you go through a lot of napkins on a weekly basis? Avoid the need to buy napkins at all by investing in some cloth napkins that you can wash and reuse. You can even make your own if you don’t want to spend the money.

Programmable Thermostat

This may be the single best investment you can make to save on your monthly bills. The device can change the temperature automatically when you’re away or sleeping, so you’ll save money without having to think about it. And the savings you see should quickly cover the cost of buying one of these devices.

Energy Efficient Lightbulbs

When buying light bulbs, it pays to spend more for CFL’s (Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs) now. Check out Ray’s article to learn more about just how much you’ll save using CFL’s as opposed to buying the cheapo light bulbs.

A No-Contract Cell Phone Plan

While your cellphone may be a lot cheaper when you buy it with a 2-year contract, you’ll end up spending a lot more over the course of time while paying your bill. If you spend the money upfront to get your phone, then go with a no-contract provider, you could save up to $45 a month. Soon, you’ll be break even with what you would have paid with the contract, and then you’ll start enjoying real savings.

Check out some of the best no-contract cellphone plans here.