Kitchen Items You Should Stop Buying to Save Money
The smartest kitchen purchase you can make is to stop buying organizers that don’t actually suit your space — because an organizer that works in someone else’s home can be useless in yours.
Before you copy a setup you saw online or in a friend’s kitchen, look at your own kitchen first. Measure the space, check which organizers will genuinely fit, and only then buy. Otherwise you are just wasting money on pretty things you can’t use. Here is a clear-eyed rundown of the kitchen items worth skipping — and what to buy instead.
Which storage racks should I avoid buying?
Some racks look so good that we buy them without thinking them through. A slim wheeled rack is genuinely useful for very tight spaces where you have no room at all — but the wheels stop working the moment you add even a little weight. Load it up and it shakes; put three or four items on it and the wheels won’t move. It has to rest against a wall for support, or it can tip over at any time. Only get this if you have a wall to lean it against.
A magazine or newspaper holder has the same problem. Add a little weight on top and it tips backward, so keeping it stable is genuinely difficult. Use it only for newspapers or a few small things — pile on magazines or books and it falls over repeatedly.
Open shelving units carry a hidden cost too: they get dirty very fast, and a damp cloth alone won’t clean them. You have to remove everything and take each shelf out separately to clean it properly. They suit light items like potatoes, onions, and tomatoes, but not anything heavy.
Are jute baskets practical for the kitchen?
Jute baskets are a favourite for their looks — but they are absolutely not practical for kitchen storage. If you keep a bottle of oil in one and it leaks, no amount of washing removes the stain. Even careful use leaves residue at the base of a bottle, and the basket base stains permanently. Don’t store haldi or spice boxes in them either.
Their best uses are away from the stove:
- Small clothing items inside your wardrobe.
- Jewellery boxes.
- Sealed, packaged goods like soap and closed grocery packets.
- Bathroom items — soaps, toothpaste, handwash, and other liquids, which look neat and stay clean.
Are small decorative baskets worth it?
Tiny baskets are mostly useless because their shape won’t let you fit anything meaningful inside. A small red-and-orange basket holds a few fruits or vegetables at most — but put vegetables in it and try to fit it in the fridge, and it eats up space while not matching the vegetable trays most fridges come with. Realistically you can only use it outside the fridge, for onions or potatoes. Don’t waste money on baskets like this.
Which rotating tray (lazy Susan) is worth buying?
Rotating trays are actually very useful — but quality decides everything. The cheap ₹99–150 tray is poor quality: the plastic is so soft that four bottles won’t rotate properly, it wobbles, and it warps within a few days under kitchen weight.
A sturdier, better-quality rotating tray costs a bit more but holds heavy items and large containers, fits more of them, stays stable, and can safely carry glass bottles. When you invest in your kitchen, invest in good quality.
Should I keep glass bottles in the kitchen?
Glass bottles are best avoided for everyday use. If one falls, you lose the food inside, create a mess, and scatter shards everywhere. Worse, over time the lids wear down and tiny slivers of glass start coming off near the rim — genuinely dangerous if they end up in your food and your stomach. Residue also builds up in the lid corners.
Food-grade plastic containers are the better choice: they don’t break if dropped, they’re airtight, and they’re easy to handle. Since we move these containers around daily, sturdy, good-quality plastic simply makes more sense.
How do I choose door organizers and cup holders correctly?
Door organizers are some of the best space-savers for a small kitchen — but check the space inside your cabinet before buying. A larger door organizer works where there’s enough depth (like the space around a cylinder) for the door to still shut properly. If it doesn’t fit and you end up mounting it on the outside of the door, your kitchen won’t look as good. Check the size first, then decide.
Cup organizers need the same scrutiny. A tall vertical counter-standing holder advertised for 10–12 cups looks space-saving, but the bottom hooks are basically unusable — any cup hung there touches the surface below because of how the hooks sit. You end up using only the top five or six hooks. Under-shelf hanging organizers are far better: every hook is usable, they save counter space, and nothing is wasted.
Which grinder should I skip?
The popular multi-purpose grinder looks tempting but is a real waste of money — and often not returnable, so you lose the money entirely. It has no button, so you can’t control the speed; it switches straight on when you flip it, forcing you to hold the jars the whole time. It heats up and starts smoking within seconds, which isn’t safe. Its dough-kneading attachment is so small it can’t make atta for even two rotis, and overfilling throws everything out the top. If you need a grinder, the plain, simple-looking ones are actually the best.
📺 About this video. This post draws on Jasmine Choudhari’s YouTube video DON’T BUY THESE KITCHEN ITEMS STOP WASTING YOUR MONEY. Watch the full video for visual demonstrations of every tip.
If you’ve been choosing the wrong organizers, the fix is simple: match every purchase to your own kitchen’s space and prioritise quality over looks.
Watch the video
Frequently asked questions
Why shouldn't I buy an organizer just because it looks good in someone else's kitchen?
Because an organizer that fits and works in one home may not suit yours at all. Look at your own kitchen first, measure your space, and check which organizers will actually fit before buying. Copying someone else's setup without matching it to your layout is the quickest way to waste money on things you can't use.
Are jute baskets a good idea for storing kitchen items?
No, jute baskets are not practical for the kitchen even though they look lovely. If oil, turmeric, or spice boxes leak or leave residue, the stains never wash out of the base. Use them instead for wardrobe clothing, jewellery boxes, sealed packaged goods, or bathroom items like soap and handwash, where they stay clean and look nice.
Which rotating tray (lazy Susan) should I buy for my kitchen?
Buy the sturdier, better-quality plastic one even though it costs more. The cheap ₹99–150 trays use soft plastic that won't rotate properly under four bottles, wobbles, and warps within days. A solid rotating tray holds heavy containers and glass bottles safely, stays stable, and lasts. When investing in your kitchen, invest in good quality.
Is it safe to store food in glass bottles in the kitchen?
Glass bottles carry real risks and are best avoided for daily kitchen use. If one falls you lose the food, create a mess, and scatter shards. Over time the lids wear down and shed fine glass slivers near the rim that can end up in your food. Food-grade plastic containers that are airtight, sturdy, and won't break are safer for everyday handling.
Do I need to check my cabinet before buying a door organizer?
Yes, always check the depth inside your cabinet first. Door-hanging organizers are among the best space-savers for a small kitchen, but only if there is enough room for the door to still shut properly with the organizer tucked in. If it forces you to mount it on the outside of the door, your kitchen won't look as good.
Should I buy a multi-purpose grinder with a dough attachment?
No, avoid the popular multi-purpose grinder because it is a genuine waste of money and often non-returnable. It has no speed button, switches on abruptly, heats up and smokes within seconds, and its dough attachment is too small for even two rotis' worth of atta. If you need a grinder, the plain, simple ones work best.
What kind of cup organizer actually uses all its hooks?
Under-shelf hanging cup organizers use every hook and save counter space. Vertical counter-standing organizers advertised for 10–12 cups often waste their bottom hooks because any cup hung there touches the surface below. In practice you can only use the top five or six hooks, so the under-shelf style is the more practical buy.
Are small decorative baskets worth buying for the kitchen?
Mostly no, because their shape rarely lets you fit anything meaningful inside. A small red-and-orange basket might hold a few fruits or vegetables, but it takes up too much fridge space, doesn't fit standard vegetable trays, and holds very little. At best keep onions or potatoes in it outside the fridge, otherwise skip it.
About Jasmine Choudhari
Jasmine Choudhari shares practical, no-frills ideas for organising small Indian kitchens and homes. Follow her on YouTube (600K+ subscribers · Silver Play Button), Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. For collaborations: collab@jasminechoudhari.com.