So the idea of “buy it for life” is to buy items that are durable and last for a long time, things you could buy once and have your whole life, which can save money and be good for the environment
What are some of the top items you recommend for this?
Hammer, screwdriver, pliers, 12-20mm chisel, and maybe a #4 pattern plane. Basic tools that will last forever, even the cheap ones, but more importantly will let you fix a wide range of wear and use-related issues in other things to extend their useful life.