Let’s face it: We often deliberate about our bigger, more expensive purchases, but the small ones add up quickly if we don’t spend just as carefully. Here’s a few of my favorite buys this year that were $10 or less. (Although HuffPost may earn a share of revenue from this list, rest assured the product picks and the choice to share them weren’t influenced in any way.)
Clorox ColorLoad non-chlorine bleach, $5.49 at Target. It’s a long story, but I only have a portable washing machine right now. So when I accidentally cut myself and bled all over a brand new blue shirt, I was sure it was a goner. Wrong! I paired this non-chlorine oxygen bleach with Tide’s Ultra Stain Release Free detergent — a fragrance-free liquid that Wirecutter tests proved to be “particularly great” at bloodstains — and there you have it: Clothing saved. It’s so fun and satisfying to pour this directly on a stain and watch it bubble up and go to work.
E.L.F. Nourishing facial oil, $10 at Target. As a human with oily skin and a raging sensitivity to fragrant oils like lavender and rosemary, I never imagined I would ever use — much less love — a face oil. Surprise! This is my holy grail product, a true drugstore diamond in the rough. It’s been years since a product made such an immediate difference in my skin, but this mix of rosehip, avocado, meadowfoam, jojoba, sunflower, grapeseed and sweet almond oils, which I apply last in my routine, has all but cleared up my type 2 rosacea, probably thanks to the various oils’ antioxidant and barrier-boosting properties. I know! $10!
Kicking Horse Coffee’s Grizzly Claw coffee, $7.30 at Amazon. They had me by describing this coffee as “rich, dark chocolate, decadent,” and the frequent coupons and price drops don’t hurt, either. While I can’t claim to have an expert coffee palate, this flavor is enough that I don’t even bother buying its whole bean equivalent and grinding it fresh, which I did religiously with other brands. I just brew it cold using Food 52’s Magical Coffee recipe.
Milk frother, $2.99 at Ikea. Ikea didn’t even reach deep into its bag of Swedish words for this handy barista tool: They call it “milk-frother,” which I take as a sign that, like me, they’re flabbergasted anyone would ever spend $100 on a Nespresso Aeroccino that does the exact same thing as this handy little wand. It’s basic, but it’s milk-frother.
Everspring 100% New Zealand wool dryer balls, $9.49 at Target. Along with the portable washing machine I mentioned above, I have a portable dryer. I assumed it would perform like a standard European dryer — which is to say, hardly at all — but it’s actually decent despite the fact it plugs into a regular outlet and barely makes a noise. A friend recommended these genius wool balls, which help cut drying time by lifting and separating laundry items as they tumble so hot air circulates better. According to the manufacturer, they also reduce static, and that seems true, too.
Richard Scarry's Welcome to Busytown!, $5.99 at Amazon. If you’re a child-free household, it’s good to have something at the ready if/when friends or family stop by with little ones. Older kids can be occupied by TV, but the smallest humans will love playing with this 80-sticker book and poster while adults catch up. I keep one on hand for emergencies, lest my belongings start to look like toys.
GE Personal Security Window/Door Alarm, $6.75 at Amazon. When I needed something of a security system in my apartment, I first bought an indoor camera that would send an alert to my phone if it sensed movement. I realized that although that might be great from a crime-recording standpoint, it didn’t serve as a deterrent, not give me much of a heads up if someone tried to enter. Then I found these small, battery-powered door and window alarms, which give me total peace of mind. The alarm is loud, each unit comes with double-sided tape for easy installation, and you can turn it off or to chime mode with the click of a button.
Wilton Perfect Results premium nonstick muffin and cupcake pan, $9.54 at Amazon. I also own the $31.95 Williams Sonoma Goldtouch cupcake pan, and when it came time to bake 200 cupcakes for a friend’s birthday party earlier this year, I discovered that the less expensive Wilton produced a quicker, better and more consistent bake every time. Go figure. |
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