buzzfeed Press
34 Things That Are Useful, Budget-Friendly, And Even A Little Fun
Images
We hope you love our recommendations! While every product is independently chosen by our editors, BuzzFeed and our publishing partners may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. You can read more about how our affiliate partnerships work in our Editorial Standards & Ethics Guide. This post has everything from meat shredders to moody magnets — and they're all satisfying in their own special way. Promising review: "So I am a ride or die for Eos Vanilla Cashmere. I can't tell you how many bottles of the lotion I've gone through just this year. I absolutely love [it]. When I heard about the perfume, I was SO excited. It's exactly like the lotion; it's perfect. It lasts quite a while. I spray it on me before I go to bed, and I can smell it when I wake up. Plus, you get a good amount for the cost, so it's worth it. This is another Eos item that will be on a subscription now, too. I am dying for shampoo and conditioner, so I hope that's in the works soon! Please Eos! I am a Vanilla Cashmere goddess! Hahaha! 💕"—Nikki Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in eight scents). To use this spiffy stuff, just locate a node and peel away the bract to reveal the bud. Apply a small amount of the paste, and in two to eight weeks, a clone will grow out of the node! Science is so satisfying. Promising review: "This product is just AMAZING!!! I waited a few months before writing this review because I wanted to test the product first. I am just AMAZED! I have to say...depending on the season and the place on the spike where you apply it, you either get a keiki or a new flower spike (which is awesome!). Based on my experiments, the lower on the spike, the more chances to get a keiki. The higher on the spike, the more chances to get a new flower spike. If you apply it during winter (tropical area winter), you will more likely get flower spikes. If you apply it during summer (tropical areas), you will more likely get a keiki — at least that's what I observed!" —Anne-Isabelle Bonifassi Promising review: "My kid loves this, and so do I! The games are good and are wonderful for days when you are low energy. It's a must-have." —Miai G. It also comes with an attachable 3mm body comb. For best results, the brand recommends stretching your skin with one hand, laying the blade flat, and then shaving against the grain. Promising review: "I tell everyone about this! No nicks, cuts, or razor bumps! The battery life is surprisingly long, too! I use this ALL over my body. Trust me when I tell you it saves you time and pain compared to a normal razor!! Seriously, never going back to a plastic one after this!" —Holly Here's what BuzzFeeder Emma Lord (who convinced *me* to start eating Built Bars) has to say about them: "Hello, I'm a walking cliché of Woman In Her Mid-30s Who Is Very Obsessed With Protein, since it took me three decades to realize I'm in a much better mood all day if I cram it in at every opportunity. I'm very, VERY picky about the protein bars I'll eat — Barebells and Nick's are my go-tos — and these Built bars knocked it out of the park! They have a truly marshmallow-like consistency and the most ridiculously satisfying texture and chewiness. The flavors I've tried have all been spot-on, and they don't leave any kind of aftertaste. I am perpetually out and about and in need of a snack, so I have one of these in my purse at all times!" Get a pack of 12 from Amazon for $29.99 (available in several flavors). Promising review: "This is very useful, especially if you are new to using an air fryer. It's straightforward, easy to read, with different categories, including desserts. Has a nice-sized magnet on the back for fridge use, and a hook if you want to hang it up. I'd say they thought of everything, including being sturdy and well-made. Good price, good quality." —Thelma Johnson Promising review: "This is great for teaching different types of breathing to help calm down. The distraction of following the directions can take your mind off your anxiety pretty quickly. There are several types of breathing techniques to choose from. Kids love it because it lights up and changes color." —L. Demro Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in four styles). Promising review: "These are super cute, heat up extremely well, and hold the perfect amount of whatever you decide to put in them. I will say, make sure you stir often; otherwise, whatever you have in them will burn! Great purchase, and will definitely use these over and over again." —Macee Smith Get them from Amazon for $26.98 (available in two colors). This has 133 pieces and is made for ages 9 and up. The larger daisy measures over 7.5 inches, and the smaller daisy measures over 6.5 inches. Promising review: "I just love these Lego Botanicals! I got these daisies to add to the sunflowers I already have. The directions are easy to follow and really fun to put together. It took me about an hour to finish the kit. We all know Legos are built to last, so I'm sure these flowers will too! The best part is they will never wilt or die so you can enjoy these all year long. The colors are bright, cheery, and the flowers go well with the other Lego Botanicals that I own. I will be adding more very soon, and I highly recommend." —Luv2shop Promising review: "These are very cute and I love the magnet holder to stick on my fridge so they are easily accessible. Not sure about the durability, haven't used very long." —Save the Bees Get a set of 12 clips from Amazon for $14.90. The soft-touch lid and flexible straw make it easy to sip from and clean! Promising review: "It is so cute!! I love the way that it does not leak at all!!! I also like the fact that I don’t have to worry about some plastic/metal straw. I found that it was easy to clean. It’s great just to take around. The size is perfect and depicted super accurately. It 100% keeps my drink cold, plus I’ve dropped it a few times, and there are no noticeable scratches, so that means it’s super durable. I think that overall I was super happy with my purchase." —Cassidy Marsh Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in 12 styles and in a 20-ounce size). It comes with the tracker board, wooden number tiles, number tile holders, a wooden stand, and a black acrylic pen. Promising review: "My daughter loves to read books and has a goal of how many she will read each year. I got this for her, and she added it to her bookshelf. Now she can display her accomplishment." —SSR Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in eight styles). This includes strong adhesive pads, and it's fully rotatable. There are three lighting modes, including cool white, natural, and warm. Promising review: "The heating element works great, the fog goes away in around 30 seconds to 1 minute. The perfect shower mirror. It works on USB-C charging, and it has nice heft to it. The mirror is clear, and it's big enough to get my head and some of my chest. I used double-sided 3M tape to mount it to my shower." —Zayaan Get it from Amazon for $32.99+ (available in black or white). Promising review: "My home office is chilly, which meant running to reheat my coffee every 20 minutes. Now I use this warmer set on the 145-degree setting, and every sip is hot! I like the auto shut-off safety feature. It’s lightweight and looks unobtrusive on the desk. I may get another one for my morning reading nook." —lopezgirl Get it from Amazon for $22.74+ (available in four colors). Promising review: "I love pickles and olives but hate the mess and pain of pickle/olive brine. I've been known to just drain it out of a jar immediately, even if that means having to throw away the pickles or olives sooner. I randomly discovered these containers from some online article, and knew right away I would be getting one. I now have two, but plan on buying more. They're just great. The only thing is, you need to be 100% sure you've got the lids on completely, or you will have a disaster on your hands. Check and double-check each time you are securing them. The tongs are useful just to have around for anything, too." —Nick Get it from Amazon for $13.95 (available in two styles). Promising review: "Very large, very bright, but brightness is adjustable. You also have the choice of true white LED illumination or a softer incidence 'yellow'/natural light, or you can run both simultaneously. Very large, but would fit all sun visors. No magnification (that I am aware of), but its clarity makes you think it does. Battery is chargeable, but we have not needed to recharge it yet due to its long battery run time. It’s inexpensive and needed for anyone that loves to 'finish getting ready in the car.'" —Chris Cook Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in three colors). Rayne Klar is a nonbinary artist and illustrator based out of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Promising review: "I love this magnet and keep it on my desk. :)" —A Mo Get it from Rayne Klar on Etsy for $10. Promising review: "I am so glad I ordered an extra pack of these. My goal for January was to organize the basement. I have TONS of plastic bins and whenever I need something, I have to open each to find what I’m looking for. I took a few hours the first weekend cleaning out and organizing everything and the bins. I took pictures of the contents of each bin, put one of these stickers on each bin then associated the pics with the sticker’s QR code and voila, done. IF YOU LIKE TO BE ORGANIZED, GET THESE STICKERS!" —Fred Labro Get a pack of 40 from Amazon for $9.99 (available in three pack sizes). Promising reviews: "I love this knife. You couldn't design a better knife for peanut butter if you tried. I bought a less expensive one, but returned it because the design was poor. There's no substitution for this quality product. Spend a couple dollars more, and get the best." —Beck "You can use it for many things. It is strong and can get things out of deep blenders, like a Vitamix. You could even use it to spread icing on a cake! Best of all, it is perfect for stirring those large nut butter containers you get from the warehouse stores." —Neaner Check out a TikTok of the cheese slicer in action. Promising review: "My mother-in-law had purchased one last year and I tried hers at Christmas and fell in love with how easy it was to use. We have a lot of get togethers with friends and cheese is a staple appetizer in our house. So I purchased my own and have been using it weekly since. It cuts easily and it's mostly easy to clean. Sometimes cheese gets stuck in the crack but some scrubbing with a small brush usually does the trick." —Jessica Get it from Amazon for $22.91 (available in two styles). See it in all its pretty glory in Teresa Caruso's TikTok video. Promising review: "I don’t have a lot of counter space, so I wanted something to store my hair dryer. This works great, and it matches my house beautifully!" —Amjohnson247 Get it from Amazon for $25.99 (available in three colors). Promising review: "I LOVE the look of this fruit bowl. I also love that its pedestal minimizes the space it takes up on the counter. I wasn't sure about whether I would like that it is plastic, but now I consider it a big plus. It keeps the bowl lightweight (but it is still sturdy) and makes it easy to clean. I highly recommend this fruit bowl. I couldn't be more pleased with mine." —Opinion o'Jen Get it from Amazon for $19.98+ (available in four colors). Promising review: "This item is super easy to use and cuts well every time. I've used it at least five times already, and it works perfectly. It's such a great time-saver, and I've even come back to buy more for other friends as a cute little gift. This little helper makes me actually enjoy wrapping presents!! Everyone should have one of these Little ELVES!" —Cathy Bitner Several reviewers say they just throw theirs right in the washing machine to clean them! They also make a smaller one designed for the bikini area and a long, narrow back scrubber for hard-to-reach areas. Promising review: "MAGIC. HOLY CRAP, I LOVE THIS MITT! This cleared up 80% of the 'chicken skin' I have INSTANTLY after one use. Also, it took off way more dead skin than any scrub I’ve ever used. I never write reviews, so I had to when I got this and loved it." —Cheyanne Get it from Amazon for $11.39+ (available in five colors and two-packs). I bought this after seeing it in a coworker's BuzzFeed article (you better believe I trust a BF review!) aaand it is witchcraft. I recommended it to my grandmother after using it. You don't know Nene, but if you did, you'd know recommending a kitchen tool to the *elite* chef in my family is a BIG deal. I bought it as a time-saver. I tossed an entire boiled chicken breast into this thing, twisted it twice, and it was perfectly shredded. I recommended it because I think it's a massively useful tool for folks with limited mobility or frustrating arthritis. This one's worth the cupboard space, folks! Promising review: "This product is amazing. I used it for my chicken and dumplings recipe. I figured it was another one of those 'too good to be true' items, but this does everything it says it does. I literally shredded two large chicken breasts in seconds, yes SECONDS!! I wish I had taken a video, but I didn’t. It didn’t move/slip from the counter, and it was perfection! Wow, just Wow!" —Ruthie K Voss Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in 11 colors). Check out a TikTok of the foaming pink drain cleaner in action. Promising review: "Wow! I don't think I've ever been more excited to use a cleaning product before. Who knew you could get so much satisfaction from a drain cleaner? I could probably make an ASMR video and post it, as it is that satisfying! Even though I had to angle this over my sink drain, to avoid the low faucet, it worked perfectly. The foam went down the drain and up through the overflow, bringing lots of black, yucky gunk with it. I have used lots of drain cleaners before, but not one that actually came up through the overflow. I'd never even considered what stuff was in there. It did a great job of cleaning everything out, and it left the sink smelling fresh and clean as well." —Amazon Customer Promising review: "Cremo's body wash is nothing short of exceptional. If you’re a fan of luxurious fragrances, this product will quickly become your new favorite. It boasts an incredible scent that perfectly mimics Baccarat Rouge 540 — a fragrance renowned for its sophisticated and captivating aroma. What sets this body wash apart is not just its stunning scent but also its longevity. The fragrance lingers beautifully throughout the day, ensuring you stay enveloped in that luxurious aroma long after your shower." —Ralph D. Thompson II Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in two other scents). Each pack includes adjusters in case your candle holders run large. Promising review: "These are multi-functional, timeless, and well-made. I’ve been using both of these personally and for my company, and I can’t recommend them enough. These vases are a key part of how we display florals in our tablescapes. I love that you can put them into any candle holder and it changes the whole vibe! We use them for both faux and real florals. It’s the perfect combination of functionality and style, and I can always count on them to elevate our designs. Highly recommend! I personally have 12, and I’d love to see these come out in larger sets!" —Sasha Pintos Get a box of three from Amazon for $30+ (available in two colors). Ban.do is a US-based small business that specializes in quirky accessories, home products, and stationery. Promising review: "Very dainty and caviar-esque. I love it! I have to be delicate with this piece, as I don’t want to break it. It’s beautiful, easy to clean, and just freaking cute." —Diamond Girl Get it from Ban.do on Amazon for $39.95. DW Home is such a win to discover. Their candles are *so* chic and sweet that the price feels like a cheat code. If you love tomato scents as much as I do, be sure to check out all of their tomato candles. There are so many different and darling styles, you'll need a different one for every room! Promising review: "The scent is unbelievably warm and inviting. There is a light, fruity tomato scent with a hint of herbs. It was the perfect addition to my Plant and Sip Party. The candles did not overpower the food; they complemented the vibe perfectly." —Cheryl C. Get the 15.3-ounce version from DW Home for $24 — see their huge candle selection here. Check out a TikTok of the Airy Sunstick Smoothing Bar in action. The AAD recommends using at least SPF 30 and reapplying as needed for skin protection. You can read about sunscreen myths and facts from dermatologists for more information! This is the most important piece of skincare in my life. It's so small and lightweight that I treat it like ChapStick — I have one in my medicine cabinet *and* in every one of my bags. Which is a great thing, since sunscreen is such a crucial part of our skincare routine. This makes it easy to reapply regularly. There's no mess or product to smooth out; it just gives your face a dewy, hydrated glow. AND that's the other reason this is my #1 — it's the best moisturizer. I can't believe how hydrated my skin feels when I use this, and I'm always delighted by how good it looks. Seriously, this is top-tier makeup, sun care, and moisturizer all in one. Promising review: "NO WHITE CAST! I've been looking for a stick sunscreen, and this was just exactly what was needed!! I'm a medium-toned black woman, and looking for something without a white cast is always a challenge. I have applied it on my bare skin, and there isn't a white cast at all! It's a 'soft matte' finish, for sure, and looks like natural skin; like you're not wearing anything at all." —Martina Promising review: "I have used them for both plants and light cables. The leaf design blends in nicely and looks decorative. They stick well on smooth walls, but a few lost grip over time — best for light vines. Still, they’re creative and serve different purposes." —Daniela Gomez Check out a TikTok of the Kitsch clip in action. Promising review: "Love this clip! I can wear it while driving without it hurting. It's cute for a messy twist or half-up, half-down. I have thin hair, so the small was great. If you have thick hair, get the larger one." —october_mommy Get it from Amazon for $6.39+ (available in five colors). Maplewood Novelty Cistern is a small business based in New Jersey. Promising review: "I love this bumper sticker. It really makes me laugh, so I hope those following me drive around will enjoy it as well." —Melinda Get it from Maplewood Novelty Cistern on Etsy for $7. Reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity. BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way. Mallory Mower has been a BuzzFeed Shopping writer since 2017, with a focus on unique, practical products, up-to-date parenting finds, and up-and-coming home decor.