Things worth buying for under $25, and a few to skip
Small, useful buys that typically cost under $25 and get used every week, plus the cheap items and gadgets that end up wasting your money.
Manon Lambert3 min read
Twenty-five dollars is where most impulse buys live. Some are great. Many end up in a drawer.
Here is a short list of what usually earns its place.
Worth it
LED bulbs. They use far less power than old bulbs and last for years. Look at the lumens for brightness, not the watts. Check the color on the box: "warm white" for living spaces, "daylight" for workspaces.
Microfiber cloths. They clean glass, screens and counters without sprays. A pack lasts a long time if you wash them without fabric softener.
A silicone spatula set. Heat resistant, easy to clean, and they do not scratch your pans. Check the label for the temperature it can take.
A surge-protected power strip. Not a plain extension cord. Look for a listed surge rating and a safety mark. Do not daisy-chain strips.
A reusable water bottle. Costs 25 cents a day if you use it for a few months and stops you buying bottled water. Pick one that fits your cup holder.
Skip
- Single-use kitchen gadgets. An avocado slicer or egg cuber lives in a drawer.
- Phone accessories with no brand. Cheap grip stands are fine. Cheap batteries and chargers are not.
- Packs of 50 anything. If you only use five, you paid for 45 you will never touch.
- "As seen on TV" cleaning gadgets. A cloth and a spray do the same job.
At this price you get / do not get
You get: - Basic tools that do a job well - Small upgrades that make daily life easier - Items that pay for themselves in a few months
You do not get: - Long warranties - Premium materials - Items safe to use unattended if they lack a safety mark
Before you pay
- Will I use it at least once a week?
- Does it carry a safety mark if it plugs in?
- Are there recent reviews that mention it holding up after months?
- Would I be sad if it was gone tomorrow? If not, skip it.
Use a little cost-per-use math to double-check. A $20 item used 100 times costs 20 cents each time. A $5 item used once costs $5.
If you need a wall charger or cable, read the phone charger guide first. Cheap ones are the one place where cheap can cost you a phone.
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