29 Smart Purchases That Won’t Make Your Wallet Shudder

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

Solving problems, saving money…there’s nothing you can’t do.

1. A WD-40 pen (A pen! Genius!) to enjoy the squeak-quieting, hinge-lubricating, rust-preventing powers that you know and love from traditional WD-40 but in an easy-to-maneuver precise pen tip.
Promising review: “I love WD-40 products and use them for everything. I spray on shovels to keep dirt or snow from sticking, spray around windows and thresholds to deter bugs, clean Sharpies off wood and walls, and, of course, stop squeaky doors. These small direct-point application pens are great. Keep one in the glove box, my kitchen ‘junk’ drawer, and the house toolbox.” —BBP623

Get a three-pack from Amazon for $14.99.

2. A ceiling fan carbon filter for grabbing dust, pollen, smoke, dander, and other allergens as the fan spins. It sticks to the fan blade and is unnoticeable — but you may notice the difference in the air!

Promising review: “I wasn’t sure what to expect when purchasing these, but now they are a staple in every room of our house. Within three days the air smelled more crisp and was easier to breathe in our home. So simple and effective!” —Haylee Marez

“We have these on every ceiling fan in our house and have noticed such a difference since installing them! There is less dust on our furniture, and the general air quality in our rooms has improved. There is no longer dust build-up on our fan blades. Super easy to install!” —Hannah McClam

Get a three-pack from Amazon for $19.99.

3. A sand-removal bag that’ll be a must-have in your beach bag this summer. Rub it on your body to remove sand with ease! (No, it’s not magic. Inside the bags is a powder that, when rubbed on your body, quickly absorbs moisture, making it easier to brush off the sand.)

Shakalo is a small business based in San Diego.

Promising review: “We recently moved to a beach area, and we are constantly there. This item has changed our entire lives! It lasts decently long (depending on how much you use it), it smells super good (not at all like baby powder), and it’s super effective. It has saved me from vacuuming my car at least 1–2 times a week. And I even use it on my dogs paws and bellies to make sure they’re taken care of, too. I will definitely be buying the refill and another baggie to have exclusively in the car.” —Gabbs Uresti

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.

4. A pair of sockless shoe liners because the return of the sun also means the return of stinky, sweaty feet. Bleh! Sometimes, you don’t want or need a layer of socks, and that’s where these washable and absorbent shoe liners come in handy!
The liners come with trimming guidelines so that you can cut the insert to your desired size.

Promising review: “I can’t recommend these inserts enough! After a week of heavy use, they hardly smell. Pop them in the wash, and they are ready to go again! Super comfy and doesn’t move around. So nice to have in shoes you don’t feel like wearing socks with! Plus, so many fun patterns!” —Vicky L. Parr

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in two sizes [fits women’s sizes 6–13] and four colors).

5. A pet hair roller if you love your fur babies but hate how much they shed…on everything. Roll it over your couch, bed, favorite blanket, you name it, and watch it lift the fur away. See, we can own nice things!!Promising review: “Where has this been all my cat-loving life? Sticky rollers work fine for clothes, but this is the only product that has ever COMPLETELY removed all the cat hair from my bed. I have a long-haired 20-pound tabby, and if you run your hands up his back a few times and fling the hair everywhere, it looks like it’s snowing — he never stops shedding no matter what I do. After using the ChomChom, I can wear a black dress and roll around on my bed without getting a single hair on me. It’s absolutely amazing. Everyone is getting one for Christmas, even if they don’t have a pet. I don’t care, it’s THAT good.” —DH

Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in two colors).

6. A crack weeder tool so your knuckles aren’t scratched and bloodied after a session of sidewalk weed pulling. This stainless steel tool is designed to get into tight sidewalk cracks and remove stubborn thistles, weeds, and moss with ease.
Promising review: “I’ve been searching for something to remove the weeds for a while and came across this amazing tool. Since I refuse to use chemicals in my yard, I’ve been left with scraped knuckles every time I attempt to remove weeds. The weeds have grown so tightly in the concrete cracks that I pretty much gave up; even weed-whacking it didn’t help much. Yes, you do have to use a little bit of effort but the end result was so worth it!” —Shelley Arakaki

Get it from Amazon for $22.95.

7. A mascara remover you apply just like mascara to lift even the most stubborn waterproof formulas with ease.
This stuff is MAGICAL. I have stick-straight Asian lashes that refuse to hold a curl with wetter mascara formulas. As a result, I have to use waterproof mascara, which is a total pain to remove at night. Instead of rubbing my eyes raw with makeup removers that burn, I apply this like mascara, let it sit for a few minutes, and my waterproof mascara MELTS. Then I go in with a micellar water–soaked cotton pad, and my mascara is gone in 1–2 passes.

Promising review: “I was skeptical because I have always struggled with removing waterproof mascara 100% on the first wash/wipe. I applied it to both my lashes and then immediately washed my face with my normal cleanser, and I felt nothing on my lashes! Like I never applied anything to them. I am still amazed and in shock by this magical formula and invention! Best creation ever!” —Chrisy

Get it from Amazon for $11.99.

8. A set of DEET-free mosquito-repelling bracelets you’ll wanna keep in stock for every outdoorsy adventure. No more slathering yourself with sticky, stinky bug sprays!

Check out a TikTok of the mosquito-repelling bracelets in action. 

Promising review: “I bought these for my Costa Rica trip and was not sure if they would work. I was very surprised. All six days in Costa Rica, which included hiking in the forest and other activities, I didn’t get bit. Not even once. Amazing and worth buying.” —JbJ

Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $9.99. 

9. A digital luggage scale that’ll save your wallet from any overweight baggage fees. You’ll also be spared the embarrassment of having to repack your bag in the middle of the airport.
You can switch between pound and kilogram measurements. 

Promising review: “Works great, a must-have when flying. Very accurate scale. Easy to read with the light on it. It’s a must if you have a wife like mine who loves to shop for clothes and fill up her suitcase along with mine, or if you want to stay under that 40 pounds and avoid paying the extra for overweight baggage fees. Easy to use, very accurate, well made, and a nice design. Very pleased. Saved me money.” —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in four colors).

10. A Hydro Flask silicone boot because the whole house can hear when you set down your water bottle. This soft sleeve will help protect the bottom of your bottle and make it less slippery. And, of course, it will help prevent that awful banging sound. 

I have one for my Hydro Flask and love it! 

Promising review: “I was tired of hearing this heavy tumbler banging around, so I bought the boot, and it’s fantastic! No more loud placement on the table, silicone has some grip so not as slippery, and the color is super cute. May buy in more colors! **If you own a 32oz or 40oz tumbler of this shape, BUY A SMALL. Slightly snug pulling on, but it’s perfect and will not fall off.” —Griffyyy

Get it from Amazon for $7.95+ (available in two sizes and eight colors).

11. An outlet extender if your bed, couch, cabinets, etc., can’t lie flat against the wall because a pesky cord is in the way. This adapter has three outlets, so you can push your bed flat against the wall and still plug in the charger.
Amazon

Promising review: “I have been looking for a solution that would allow for a nightstand and also a dresser to be pushed up against a wall even with things plugged into the outlet behind that furniture. I FOUND IT. This wall outlet extender does exactly what it says it will do. I have a fan, clock radio, and watch charger plugged into it and can still move the nightstand right up against the wall. The light on the dresser no longer forces the dresser to be out a couple of inches; it, too, can be pushed right up against the wall, and the cord is not in danger of getting crushed and becoming a fire hazard. A game changer! I will be ordering a few more.” —Lynda L.

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $6.88+ (available in white and black).

12. A pair of magnetic grill lights so the cooking doesn’t have to come inside just because of a silly little thing like the sun setting.
Promising review: “Just bought a new grill and needed some decent lighting since most of my meals are done at night. These two lights attach only to the lid of my grill because the side tables aren’t magnetic, but the flex necks make the lighting very versatile. The light is bright and illuminates the grill well. The color of the light is good, too. I’m very pleased so far. Seems durable. I plan on keeping it in its storage when not in use and hope to get plenty of use out of it.” —Ryan Smith

Get a pair from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in black or silver).

13. A pack of double shower hooks to save you time when you wanna toss your dirty shower curtain liner in the washing machine. Now you don’t have to remove the shower curtain too (and then inevitably hang it up backwards). And one certified genius even used the hooks as pant hangers. *mind blown*

Promising review: “Wow. Game-changer. I have to change my shower curtain liner a lot because of a humid bathroom (yes, even with a fan on 😬). Though there are greater issues in the world, why wouldn’t you want to save yourself some time with these hooks? Not having to take the curtain off each time I change the liner has really been more satisfying than I had anticipated. An added bonus is the rings themselves: The balls that were added hug the shower curtain rod, so they never pop off. Something I never knew I needed either. Love these!” —Jdbouchart

Get a 12-pack from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in 12 finishes).

14. An SPF 30 scalp sunscreen mist for protecting your precious noggin without feeling greasy. It’s water-resistant for 80 minutes, which is perfect if you’re going to the beach or for a long run outside.
Amazon

Promising review: “I have two girls, and we spend a lot of time outside in the summers. I work as a nurse and have seen scalp skin cancer, and I definitely wanted to protect myself and my girls. We usually use the regular spray, but it leaves the hair greasy or stiff. This has a great scent, and a little goes a long way! I was worried about the small size, but it lasted us all summer. Also leaves no residue.” —Elizabeth Young

Get it from Amazon for $23.80.

15. A pack of towel clips that’ll prevent kids and pets from pulling down the towel. Or, maybe you have neither of those things, yet your hand and kitchen towels always end up on the ground.
Amazon

Promising review: “This clip is amazing. No more towels falling on the floor. It was becoming a routine thing since my cat thinks it’s fun to pull the kitchen towels off the oven. Not now, bad kitty! Great product…wish I had bought one sooner!” —Joanna

Get a three-pack from Amazon for $12.99.

16. A mold and mildew remover gel because you can set it, forget it, and come back in a few hours to see grout that looks like new. I’m talking basically every speck of black mold is gone! *Cues up “Do You Believe in Magic”*

Promising review: “Wow! I would give this 10 stars if I could. We’ve had issues for a few years with the caulking behind the handle of our kitchen faucet turning black from mildew. We’ve scrubbed with what seems like a million different products with no luck. We were actually just talking about ripping out the caulking and doing a total replacement. But my husband saw this online the other day and decided to order it. Almost immediately, when he applied it, you could see it was starting to work. We left it on overnight, and the black is COMPLETELY GONE! It’s incredible. It’s 1,000% worth the (small) investment. Seriously — just buy this. It’s amazing!!” —Nicole D.

Get it from Amazon for $14.99.

17. And a bleach-free, no-scrub weekly shower spray if your cleaning fantasies usually involve watching soap scum and shower grime buildup vanish without you ever having to wipe. Rinse it clean the next day, and you’ll be amazed to see those hard water stains on your shower door are *poof* gone.Amazon

Promising review: “We cannot BEGIN to tell you what a lifesaver this is! We have two old fiberglass tubs with vinyl shower enclosures that, no matter what amount of scrubbing we have done with everything from bleach to cleanser to vinegar and baking soda, would NOT come clean. After I took my shower last night, I sprayed down the tub and walls. Within minutes, all the built-up water deposits, dirt, and grime began to melt away in front of my eyes. I left it on overnight, and when I got up this morning, it did not look like the same tub and shower. This product is a godsend, especially for old folks like us who have difficulty getting down on our hands and knees and scrubbing anything. More importantly, it performs as advertised. We plan on using it as part of our weekly cleanup routine. This is truly an overnight sensation!” —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $20.98 (available in two scents).

18. A pack of 50 on-the-go games so your kids don’t spend the *entire* 10-hour road trip on their phones. This pack comes with a variety of games: guessing games, memory challenges, trivia questions, and more!
Promising review: “Bought this as a gift for my son as we had a 10-hour road trip in less than a week. We played several of the games, but the ‘Guess the job’ was our favorite. Played that for nearly two hours!! Our 12-year-olds loved it as much as we did!!! If playing in the car, I recommend playing when not in busy traffic so driver and navigator can play.” —Sydney

Get it from Amazon for $11.99.

19. A creamy under-eye brightener to conceal evidence of a stressful work week, broken sleep, or just genetic dark circles. And the $6 price tag? *chef’s kiss*
Promising review: “I often fall for those cheap beauty recommendations, but they are often huge fails. Not this! I love this stuff. I don’t know how it works, but it’s amazing. I swipe an eye stick on, dab this stuff on, and I don’t look like I had five hours of sleep. Even on ‘no makeup’ days, I find myself still applying this. Love it!!” —Jill Fulton

Get it from Amazon for $6 (available in two shades).

20. An outdoor drink stakes set for securely holding your glass of lemonade in a safe spot. You know what’s not fun? Setting down your soda only for it to fall over on uneven ground, get kicked accidentally, or be invaded by ants.Amazon

Promising review: “These are great. They are large enough to hold large drink tumblers like a Yeti, they will hold a beer with a thick foam koozie, they will hold a giant Fosters can, and yes, it is large enough to hold a bottle of wine. They are made out of metal and seem pretty durable. Each one is two pieces that screw together, and they have a small tab to help you push them into the ground with your feet. The only thing I would improve is to make the foot tab a little larger. Otherwise, they have my stars.” —Jamawama

Get a set of four from Amazon for $18.74.

21. A trio of sunglasses that’ll protect your eyes from the sun and your wallet for your ability to lose absolutely everything you own. Three pairs of stylish sunnies for less than $20? Now, you don’t need to fret when you settle into your Uber on the way to the hotel and realize you left your sunnies on the plane.

Promising review: “These sunglasses are inexpensive and very durable. The polarization on them is very good and keeps it very dark on those super sunny days. The style looks good on most face shapes and I loved the colors. They are very lightweight and don’t irritate behind my ears. They definitely stand up to scratches and little baby hands grabbing at them constantly.” —Amazon Customer

Get them from Amazon for $19.99 (also available in 11 color combinations and packs of one and two).

22. A pack of carborundum sponges because these are the heavy hitters you’ll want for stains and gunk that no other sponge is strong enough to handle.
Promising review: “Nice and thin. You’ll find so many more uses for these around the house than just getting stuff off the underside of cookware! I had hard, scaly water deposits on the glass surrounding our powder room faucet (one of those fancy, highfalutin modern-looking things). I’ve tried everything for 4 years to get this stuff off. One day, I thought, maybe I’ll try my sponges. Took it all off super easily!!!! The faucet looks like new. My only rec is to spot-test your item first before using it because it will scratch certain surfaces if you scrub too aggressively (for example, it gets the burned-on, weird stuff off of the bottom of my fave Our Place pan, but I rubbed too hard in one spot and it took the color right off lol).” —Hoarder

Get an eight-pack from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in two sponge thicknesses).

23. A pre-swim hair cream if you plan to spend all year round in your pool but don’t want your mane to look like a dry, tangled mess. This cream protects your tresses from chlorine and can help prevent blonde hair from turning green.

Promising review: “This stuff is AMAZING! Literally nothing else keeps tangles out of my daughter’s hair like this does. Her hair is so thick and very difficult to brush; this makes it easy peasy to brush the tangles out after a swim in the pool. It also softens her hair. When not used, the pool chemicals make her hair very stiff and dry. We even use this every once in a while just because! It smells wonderful and doesn’t make the hair greasy in any way. I cannot recommend this product enough!!!” —Emily Gardner

Get it from Amazon for $21.99.

24. A pack of towel bands so you don’t have to spend your vacation chasing your towel down the beach or the pool deck after the wind blows it away. Reviewers say they take less space in your bag and do a better job of holding down your towel than bulky clips.
Amazon

Promising review: “Last-minute purchase for a trip to Jamaica. So happy I bought them. They always kept our towels on the chairs correctly. It was also easy to tell our chairs apart from others on the resort. Will definitely be recommending them to others.” —RG

Get a four-pack from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in four colors).

25. A bag of Liquid I.V. electrolyte drink mix to help you stay hydrated in the summer heat when you’re sweating 24/7. Bonus: It’s Popsicle Firecracker flavored!
Promising review: “Liquid IV does an amazing job hydrating. I purchase their product for 40+ employees who work in a construction-related industry. Hydration is so important while working in the hot Georgia Sun, and this product aids in this 100%. Now, let’s talk about the firecracker flavor! When we produced these for our crew, ages 23–60, all of their eyes lit up, and they were super excited. Many of them did not know this flavor existed. Quite honestly, I didn’t either until I came across them on Amazon. They all loved the flavor. In particular, the ones who were older kept telling me it tasted like their childhood. Seriously, who hasn’t stood outside an ice cream truck ordering the Firecracker Popsicle?” —Disney Diva

Get a 16-pack from Amazon for $23.98.

26. A portable door lock for added security in a hotel or Airbnb if you’re traveling alone. It jams the door so it’s impossible for an intruder to force themselves in using the door handle.Promising review: “I took my first solo trip and ordered this for extra security. Was super easy to install and didn’t require me to leave my hotel door ajar for an extended amount of time for installation. My hotel door didn’t even move when I tested out the lock. 10/10 recommend for a peace of mind.”—Haley Gribble

Get it from Amazon for $14.99.

27. A lip balm keychain cap that’ll save you from misplacing that $24 lip balm before you can even use it. Each cap is designed to replace the original packaging and conveniently attaches to your keychain, purse strap, etc.
Foundry Prints Co. / Etsy

Foundry Prints Co. is a small business based in Ocala, Florida.

Caps are available for a variety of popular lip balms, including Aquaphor Lip Repair, ChapStick, Glossier Balm Dotcom, Laneige Lip Glowy Balm, Lanolips Tinted Lip Balm, Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Lip Treatment, Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm, Topicals Lip Salve, and Vaseline Lip Therapy.

Promising review: “This is the perfect addition to my bag! I can always easily find my lip gloss now. Totally recommend. Would be a great gift or even stocking stuffer!” —Amber

Get it from Foundry Prints Co. on Etsy for $5 (available in 9 styles and 11 colors).

28. A cut-to-size aloe wrap because warm weather means you’re bound to have at least one really bad sunburn, no matter how hard you try to be diligent about sunscreen application.
Amazon

Promising review: “I got absolutely FRIED at the beach this past weekend and tried everything under the sun (literally) to provide some relief for my sunburn. I was in so much pain, and every over-the-counter aloe gel, lidocaine, and cold shower was not helping. I found this wrap on my TikTok and immediately bought it. As soon as I put this on my burn, I was immediately relieved of any burning or irritation. I am wearing four patches right now, and I plan on wearing them all day, every day until this burn heals. I will say the only downside is they slip off the aloe has worn off! And it is a little bit hard to maneuver to cut since it is so slippery. But overall, I love this product and will be a forever customer!” —Nick

Get it from Amazon for $19.99.

29. A pack of self-heating soothing foot masks if you just spent a long day on your feet and the dogs are barking. 

Emma Lord / BuzzFeed

Check out a TikTok of the foot masks in action. 

BuzzFeed writer Emma Lord says, “I’m a long-ish distance runner and these were certainly an interesting experience for my feet! You slide them on and, after a few minutes, feel a tingling, mildly burning (in a good way) sensation. It doesn’t quite numb your feet, but it relaxes them. I kept them on for 30 minutes and then toweled my feet off, and the tingling sensation slowly faded over the next 30 minutes. After that, my feet felt very refreshed and relaxed at a time of day when they’re usually aching from all the miles I put in. The whole thing was a mess-free, easy process, and I will definitely keep them on hand for longer run days!”

Promising review: “Very soothing. My husband and l used these on our European vacation, and they definitely felt good on our feet!” —KS2018

Get a set of three pairs from Amazon for $14.67. 

The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.