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31 Helpful Products Under $50 To Keep Your Year Running Smoothly
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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. And yes, having a Squatty Potty in your bathroom will literally and figuratively help things go more smoothly. This set comes with to-go sauce cups, too! Promising review: "Amazing! Best bento-style lunch container I have found so far! Easy to clean and lunch can be reheated in the oven (or microwave)! The glass is nice and thick, and if you are clumsy, no worries, it hasn’t broken yet, even though I drop it all the time! Nice deep sections allow for a LOT of food!" —Danielle Get a five-pack from Amazon for $35.99 (available in three-, four-, and five-packs). (Psst — you should consult with your doctor before trying anything new involving your neck/back area to make sure it's safe for you!) For this, instead of like a regular pillow, you're supposed to lie on it in 10-minute intervals; the seller suggests working your way up to it by starting yourself off at five minutes at a time, with a one- to three-day adjustment period before regular use. Promising review: "This neck relaxer is so easy to use! It took a few times to get used to, but it is not uncomfortable and is very much helpful with my chronic neck pain and shoulder tension. I felt pain relief after the first use! I have even been able to cut back on my chiropractor appointments because of this product. So thankful for this amazing find, as I am only 41 and have been struggling with neck pain for several years now." —Mary Beth Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in five colors). You can use these for so much more than clothing! Think craft supplies, extra toiletries, shoes...basically whatever you have too much of. Promising review: "These storage bags are fantastic. I live in a small apartment where storage space is at a premium. I use these to store my Costco toilet paper and paper towels, so I don't need to make as many trips to the store. It keeps them in pristine condition and out of sight. The handles make them easy to pull in and out, and they fold up nicely when not in use. I'm thinking about getting two more since four will fit under my queen bed." —Kimberly Dorn Get it from Amazon for $12.59+ (available in five colors). If you're worried about your phone fitting, this small biz has you covered! The standard size holder fits all phones with a case under 3.38 inches wide and .67 inches thick (i.e. iPhone 13 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, etc.) However, you can also request custom dimensions to ensure the perfect fit. Seek On Solutions is an Etsy shop based in Quincy, Massachusetts. They create a ton of cool 3D-printed tech accessories (included this best seller!). Promising review: "This is a great 3D printed product, and exactly what I was hoping for...This shop clearly takes note with quality control. The phone holder is made extremely well, with sloped topsides for a wider surface area for the sticky adhesive (just peel and stick) to take hold, without making the actual wall sides of the holder too thick. My iPhone 12 Pro fits easily and this can hold a Pro Max too. The top cutout allows you to slide it out easily with a finger. Texture is not rough and won't scratch up your phone. Pretty much perfect, thanks!" —Michelle Get it from Seek On Solutions on Etsy for $11.88+ (available in standard and custom sizes, and in six colors). Mouthwatchers is a small business established by Ronald Plotka, DDS. Promising review: "Having been a dental assistant for over 30 years, I found this to be the best brush ever. I am 69 years old and have never had a cavity (genetic and maintenance). For the past 30 years I have used electric toothbrushes. They worked great, but I like Dr. P's brush because of the flossing like bristles. It's also the perfect size for a quick brush for each quadrant. Also, since taste buds are replaced every four days brushing your tongue is important to keep your breath fresh and food will taste better. Everybody brush now! Great idea from a real dentist!" —BenK Promising review: "I'm actually a dentist who often has bad breath, which is not a good combination. My oral hygiene is great (tongue scraping, brushing, flossing, etc.), but I have allergies and constantly have a bit of post-nasal drip, which contributes to the bad breath. While this stuff isn't perfect, and my breath doesn't stay fresh all day, it is definitely the longest-lasting product I have tried so far. It is the first thing I have tried that still gives me that minty feeling when I breathe deep 4–6 hours after using it. Will definitely be buying again." —Alex Get a two-pack from Amazon for $14.85 (also available in mild mint). And if you need more convincing, check out our in-depth review of TheraBreath oral rinse! BuzzFeed Writer Emma Lord (pictured above) swears by this thing!: "An embarrassing confession: my hair gets so ingrained in the carpet that a vacuum truly does nothing for it. In fact, to make matters worse, weird particles get stuck in the hair on the floor, which is stuck to the carpet, so I often was just unrooting clumps of hair from the floor with my hands (sorry for the visual). I bought this broom, and it immediately started pulling up GOBS of hair. My carpet like, genuinely changed color (turns out the pink was supposed to be much pinker, whoops). Anyway, do with that semi-horrifying information what you will." Promising review: "I bought this broom two years ago, and it is still going strong! I have four large dogs, and we have fur EVERYWHERE! This works so, so well! I am always amazed at what this picks up, even after I just ran the vacuum. If you remove the head from the handle you can use the head to do in all the crevices along baseboards where fur gets trapped on the carpets. I also use it that way to do the carpet corners on the stairs. Lastly, I use it to get dust and cobwebs off the floors and ceilings. It truly is a super tool." —Roseann Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in multiple styles). Promising review: "I'm in love with these; they helped me get organized with all my bedding! A set of sheets fit perfectly, Easy to assemble, durability is great, easy to clean, and a huge value for the price." —Christy Hawkins Get a six-pack from Amazon for $39.98+ (available in eight colors). Bed Corner Labels is a woman-owned small business based in Hermosa Beach, California. These labels can be left on sheets while they're in the washer and dryer. They can also be detached and reattached a limited number of times. Promising review: "They're easy to attach to sheets and look better than the safety pin I was using to designate the long side of my king-sized sheets." —ESimms5555 Get four labels from Bed Corner Labels on Etsy for $11.69+ (originally $13.75; available in larger sets and nine styles). Promising review: "I love lists. Usually, I don't use paper calendars because the squares are either too small or too "timed appointment oriented" for my listy lifestyle. Sometimes, I just need to write down a lot of information on a certain day. This calendar is organized just right. I love that you can start it at any time of the year. The paper quality is really heavy and smooth, so pens don't bleed through. Cuz on the back of each calendar page? More space for lists!" —Sonya W And the removable cover is machine washable, too! ComfiLife is a small business based in San Diego. They're all about pain relief, comfort, and taking care of your body. Promising reviews: "I've purchased similar items in the past that visually looked like this but were stiff and rigid. This is amazing. Totally eased my back pain from my quarantined-at-home desk job. Highly recommend." —Bellarosa555 "Since I've started working from home (coronavirus quarantine) I really miss my office chair. I saw this reviewed on BuzzFeed and immediately ordered it. Best decision ever. It helps my posture and makes my stiff kitchen chair way more comfortable." —Melissa Schuler Get it from Amazon for $45.99 (available in six colors). BTW, raising your laptop or monitor up to eye level makes for better ergonomics (i.e. reduced eye and neck strain). Read more about how ergonomic workstations can help at Cleveland Clinic. Promising review: "This was recommended in an article about handling working from home during this COVID-19 stay-at-home requirement — since workspaces at home aren't as ergonomic as at work when it comes to eight-hour work days. It is SO worth it! It's incredibly sturdy. The laptop is now placed at a perfect angle. I bought a wireless keyboard which I can use with my laptop when the laptop is in the stand — and then at the end of my workday, I just slide my wireless keyboard under the laptop in the space created by the stand, and I regain that bit of space on my table. I love it. Add in the brushed silvery tone, and it has been a great investment for me." —Joe Mama Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in nine colors). Promising review: "I LOVE LOVE LOVE these organizers!! I almost did not purchase them due to the reviews saying that larger than a C cup would not fit into the bra organizer. At just $15 for four organizers, I took my chances and ordered two sets of four. I figured, worst-case scenario, I would have to cut the dividers out of the bra organizers. I wear a 32DD, and the bras fit beautifully in the organizers. I am so glad I took the chance and did not listen to the reviews. I would have missed out on the best, cheapest organizers I have ever found. I ordered another set for tank tops and other extras I did not think of before. I will also order my boyfriend the brown ones for his drawers. Great product for a great price!" —Elizabeth L. Blackwell Get a four-pack from Amazon for $15.87 (available in seven colors). Promising reviews: "I ordered this to help with my mission of correcting my posture. I had such horrible posture as a kid and continued on with my 'desk life' that I always find myself hunched over. I wear it for 30-45 mins at a time, a few times a day. Works great to re-train my body on sitting up straight and with shoulders back. It’s very easy to put on and can tighten it or loosen to fit better." —Amanda "I found myself slumping over my desk by the end of the day and I mentioned it to my hairstylist one day as she was doing my hair, and she recommended a brace for my shoulders. I found this one and I wear it about 20 minutes a day and I can feel such a difference. The tension between my shoulders doesn't turn on as quickly as it did before I started using the brace. This particular brace is just as they named it, extremely comfortable. Easy to put on and easy to take off." —Amazon Customer Promising review: "I love these! Second time I'm buying them. They are strong and durable and useful for many things! Helpful for keeping my life a little organized 😄" —Mary Get it from Amazon for $32.99+ (available in three sizes and in packs of six and. Promising reviews: "Great, sticks well to our plastic containers, and they haven't come off in the dishwasher yet even on the bottom rack. They make my fridge so neat and easy to find everything." —The Brown Family Get a two packs of 70 labels from Amazon for $14.99 (available sold as one-, two-, and four-packs). Read more about constipation relief at home, including using a squatting position, at Cleveland Clinic. Promising review: "I am a 54-year-old man. For many years, I have been plagued with recurring hemorrhoids despite a high-fiber diet, regular BMs, and careful hygiene. Any strain would inflame the underlying condition. Dealing with hemorrhoids has been, in many ways, a life-altering nuisance. I purchased the Squatty Potty after a little research prompted by an online ad. The design made perfect sense, and for the low investment and promised effectiveness, it was worth the try. Well...IT WORKS! And immediately too! I am not exaggerating when I share with you all that it has changed my life. Anyway, with now weeks of usage, I can happily report that I no longer suffer from the condition. I have been able to exert as much effort as I needed to evacuate without having to suffer the past consequences." —Maestroso Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in two sizes and a pack of two). Promising review: "Love this broom/mop holder. So nice to save space and stay organized. Holds them so firm and flat to the wall. Also has hooks that fold out as needed. I recommend this to anyone looking for space-saving storage!" —Jaclyn Get it from Amazon for $17.97 (available in four colors). Patellar tendon straps like this one can reduce strain on the tendon connecting your kneecap and tibia during physical activity. While this can help reduce pain, talk to your doctor about recurring pain so you can address any underlying issues. Learn more about patellar tendon straps at Cleveland Clinic, and chat with your doctor to see if this is right for your knee pain. Promising review: "This brace works like magic. I purchased it to help with knee pain from cycling, and I just make sure it's on tight and just underneath my patella. I have zero pain or discomfort now. Would definitely recommend. Comes with two braces!" —Amazon Customer Get a set of two from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in seven colors and three sizes). Read more about how temperature therapy can help with migraine prevention at Mayo Clinic. IceBeanie is a small business founded by surfer and migraine sufferer Nick Lamb. Promising review: "By far one of my favorite everyday essentials. The fit could not be more perfect; it fits on my head like a glove. The fabric is SOOO smooth, soft, and comfortable. It is lightweight and doesn’t feel heavy at all. I love that the entire beanie gets cool, not just sections of it. The color is so aesthetically pleasing, and I will definitely be ordering more for my family. This product is one of my favorites because it is multifunctional; I use it when I need to cool off, when I have a headache, when I do yoga/meditate, and so much more. Do yourself a favor and buy one; you will LOVE it!!!" —Mitchel L Get it from Amazon for $35.99 (available in three colors). Former BuzzFeed Shopping writer Jasmin Sandal swears by these bags!: "I swear by these bad boys not only for general storage purposes but also if I know I'm going to be traveling for an extended period of time. As someone who tends to pack for every eventuality (who doesn't like to be prepared?!), I have learned that it's better to travel with them than without — especially since it's more or less a guarantee that my clothes are gonna take up a ~substantial~ amount of room in my suitcase. And if I can use something that's gonna shrink the size of my bulky hoodies and/or big tees in order for me to create more space, I'm sure as heck gonna do it. Plus, the satisfaction is indeed guaranteed because when you see those chunky layers flatten into a pancake...it's just *chef's kiss*." Promising review: "I've used these bags before, and they are so helpful. I even use the medium one for travel, and I have tons of extra suitcase room. The clothes don't come out wrinkled at all as long as you fold them nicely before placing in the bag, then the air sucks out, keeping them safe and sound and very compact." —Susie Kochsmeier Get a six-pack from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in multiple sizes or a variety pack). Promising review: "These are great storage cases. They are soft, not hard forms but filling them creates the form perfect. I even could stack them. Handles strong, as well as zipper. I like the clear part of the case so I can easily see what's in each case. Now my closet is neat and organized. The smaller ones fit perfectly on my linen closet shelves. I will surely order other sizes - great storage option." —Tink120592 Get a three-pack from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in five sizes and in sets of three or four). Note: Results from wearing blue-light blocking glasses are mostly a placebo effect. According to the Mayo Clinic, while blue-light blocking or filtering products such as blue-light glasses decrease the transmission of ultraviolet light involving wavelengths, there is no significant improvement in vision performance or sleep quality. Read more about it here. Promising review: "I started working full-time from home due to COVID, like everyone else, and I started to get a lot of headaches, my eyes were dry and heavy, and I was having issues with my sleep. My friend pointed out that I was on the computer now all day long when I had barely used computers before. I bought these glasses and have used them for about a week, and they are amazing!!! I feel so much better, and my body feels much better at the end of the day! I only wish they were a little lighter, and they are a little tight behind my ears." —Meghan McCutcheon Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in nine frame colors and three lens colors). Promising review: "Organizing genius !!! The magnet is VERY strong. Also comes with an adhesive that I used to attach a drink packet organizer on the fridge to make my whole drink area perfect." —Jenn Rieger Get a four-capacity model from Amazon for $28.99. Promising review: "We are apartment living, so no one in the household could take a shower without crash/boom as you're knocking something down sitting on a shelf or the bathtub rim. This is a game-changer. There are so many pockets with so much room in each I actually have space left over. My husband's back scrubber, my shampoo and haircare, my daughter's bubble baths, bath floofies, all fit with room to spare. And the pockets are all a nice height so I'm not crouching to find anything. The curtain is clear so I didn't have to change the 'pretty' one for decorative purposes. I am super pleased." —goodnite.graci Read more about compression gloves and osteoarthritis at Mayo Clinic. Promising review: "I’m 70 years old and have arthritis in my hands. I’ve used copper bracelets and other gloves for several years and they are some what helpful but these gloves seems to do a lot better. They have a tight fit and are very comfortable. They are very durable as I wear them while working outside, hunting, fishing or whatever. The other gloves I’ve had would have been torn and ripped up by now but these gloves look like I just took them out of the box and I’ve washed them twice." —Keith Proffer Get a pair from Amazon for $19.97 (available in four sizes). Promising review: "I had tried everything to get the hardware stains off my shower. CLR, metal scrubbing pads, vinegar, and many other things. I thought I'd end up having to replace all the faucets. I saw this in a BuzzFeed article and thought, no way it's THAT good... It's that good. It's better than good. It's wild how good it is. My shower looks better than new. It took rust stains off the tile. It took years of hard water scale buildup off in seconds. It is literally a miracle product." —Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $5.97 (available in three sizes and a squeezy sponge set). 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 Get it from Amazon for $15.98 (also available as a two-pack). Promising review: "When I pulled the orange plastic spiked strip from the package, I was immediately skeptical and felt like all those five-star reviews were from people who exist in an alternate universe. I was tempted to initiate a return on Amazon but decided that I might as well gamble on a piece of $9 plastic before gambling $200 on a plumber. I slipped the plastic strip down my shower drain, and literally FIVE SECONDS LATER, I was pulling up gobs and gobs and gobs of hair. HOLY COW!!!!!!!! OHMYGOSH. I can't believe I still have any hair left on my head. SO MUCH REPULSIVE GUNK!!!! I saved my prize hairball on the shower floor to show my husband because I knew he would be as skeptical as I was. We both agree it looks like a small raccoon or a large squirrel lying helplessly on my shower floor. It's a grisly, messy, smelly, and oh-so-rewarding job." —Chocolate and Chips Get a six-pack from Amazon for $9.99 (available in two colors). Promising review: "These containers are incredible, I’ve used them for both meal prep and storage in pantry. They work good in the fridge and in pantry. The lid seals on well and I haven’t had any leak issues whatsoever. The size is great for all of them, and fits well in pantry. I’ve been using them for a few months now and am going to get another set. Lastly, they stack very well!" —Katie Jean Promising review: "How cute, and efficient this is! If you a visual/organized/want to be organized, this is for you. My desk is magnetic so I was able to put it here, but it works well in any surface that is magnetic. The quality of the board is really good, the one’s I got in the past removing it to type will break on the ends, so I am grateful for this material. The colors are so cute, not going to lie I love black markers as well, but these are perfect." —Ana Quevedo Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (also available with a weekly planner, chore charts, and more). Reviews have been edited for length and/or 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. Amanda Davis (she/her) is a Shopping & Products Editor at BuzzFeed who specializes in many topics, including beauty, fashion, home decor, and her personal favorite — small businesses.
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