If You're Working With Limited Funds, These 24 Affordable Things Will Absolutely Come In Clutch

Buzz Feed

15-02-2025

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.
Shopping
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Because you still deserve a life of ease.
1. A lash-extending E.l.f. Cosmetics tubing mascara, which uses tubing tech to extend the look of your lashes beyond their natural length. This long-lasting and lengthening formula leaves no lumps, no flakes, and no smudges. Plus, it contains 5% jojoba seed oil to condition lashes while giving you an epic lewk.
Check out a TikTok of the E.l.f. tubing mascara in action.
Plus, BuzzFeed writer Emma Lord is a big fan:
" I am not a new human to the tubing mascara game, and in fact readily spent $26 on the famous OG blend from Blinc every time it needed replacing. I didn't even love it for the length half as much as the fact that tubing mascara like this genuinely never smudges, but can I just say — regardless of price, the E.l.f. tubing mascara formula blows all the others I've tried out of the water. It gives me way more length and volume than other brands, slides on so much more easily, stays put ALL day, and never, ever smudges. My favorite part, though, is how gently and easily it comes off with soap and water. In the past, other mascara removals have felt rough on my lashes, but this comes off so fast that I'm like ??? was I even wearing mascara a minute ago?? Anyway, I hesitate even writing this review because I want to gatekeep the hell out of this before it sells out, but the world needed to know. I'm a big fan of the brown shade (which is what I'm wearing above!), but it also comes in black and soft black."
Get it from Amazon for $7 (available in three shades).
2. And a vegan and cruelty-free E.l.f. Cosmetics cleansing balm because it's a great (and cheaper) alternative to Farmacy's Green Clean makeup remover. Infused with hyaluronic acid and peptides, this super hydrating formula nourishes as it cleans!
www.amazon.com
Promising review: "E.l.f. has really stepped up their game lately! I was using Farmacy Green Clean, and I loved it, but it was very expensive. I decided to try the E.l.f. brand because of the price, and it's the exact same thing! For $11, you can't go wrong with this product. I wear waterproof mascara, and this makes removing it super easy! My face feels super clean and hydrated after using this product. The product lasts for a good amount of time, too." — Haley McCaulley
Get it from Amazon for $10.97+ (available in two sizes).
3. A pack of Bottle Bright cleaning tablets to take care of the tough stains and persistent odors living in your water bottles, coffee pots, and mugs. The best part is there's no scrubbing involved. So you get super clean gear with minimal effort!
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"My tea mug was horrible: 'stainless' steel that was totally brown from tea. It's now shiny and silver again. I used it on my coffee mug and my gym water bottle as well, and they're all like new! Highly recommend, and it works super fast. No scent during or after use." — afK2
Get 12 tablets from Amazon for $7.99.
4. A pack of reusable grocery bags so you don't have to pay for single-use plastic bags at the store. These durable bags have reinforced bottoms to help them stand on their own, which means no squished bread or cracked eggs. Oh, and a four-pack of these large-capacity tote bags holds the same as 12 single-use grocery bags!
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I gave up using plastic bags over a decade ago and discovered these reusable, crate-like totes. I get compliments all the time from baggers at the grocery store as they stay open on their own and are large and sturdy. I always keep one or two in my car and find myself using them for other shopping trips, like to Home Depot, or when needed to bring supplies to the beach, school, etc. Sturdy handles are a must for these since they can carry a significant amount of weight, and these are reinforced and securely attached." — CMCMOM
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in five colors).
5. A set of Beckham Hotel bed pillows — you're not achy because you woke up on the wrong side of the bed; you're achy because your pillows (no offense) are trash. Try these super comfy and luxe Beckham Hotel pillows for a sleep so good, you'll think you dreamt it.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I've had these amazing pillows for 6+ months now, and they are still just as plump and amazing as the day I received them. I've spent $50+ on pillows in the past for them to lose shape and support within months, so the fact that these are still so plump and supportive is amazing to me. I am both a side, back, and stomach sleeper and I can sleep comfortably in all positions with these pillows! MUST-HAVE!" — Jennifer Cook
Get it from Amazon for $49.99+ (available in three sizes).
6. The Pink Stuff cleaning paste, because no sticky saucepans, streaky stainless steel, or gunked-up glass shall prosper against you or this versatile, easy-to-use cleaner. This paste has got you covered, from your caked-on stovetop to your dirty rain boots. It can even remove those colorful drawings your kids left on your white walls!
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising reviews:"I need this in bulk!! I have tried so many cleaning solutions to get out hard cooking stains on my stove top and nothing worked! This stuff took it right out without a problem!!" — Micaela Gunderson
"I was trying to get adhesive off of drywall and nothing was working. THIS WORKS on everything! It easily took off the adhesive. Then I had Corningware with a stubborn stain; I had tried everything. Then I tried the Pink Stuff, and it easily removed the stubborn stain. I will now always keep this on hand!" — David C. Rein
Get it from Amazon for $5.97.
7. And a floor cleaner from the same company that'll dissolve just about any mess or stain that has been too stubborn to be cleaned so far. This non-abrasive formula works on just about any type of flooring and will leave behind a nice, fresh scent.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I had mopped my floor and could never get it clean enough. I used this bad boy, and it pulled up more dirt than Fabuloso. Living in Alaska, you tend to bring a lot of muck, and having a dog doesn't help much with the dirt. 10/10 would recommend. It is the dirt destroyer." — Steven Crosby
Get it from Amazon for $6.98.
8. Some produce saver sheets you just place in your fruit bowl, Ziploc veggie bags, or your fridge's crisper drawer to help your produce stay fresh for up to four times longer! These sheets are reusable and compostable.
Promising review: "My berries would only last a few days before I used this product. Now they last 2–3 weeks! The same for my leafy greens: They stay fresh for several weeks. A big money saver! These papers have a pleasant herb scent. I am very impressed with them. Have not figured out how to keep my bananas fresh." — SusanH
Get eight sheets from Amazon for $14.99 (available in a larger pack).
9. A revitalizing hair protein treatment for conditioning and repairing dry, damaged, and over-processed hair. This collagen-rich formula is designed to work on all hair types. TBH I'm already obsessed with your hair evolution!
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"This product is incredible. Works better than Olaplex and for 20 dollars less! I have medium-length dyed hair that gets very frizzy, and this is changing the game for me!!" — Mica MacKay
Read our Elizavecca CER-100 collagen coating treatment review for more deets!
Get it from Amazon for $7.91.
10. A waterproof car cover to help protect your car from the elements. Because the less rain or sun your car's exposed to, the less often you'll have to get it cleaned or detailed.
www.amazon.com
This also offers UV protection!
Promising review:"I'm impressed with this car cover! It fits my 2007 Acura TL perfectly, with no rips or tears. The material is high-quality, breathable, and waterproof; it's exactly what I needed to protect my vehicle from the elements. Installation was a breeze, and it stays securely in place even on windy days. I've tried other covers in the past, but this one is hands-down the best. Would recommend." — Alex
Get it from Amazon for $63.90+ (available in lots of shapes/sizes).
11. A bottle of professional-grade callus-removing gel that can remove years worth of calluses quickly and easily. Just presoak your feet, apply the gel, let it do its magic, and rinse. Now you can use that pedicure money on something else!
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"Best foot callus remover I have ever used! I read a lot of the reviews before purchasing this product. Most callus removers I have purchased in the past were not very effective. So, I was encouraged by the reviews. I saw that a lot of reviewers mentioned being very careful not to leave it on longer than three or four minutes. My feet were the softest they had ever been. Love love love." — Cheri whisker
Get it from Amazon for $7.99.
12. An almond-scented wood polish and cleaner because your furniture is starting to look a little worse for wear. You'll also get a handy microfiber cloth, so you can easily wipe away grease and grime while restoring your piece's original wood finish.
www.amazon.com
Therapy Clean is a family-owned small biz using safe-for-you ingredients to make cleaning products.
Promising review:"I didn't realize how 'thirsty' my furniture was until I used this product. It made my dining table look great (and it is 20 years old and used daily). Also, it applies easily and doesn't leave streaks. Highly recommend!" — Keri
Get it from Therapy Clean on Amazon for $19.95.
13. A sink and drain plunger to help you clear clogs without the help of an expensive plumber. Slow-draining pipes are no match for this heavy-duty plunger!
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"Y'all, this thing is amazing! My kitchen sink was completely clogged for four days. I've been trying to clear the drain with a different sink plunger that I already had, and it didn't do diddly-squat. I was about to give up and call a plumber. Then I decided to order this one, and it just arrived...it completely cleared the drain in like three minutes. So then I decided to take it to the bathroom sink that had been draining extremely slowly and within a minute, I had the water running so quickly and smoothly again. I got the small one, and it's the perfect size for kitchen and bathroom sinks." — JNeen
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in four sizes).
14. A tin of Cirepil blue wax beads that'll keep you hair-free without having to go to a professional waxer. Its gel texture is safe for all skin and hair types.
www.amazon.com
"I have very thick hair, and all the other wax would leave so much hair behind, but not this product." — Anna Presson
Get it from Amazon for $23.99.
15. A pack of eight reusable menstrual pads because they're infused with charcoal, which helps neutralize odors. They also have button snaps on the wings to help catch anything trying to spill out the sides. Spend less on single-use pads with these leakproof beauties. (Yeah, they're also really cute!)
Promising review:"I have endometriosis and am sensitive to regular pads. I had been looking for a while for cloth pads, but all the ones recommended could not hold my heavy day for more than an hour. These are up to the job. The only time I can't really wear them without a leak is overnight on my heavy days. But if I wear period panties and these, I'm golden. I've used them now for two cycles and won't go back to trying discs or anything else that's been a waste of my money!" — Alys
Get it from Amazon for $15.99.
16. A pair of cozy Dearfoams slippers since your toes deserve some reprieve from a hard floor. And plenty of reviewers say these are just as comfy as their expensive twin: the Ugg Coquette slippers.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
FYI, this is included in Prime Try Before You Buy so you can give it a trial run if you're a member!
Promising review:"I've had Ugg slippers and now these and you can't tell the difference. I am 37 weeks pregnant and have worn these through my whole pregnancy (legit every day). They have held up great and are sooo comfy!" — Alexandra Zynda
Get them from Amazon for $39.95 (available in women's sizes 6–11 regular or wide and lots of colors).
17. A silicone freezing tray for saving sauces, soups, smoothies, and more! Because yesterday's leftovers are today's meals. Yep, meal prep just got a whole lot easier.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Souper Cubes is a small biz making freezing and storing freezer-friendly foods ~souper~ easy.
Promising review:"This is great. It's such an elegant solution to portion sizing and especially freezing leftovers. I recently made a meat sauce, portioned out the leftovers, and put it in the freezer. It's so easy to remove frozen portions, then bag/vacuum pack for longer storage in the freezer. After reading reviews of similar products from other brands (with people saying their off-brand version keeps shedding dust, flimsy design, leaks, doesn't act like food-grade silicone, can't put in the oven, etc.), Souper Cubes is the only brand I will buy. I am so impressed I plan to grow my collection of Souper Cubes. It deserves more than 5 stars (I've never said that about a product before)." — Therese
Get it from Souper Cubes on Amazon for $19.95.
Check out my colleague's Souper Cubes review!
18. A WD-40 pen — a multi-use lubricant in a convenient pen form! This works great at stopping squeaks, protecting against corrosion, loosening rust, and removing grime! Precision made easy.
www.amazon.com
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 in the house toolbox." — BBP623
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $12.99.
19. A cute insulated Owala coffee tumbler since you make a great latte at home but it's usually cold by the time you get to your office. This tumbler will keep hot drinks hot for up to 24 hours. Plus, it has an easy-sip strawless spout and a splash-resistant lid!
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"The lid is an example of exceptional design. The drinking opening is different from anything I have ever experienced. It feels great to drink from, which isn't something you would normally say about a beverage cup. But your lips seal naturally against the opening, and the coffee flow is perfect. It is difficult to describe, but once you try it, you will understand. The cup has also proven to be very durable, especially the coating. I don't know what kind of paint they use, but it is highly resistant to chips and scratches. It is also slightly textured, which helps keep a solid grip and prevents slipping out of your hand. The outside of the cup is comfortable to hold, no matter how hot the liquid inside is. This cup has performed wonderfully and is my go-to daily cup for drinking my morning coffee." — HaSt
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two sizes and four colors).
20. A Petcube to help you keep an eye on your furry friend when you're away from home. This affordable security camera has two-way audio and video so you can tell your pups what good dogs they are. And! It has a built-in vet chat so if you capture any strange behavior, you can quickly and easily consult a vet 24/7.
www.amazon.com
Petcube is a California-based small business established in 2012 that specializes in interactive HD pet camera products.
It's also app enabled and can send you instant notifications, sync with Amazon Alexa, and even access a vet on demand if you notice any weird behaviors.
Promising review: "Unbeatable for the money. I needed a way to keep an eye on a new 4-month-old puppy who keeps digging holes in my yard. I didn't expect a lot for the price, but I was pleasantly surprised. The video is quick to get started and very clear, zoom is quick, and the night vision actually works. I haven't used any of the other features yet but these alone make this a great value! Far exceeding what I expected." — Rick Grisham
Get it from Petcube on Amazon for $31.99.
21. A window insulator kit if you need help lowering your energy costs this winter. This crystal clear film heat shrinks to seal out drafts.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I buy this every winter and it makes a BIG difference! We have super-thin windows and this works like a charm to stop 80% of the cold drafts, and I find I can sit right next to the window without a problem after installing them. It's easy to install and looks invisible after you apply heat with a hair dryer. No one will be able to tell there's a film and it'll look completely transparent after you apply heat. It was so satisfying to see the wrinkles disappear! It looks great, works great, and will save your energy! Win win win!" — Raymond
Get a three-window kit from Amazon for $18.33.
22. A fragrance-free EcoTools makeup brush cleaning spray — this super convenient cleaner is not only vegan and cruelty-free but also quick-drying, so you don't have to wait hours and hours for your brushes to dry to use them again. Just spray this onto the bristles and wipe away the residue on a cloth.
Now you don't have to shell out for new brushes!
Promising review:"I was pleasantly surprised at how well this cleaned my expensive brushes. The makeup came out with minimum effort and left the brushes soft and smelling fresh. The relatively low price was an extra bonus. I will definitely purchase the product again." — Ann S Raab
Get it from Amazon for $6.73+ (available in two sizes).
23. A headlight restoration kit so you don't have to rush to a garage and spend $$$ to have them replaced. You'll get six sanding discs, four finishing discs, and a refining disc to help your headlights gleam to perfection. This easy-to-use kit requires no tools and will restore and protect your headlights, taillights, fog lights, directional lights, and more!
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"This worked great! Instructions say one kit will do one car and that you might need two if you have very large lenses. I did mine and my wife's vehicles (a Dodge Dakota and a Saturn Vue) from one kit. I periodically stopped to blow and wipe off the disc and lenses to promote disc life. I fully sanded both vehicles, then used one wipe on all four lenses, let it dry, and then used the second wipe on all four lenses. Awesome product!" — B. Boyd
Get it from Amazon for $15.98.
24. A chic tote bag because you were almost ready to spend over $100 on the Longchamp nylon tote bag and realized you ain't got that kinda moolah to spend. Get this handy lookalike for a fraction of the cost!
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "I absolutely love this bag!! I needed something to use when I'm traveling, especially for when I go to trade shows and meetings. I've always lugged my backpack everywhere and finally got fed up with it on a trip this past week. I also wanted something that was classy looking and had a full zipper. I love the material because it's easy to clean. It looks almost exactly like the Longchamp bag too which is the main reason why I got it. I've actually been using it daily by putting my small purse in it and am able to put other things in it as well (small jacket, water bottle, small reusable bag, etc.) It has two inner pockets which are near the top of the bag. One is zipped and one isn't. It stays on my shoulder and doesn't slip off, unlike other bags I've had. I'm curious to see how well it holds and for how long, but so far I'm very impressed and very happy with the quality!" — Kelsey
Get it from Amazon for $26.99 (available in four colors).