08-02-2025
28 Cheap Things To Treat Yourself To In 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.
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Under-$25 goodies you soooo deserve because the year has barely started, and yet...🙃.
1. Wool-blend kitty face socks purr -pared to peek their whiskers out of all of your favorite footwear and keep your paws cozy this winter.
Amazon
I just gave these to my bestie for her birthday, and she's obsessed! Planning to gift them to every cat parent in my life at some point this year (spoiler alert if they're reading this).
Promising review:"Cute, warm, and not too heavy. These socks are so cute, but they are also warm and comfortable! They wash up beautifully!" — Kindle Customer
Get five pairs from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in 12 styles).
2. A set of six fun silicone candy molds because the sweetest treats are the ones you make yourself. This way, the joy lasts a lot longer than the eight seconds it takes for you to pop one in your mouth. Plus, these would be awesome for making someone a thoughtful Valentine's Day gift! 😍
Each tray can make 15 pieces of chocolate or candy, and the shapes are clovers, swirls, stars, smiley faces, hearts, and shells. You'll also get a digital booklet of six recipes to try!
Promising review: "Great product and service!! Seller even enclosed a nice thank you. This was my first attempt at making homemade candy. This product helped make it easy! They were so pretty! Thank you!! 😊😊" — lgbell
Get a set of six from Amazon for $9.99.
3. A paint-by-sticker book for the relaxing vibes of paint-by-number with way less mess. This travel-inspired one features 12 posters of places like Japan and Monaco for you to fill out and then display proudly as decor!
Workman Publishing
Promising review: "I love that this sticker book has many different themes you can choose from, or you can do all of them! This sticker book keeps me entertained for hours! If I'm feeling overwhelmed, I'll grab one, sit down, and start relaxing." — amanda putkamer
Get it from Amazon for $11.23 or Bookshop (to support local bookstores) for $15.80.
4. NYX Shine Loud liquid lipstick, aka the all-day liquid lippie you've been searching for for years. Just swipe on a layer of the deeply pigmented color, let it dry, and coat with the high-shine gloss on the other end of the tube. Once it's dry, it really and truly doesn't transfer when eating, drinking, or kissing — a miracle.
This stuff is my new holy grail (check out me rocking the Rebel In Red shade, which has become my signature on the left; I also love the pinkish-nude Trophy Life for more casual looks). It never ceases to amaze me. Just last week, I swiped some on for dinner, and there were still traces of it on my lips the next evening, even after eating several meals, kissing my BF, swimming, etc. This is the only lippie I have where my boyfriend trusts me to smooch him without transferring any, and he always asks why all lipsticks aren't like this. 😅 Fair question! The rich, even color and the doe-foot applicator are also pluses for me. While it dries, it is a bit prone to getting on your teeth, but afterward, you're SO good to go.
Promising review: "My friend introduced me to this, and OMG, I swear by it. I literally put it on at 7 a.m. before work, ate lunch, and drank my water all day, and it's still on, and it's 8 p.m. Looks like I reapplied it, but I only put it on at 7 a.m. This is so good!! A must-have!" — Love!
Get it from Amazon for $9.40+ (available in 12 colors) or Ulta for $12 (available in 28 colors).
5. A hilariously handy snack bowl designed to fit on top of your beloved Stanley Cup and help you live your best snack life. You + a cold bev in your Stanley + some kettle chips, colby jack cubes, and fruit in this? *Chef's kiss*
Promising review: "This holds a lot of snacks! Fits onto my tumbler and stays in place, even if the tray is loaded up with treats. This won't go over the lid so it's best to put it on before you put the lid in place. This is not silicone, it is hard plastic. Easy to wash and hand dry. Very cute and useful!" — Just My Opinion
Get it from Amazon for $7.95+ (available in two sizes and three colors).
6. A luxe-looking set of velvet and rhinestone hair clips from Scünci's Wicked collab that aren't just for theater-going — they'll be in your night-out rotation for good.
Amazon
I impulse-bought these in green right before the movie came out, and they remain my favorite hair clips! The color is rich and versatile, and the clips are great quality. I'm amazed they still look fresh without any of the jewels falling off, even after being worn several times and packed on several trips! They also stay put in my medium-fine hair easily and make me feel Oz-itively gorgeous!
Promising review: "Look just like the pictures. Sturdy, good quality clips, pretty and sparkly like all the pictures. Glindafied." — MommyLovesYoga
Get a set of two from Amazon for $7.56+ (available in black, green, and pink).
7. And! A Fiyero Funko Pop! figure that's probably the closest you can come to bringing Jonathan Bailey and his book-kicking, full-body-shimmying rizz home with you. Sigh.
Promising review: "A definite must-have for any Wicked fan. The colors are crisp, and the detailing and contrast are very well done. This Funko Pop! stands easily on its feet and doesn't topple over." — D.S.S.
Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (also available in six other characters).
8. An on-trend sweater vest available in everything from bright patterns to staple hues. It's a serious sartorial serotonin boost. Try saying that three times better yet, add three different versions of this to your cart, fast.
My mom recently got one of these in navy and she's excited about it, and that's coming from a woman who also owns a similar style from $$ brand Maje. I'm very tempted to scoop up a color/pattern or two of my own.
(Also, psst to Rick Riordan fans... this version would be so great for an Alex Fierro cosplay!)
Promising reviews: "Perfect. This company has gained a new customer. The fabric is so soft, the fit is perfect and true to size, and they included a cute bracelet for their appreciation. I will be buying more products from this company. Two thumbs up." — Dorothy Harris
"Colors are so vivid! Fits true to size. Received so many compliments." — Beth Bowley
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in women's sizes XS–XL and in 32 styles).
9. Cocokind's vegan matcha-infused moisture stick you can use pretty much anywhere — under-eyes, lips, and dry spots all over your bod. It's made with caffeine-rich matcha (read: for antioxidants and reduced puffiness) and super-moisturizing coconut oil, so get ready to start using this as liberally as the dad in My Big Fat Greek Wedding uses Windex.
Cocokind
Cocokind is a San Francisco-based, woman-owned biz.
Promising review: "This is my first time using the MyMatcha stick, and I looovvve it! I have it on me pretty much all the time so I can dab a little bit on my dry spots as I need to. It softens up my dry areas and even decreases the swelling of my acne! I've used it as a moisture stick, an acne anti-inflammatory, and even a fly-away tamer. It's a great multitasking product." — alizza d.
Get it from Cocokind for $9 or Amazon for $11.29.
10. A super clever set of terrazzo-inspired wall decals to make DIYing a Pinterest-worthy wall a breeze (and so, so affordable)! Bye-bye to those visible scuffs on your wall and helloooooo to having decor that all your friends will envy.
Amazon,
Promising review:"I love these. I had this bare wall in my apartment that I felt needed something else, and these were perfect. They don't feel super sticky (we will see how they hold up), but I like that right now because they don't take the paint off since I'm renting! I love them. For this tiny wall, one sheet was enough!" — Makayla Hawkes
Get it from Amazon for $10.89 (available in six styles).
11. A cowboy potato bag charm because you quite simply need this yee-haw hashbrown in your life. Boring purse or backpack? Not if this Western stud — I mean, spud — has anything to say about it.
12. A DIY cheesemaking kit that includes everything you need to make your own ricotta in about 30 minutes — just add milk! Then, prepare to be crowned the master host when you serve up your creation.
Urban Cheesecraft/Etsy
It's from an Oregon-based Etsy shop that stocks DIY kits for a variety of cheeses, including vegan options! This kit comes with a cheesecloth, citric acid, cheese salt, instructions, and email support from the shop owner, a pro cheesemaker and cookbook author!
Promising review:"These kits are great gifts for the cheese lover and the person 'who's already got it all.' The packaging looks nice and gift-worthy and it's a perfect price range. I love that the recipient gets an experience as well as a tangible product and I can personally attest that the actual process is easy." — amyleannbohner
Get it from Urban Cheesecraft on Etsy for $19.20 (originally $24).
13. A colorful pack of twisty cable savers to help protect and extend the life of the charger cords you use every day (and basically power your life, not just your devices). Bonus — they'll also help you tell your cords apart from those of friends, family, and your S.O.!
Amazon
Promising review:"Easy to put on and saved a ton of money by extending life of chargers. Also used it on my worn-out chargers and they are working better having been externally reinforced by this product." — Amazon Buyer
Get a set of 12 from Amazon for $5.99+ (available in four color sets).
14. An effortlessly chic satin cami and shorts PJ set that's practically made for a Valentine's (or Galentine's!) Day movie night.
Target
Promising review: " Comfort meets beauty with the silky, soft, vibrant red set. The styling and shape are beautiful, and the details are perfect. The shorts are definitely short, but not too short. The cami has a sweet look while maintaining a comfortable fit." — Rae
Get it from Target for $20 (available in women's sizes XS–4X).
15. A sweet teddy bear mug to add some whimsy to every morning (and evening) and match your cutesy, demure aesthetic.
Amazon,
16. A trendy pair of transparent cat-eye sunnies for a meow -velously selfie-worthy finishing touch to even the simplest 'fits.
Promising review: "This is my second time purchasing these sunglasses because I wanted a backup pair of black and wanted to try a new fun color for summer. Whenever I wear these out in public, I get a ton of compliments! The shape is super trendy! People are always shocked to hear that I bought them from Amazon for under $20! Although they are inexpensive, they have a good weight to them and do not feel like cheap, plastic sunglasses. The lenses are very dark, so I feel like my eyes are protected when I'm in the sun. These sunglasses have been a summer staple!" — DEAN S. YOSHIMURA
Get them from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in 12 colors and in two packs).
17. A pack of Squish-a-long figures, aka the perfect solution for anyone who's obsessed with the cuteness of Squishmallows (same) but doesn't realistically have space in their home for all the v tempting plushies (also same). These slightly squishy plastic figurines allow you to display several Squish friends in a — *Genie's voice* — iiiiitty bitty living space. Use them as decor, share 'em with the kiddos in your life, or divvy them up amongst your friends!
Each set comes with eight figures (one is a surprise) plus two accessories you can put on 'em and an adjustable, kid-size ring that any of the figurines can be attached to. These look adorable scattered around my shelves; my one complaint is that the accessories don't fit all of the figures very well. Also, if you have pets or really little kids who'd be tempted to put these in their mouths, these probably aren't the best choice!
Promising review: "Purchased these as a Christmas gift and ended up opening them early. They're super soft and fun to play with. They're great quality and, as you can see, very adorable." — Alison Larson
Get a set of eight from Amazon for $9.97+ (available in four combinations).
18. And! Squee-worthy Tonymoly x Squishmallows pimple patches so your breakout can turn into a brea- cowt (sorry). These cuties are infused with anti-inflammatory niacinamide that can help tame oil, redness, and discoloration.
Amazon
I have one of these on my chin as I type this! While these don't have the same goo-sucking magic as some more traditional patches (I like these), they're more fun to wear and still help prevent picking and seem to help reduce the swelling and size of zits. They were a hit when I shared a selfie on Instagram, too!
Get a pack of 24 from Amazon for $10.
19. A pretty set of three dishwasher- and washing-machine-washable Swedish dishcloths that can absorb up to 15 times their own weight and will have you saying buh-bye to paper towels (which can't even hope to compete in the eco-friendly, long-term-money-saving, effectiveness, or cuteness departments).
Amazon
Promising review:"I originally picked these up to use in lieu of nasty, nasty dishrags that invoke my inner THIS IS NOT CLEAN demon. Since then, I have used them for everything from cleaning the kitchen to wiping up spills. After use, just toss them in the wash, and they are ready to go again. They are the perfect size and do an excellent job on every task to which I have applied them. They come in a variety of fun prints, and I have yet to wear one out. Paper towel usage has taken a real nosedive, which is a good thing given its relative scarcity at present." — sandra simpson-kraft
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $13.61+ (available in 30 prints).
20. A fold out rom-com checklist to pin to your wall and give yourself a swoon-worthy project for the year. This little work of art groups the flick picks by subgenre and also includes bonus facts and activities!
Free Period Press
It's from a queer- and woman-owned business that makes adorable stickers and paper goods!
I got this delight in my stocking and was shocked to find there are so many rom-coms I have yet to see. The list ranges from my faves to movies I've never heard of, and the artwork is adorable. It was definitely a conversation starter with my family!
Get it from Free Period Press for $8, and find more movie and book checklists here.
21. A flexible flower vase pal you can pose in all kinds of goofy ways, from having him wave to visitors, do the splits, or raise the roof because he's so revved up to be a reservoir for your roses.
Promising review: "An affable, squishy, bendy, happy little vase! The consensus on my social media page is that everyone should have one of these. I finally got a chance to try it out with some daffodils, and really, it's hard not to smile when you see them." — Susy Lundy
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in three colors).
22. Reusable silicone baking liners that are not only more eco-friendly and economical than regular paper ones, but cuter and more fun, too. Enjoy the win, cupcake!
Promising reviews:"I've only made one batch of muffins with them so far, but I love this product already! The muffins came out really easily and didn't leave much on the silicone. The liners hold their shape, so they could probably even be used without a muffin pan. And my 20-month-old enjoys playing with them while I'm not baking!" — Brian G.
"I bought these to make pumpkin chocolate chip baked oatmeal cups are fantastic! I can put the ingredients in, bake them, and pop them right out! I bought a set of discovered I needed more than 12, so I bought another set (different brand/ from a different place), and I found that the ones from Amazon were much more sturdy and thicker than the ones bought elsewhere." — Angie
Get a set of 24 from Amazon for $9.99.
23. Megababe's truly incredible cream deodorant, which is a breeze to swipe on and quite possibly the holy grail of aluminum-, paraben-, and cruelty-free deos. Yup, it actually works without a lot of the chemicals commonly found in drugstore deodorants. It also claims to help with pit skincare woes like ingrowns, uneven skin tone, and rough skin, thanks to ingredients like AHAs, niacinamide, vitamin E, and squalane. This is the upgrade your personal care routine needs this year.
Megababe
I swear by this stuff. I truly cannot believe how well it works. Before last year, my go-to aluminum-free deodorant was Athena Club's All Day Deo, which I do still like as a nice-smelling, more traditional tube option. However, it really couldn't stop my hormonal sweat stink all dang day long. (Is this TMI? Not sorry, because you need to know the FACTS). This stuff goes on mess-free even though it's a cream — you just apply it right from the tube. And then??? Nothing. No stink, people! All day. I just smell like nothing, and my pits are less sweaty, too. Now, note that I say I smell like nothing — if you're looking for flowery fragrances, this isn't for you. It smells a bit artificial and medicinal even, when you first swipe it on. While it's not the best scent, that fades as soon as it dries, so you're set for the day, and you could even layer a more fragrant deo over it. But to me, that's all secondary, and what matters is that this stuff is odor-blocking ✨ magic.✨
Megababe is an awesome brand founded by style influencer Katie Sturino to tackle real-life body care struggles like boob sweat and B.O. *without* nasty ingredients and *with* super cute packaging.
Get it from Amazon for $13.99.
24. A customized portrait of your pet in an F1 uniform — OMG. Just specify your favorite team and driver, send the seller a great pic of your pet, and the digital download will be ready within 24–48 hours so you can show it to everyone you know ASAP!
It's from a small business based in Scranton, PA that also offers custom pet portraits for other sports.
Last fall, I gave two of these as a host gift to some friends after staying at their house, and they freaked out in the best way! The seller was super quick to send me drafts for my approval, and the process was incredibly easy. I ended up ordering more from this shop for holiday gifts, including stickers and a physical print, and the process and results were just as great!
Promising review: "I ordered two items, and both are perfect. Very quick turnaround, exactly what I asked for, and the seller was in constant communication, making sure I was happy with my order from start to finish. Very good customer service and an excellent product. Would recommend and would order again as they are the perfect gift!" — Dani
25. Heartbreak Is The National Anthem, a new book by the brilliant Rolling Stone music critic Rob Sheffield, that gives Taylor Swift the analysis and reverence she deserves. Serious Swifties will be swooning over this deep dive written by a fellow fan.
Amazon
Rob Sheffield has long been a favorite music writer of mine because he does what so many critics don't — he takes pop music aimed towards young women (Taylor, One Direction, Selena Gomez, etc.) seriously. He closely reads Taylor's work like the true fan he is, with a witty, well-informed, and truly unique voice. I was so excited to get my hands on this book, and the main reason I haven't started reading it yet is because I'm afraid I'll spend the whole time wishing I could have written it myself. 😅
Promising review: "Wonderful book, brilliantly done. Read it one night, forcing myself to wait until the next night to read it again. Would really like to reread it right now, but promised myself to wait until tomorrow. Stretching out the pleasure. Very intense and serious examination of Taylor and her music, interwoven with marvelous detail from Rob Sheffield about his experiences with it. Humorous at times, profound at others, always marvelously enjoyable. An honest-to-goodness page-turner and a true joy. My expectations were high — and they were exceeded! I thank our lucky stars we have Taylor in our lives." — D. Hendrickson
Get it from Amazon for $13.99+.
26. An LOL-worthy sardine storage dish you can use for all sorts of trinkets — I just wouldn't recommend using it for actual fish. Get ready for in fin ite compliments from everyone who spots it on your shelf.
Urban Outfitters
27. High-fashion-looking chunky droplet earrings offering Bottega vibes without you having to spend Venet- all that cash.
Promising reviews: "Bottega, who? These are adorable and super close to the original ones! Perfect for work, events, or casual days. They don't get rusty or anything right away (I wore them while walking around in 90-degree weather). Love them, and I'm gonna get them in gold too!" — Amazon Customer
" is it, FINALLY! For those of you who have been searching for the best, affordable, similar looking Bottega [swap], THIS IS IT!! I searched many places and bought from other places, but this is the best one out there… I thought the price of these earrings was sketchy, but NO…it's legit" — Amazon Customer
Get them from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in three sizes and 11 colors).
28. Cutie patootie wooden bunny toast tongs ~ear~ to ensure your fingertips stay safe while impatiently reaching for your freshly-toasted everything bagel.
Promising review: "I figured it was more of a novelty than anything and doubted that I would use it much, but decided to try it out anyway. Turns out that I actually use it quite often! It allows me to grab my bread/bagel/muffin from the toaster without either burning my fingers or having to wait until it's cooled (and therefore less likely to melt the butter or cream cheese I attempt to spread onto it). Also, since the bunny is quite adorable and stands upright, I can set it on my counter beside my toaster, so it doesn't take up more space in my (very full) utensil drawer." — Sarah D. C. F.
Get them from Amazon for $12.95.
