You might think that the best way to get started on a budget is to lock your credit card in a safe and then throw away the key, but the truth is that sometimes you’ve got to spend a little money to save money. Investing in a few key items upfront —…
Life We only recommend products we love and that we think you will, too. We may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which was written by our Commerce team. You might think that the best way to get started on a budget is to lock your credit card in a safe and then throw away the key, but the truth is that sometimes you’ve got to spend a little money to save money. Investing in a few key items upfront — like all these money-saving products on Amazon — can actually set you up for long-term financial success. Now, I realize that whipping out your credit card when you’re trying to save seems totally counterintuitive, but the right products will actually help you make a few lifestyle tweaks that’ll result in a lot more wiggle room in your budget. For example, you’ll find gadgets that help you to cut down on your energy usage at home, as well as ingenious ways to avoid spending lots of money at restaurants and coffee shops when you’re out. You’ll also find reusable versions of one-use products, which means you won’t have to stock up on dryer sheets and plastic food storage baggies every time you go to the store. So before you put your Visa under lock and key, do a little money-smart shopping, and then sit back, relax, and watch your savings grow. Forego one-use dryer sheets in favor of these extra-large dryer balls that last through 1,000 loads of laundry. The dryer balls soften and fluff laundry, but they also improve airflow — this significantly speeds up drying time, so you don’t have to wait around for your favorite pair of jeans to dry. Each set comes with six all-natural, hypoallergenic dryer balls. Save money on your electricity bill with these ingenious smart plugs that sync to an app on your phone, enabling you to turn electronics and appliances on and off from anywhere in the world. You don’t need a smart home hub to use them, but they are compatible with both Alexa and Google Home if you want to use voice control. Each order comes with four plugs. If you frequently forget to turn the lights off, this smart light switch is for you. Connect it to an app and you can set lights on a schedule or turn them off manually from your phone. No smart home hub is required, but you can use them with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Microsoft Cortana for voice control capabilities. Anyone with limited counter space will love this collapsible dish rack. Pop it up when you’re doing the dishes, then collapse it to store it out of the way in a cupboard when you’re done. The heavy-duty rack is rust-proof and features a draining board that funnels water directly into the sink. Instead of cranking up the thermostat, wrap yourself up in this heated throw blanket. The hand control lets you toggle between three heat settings and an auto-shutoff function kicks in after three hours. Made with velvety mink-like fabric on one side and cozy sherpa on the other, the blanket is machine-washable and dryer-safe. The grips on the bottoms of these yoga socks keep your feet firmly in place, so you can go into poses with or without a mat. Made from breathable cotton, the socks feature targeted arch support, an open-toe design for increased flexibility and strengthening, and open tops to maximize airflow. Choose from 13 colors. Keep your power bill at a steady rate every month with this outlet timer that lets you put your lights and other appliances on a schedule. The timer has 24 time setting options in 30-minute intervals and can be used for lamps, fans, and — when the holidays roll around — Christmas lights and trees. Instead of spending half your grocery budget on avocados (totally possible), invest in this avocado tree growing kit and grow your own at home. The kit is totally easy to use: just place an avocado pit in the «boat» and float it in a container of water until it cracks, germinates, and begins to grow. Keep pasta, cereal, popcorn, trail mix, and snacks from getting stale with these highly-rated food storage containers. The BPA-free containers feature silicone edges and high-strength lever locks on the lids that create an airtight seal, keeping food fresh for weeks. Each set comes with seven stackable containers in different sizes, along with reusable chalkboard labels. With a disorganized fridge, you can end up buying multiples of products simply because you can’t find what you’re looking for. (Hint: the strawberry jam is hiding behind the ketchup.) Keep that from happening with these fridge bins that keep everything tidy and easy to find. The set comes with two wide bins, two narrow bins, a can dispenser, and an egg container. Bid farewell to one-use plastic baggies and say hello to these reusable food storage bags. Made from silicone, the freezer-safe bags feature airtight, leak-proof zip closures, and each set comes with three storage-size bags and four sandwich-size bags. These are a great way to save on your grocery bill, but they’re a great way to help save the environment, too. Extend the life of your makeup brushes with this battery-operated makeup brush cleaner. Just fill the container with soapy water, dunk the bristles in, and press the button to spin. Rinse, then press the button again to spin the bristles dry. The cleaner comes with eight collars to fit makeup brushes of all sizes. Weighing in at a full pound, this clay mask will last you a long time.
