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15 affordable products you didn’t know you needed
There are tons of little ways technology can impact our lives. Get enough gadgets, and they add up to a significantly improved quality of life. With our list of affordable products you didn’t know you needed, you don’t have to worry about the little things anymore.
Check out these 15 products everyone should own to make a difference in their lives. You’ll be glad you did.
1. Optimize your power
Sleek Socket Ultra-Thin Electrical Outlet Cover
Get an extra power outlet without the bulk with this Sleek Socket Ultra-Thin electrical outlet cover. Now you can use your coffee maker and coffee bean grinder while charging your phone — all from one regular power outlet. This is particularly useful when the outlet is located behind furniture or decorations.
Promising review: “I had a lamp plugged into an outlet near the front window and my dog kept knocking the plug loose because it was just kind in the way and sticking out. I have even bumped it a few times myself. With this device, there is no longer anything for us to run into, as the plug now can be relocated out of the way in the corner. Solved my problem perfectly.”
2. Light up your world
LED Strip Lights
If you took the time to invest in a 40-60-inch TV, these RGB lights are the perfect addition. Simply stick them close to the outer edge of the back of your TV with the double-sided adhesive and plug it in. Create mood light, or enhance the colors of your favorite movies and TV shows.
Promising review: “Bought these for my husband’s birthday. Super easy to install. Comes with clear directions and a video you can watch if needed. I’ve gotten so many compliments on these and the remote control is easy to operate. Several of my friends have purchased them as well.”
3. Easy cleanup
Carbon Klean ScreenKlean
Do your kids use tablets for school or fun? Odds are those screens are filthy. Don’t spend the evening scraping off all the gunk of the day, use this ScreenKlean tablet screen cleaner. It removes residue, fingerprints, streaks, smudges and more. It’s only 3 x 1.5 x .25 inches, so you can keep it in a purse or pocket for easy access — especially when you’re on a road trip or spending the day running errands.
Promising review: “This funny little contraption is awesome. It completely cleans your screen of everything. All screens, including my phone, then clicks right back into its cute little container.”
4. Perfect for apartments
Maytex Mesh PEVA Shower Curtain and Bath Organizer
This is the perfect shower curtain-organizer combination if you have a small bathroom or too many people with too much stuff in the restroom. This vinyl curtain includes nine storage pockets where everyone can store their loofas, cosmetics, tub toys, hair products, skin products and more. Maximize drawer space by keeping all the tub essentials in your shower curtain.
Promising review: “This has saved us from stumbling all over the zillion products that pile up when it’s 2 teen girls and one mom sharing a shower. Very sturdy, easy to clean, the pockets are good size and drain beautifully. Grommets are plenty sturdy. Love!”
5. Never lose your keys again
KeyCatch Magnetic Key Holder
These screw-backed magnets can be inserted into light switch panels to avoid damaging the walls. When you turn on the lights upon entering your home, stick your keychain to these powerful magnets that can hold up to three pounds. Though it has a magnet, you don’t need to worry about it interfering with your key fob or remote entry keys.
Promising review: “These cool little magnets are genius! They’re super easy to install and look great on my light fixtures. The magnets are extremely strong for their size. My keys will stay attached even when my wife’s cat decides to take a few swipes at them.”
6. Get better sleep
Raytour Bed Sheet Holder Straps
Don’t you hate when your sheets come off the corner of the bed? This is particularly annoying when it happens while you’re trying to get your beauty sleep. These bed sheet holder straps easily clip to the edges of your sheet corners and pull, so the sheet doesn’t slip off.
Promising review: “I have to move my bed several times a day, and I haven’t had any issues with my sheets popping off. I like that the teeth inside the clamp are plastic. I would think it would be less likely to rip my sheets. Also, this has an addition arm compared to some other sheet holders, giving more support.”
7. Read in comfort
TILISMA Book Page Holder
When you’re trying to read a book, especially a picture book you’re trying to keep open while reading to children, book page holders like this can be invaluable. Just stick your thumb through the opening and allow this attractive holder to keep the pages wide open. This is the perfect gift for teachers, parents or students who could use a little help keeping their textbooks open.
Promising review: “I received this as a gift from my wife after procrastinating on getting it for quite some time. I’m glad she got it. It works how it should … this wooden page holder has style. It looks and feels like [a] quality [product].”
8. For the home decorator
Go Hang It! Pro
If you or someone you know loves to put up family photos, mirrors or other home décor, this picture hanging and leveling kit is perfect for the job. It’s compatible with wire, sawtooth and D-ring picture hanging hardware and helps you hang items evenly the first time. This kit includes the hardware case, a removable level and 12 single-notch precision hangers.
Promising review: “I recently moved into a new house and hanging pictures, etc. is a necessity. This was a lifesaver. Removed the stress of having to measure the length between nails. Highly recommend!”
9. For the dogs
iYoShop Dual Dog Leash
If your dog is very energetic, you may get tangled up in the leash every time you go out. The iYoShop Advantage leash offers a double bungee extension that allows your dog to move 20-35 inches out without tangling the leash. The handle is padded for your comfort, there is a waste bag ring, so you never forget the doggie bags and the metal clasp is guaranteed to keep your pet firmly attached to the leash.
Promising review: “This is a great leash. It is very durable. The handle is very soft and comfortable to hold onto. I also like […] how you can convert it for walking two dogs or one.”
10. No more bright lights
LightDims Original Strength
We love and depend on our electronics, but sometimes the status lights are too bright to handle. When you’re trying to focus on your screen, those extra LEDs can be distracting. This package of LED light dimmers contains more than 100 adhesive dimmers that remove 50-80% of the light. The removable dimmers don’t leave a sticky residue, so you can use them and remove them whenever you need to.
Promising review: “LED displays from our new appliances were blindingly bright at night. LightDims fixed the problem instantly. The displays are still bright enough to see during the day with no problem, but dim enough that we can sleep at night. They stick quite well too.”
11. Optimize storage space
Amazon Basics Under Bed Storage Bags
We’re all familiar with those plastic under-bed storage tubs. They’re stiff and have inner curves, so you don’t even get to use the entire storage space. But all that is a problem for yesterday. These Amazon Basics under-bed fabric storage containers are the perfect storage solution. Vacuum seal clothes or toys and store them in these malleable bags. Pull it out from under the bed and look through the clear plastic window to see what’s inside.
Promising review: “These hold a lot and are sturdy but flexible so you can pretty much fill them to capacity and stuff them under the bed without ruining them.”
12. Save space
BedShelfie Wood Bedside Shelf
Students living in dorms or smaller apartment bedrooms benefit from these bedside shelves. This is a caddy for anything from your smartphone to a cup of coffee. It can hold up to 15 pounds of items and is compatible with beds with flat bases or rails. Just clamp it on your bedside and use it as a simple but functional nightstand.
Promising review: “This is a great buy. Nightstands do not look right with my bed set, so this was the best alternative one could ever find. I did not even know this existed until it appeared on my Amazon search. The shelfie holds firm, it does not wobble. I could not be happier.”
13. Nice and quiet
Soft Close Cabinet Bumper
When someone in the home is a light sleeper, these soft-close cabinet bumpers can make all the difference. If your partner wakes before you do and seems to slam all the cabinets and drawers shut in the bathroom, you need these bumpers. There are 100 clear adhesive rubber bumpers that can be applied to glass, metal, wood, ceramic, plastic, granite and more. There is no residue when you remove them and you can even add them as a non-slip solution to your computer keyboard, furniture, picture frames and decorations.
Promising review: “This little bumper is special. It has a raised middle tip that makes contact first so it adds to the quiet closing of kitchen cabinets and drawers. I replaced the ones I bought at a local hardware store with these little jewels.”
14. Perfect for parties
Twin Extension Cord Power Strip
Power outlets are suddenly in high demand when you host potlucks at your home or office. With this flat twin extension cord, you can even use those hard-to-reach power outlets. Get an extra six-foot extension per cord and a total of six additional polarized two-prong outlets. It comes with a safety cover, so kids are safe around the outlets, even when they’re not in use.
Promising review: “This is the second one I’ve purchased, first for the living room lamps flanking the sofa, and this one for the bedside lamps. Our house is older, and there aren’t as many outlets. These are nice as the plug is flat so it won’t dig into the back of a sofa or get pinched behind a headboard.”
15. Great for people of all ages
Chunace 16-Color Toilet Night Light
Those late-night trips to the bathroom don’t have to involve bright hall lights and bathroom lights. Keep this sensor-activated LED nightlight attached to your toilet bowl. Follow the light and don’t worry about waiting for your eyes to adjust to the darkness of your bathroom. The moment the sensor detects the lights are off in the restroom, it turns on the LEDs. Don’t want to use it all the time? You can manually switch the light on or off.
Promising review: “My family loves this night light in the bathroom. As soon as the bathroom door is opened it turns on with an array of gentle lighting. No more fumbling in the dark. I set this up on the back of the toilet tank with the light behind the tank. This would make a great gift for an elderly person, also.”
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
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