Amazon’s new budget battleground

November 15, 2024

💸 Amazon’s new budget battleground: Say hello to Amazon Haul, their latest venture geared toward selling ultra-cheap items (think under $20). Why? Because Shein and Temu are mopping the floor with Amazon. With Haul, expect to find items like $2 earrings, $10 blenders and, yes, even a $20 wedding dress. (Pro tip: Don’t walk down the aisle in that!) Don’t expect Prime’s speedy shipping, either; your order will take one or two weeks since it’s coming from China. Heads-up: You can only shop Amazon Haul through the Amazon app for now.

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Tags: Amazon, Amazon Haul, budgeting, China, Shein, shopping, Temu

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Winter essentials to grab before they sell out

Don’t wait for the holiday chaos to hit. The best shopping trick this season isn’t about gifts — it’s about stocking up on essentials now. Beat the rush, avoid packed stores and snag better prices while you still can. This will save you time, stress and money. Get it done today and make your winter easier.

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'I bought a house on Amazon'

A YouTuber bought a $39,000 house on Amazon and made this unboxing video, which just hit 7.5 million views. The 26-year-old was not pleased when he realized he couldn’t plug in anything. You guessed it: He didn’t read the entire product description. “Please hire an electrician for American standard wiring.” D’oh.

The internet made me buy it

🎄 These viral products are exactly what you’re missing. They make excellent, really practical gifts, too, just sayin’.

Electric lighters (38% off) work when it’s windy out and never need stinky lighter fluid.
Pick up a rapid egg cooker (under $20), whip up some deviled eggs and be the most popular person at the holiday party.
Make your own cappuccinos with a milk frothing wand, on sale for $8. Slam-dunk stocking stuffer!
Stop drinking warm wine you left sitting for too long. Get a personal wineglass chiller.
A light therapy lamp will have you dreaming of summer. Get $10 off if you click the coupon box.
There’s never enough room when you’re cooking. Add a magnetic stove shelf (13% off) for oil and seasonings.

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Holiday cooking is already on my mind: An inexpensive cookbook holder will keep your tablet out of the mess of flour, stock and butter. This one is gorgeous if you have a bit more to spend.

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5,000% jump

In Google searches for “tonies set.” They’re the hot Christmas gift for little ones. Tonieboxes are $99 screen-free wireless speakers. To start a story, pop a Tonie doll on top (that costs extra). The starter set with Disney princesses is $154, dang. How do I get a Kim Komando Toniebox?

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Productivity life hacks

🫡 These will help you get your shlife together.

Ever heard of “text neck?” Staring at a computer can cause it, too. Get a monitor stand riser and fix your posture.
The sun is off partying in Cabo for the winter. Use a sunrise lamp (18% off) to help you wake up.
This cube timer is gravity-sensing so you can just flip it over to start it. How cool is that?
Save some trees and get a reusable notebook (15% off). Take a damp cloth to the pages and it’s like nothing ever happened.
Pop these mop slippers on and clean your floors “Risky Business”-style.

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Find the hidden gems: The next time you search for deals on Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp or another site, type in the name of a brand you really like. Say I want an outdoor couch. I might type “Restoration Hardware outdoor” instead of scrolling endlessly through junky old stuff.

Great goodies to check out

🏁 Here are some things I bought recently you might like, too!

The other day, I set my curling iron down on a tube of toothpaste. A hair tool organizer would’ve saved me from that disaster.
Stop rooting around in the junk drawer and get a battery organizer.
Life hack: Hang up holiday wreaths using a cord bundler (a 6-pack is $11).
Cheapo sweaters don’t age well. Try $50 cashmere you can toss in the washer.* Don’t tell Ian, but I’m getting him a cashmere hoodie for Christmas.
A desktop vacuum cleaner (25% off) erases all evidence of your scarfing down three granola bars at your desk. It’s under $12, too.
You know you need a Tupperware organizer. ‘Nuff said.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

eBay trick: Whether it’s a baseball card or a used car, there’s an excellent tool to determine its worth. Search for an item on eBay. After getting your search results, go to Filter and scroll to Sold Items. Tap or check the box to enable this filter. Now, you’ll only see listings for items that actually sold.

$1,249 a month

Cost to lease a Tesla Cybertruck for 36 months. Put $7,500 down and the payment shrinks to $999 a month. Yeah, even with the gas savings, this is ridiculously expensive.