Little buys that make life better

August 2, 2024

This BPA-free straw device can stop your hiccups in just a few seconds. Better than holding your breath or asking someone to scare you.
Make your own lattes at home with a handheld frother (25% off). Works great with cold liquids, creamers, and oat or almond milk, too.
I hate ironing. A steamer is fast, easy and way harder to mess up. This one holds lots of water and works on both heavy and delicate fabrics.
If your closet, laundry room or storage area is a dark cave, you need an LED motion-sensor light. This one has three color options, runs 24 hours on a charge and is easy to install.
This popular Wi-Fi extender from TP-Link is deeply discounted. It covers up to 1,200 square feet and connects to as many as 20 devices. Plug it into an outlet and set it up in two taps.

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

Tags: device, devices, home, water, Wi, Wi-Fi

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9 gadgets to keep you safe and secure

Staying safe and secure can feel like a full-time job. That’s why you have me! Below, I’m sharing nifty gadgets to keep your personal information, devices and even your car safe from prying eyes and sneaky thieves.

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Should you splurge on a Copilot+ AI PC?

Anymore, every company (and their mother) seems to be slapping “AI” on their product marketing and charging you a boatload. Microsoft and its new line of Copilot+ PCs are no exception.

Let me give it to you straight: Microsoft is pushing these laptops hard, but in this case, what they sell isn’t exactly what you get. If you’re considering buying one, read this first.

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Dirty diaper returned to Amazon

Whenever I get something from Amazon, I always inspect it THOROUGHLY.

Upgrade for the aux: Tired of cables? This adapter lets you go wireless with CarPlay so you don’t have to clutter your console with a three-foot USB cord. Love that.

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

📚 Catfish on the menu: Lame AI cookbooks are taking over Amazon’s bestseller list. Take “The Complete Crock-Pot Cookbook for Beginners.” Red flags: The author is wearing mismatched earrings, it’s riddled with typos, the recipes are weird, and there’s filler like “What is Crock-Pot?” Before you buy, read the one-star reviews and check the preview images.

$4,500 hiking pants

That makes you feel 30 pounds lighter. MO/GO (short for “mountain goat”) pants have an electric motor at the knees that absorbs the impact on downhill trips and helps you feel stronger going uphill.

🚨 Don’t buy pills on eBay: Some SKALD diet pills on the platform tested positive for meth in a random drug screening. Watch out for brands like PhenQ, Govvi WOW! and Phentamene XT, too; they could be fake or tainted with banned ingredients that cause heart attacks … or worse. Talk to your doc instead.

🚗 Airbag scam: If your airbags go off, shady garages will replace ‘em with cheap ones (or none at all). You won’t know until it’s too late, and those airbags can injure or kill you. If you have a used car or are thinking about buying one, go to Carfax and plug in the vehicle identification number (VIN). They’ll tell you for free if your car’s airbags have ever gone off.

🏠 If you can’t build it, Prime it: With housing prices through the roof, Amazon’s doubled down on selling tiny homes. This two-bedroom cabin has a huge porch and looks like any modern Airbnb. Pay $35,000 and it’ll show up on your doorstep (or future doorstep) in less than a month.

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

9 a.m. Monday or Tuesday

For the best Goodwill deals (or whenever your local thrift store opens). People tend to drop off donations over the weekend after cleanouts or garage sales. That means you’ll find a better selection on mornings early in the week. Should I start featuring a thrifting segment? I’d call it secondhand news.