If You’re Newly Frugal, You Might Wanna Make These 36 Under-$20 Upgrades That’ll Help You Save Money Over Time
1. A callus-removing gel for professional pedicure results at home if scrubbing, soaking, and filing have failed you.
Promising review: “Amazing. Now I know the first pic is gross but that just shows how bad my feet were, scrubbing, pedicures, soaking all just made it worse until I found this cream! I mean it seriously shows In the pics. The other big thing I noticed was how soft my feet were after using it! Too bad you can’t tell that from the picture. Idk what makes this work so well but it’s a miracle! And yes definitely wear gloves and you’re good to go.” —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $11.99.
2. KISS PowerFlex Maximum Speed Nail Glue that’ll help you realize your faux-nail dreams and then reuse the nails over and over again for a salon look on the cheap. Most reviewers say it lasts for more than a week.
Check out a TikTok of the nail glue in action. And if you’ve shied away from press-on nails because of difficult removal, this glue remover works like a DREAM.
Promising review: “I’ve been using this on my press-ons, and when I say they last a month or longer without any popping off! I will never go back to any other brand. Easy to use, quick-drying, GREAT PRICE!! Like, how can you best that value? The size you get for the price is really unmatched. The glue removal is pretty easy. If I plan on reusing the press-ons, I’ll soak them in water and soap and pop them off. If not, I’ll cut and shave down the nails and soak in acetone until it dissolves the nails enough for me to use my drill.” —Big Ming
Get it from Amazon for $1.97.
3. A pack of stain-removing, nontoxic cleaning cups to clean out your Keurig’s innards once your coffee starts tasting a bit funny. Don’t hold out for a new machine during October Prime Day, it just needs a cleaning!
Promising review: “Okay, so these cleaner pods are awesome! I didn’t know how gross our Keurig was until today. The big mason jar on the left is when I actually ran the cleaner through plus one rinse cycle. The middle one is another rinse cycle and the last one, on the right, is the last one I did. So yes, I would suggest running two or three rinse cycles instead of the recommended one. But it’s still an awesome product for the price! I have a Keurig 2.0 and I had no issues.” —Mads0421
Get a pack of six from Amazon for $9.95.
4. Plus, some espresso machine descaling tablets so that $$$ machine investment you made can keep running and producing delish coffee as you intended.
5. A pumpkin spice-flavored syrup that might cause your Starbucks barista to do a wellness check on you.
Amazon
Promising review: “I don’t know how sweet people drink their drinks because I’m a sugary sweet type, and three pumps of pumpkin were more than enough for my 16-ounce dirty chai. I wanted the pumpkin syrup because Starbucks has butchered my chai 😫 every time, and I am so happy I tried this product. The pump alone is worth it cost. Very pumpkin, thank you!” —Marlene Avalos
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (also available with a pump).
6. A three-pack of reusable K-cups you can load up with your favorite ground coffee instead of buying an endless supply of pre-made K-cups for the rest of time.
These fit K-Duo, K-Classic, K-Elite, K-Select, and K-Cafe Brewers.
Promising review: “The reusable K Cup filter allows me to use my coffee grinds. It saves money as there is no need to buy expensive pods. The filter is a great money-saving idea!” —Lynne Moscow
Get them from Amazon for $15.95.
7. A pack of reusable produce-saving bags that’ll finally be a solution to keep your fruits, veggies, and cut flowers fresh for much longer — which means you’ll actually get to enjoy them before they go bad.
Promising reviews: “We decided to do a little test. One banana in a bag and one out, same location in the kitchen. This was after nine days you can see that’s there’s a distinct difference in the bananas. Amazing product!” —Trio Mum
Get a 20-pack from Amazon for $14.99 (also available in a 32 and 40-pack).
8. Some semi-cured nail strips will apply like decals and then cure with a compact LED lamp to give yourself a lasting mani that reviews say stands up to all sorts of stuff. They’re especially handy on trips or outings when you’re doing a lot of swimming.
Promising review: “Easy to use. You need to clean your nails really well, and then these last for a long time. I’m a chemist, so at home, nail polish rarely holds up to the gloves and washing. These have lasted for two weeks through working in the lab and gardening at home.” —Cassie Canady
Get it from Amazon for $13.50+ (available in dozens of designs and in multipacks). Be sure to pick up the LED lamp too.
9. A HUGE pack of denture- and retainer-cleaning tablets that, YES, can de-gunk that $$$ mouthguard you got talked into at the dentist. But it will also turn back time on stained coffee mugs and thermoses so you aren’t tempted to invest in new ones when you’ve got perfectly good ones at home. (Or you can even revive ones found at the thrift or from your local buy-nothing group!)
I’ve used this hack to get rid of coffee stains in white mugs with another brand’s denture/retainer cleaners and found it’s most effective when used with boiling instead of room temp water.
M3 Naturals is a small biz.
Promising review: “Not only does it work perfectly on my grinder guard, but I used it on a water bottle and a coffee mug, and it was perfectly clean. Had a mint flavor, so that’s the only reason I washed them. Got the coffee stain out and everything.” —Rachel
Get a 120-pack from Amazon for $21.81.
10. A portable fabric shaver with three speeds to help defuzz your sweaters, sweatpants, coats, couches — all kinds of things! Before you consider upgrading from a beloved coat or sweater, give this gadget a spin.
This was an impromptu purchase once I realized just how bad my circa-2018 Asos midi coat was looking. It was SERIOUSLY fuzzy, and I’d been walking around in it, not even realizing it. How embarrassing for me! So I took this fabric shaver to it while I finally watched Lost early this year. It’s a little loud, but it did some WORK. Here’s a pic of a sleeve where you can see the difference it’s making and also a glamour shot of the gobs of lint and fuzz it’s removed from the coat. And unlike with other fabric shavers, there’s no guessing how much charge the battery has left. This gadget has a little % countdown that’s clear to read. My beloved coat looks brand new!
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in five colors).
11. A box of Color Catcher sheets will prevent dye from garments bleeding onto other items in the wash. They’re designed to grab any dye that leaks or bleeds. Where has this been all your life? (These recently got a callout on an episode of Below Deck: Mediterranean I was watching!)
Promising review: “These Color Catcher sheets really protect colors from blending. It makes all clothes/laundry brighter and looking like new — not that old, washed color after just one wash without these sheets. I give this product 5+ stars. Highly recommend. A few pennies spent additionally on your laundry makes one look like wearing new clothes all the time.” —Nikita
Get 72 sheets from Amazon for $11.53.
12. Catrice “Instant Awake” Under Eye Brightener, a quick, easy fix for concealing and brightening your under-eye dark circles because you don’t wanna have to do a full face every single day and once you’ve used up every last drop of your Tarte Tape Shape (that runs for MUCH more $), you want a budget-friendlier option to pledge your allegiance to. This $6 gem is it!
The color adaptive formula is designed so one of two shades will work on any skin tone.
Promising review: “Took years off my eyes! This product is so reasonably priced. I came across a TikTok promoting this and decided to take a chance since the price was super reasonable. My eyes looked brighter in a good way, and the concealer worked so well that I felt I looked younger. I got compliments from friends asking what I did differently with my makeup. I recommend it.” —Monica T.
Get it from Amazon for $6 (available in two shades).
13. Plus, Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel while we’re on the subject of under eyes. Reviewers swear that this works just as well as $$$ eye creams at minimizing puffiness and swelling thanks to caffeine and hyaluronic acid. Once you’ve scraped every last bit out of the pot of eye cream you’re currently going to, this will make a lovely, super effective swap!
Good Molecules is a small biz!
Promising review: “I never write reviews, but this eye cream has made a difference on my under eyes! I’ve only been using it for a week and I would definitely recommend it. I’ve bought different eye creams (expensive brands) and never noticed a difference as fast as I’ve seen using this product.” —Natalie
Get it from Amazon for $5.99.
14. A set of Solemates heel protectors can save your stilettos from grassy walks as a bridesmaid, wedding guest, or someone who just got invited to a fancy shindig. Now you won’t have to worry about defaulting to block heels or dropping your shoes off for repair afterward. And because they’re clear, they’re unnoticeable.
Solemates is a US-based small business specializing in shoe care products.
Promising review: “I purchased the narrow pair to wear with some high heels to my friend’s wedding as a maid of honor. I also purchased some for the bride. These are amazing and did not pop off once! Everyone was asking me how in the world are my heels not sinking into the grass. They didn’t notice the clear protectors until I pointed them out. This invention is genius and I definitely did not sink into the grass! Totally worth it, especially if you have expensive heels that you do not want to ruin! As for the bride’s expensive shoes, they were definitely saved!!!” —swt caroline
Get them from Amazon for $8.94+ (available in two sizes).
15. Londontown “nail veil” if you’ve flirted with the idea of giving up on the nail salon but can’t really do your own nails. That’s fine! This one — the cousin of the illuminating nail concealer — will give you a bit more color than that your-nails-but-better cult-fave and make it look like you went for an actual mani.
Amazon
Londontown is a small biz specializing in nail care and polish.
Promising review: “I love this. It hides ridges in my nails very well without needing too many coats. I apply two coats and then add a third a day later, and it holds up well.” —lll.
Get it from Amazon for $17+ (available in nine colors or in a four-set for $25). Chip-resistant, vegan, and cruelty-free.
16. A specific ink remover that’ll remove all sorts of pen accidents and transform hand-me-downs that have been etched with Sharpie pens.
Promising review: “Amodex took ink out of my expensive scrubs. A pen leaked in my pocket and made a thick glob of ink stain on the scrub jacket and a little on the pants. After using the Amodex and washing in cold water, there is no evidence of a stain, and the fabric looks exactly how it looked before the stain. There was no damage or discoloration of the fabric. Thank you, Amodex. This product just saved me the $75 that it would have cost to replace the scrubs.” —Michelle hammer
Get it from Amazon for $15.
17. A two-pack of deodorant-removing sponges can rub away those ghostly stains that you ALL TOO OFTEN realize are a thing once you’re wearing your dang shirt. It isn’t a goner! You just need this sponge.
18. A leather stain remover spray to turn back time on your leather couch, purse, boots, basically whatever that, despite leather usually withstanding most stains, is really showing its wear. This stuff is transformative!
This also works on Durablend, vinyl, compound, saffiano, faux leather, and other leather or leather-like surfaces.
Promising review: “Used the microfiber cloth to apply and after the first treatment noted only mild improvement, but after the second treatment (done just after the first treatment dried), the stain was not visible!! I then did the entire chair and the results are great. Advice: Do not scrub the area hard. This may roughen up the leather. Apply lightly and wipe off with another microfiber towel.” —mich
Get it from Amazon for $15.98.
19. A set of Snug Plugs if your hair dryer plug keeps falling out of the bathroom outlet and you’re starting to wonder if you need to get a pro involved. These little contraptions make a snug fit between outlets and plugs to keep ’em where you want.
Snug Plugs is a small business that specializes in home improvement products.
Promising review: “These are SUCH a game changer. We rent, so I can’t do much about the loose outlets around the house. These have made several outlets usable again!” —Minerva G.
Get a pack of 10 from Amazon for $10.99.
20. A shoe stretch spray so you can make those go-go boots you scored at an estate sale or the thrift for criminally cheap work for all your fun fall ensembles.
Fellow BuzzFeed writer Amanda Davis swears by this spray. Check out her Foot Matters Shoe Stretch spray review for more information!
Promising review: “I purchased my second pair of Dr. Martens three days before I was headed to New Orleans. Seemed like a mistake, right? Maybe it would have been, if I didn’t have this spray. I used it once and then walked around the house for a bit with some thick socks on. Then I sprayed the boots again, and put beer cans inside of them and let them sit overnight. I wore my NEW boots all over three different airports (thanks layovers), and all over New Orleans. These were the only boots I packed too. It could have ended up a nightmare but it didn’t! My boots still have a little ways to go to be fully broken in, but definitely ahead of schedule when I compare them to my first pair. I will use this spray on every pair of boots from now to forever.” —lauren
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
21. A sandwich cutter and sealer to help you DIY your own Uncrustables at home because those lil’ sandwiches are delicious, but they do add up cost-wise very quickly. You can easily meal prep a whole bunch of these at once and then freeze them for future enjoyment.
22. A 20-pack (!) of extra thick magic cleaning pads because, my gosh once you realize that Mr. Clean Magic Erasers can do basically everything but your homework, you see to go through ’em that much faster. Reviewers attest that these budget-friendly alts work just as well as the name brand.
Promising reviews: “These are the best. Sooo much better than Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Won’t buy those anymore, and these will last me a very long time. I scrubbed, and they got everything clean and didn’t break apart!!! Can even reuse if I wanted.” —miguel mendez
“I own a cleaning business and have spent a small fortune on the name brand. I clean everything from condo rentals to long-term lease/residential rentals and I have had to clean unimaginable NASTY, I mean ‘pics, or it didn’t happen’ kind of nasty, and these cut right through it. These work just as well as the name brand, if not better, and they seem to last a little longer!” —Keisha Marie
Get a pack of 20 from Amazon for $12.56.
23. A 12-pack of soft microfiber makeup removing towels because you’re always on the hunt for a clean Makeup Eraser but don’t wanna buy a dozen of them to keep around. These’ll run you a mere ~$1 per cloth, which is far cheaper than the OG. (The OG is really good! But sometimes the laundry cycle means you realize all yours are dirty.)
HuffPost Shopping writer Haley Zovickian swears by these: “I only use these now to remove my makeup, including heavy mascara, and they are great for my sensitive skin. I do follow up with a gentle cleanser to cleanse my skin once all my makeup is off. They’re big and dry quickly so you can use the same towel several times before having to wash it or switch to another one.”
Promising review: “These things are so soft! Great for taking off makeup. I was using the Makeup Eraser before, but these are 100 times better. You just wet them, wipe off your makeup, rinse, and hang out. I guess you could use a new one each day, but they are very big so you can get a few days out of one. Great value for the money!” —Shopforbargains
Get a pack of 12 from Amazon for $15.95 (available in 13 color combos and in packs of 30).
24. Lilac St. Original Lashes you can wear for up to 10 days in case you don’t like to bother with the hassle of mascara but wish professional lash extensions were much more budget-friendly. These’ll keep things low effort on the reg *or* a special occasion where you want a little extra oomph — like all these weddings hogging your weekends. But don’t take it from me. Read the reviews from converts!
Check out why these are a fave in this TikTok.
Promising review: “Y’all, I have been a loyal Lilac St. customer since they started, and I will never leave them. These are the absolute best quality. I get so many compliments. They are the most natural and most comfortable to wear. I use several times by using makeup remover and water to remove any glue. Seriously, will never stray.” —Katiew
Get them from Amazon for $12.95 (available in 14 styles and four sizes).
25. A 10-pack of ultra-absorbent Swedish dishcloths because your family seems to go through an endless supply of two-ply paper towels cleaning up all sorts of spills. These can sub in for MOST messes. *And* as one TikToker demonstrates, you can keep a specific color or set of these dishcloths for cleaning and then another to help extra absorb moisture in the washed produce you have in the fridge. Let’s make that food last as long as possible!
The cellulose and cotton cloths are soft when wet and slightly abrasive when dry so you can even use them to scrub down particularly stuck-on messes.
Promising review: “Incredible product! Go buy this now! I bought the product as a test drive to find ways to ‘go green’ in our household and was so pleasantly surprised! These are super tough on dishes and countertops but also so easy to wring out and keep using again! The hardest part is breaking the habit of reaching for a disposable paper towels but these are a new staple for us and I’m sure we will buy even more as we learn to use this instead of disposable ones! When they have been through enough just toss them into the washing machine and keep moving! Love, love, LOVE this product!” —Nichole Talarczyk
Get a pack of 10 from Amazon for $16.95+ (available in eight colors).
26. A set of reusable microfiber mop pads (that work with the Swiffer you already own) because WOW those disposable ones seem to disappear like magic in your home. No more running out in your time of need. Just use these and wash them so you can use them over and over again.
They can be used wet or dry and on basically every type of flooring and even drywall if you’re so inclined. Since they can be thrown in the wash, one microfiber pad can replace up 100 single-use pads.
Promising review: “Just used these for the first time with my Swiffer WetJet and I gotta say I am impressed! Went on easily and cleaned the floors easily! I always hated the one-time use pads and never felt like they got my floor clean. This review is NOT sponsored, I bought these with my own money because I’m sick of single-use products. Seriously, buy these now!!!” —AKGross
Get a set of two from Amazon for $13.75.
27. A special brush will keep your dryer’s lint trap clear of debris and make drying cycles/the appliance more effective for longer. Did I also mention that a full lint trap is a FIRE HAZARD?!
Amazon
Once you invest in this, make this a part of your weekly cleaning routine.
Promising review: “This brush is stiff but flexible enough to feed under my dryer’s lint filter. Several weeks ago a trouble light came on that indicated the air flow in my dryer was becoming obstructed. I had the dryer vent and area under the lint filter cleaned. (Not much lint was pulled out, so maybe the dryer sensor gave a false alarm.) I felt a small investment in a brush such as this is better than paying for a future vent cleaning. I’ve been using it once a week and it picks up a little lint each time, but that’s lint that won’t have a chance to build up in the dryer vent!” —blueskys
Get it from Amazon for $6.98.
28. Washing machine-descaling tablets that’ll work on both top- and front-loading machines to erase any lingering mildew smells — whether you’ve had this machine for ages and want to keep it running ’til the day you die. Or you got a steal on a used machine and now you know WHY.
Promising review: “I bought a used front loader and it worked great but the clothes always smelled a little mildewy right out of the wash. I thought it was the design of the machine, but about five minutes of precleaning the front gasket with a washcloth and a brush, plus one run through with one tablet completely eliminated the smell. I can’t believe the difference. These are absolutely worth buying.” —Douglas Croxford
Get 48 from Amazon for $25.46.
29. And some dishwasher-descaling tablets to help clean the thing that cleans your dishes. It deserves a deep clean too! A box of these will cost MUCH less than a visit from the repair person to take a look.
Promising review: “Our dishwasher was NASTY. Totally disgusting. My husband wanted to buy a new one. I said let me see what I can do with this one because there is clearly an issue. This is after one cleaning, but I’m running it a second time due to the sheer filth of our family. I am so happy with the result so far. Awesome product!” —Ash
Get 12 tablets (a year supply) from Amazon for $18.95.
30. Wavy clip-in hair extensions in case you’ve got a wedding coming up or would just like to change up your look for a few days for criminally little! There are soooo many glamour shots of happy reviewers!
Promising review: “This was the best $9 I’ve spent in a long time! The color is a perfect match to my hair. I dye my own hair [Clairol Nice ‘n Easy Born Red 6R]. The hair is very long. I cut at least 12 inches off. It stays in place very well. One negative is that you really can’t comb it, as it is a little ‘sticky’ and I do get stray hairs falling out from time to time. But it keeps a very maintained look without combing it, so that isn’t a problem. I am unable to braid it though because of this, but can easily get it in a messy pony or bun. But for the cost, this is fine. I have thin to medium hair, and one piece is definitely enough.” —SBonert
Get them from Amazon for $9.89 (available in six lengths and 33 colors).
31. A jewelry cleaning solution that reviewers say give them a professional-level on the stuff they wear on the reg like wedding bands.
It’s formulated to safely clean gold, palladium, platinum, sterling silver, stainless steel, diamonds, pearls, beads, porous stones, soft stones, enamel, and treated gemstones.
Promising review: “Like a professional cleaning. I had months’ worth of buildup on my wedding rings and this took it all off with one use! My diamond looks as good as it does when I take it to the jeweler. Very happy with this product.” —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $17.99.
32. Waterproof cushion covers that’ll help guard your new couch against your pups. OR cover up some unsightly stains from an otherwise-good couch you found curbside.
Lots of reviewers use them on outdoor furniture, too!
Promising review: “Have a look at these cushion covers! They are great quality and look amazing. Best invention ever! I bought the taupe, but wish I’d chosen the beige instead. Not a deal breaker, so kept them. But these are waterproof and washable! I have dogs, so this sure helps to protect my new sofa!!” —Laurica
Get them from Amazon for $21.24+ (available in six sizes/packs and 11 colors).
33. A touch-up paint pen you can load up the next time you paint (or load up from the half-full paint cans you’ve got in the garage) so you won’t have to spend time and money trying to color match where you need touch-ups around the house.
Slobproof is a woman-owned small business.
Promising reviews: “Works great, no mess! This was easy to use to touch up our son’s bedroom corner walls.” —Elizabeth
“Love this — absolutely perfect for touchin’ up little spots that need touchin’ up. I have several sets filled with different paints, and so far, they’ve stayed usable without the paint drying out. I rinse the brush really well after each use (latex paints) and recap it. It would be nice if the manufacturer put an area on the pen where you could easily label the paint info, but I use a permanent marker, and it works okay.” —Hooked on AMZN!
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $12.79.
34. A Flip It! bottle emptying kit to help you get every last possible drop out of that bottle of lotion or hot sauce without slamming said bottle into the palm of your hand for ~5 minutes. We’ve all been there!
It comes with two stands/caps and six adapters to fit any size bottle. Just make sure it’s a bottle that can actually be squeezed, since it won’t work with totally solid bottles.
Promising review: “We have often wasted moisturizer that we simply can’t get out of the bottle. If the top has a funny (nonflat) shape, you can’t turn the bottle over to let the moisturizer drain toward the cap. With this simple idea, you can screw it on, turn the container over and use every drop. It’s a simple but efficient method for getting the most out of your moisturizer, shampoo, and conditioner. In the end, it’s a money saver!” —Having Fun
Get a pack of two stands and six adapters from Amazon for $15.99.
35. Leather Honey conditioner will breathe new life into all kinds of tired-looking leather, like on couches, boots, purses, and more. It’s nontoxic, non-oily, and will help your leather goods look and FEEL much better. Oh, and it’s water-repellent! It might even have you doing double takes at those looked-over boots at the thrift.
It can be used on leather shoes, accessories, interiors, furniture, upholstery, saddles, jackets, and tack.
Promising review: “I use this for my everyday boots as well as my dress shoes. I’m not always gentle with my boots and I thought I had ruined them the other day (worn out color, scuffs all over), but I cleaned the muck off, gave them a brushing, then applied this leather honey, and after letting it sit, my boots look almost like the day I bought them! It keeps the leather supple and restores color. You only need to use a small amount per use!” —David Horning
Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in three sizes).
36. A set of instant cocktail packets that’ll help you turn into the cleverest bartender at the pre-game or simply stay-at-home hangout. They’re super portable so you can even take them to the park or camping!
Craftmix is a small business that specializes in instant drink mixers.
These are all vegan and gluten-free — all you have to do is add booze, water, or the seltzer of your choice! Reviewers also love it as a party favor.
Promising review: “These margarita mixes are absolutely perfect for hanging out with your girlfriends. They are so refreshing when mixed with tequila and sparkling soda. There were enough drink mixes for 12 margaritas. I also dipped the glasses in rock salt. Great value for your money. I’m going to purchase more for our taco night.” —Suze
Get a pack of 12 from Amazon for $12.99 (available in 10 different flavors and a variety pack).
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
