Cheap Lifestyle Boosters
Living large can also mean going broke. The good news is that making some small purchases won't break the bank but could improve your life exponentially. Check out these minor investments that will more than pay off.
30 Budget-Friendly Items That Are Quality Of Life Boosters
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Touchscreen Gloves
$7 on Amazon
No one wants their hands to be cold when they venture outdoors, but if you have gloves, taking them off to fiddle with your phone is just as annoying. These light gloves are not only helpful in keeping your temperature stable, their touchscreen friendliness is a plus.
Korean Face Masks
$6 for 6 on Amazon
You can get into the trendy Korean face mask trend for a minimal investment. Try this six pack, With aloe and tea tree, you're sure to find at least one you like.
Dental Floss Picks
$7 at Target
We all need to floss our teeth, but there's no reason not to make it a little easier and leave some fresh breath to boot.
Cool Mist Humidifier
$40 at Target
If you live in a dry climate or just want to counter the aridness that sets in during winter, this little humidifier not only looks cute but can make your living space much more comfortable.
Electric Kettle
$20 from Amazon
Yes, you can microwave water, but heating up hot water for tea in an electric kettle seems so much more civilized. It's also the European thing to do, so go ahead — for $20 you can feel like you're across the pond.
Electric Toothbrush
$17 from Amazon
You can drop some serious coin on an electric toothbrush, but there's no rule saying you have to. For a low price you can still feel like you're ensuring an extra-bright smile. Best of all, you can get it in a range of colors.
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Shower Steamers
$20 from Amazon
It's not a spa, but close. Drop a shower streamer next time you need to get clean, and you might be pleasantly surprised.
Phone Wallet Case
$25 from Amazon
According to one Reddit user, a phone wallet makes "Where did I put that?" a thing of the past. Pro tip: You can always call to search for your phone, so you're unlikely to lose both if you store them together.
Hot Water Bottle with Knitted Cover
$10 from Amazon
Yes, a hot water is an old-fashioned treat, but it's stuck around for a reason. This one, with a sweater cover. is cuter than you remember hot water bottles being.
Indoor Hammock
$64 from Amazon
This seems like an odd choice, but one Redditor says it's become a preferred location for bedtime and has made back pain disappear.
Cold Brew Pitcher
$14 from Amazon
Cold brew is something most of us associate with fancy coffee shops, but it's actually pretty easy to pull off (and cheap, too). This is a way to have coffee with less acid and better taste without paying $6 a cup.
Heated Mattress Pad
$50 from Amazon
Snuggling onto an already warm bed can be downright luxurious — and for only $50, it's an acceptable investment.The 12 heat settings make it customizable, the fact that it's washable makes it convenient.
Magnetic Charging Cable
$19 from Amazon
That satisfying click you get from a magnetic charger finding its home is hard to beat. Getting it for under $20 is even better.
Anti-Fatigue Kitchen Mat
$26 from Amazon
While it may seem pricey for a mat to use in front of your kitchen sink, for anyone who has had to stir a vat of soup or cook dinner, it's worth every cent — and it's not that pricey anyway.
Handheld Mandoline Slicer
$14 from Amazon
Being able to slice up perfectly thin, homemade potato chips can't really be done with a regular knife. A mandoline, however, will do the job effortlessly.
Squatty Potty
$20 from Amazon
If you've spent too much time struggling on the toilet, this may be your solution. While there are videos explaining why this makes it easier to poop, it's a reasonable expense to find out if it does the trick.
Sleep Mask
$10 for three from Amazon
A mask will block out light — and a really good one will let you blink, too. This three-pack comes in black, blue, and purple so you can match your jammies.
Swedish Dish Cloths
$6 for a 10 pack from Amazon
Finally, a little luxury that is not only good for your budget, but good for the environment, too. These Swedish dish cloths can be washed after use, which means you don't need paper towels but have pretty cloths instead. Win-win.
Bidet Attachment
$30 from Amazon
Eschewing toilet paper doesn't seem like a big deal, but being able to get clean without it has been the practice in most of the rest of the world for years. Once you go bidet, you won't want to go back.
Plastic Shower Liner
$9 from Amazon
If your shower curtain is moldy and smelly, it's worth a small investment to get a new liner. The good news is that liners are washable (keep them out of the drier) and add a touch of elegance to your bathroom.
Cast Iron Skillet
$9 from Amazon
A cast iron skillet is as tough as it looks — and will last forever. Pro tip: Cast iron skillets go on deep discount on Black Friday, so you can likely get a bigger one for about the same price then.
Beauty Spatula
$5 for a four-pack from Amazon
These tiny spatulas make it possible to scrape out the good (and usually expemsive) dregs of make-up bottles. It's a handy item that makes your favorite foundation last a little longer.
Velvet Hangers
$21 for 50 from Amazon
Wire hangers are ugly, but more than that, they warp your clothes. Plastic hangers add bulk to your closet, and silky clothes can slip right off. A velvet hanger won't misshape your clothes or dump them on the floor of your closet. It's a small expense with a major payoff.
Slow Cooker Liners
$3 for 6 from Amazon
Slow cookers make dinner easy, but having to clean them pretty much cancels out the advantage. A liner can be quickly thrown away for cheap, and cooking from home is still cheaper than ordering takeout.
French Press
$23 from Amazon
While drip coffee has been having a resurgence, French press coffee has never gone out of style. You can make exactly what you're going to drink, plus it usually tastes stronger and fresher than drip.
Boar Bristle Brush
$10 from Amazon
Boar bristle brushes are said to make hair softer, smoother, and less tangled. Plus, they look better than a plastic version.
Immersion Blender
$13 from Amazon
Want a smooth soup? Don't want to drag out the blender? A stick blender makes it easy, and the result is so much more elegant.
Foot Hammock
$13 from Amazon
Hang a foot hammock under your desk and no one has to know that you're taking pressure off your legs and back that can come from sitting at a desk. You may not want to advertise your hammock, but you'll feel great. Pro tip: Bring it on your next flight to make coach less painful.
Slipper Socks
$15 from Amazon
They're as cozy and flexible as socks, but they grip the floors like slippers. Plus, they're pretty cute.
Milk Frother
$7 from Amazon
While a milk frother can make your coffee look fancy, it also does wonders with tea and hot chocolate. This is a tiny price to pay that can make your latte next-level.
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