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While there may be plenty of things you may want to purchase, the list of things that you actually need and will use every day this year is probably much shorter. To help you narrow that practical list for 2018, we've tracked down the most-useful items that will make each day easier, more productive, and hopefully, more fun. From cozy slippers and plush bath towels to a really cool desk lamp, here are the everyday products that are worth the money.
Price: $34.97 | Buy it on Amazon
Could you get by with a standard issue toothbrush? Sure. But many dentists recommend electric toothbrushes as they've been shown to remove more plaque and can deliver more strokes per minute than your hand ever could. The Oral-B White Pro 1000 is one of our favorite options as it's considered one of the most effective brushes, and features a pressure sensor, a timer, an easily replaceable head, and is much more affordable than some of the other popular electric models.
Price: $121.34 | Buy it on Amazon
Making your coffee at home is obviously way cheaper than buying a fancy cup of joe from your neighborhood barista every day. But you don't have to sacrifice quality for price. Start your morning right with the Bonavita 8-Cup Carafe Coffee Brewer, a streamlined one-button brewer that features a pre-infusion option to soak the grounds before brewing and a stainless steel carafe to keep your coffee warm without the burnt taste that warming plates on cheaper models create. It's the drip coffee maker preferred by coffee nerds who typically shun such conveniences.
Price: $23.07 | Buy it on Amazon
When you have to take that freshly brewed coffee on the road, the Contigo Autoseal West Loop is your best bet for a reliable travel mug. The stainless-steel, double-wall vacuum insulation keeps liquids hot for up to five hours (and cold for 12 hours), which is way longer than most can. It's also spill proof (even upside down!) with a simple, lockable push button to open it for drinking. The lid is also super easy to clean. Longtime users rave that it's the best travel mug they've ever used.
Price: $100 | Buy it on Amazon
The voice-activated Amazon Echo has earned a huge fan base since launching a few years back, but maybe you haven't jumped on board yet. Well, this is the year. With the recent launch of the second generation, the Echo now has a new speaker, stylish new design options, and plenty more upgrades. Everyday, you'll find yourself asking "Alexa" -- your new personal assistant -- to play music, audiobooks, and games; tell you the weather, traffic or sports scores; create a to-do list or start a timer; order an Uber or pizza; and tons more. And if you connect the Echo to other smart-home devices, you'll really feel like you're living in the future.
Price: $8.97 (6-pack) | Buy them on Amazon
Microfiber cloths are tremendously effective for cleaning eyeglasses, smartphone screens, camera lenses, computer monitors, and really, just about any other delicate surface around the house. While there are plenty of options out there, the cloths from MagicFiber are regarded as best in show for their extremely high-quality material and silky smooth texture that banishes streaks. You're sure to use these every day, probably multiple times. Pros recommend using warm water and a drop of dish detergent with the microfiber to clean glasses.
Price: $65 | Buy it on Amazon
This LED desk lamp from TaoTronics may be a bit of a splurge as desk lamps go, but the investment is worth it. Not only will you save on electricity with energy-efficient LED, but you'll also save your eyes thanks to glare-free illumination. The stylish easily adjustable lamp has a sleek touch pad that offers five different color temperatures to match your mood or activity, six preset brightness levels, and a memory function for your settings, plus perks like a timer, night light, and USB charging port for your phone. For a less expensive option, try the ZHoppy clip lamp ($11.95).
Price: $10.74 | Buy it on Amazon
With so many reusable water bottle options available these days, it's hard to know which one is the best for you. And while we have some favorite bottles for camping, the Contigo Autoseal Kangaroo is our favorite option for everyday use. More durable than glass ones and lighter than metal options, the Contigo makes for easy sipping thanks to a mouthpiece that opens with the push of a button. The bottle is well sealed so you don't have to worry about spillage, and it has a hand loop for carrying or clipping to a bag. Plus there's a super handy built-in storage compartment so you can safely store your ID, money, and key, when you're running or at the gym.
Price: $99.95 | Buy it on Amazon
One of our favorite multi-use kitchen accessories, the Instant Pot has become hugely popular recently and if you haven't joined the throngs of loyal fans, now is the time. The easily programmable multi-cooker works as a slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, pressure cooker, warmer, sauté pan, and can even make yogurt. Not only does it save shelf and counter space (not to mention the cost of multiple appliances), but it's versatility also guarantees you'll find a reason to use it daily. There are plenty of recipes that are perfect for the Instant Pot.
Price: $44 (set of 4) | Buy them on Amazon
Admit it: Your bath towels are long overdue for an upgrade. For something you use every day (or at least most days for some of us, ahem), you should definitely invest in some quality towels that don't just dry you off well, but make you feel like you're at a luxurious spa. Thankfully, the Chakir Turkish bath towels do just that -- for a fraction of the price of a spa stay and less than most other high end towels. You may even find yourself bathing more often.
Price: $30 (18-piece set) | Buy it on Amazon
It's time to ditch all those worn-out plastic food containers -- the ones you can never find the lid to -- and upgrade to some quality containers that you'll use daily. The Vremi containers are oven (just not the lids), microwave and dishwasher safe, and the airtight and leak-proof lids ensure that your food stays inside both in the fridge and on the go, plus the lids have a steam valve for the microwave. The 18-piece set offers a range of sizes to suit your needs. They stack really well and will help reduce waste and save money.
Price: $11 | Buy it on Amazon
This sturdy and reliable canvas tote bag is perfect for everything from hauling laundry, carrying groceries, storing toys and craft materials, packing for road trips, and a multitude of other purposes. It also easily collapses to store it out of the way when you don't need it. It's a great everyday multitasker.
Price: $50 | Buy it on Amazon
If you're like us, you could use a little help sticking with those healthy resolutions you made for 2018, and this smart scale is perfect for anyone looking to get trim this year. The sleek and well-designed scale from Greater Goods helps you track more than just weight, including other body metrics such as BMI, water weight, bone mass, and more. The large, backlit screen is easy to read, and all of the information syncs to a corresponding app and works with most other fitness trackers, so it's easy to track your progress toward your goals. It's also less-expensive than many other smart scales on the market.
Price: $79 | Buy Men's and Women's on L.L. Bean
For all they do for us, our feet could always use a bit of pampering and these top-notch L.L. Bean moccasins are the perfect way to do just that. They may be a little pricier than your typical slipper, but that's because they're not typical. Built to last, these Wicked Good Moccasins are made with high-quality, genuine lamb shearling for a super soft and warm interior -- great for chilly mornings -- as well as a contoured memory foam footbed, arch support, and a sturdy outsole with traction for when you have to step out to grab the paper.
Price: $24.98 (4-pack) | Buy it on Amazon
Many places you shop these days are ditching disposable, pollution-generating plastic bags, and encouraging people to bring their own bags. Unfortunately, there are times when we're out and forget to bring our reusable bags, which is where these handy ChicoBags come in. These sturdy, reusable totes have their own integrated pouch with a drawstring so they're compact and lightweight enough to keep in your purse, car or attached to a belt loop with the included carabiner. They're great in a pinch, but you'll find yourself using them all the time.
Price: $20 | Buy it on Amazon
A portable steamer may not sound like the sexiest of purchases, but trust us, you'll feel much sexier and more stylish when it gets rid of all those wrinkles in your clothes. Perfect for travel and easy to store at home, the Urpower handheld steamer is simple to use, heats up fast, knocks out the wrinkles, and has an automatic shut-off safety feature. It works well for shirts, suits, dresses, and more, and you'll be much more inclined to use it daily -- unlike that iron that sits on the shelf.
Price: $129.95 | Buy it on Amazon
Chances are that most of your photos these days live on your smartphone or digital camera and they rarely ever get printed like the good old days. Well, that all changes this year. This super convenient portable printer easily fits in your pocket or purse and lets you print out all of those great photo of your friends, family, and yes, even your selfies. You can use the HP Sprocket app to customize the photos and then quickly send them to the printer via Bluetooth. And the sticker-backed photo paper lets you stick your 2-by-3-inch glossy snapshots anywhere.
