36 Little Inexpensive Treats If You're On A Budget

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21-06-2025

A limited edition (!!) Eos Marshmallow "Super Balm" lip treatment from the brand's "secret menu" so good that reviewers say it's better than Carmex for healing and better than Summer Fridays for quality. Lip care that also tastes like you're perpetually eating a s'more for less than $6?? My friends, life is good.
And a tinted lip balm so close to the same magic as "Black Honey," TikTok's beloved $25 ~universal shade~ from Clinique, that it will genuinely startle you — especially when you see the price. This is a perfect, non-sticky "go-to" lippie that's just a step above the "no makeup makeup" look, giving the perfect subtly polished effect.
A Lululemon-inspired mini wristlet wallet set that looks just like their $50 version, and also easily holds cash, cards, and lip balms, so you don't have to deal with the whole muss and fuss of a purse if you're going on a walk around the neighborhood. Plus, you know what they say — keep your friends close and your beloved lippies closer.
A decadently-scented, ultra-hydrating vanilla cedar body wash filled with hyaluronic acid and peptides for deeeeep hydration and elasticity — that said, buy this at your own risk. You are going to be tempted to publicly smell your own delicious self ALLLLL day long.
A set of spicy margarita instant cocktail tea bags — all the sophistication of tea and the 😜 of a cheeky cocktail, without the exorbitant bar price tags or the sugar crash. All you have to do is add three ounces of cold water, 1.5 ounces of hard liquor, and the tea sachet into a glass, and you'll have a delicious cocktail in one minute.
Moroccanoil's Mini Must-Haves Sampler, which is so affordable that I'm not not pinching myself to make sure I'm awake. Reviewers especially love these teensy versions for traveling in ~luxury~ on the cheap, and for trying these beloved splurgeworthy products without committing to the whole price first!
A set of dainty but surprisingly strong bow-shaped hair clips to pair with all your frilliest dresses or to add a soft touch your more structured work outfits.
Pacifica's Wanderlust Spray Perfume Trial Set with five unique, deliciously sunny scents you can swap between all summer long. Sometimes you wake up in a full seize-the-day "Island Vanilla" mood, and other days you wake up with the zen of "Tahitian Gardenia," you feel me??
A plated, jewel-embedded ring you can buy yourself as a little treat if the $1,250 Cartier Love Ring is decidedly out of your budget. Dare I say this version is ... prettier than the designer one?
A set of obscenely adorable flower vase fridge magnets that look so hyper realistic that it's only a matter of time before a family of fairies moves into your kitchen, confusing it with their own. This arrives with the vases separate from the flowers, so you can mix and match the colors yourself!
A mini Bob Ross paint-by-numbers kit for anyone on their "happy accidents" beat — this itty bitty set comes with everything you need to create three tiny masterpieces of your very own.
Tree Hut Coco Colada Hand Wash infused with hyaluronic acid and ceramides to help hydrate and restore skin health so your hands can be super clean *and* super nourished. Now all you have to do is prepare to have the link to this handy whenever guests come over and are like, "WHERE DID YOU GET THIS DELECTABLE SOAP??"
Waterloo Spiced Mango Sorbet Sparkling Water that delivers so well on all three of those flavors that I feel like it just went down to the mocktail playground and beat up all the summer favorites.
A copy of Burn After Writing, a guided journal that tens of thousands of reviewers swear by — through a series of questions and thought experiments, it encourages people to take time away from their screens to explore their feelings, both new and old, so they can embrace meaningful ones and try to let others go.
A pair of pretty pastel wireless over-the-ear headphones crafted to look like AirPods Max, so you can still enjoy the comfort and chic style of their iconic headphones without shelling out hundreds of dollars. These feature premium cushion padding, a built-in mic with the ability to take calls, 10 hours of playtime per charge, and surprisingly decent noise blocking for the price.
Murdle, Volume 1, a true essential for anyone who relaxes to true crime podcasts or Only Murders in the Building. The book is full of 100 mystery-themed logic puzzles with four different levels of difficulty that you can do solo or with pals, and in order or out of order (although if you do it in order, you get the full scoop on Deductive Logico and Inspector Irratino, whose hilarious misadventures guide you through the book).
A set of self-heating lavender eye masks that might be juuuuust the ticket to releasing the stress and tension that keeps your brain going in circles at night. Reviewers also swear by these for headache and migraine relief!
E.l.f's brand new Lash XTNDR Tubing Mascara, a GODSEND for anyone with thin or fragile lashes. This uses lightweight ~tubing~ technology to wrap around lashes and give them a natural-looking, smudge-proof extension so good it almost looks fake. The real boon, though, is how easily the "tubes" slide off in clean, easy swipes at the end of the day when you're washing your face — absolutely no smudging, over-scrubbing, or special eye makeup removal products required.
A cap-sleeve tank top giving "muscle tee, but make it dainty." This is a perfect go-to for days when it's sweltering hot and you want to keep it as breezy, chic, and minimalist as possible. Psst — it even has an underarm panel so your bra doesn't show!
A vintage-style teddy mug so un-bear-ably cute that after you sip your coffee in it, you'll spend the whole day vibing like Paddington with a big smile on your face.
Cozy Europe, a reviewer-beloved adult coloring book for calm and de-stressing that will take you all over the globe while you color from the cozy perch on your couch. Psst — this is part of the iconic Comfy & Cozy Coloring Book series if you're looking for other options after you color through this one!
Sally Hansen's iconic Insta-Dri nail polish perfect for anyone who wants quick touch-ups on their fingers and toes but has ZERO time to spare. If you're looking for a reliable, long-lasting, fast-drying polish to save not just time, but big bucks at the salon, I cannot recommend these enough!
E.l.f.'s Holy Hydration! Thirst Burst Drops, another home run from the brand's moisturizing "Holy Hydration" line that reviewers are comparing to the $35 Watermelon Dew Drops from Glow Recipe. This lightweight formula is designed to brighten and plump skin for a dewy effect, whether you're wearing it alone, applying it under your makeup, or mixing it with your foundation.
Kitsch's new "Ultra Petite" Satin Scrunchies for anyone who loves the hair-protective style of satin, but wants a lower profile that the big billowing versions. These are super gentle and prevent creasing, but still have an all-day firm hold.
A set of "Golden Glow" under-eye gels made with 24-karat gold collagen formulated to brighten, nourish, and soothe your under-eyes so you can get that sweet, sweet de-puffing relief (and look ~expensive~ while you're doing it).
A 16-ounce mini Nalgene bottle for when you're not Big Thirsty, not Little Thirsty, but decidedly just Medium Thirsty. This small, easily portable bottle is great for commuters on the go who don't want the full bulk of a water bottle but also want to stray hydrated (in the most adorable way possible).
Dove Brown Sugar and Coconut Butter Body Scrub designed to be oh-so-gentle on your skin, with a softer texture that isn't as coarse as other brands but leaves you fully exfoliated and smooth. Plus there's the added bonus of smelling so yummy that you'll be like, "Oooh, should I take a bite out of my own self?"
A ridiculously versatile solar-powered bird bath fountain pump — all you have to do is plop it in water in a traditional bird bath, planter, or backyard decor, and boom! You have a sweet little bird haven that can burble water up to a foot high for all our feathered friends to enjoy.
An effortlessly chic woven straw summer clutch to pair perfectly with any summer outfit, whether you're kicking back at the beach or fancying it up for a wedding. This is basically the purse equivalent of that one friend of yours who's always like "Yeah, I'm down" before you even tell them the plans.
Black Girl Sunscreen's Make It Pop Sungloss with SPF 50 (!!) that reviewers *adore* both as a glossy shine on bare lips, or to make their signature lippies pop. Who knew sun protection could look so chic?
A wildly popular floral print sheer cover-up for the perfect finishing touch to all your summer outfits that won't make you swelter in the heat. Reviewers especially love how easily this packs (and photographs!!) for travel.
Catrice's Magic Shaper Face Cream Palette as an $8 alternative to the $88 (!!) Makeup Forever Palette. This includes a range of highly-pigmented, super blendable shades to help you contour, highlight, and bronze on days when your Gcal just say "GO GO GO" all the way down. (Psst — this is the same brand behind the TikTok-famous $6 Under Eye Brightener, so you know they mean business!)
A luxe, super soft two-piece pajama set with some real "vacation mode" energy, so even if your summer travel plans are "backyard" and "someone else's backyard," you can still feel like you're on a tropical getaway. Psst — reviewers compare these to the $128 Roller Rabbit version! 👀
A cult-fave unicorn-themed playing card deck for when you need a little ~magic~ on your side to get the perfect hand.
A pair of "three dimensional" frog earrings so adorable that regular earrings can pack it in — it's all about this cute lil' frog booty now.
A 5-pound bucket of Crayola Air Dry Clay to let you finally follow your inner pottery dreams without all the mess and effort of taking classes. After you pull the clay out to shape it, it'll harden on its own — no oven or any effort required! From there you can leave it as is or paint over it for a fun vibe.