02-07-2025
Just 56 Very Good Budget Buys
Gold Bond's firming neck and chest cream to *gently* hydrate, exfoliate, and tighten the skin that's more sensitive than the rest of your body but less sensitive than the skin on your face. This makes for a lovely, quite effective in-between formula packed with aloe, salicylic acid, and jojoba oil in a formula that reviewers say works just as well as much pricier creams.
A 2-in-1 nausea relief inhaler you can even slip into your (too small) jeans front pocket to have on hand when you're feeling a little rough. Reviewers say it helps with random nausea, motion sickness, morning sickness, and just feeling quite a bit icky. Simply inhale it or rub it on the tip of your nose to enjoy the "I'm feeling better" benefits.
An easy, breezy patchwork mini dress that'll be perfect for when you need to look cute but want the least amount of fabric possible touching your skin. So, um, right this minute.
A cheap but incredibly effective instant foot peeling spray in case your at-home pedis aren't quite hitting or you can't make it to the salon before it's time to start wearing sandals. It'll gently remove dead skin and help moisturize cracked heels so you won't have to put off slipping your old dogs into your trusty Birks for the season.
A tinted lip balm you'd SWEAR is Clinique's $25 "Almost Lipstick" Black Honey for the lovely, sophisticated hue it'll turn your lips. This is great for people who 1) always want a little lip color, 2) hate a sticky feel, and 3) love a bargain.
A sturdy Pikk-It tool with sharp metal teeth that'll un-ensnare tangled hair from your vacuum cleaners, hairbrushes, and even your beloved round brush dryer. Raise your hand if you've ever broken a seam ripper cleaning a vacuum cleaner. (Meee.)
Good Molecules Pineapple Exfoliating Powder made with natural rice starches and pineapple, kiwi, and papaya extracts that'll foam up and *gently* polish skin, giving you similar results to the $68 Dermalogica version. You can use it up to four times a week to see (and feel) the benefits without harsh scrubs or panicking a little bit at your Ulta total.
Plus, Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel. Reviewers swear that this works just as well as $$$ eye creams at minimizing puffiness and swelling thanks to a powerhouse duo of caffeine and hyaluronic acid.
An Elizavecca hair treatment can give you "rich girl hair" thanks to its collagen and ceramide 3 formula. And it'll take just a few minutes of your time, like as little as five minutes post-shampoo. Because time is money, money is power, and power is pizza. (In case you were curious, lots of reviewers say they prefer it over $$$ Olaplex.)
A set of ~flexible~ limited-edition watercolor design Band-Aids will help your bumps and scrapes look a little more painterly. Forget trying to color-match your bandages. Turn yourself into a walking art gallery!
E.l.f. Lash Xtndr Tubing Mascara if you've tried pricier versions but have shied away from rebuying because of $$$. Seriously, just try this! It's so good that I'm currently on my THIRD tube.
Lottabody's Coconut Oil Foaming Curl Mousse made to work on all hair types because we've officially hit peak "I'm not turning on my blow-dryer" weather, folks.
A crack weeder tool that'll go where a larger weeder (and your hands!) can't. Now that you're spending more time in your backyard, you're eyeing all the little weeds and parts that need some fixing.
An under-$25 cooling misting system can help you get as much time as possible outside this summer because last summer your backyard started to feel like sitting in a sauna. (Hey, at least you didn't have to look at strangers in their towels!)
And a mini sprinkler pool to help the fam cool off and get some water time without having to dump out a kiddie pool's worth of water once the fun has wrapped.
Catrice's Magic Shaper Face Cream Palette will help you build out and highlight your face's gorgeous assets for a mere $8 instead of $88 with a similar Makeup Forever palette. Listen, you don't have to spend a bunch of money to LOOK it. And a palette like this is gonna last you a while.
A set of DEET-free handy mosquito-repelling bracelets in case the thought of putting something else on your skin besides SPF (like smelly bug repellent) sounds like a total nightmare.
A jar of the The Pink Stuff — a cleaning paste made to handle all kinds of gross, stuck-on situations like that bathroom floor grout you came to terms with being dirty gray forever and even the crayon art gallery on your wall.
Murdle, Volume 1, a book chock full with so many mystery-themed logic puzzles (100, to be exact) that it should be illegal. And if you're worried about blazing through this one, there are three versions!
A roll of wood grain tape can serve as a "frame" on your bathroom or wall mirror to make your space feel a bit more intentionally designed — even if you inherited a bunch of someone else's design choices.
A ribbed button-up tank to give you the same vibes as an Abercrombie & Fitch one for half the price. So you could double ya' want. Maybe this is what they always meant when they said transitioning your look from office to happy hour?
A Lululemon-inspired tennis skirt with built-in shorts and a secret inner pocket because are you even living your best summer life if you're not claw-handing your iced coffee and phone in one hand while you wildly gesticulate as you tell your friend a story on a neighborhood walk? No need to worry about a strong breeze.
A "Soft" perfume rollerball that's definitely made an appearance or five in your FYP scroll. It's only $5 and smells totally delightful (it gets compared to sweet treats like waffle cones). BUT! That's not the only reason to love it. It reminds reviewers of the $65 bottle of Pink Sugar 👀 and layers like a dream.
Or a Creamy Coconut fragrance rollerball to have everyone assuming you paid full price for the $25 Sol de Janeiro fragrance. Even if your immediate plans don't entail sitting on a beach and drinking out of an actual coconut, you can still catch a whiff of the island vibe with this sweet scent.
A set of satin pillowcases that'll look more luxe on your bed than the pillowcases that came with your sheet set. AND (I can vouch) that they'll leave your hair and skin more moisturized than cotton ones. Here's to keeping that blowout looking smoother for longer.
Essence's Drop of Sunshine Bronzing Drops will help you fake that you spent the weekend taking in the sunshine instead of sick and holed up on your couch catching up on all the horror movies you've been meaning to watch. And at $33 cheaper than the Drunk Elephant version, you might just go ahead and invest in a second or third bottle now. Reviewers say it's super hydrating and buildable!
An spaghetti strap sundress with built-in shorts (maybe "built-in shorts" is the 2025 summer mantra?) so you can reap all the benefits of a cooling sundress in the heat without having a Marilyn Monroe moment. (Reviewers say it's waaaay cheaper than one you can find at the mall.)
Some sharp-looking pointed-toe flats with similar comfy, machine-washable features to pricier Rothy's or Vivaia flats. You'll be glad you packed these to get you from Notre-Dame to the Eiffel Towel on a long but gorgeous scenic view! And when you get home, you can toss 'em in the wash to look like new for your next adventure!
A pair of pilot shield sunglasses for a very close look to the $699 Bottega Veneta pair. If you're on TikTok you've probably already seen these bad boys and thought about taking the plunge. It's a mere $14.99 plunge so, eh, might as well.
Or some oversize square sunnies if you've been admiring the Bottega Veneta version but have such a horrible track record with keeping sunglasses in fighting shape that you can't in good conscience spend hundreds on a pair.
A CZ tennis bracelet with tons of reviewers who say it can pass as actual diamonds. Listen, you want a glamorous stack but you don't have to choose between that and a long weekend at a beach resort.
An intoxicating Baccarat Rouge 540–inspired Cremo Body Wash will help you smell luxe without blowing your whole beauty budget for the month. It has a blend of white jasmine, red currant, and sweet amber that reviewers say stacks up to the real deal and sticks with them throughout the day.
Self-Tanner for some super-easy-to-apply color that'll develop in an hour. No need to book a (costly) spray tan appointment. (Psst, reviewers who've previously sworn by St. Tropez products have made the switch!)
A cherry bag charm can add a lil' razzle-dazzle to your plain bag that's just not doing it for you anymore. Just let your work nemesis assume that it's the $95 Coach charm.
A cute two-piece pajama set in super soft fabric if you LOVE the look of $128 Roller Rabbit PJs but just can't personally justify spending that much money on something you wear to bed, no matter how comfy and cute it might be!
A stretchy bodycon pencil dress with heaps of Skims comparisons for the shape and stretch. I'm guessing this is what Morticia Addams would wear to an all-inclusive beach resort.
A pair of wireless over-the-ear headphones you'd mistake for AirPods Max if you weren't paying close attention thanks to the similar shape and shade options. These beauts are at a small fraction of the price (I swear, that math is easy) with good noise-blocking, 10 hours of play per charge, a built-in mic for calls, and cushy padding so you can put those extra HUNDREDS you're not spending on AirPods Max for a flight to your college roommate's wedding.
An elegant set of square wineglasses that reviewers point out are VERY similar to the pricier ones sold at Crate & Barrel. Whether you're just drinking some water out of them or some actual Prosecco, they'll certainly elevate the moment.
Hanes Ultimate ankle socks can pass the comfort test for fans of Aritzia's TNA line. Yes, we're at that age where socks can be luxurious.
A faux-pearl choker that's a dead-ringer for a Vivienne Westwood piece you can easily add to all kinds of outfits that are missing something. Mystery solved.
A tie-strap beaut in an ankle-grazing length for those moments when you've GOTTA stoop down and play with a puppy. This has you covered.
A multipurpose blush stick you can try out to create the lovely watercolor blush trend. Y'know what's even lovelier? Paying $7 for this instead of the $18 Pixi Beauty version so you can build and blend color to your heart's content.
A pair of satin block-heel dress shoes you'd mistake for some Loeffler Randall heels if you didn't buy them yourself! Reviewers also say that the supportive straps mean you can still make all kinds of moves. A wedding dance floor hates to see you coming.
Cushionaire slides that'll help satisfy your old dogs' yearning for comfy Birks (there are 1,000+ reviews comparing them) for significantly less.
E.l.f.'s Holy Hydration! Thirst Burst Drops made to help plump up (hydrating hibiscus complex and hyaluronic acid) and brighten (niacinamide) your complexion for similar results to the $35 Glow Recipe Watermelon Dew Drops. Reviewers say it works great alone *or* mixed in with foundation.
A plated ring with just a bit of glitz that'll help you channel the Cartier look without affecting your financial planning goals like the real-deal would.
Dossier's "Ambery Vanilla" perfume because you thought about shelling out for YSL's Black Opium but your budget said no despite all your other perfume bottles being on empty.
A Briotech spray can help soothe rosacea, eczema, rashes, sunburns, and other skin irritations for when your skin is just not cooperating thanks to hypochlorous acid (it's in your white blood cells and helps soothe inflammation). Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Spray is also what some call a miracle in a bottle. But Briotech is in a cheaper bottle.
Some ~spiral~ taper candles with a whole lot more pizzazz than the regular ones. Just remember you'll have to remind everyone you live with that these are for decoration!
A clip-on light if you're in love with your patio umbrella and don't wanna shell out for a whole new one that's lit.
A set of petite vintage-inspired spoons you can keep out on your kitchen countertop for when you need to stir your coffee, grab a bit of a spice, or tear into a pint of ice cream methodically. (Go ahead and dig out those chocolate chunks. I won't tell.)
Olay Super Serum Body Wash has niacinamide, shea butter, and collagen peptides in a formula made to provide 24-hour hydration so you don't have to slather on tons of lotion post-shower just to avoid feeling like a dehydrated dinosaur.
A knee-length halter dress available in a range of colors and prints so you'll probably wanna snag a few for all kinds of seasonal photo ops.
Catrice "Instant Awake" Under Eye Brightener can be 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. This "invisible" coverage oft gets compared to the $33 Becca version.
E.l.f. Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balm in case your lip balm habit (and losing-your-lip-balm habit) is start to eat into your fun money. Fans of Laneige, Rhode, *and* Summer Fridays are in the reviews singing this stuff's praises.
E.l.f. Soft Glam Foundation has buildable full coverage without *looking* like you put on a layer or two. (I should know, it's become my go-to!) Its satiny finish leaves you looking all dewy and has garnered some compliments from friends who see me often enough to tell the difference! After all, finding your holy-grail foundation is a JOURNEY. Might as well try the affordable, effective ones first!
