I’ll be the first to admit it: sometimes I can have a bit of a spending problem. I do my best to save my pennies, but I’m a firm believer in that you have to spend money to save money. Some of you may be unfamiliar with a seemingly backwards thinking concept, so let me explain how this works. If you are constantly saving, one day you’re just gonna freak out and buy everything in sight until your checking account is insanely overdrawn. Instead, you should save a little, spend a little. It’s a good practice, but someone like me needs to amp it up every once in awhile because my money burning ways get the best of me. So I like to look for items that can serve double-duty, or at the very least give the illusion of a two-for-the-price-of-one deal.
So you can’t look at the Five Finger Fillet Steak Knives (Perpetual Kid, $59.99) as just a set of knives because they’re so much more than that. Sure, this set of six stainless steel knives can be used traditionally for meals and such, but you’ve got to think outside the box. With such a creative presentation, the first thing that comes to my mind is self defense. I mean, they’re super sharp, durable, and apparently fit very nicely either between someone’s fingers or in the middle of their hand. Now that I think about it, these would probably work for some kind of circus act. You know, like a knifethrower and his lovely assistant? Just think of how awesome that would be!
See, the trick here is to look at the bottom line and then divide it by how many “deals” you’re getting. These can range from the blatantly obvious (2 shirts for $25, divide by 2), slightly more creative (one dress equals an entire outfit so divide by 2 or 3), and the generally absurd (spending $250 to get free shipping when all you wanted was one $40 item).
3 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 8.5″ x 7.75″ base
-Includes six 4.5″ steak knives and black plastic base
-Knives made of 18/0 stainless steel
-Designed by Raffaele Iannello
So last night it was pretty warm in my house, like menopausal hot flash temperatures, so I thought I’d turn the heat down and crack open a window. You know, conserve energy, save the planet, that whole deal. Lo and behold, I woke up in the middle of the night so cold I thought I has turned into a popsicle. My teeth were chattering so hard that I thought I was gonna break a tooth, all because I thought I’d be nice to mother nature. Well, that and I thought because my house felt like jungle temperatures when I climbed into bed that opening a window seemed only logical. Foiled again!
Fluctuations in your core body temperature are known to disrupt your sleep patterns, something the Temperature Regulating Blanket (Hammacher Schlemmer, $99.95 – $149.95) seeks to remedy. No one likes going to bed in a perfect homeostasis only to wake up drenched in sweat, especially when you’re sharing the bed with someone else. Then it gets even more difficult to figure out the perfect sleep temperature so that everyone is comfortable. Inevitably, someone will wake up in the middle of the night completely miserable because of a preventable temperature issue. To that end, this blanket utilizes millions of invisible microcapsules along with the aid of NASA technology to keep you content while you sleep. How it works is that the excess heat from your body is absorbed by the blanket when you’re warm and then that stored heat is released when your body temperature drops. This makes it ideal of two people as the fabric will adjust to each individual’s micro-climate without disturbing the other.
Those NASA guys sure know their stuff. I mean, who else would have thought of using a blanket to cool themselves down? It’s either the dumbest or the smartest idea I’ve ever heard. I’ll get back to you when I decide which.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 108″ x 96″ (king)
90″ x 96″ (queen)
80″ x 96″ (full)
66″ x 96″ (twin)
-Available in 5 colors: oyster, white, sage, chocolate, and sky blue
-Adjusts to an individual’s micro climate
-Absorbs excess heat when hot, releases stored heat when cold
-Naturally anti bacterial
-Odor resistant
-Machine washable
-Uses patented technology developed for NASA
-Made of 50% Merino wool and 50% acrylic
I have a terrible memory. Really, both my short-term and long-term memory are seemingly incapable of retaining any knowledge. Most of the time I can get by fine with a Post-it note here and a short list there, but sometimes it’s just not possible to utilize those high tech tools. For instance, it’s a little hard (not to mention unsafe) to write notes and make lists when I’m driving, but how else am I supposed to remember to pick up milk after work?
While the Recording Car Note Pad (Taylor Gifts, $19.98) isn’t really implementing any groundbreaking technology, its simple design has everything a driver needs to take notes on the go. Windshield mounted via suction cup, this notepad has your standard book of notepaper as well as removable pen. I mean, a reminder isn’t very helpful if the only place you can read it is in the car, now is it? The notepad also features a built-in light for when you need to take notes in the dark (driving directions come to mind). But arguably the most important feature is the hands-free recording device. With the touch of a button, you can record important memos, messages, directions, etc. The device allows you to keep your mind on the road while at the same time making it easier than ever to keep track of your honey-do list.
What a fantastic idea, right? So fantastic, in fact, that all those smartphones out there got in on the action. Now you can’t throw a stick without hitting some sort of mobile device that does anything and everything (besides making phone calls, that is). So it’s up to you – spend $200 on some tricked out phone that will become obsolete in a few months or $20 on a little piece of technology that never goes out of style.
3 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 5.5″ x 2″ x 10″
-Includes removable pen, notepad, and built in light
-Mounts to windshield with suction cups
-Record, store, and playback memos
-Requires 3 AA batteries (not included)
-Made of plastic
You know when you move into a new apartment and the whole place just looks so bare and uninviting? Don’t you just hate that? And the thing that sucks about living in an apartment is that you can’t really paint the walls (unless you want to paint them back to white again before you move out). So your best (and most cost effective) bet for sprucing up the joint is to throw up some wall art. A good picture or two on each wall and your place can go from sketchy studio apartment to cozy flat in no time. But not only do you have to be really careful with what you put on the walls so you don’t irreparably damage them, you’ll also have the delightful task of trying to find picture frames that aren’t ridiculously expensive. Good luck with that.
I’m not gonna say that the best part about the Snap Wall Photo Frames (Wrapables, $18.95) is that they’re pretty cheap, but it certainly falls into the plus column. This photo frame set comes with nine molded white plastic frames, shaped just like vintage Polaroid photographs. The bottom section of the frame is a white dry erase surface so you can change your picture captions as often as you change your photos. Each photo frame mounts to the wall with a simple tack, so you won’t have to worry about putting giant holes in your rented wall space. The only downside is that the set doesn’t include a dry erase marker. Not a huge deal as they’re fairly inexpensive, but it’s like really, you couldn’t just throw one in there? What’s up with that?
I am a big fan of fun artwork. The best part about these frames is that they’re totally unexpected and pretty much unlike anything anyone else has at their apartment. Because let’s be honest, decorating your home is really all about competing with your friends to see whose place is the most awesome. This is one giant leap into Awesometown.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 3.5″ x 3.5″
-Set of 9
-Dry erase surface (pen not included)
-Mounting hardware included
-Molded white plastic frames
-Made of polyresin
It seems like you never have the tools you need to do even the simplest of tasks. I mean, who wants to go hunting for a screwdriver when all you want to do is tighten one measly little screw on the kitchen cabinet? By the time you finally track down the toolbox and fish out the corresponding tool, you’ve probably forgotten why you needed it in the first place. And then the whole vicious cycle starts all over. Sure, you could carry about a myriad of tools, just in case you might need them, but that could get very cumbersome. Plus, there’s only so many screwdrivers and hammers you can tote around before people start branding you a psycho killer.
In an effort to help you not look like a crazed lunatic, the Screwpop 4-in-1 Tool (Amazon, $4.95) is a fun-sized gadget that fits comfortably on your keychain. With four unique tools, it’s hard to imagine a task that you can’t conquer with the help of this tool! Well, ok, that’s not really true, but you can do a few things with it. The tool includes two kinds of screwdrivers, Phillips and Flathead, that fit into a cylindrical shaft. When the cylindrical shaft is emptied, it serves as a hex driver that can tighten loose bolts. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the top ring sports a notch that serves as a bottle opener. With all these items in one small yet convenient location, you’ll be able to fix things/drink booze with little to no effort.
Imagine all the times you’ll save the day with your magical device! Somebody need a beer opened? I’m there! Got a screw loose? Phillips or Flathead, I’m on it! Need a loose bolt tightened? Move over! Um, that’s about it.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: .4375″ x 1.375″ x 3″
-Includes Flathead #2, Phillips #2, 1/4″ hex driver, and bottle opener
-Easy to use
-Reliable
-Keychain friendly
-Lifetime warranty
