Sep 21, 2022 - But I digress...
I decided recently that my kitchen needs a pitcher, but I didn’t want to spend a lot on it, because a pitcher is the type of item I’d be prone to break, and don’t even ask me why. So I was excited to find this ceramic one, which looks hands-thrown but most assuredly isn’t. I’m also looking forward to employing it as a vase. OK, your turn: what inexpensive item has recently set your heart racing?
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Kim France
I was born in Houston, Texas in 1964 and have lived in New York City since 1988. I had a long career in magazines, working at Sassy, Elle, New York, and Spin, and in 2000, I founded Lucky magazine, which I edited for ten years.
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I was born in Houston, Texas in 1964 and have lived in New York City since 1988. I had a long career in magazines, working at Sassy, Elle, New York, and Spin, and in 2000, I founded Lucky magazine, which I edited for ten years.
Although I have never bought a single thing from Tory Burch, I impulse-purchased a pair of suede mules on steep discount and have worn them every day since they arrived. They’ve turned out to be perfect for the transition into fall.
Don’t laugh but–I finally got a seatbelt adjuster and it is THE BEST THING EVER
It’s minimal and sleek too!
I’m not laughing at allll – in fact, wondering if I need one. (Not entirely sure what they are, but will google.) Good for you!!
Seatbelts may not properly protect petite people and women’s weight distribution. It’s worth investigating if you are on the petite side, or if seatbelts seem to hit you at the wrong place.
Walking shorts from Wal-Mart that are wicking fabric. About $8.99 a pair.
Not sure how chic this is, but it was definitely cheap — a $5 corner cat scratcher from Amazon. I love this thing so much:
https://www.amazon.com/Catit-Senses-2-0-Self-Groomer/dp/B00D3NI2PG
My cats would love that! I have an older cat and just acquired a kitten — she just showed up and ingratiated herself. They are working things out between them, but I think this would help, as they have scent glands on their faces.
Now I almost want a cat … I guess I am suggestible today!
Maybe an especially cute kitten will appear on your deck as well!
This is definitely not cheap but is chic and all of our cats love it. We call it the throne. Has lasted through a few cats although looking pretty ratty now. Worth it.
Is there a link? The only person I want to buy stuff for anymore is my cat. Since he is the king of my household, he needs a throne!
I grabbed a jar of face cream called “Soft” because it was not locked up at Walmart and it really is nice. I love the texture and fresh aroma. I think it is a Nivea cream. Almost 7 oz, very good deal.
i love these Q’s – the best ideas come up in the comments. NUXE Prodigieux le parfum- it’s light & beachy, perfect for daytime and smells to me like childhood. it’s not dirt cheap but cheap for perfume -about $70.
I picked up a Burt’s Bees Face Oil when I was in WI caring for my mom and ran out of my face goo. It was on-sale and had a coupon stuck to the front, so it was a SCORE!
You always have the best finds/advice. Dare I ask if you were or are in fashion at some point?
MAC longwear paint pot in color soft ochre. I feel like the only part of my body that isn’t dry is my eyelids to difficult to keep eyeshadow (both on lids and as liner on the lower lash area). This is the only thing I have found that does that. Also another makeup discovery…Sephora brand makeup setting spray…it really works and same or even a bit better than name brands.
Oh! Mac Paint Pot in Laying Low … it’s a fast, easy, “your lids but better” color for when I need polish but I’m in a rush. Or, lazy. Which is often
Thanks for this recommendation. I’ve been needing some easy way to polish up!
The Ordinary 100% Plant Derived Squalane. $9 at Ulta. I put two drops on face and neck at night so it’s lasting a good long time, and I swear my 57-year-old-and-looks-it skin seems softer and smoother since I’ve been using it!
Second this. Also, The Ordinary Squalene Cleanser to take off the day’s makeup and grime without leaving your skin feeling tight and dry afterwards.
I love it, too! I add a few drops to the little scoop of CeraVe I plaster my face with every morning.
Wool trousers ($2.50) and Italian ceramic espresso cups and saucers ($5) from my local thrift store.
I wore out a favorite pair of Tom’s slip ons that serve as slippers and more, then found the perfect black and white wool plaid pair on eBay, new without box, for less than $20 instead of $60. I was more intent on finding the fabric and pattern I wanted, but the discount was a happy surprise.
I actually got this as a gift, anelectric mug warmer from Amazon. It even made my lukewarm coffee hot!
My cheap and cheerful thing is the Gladelig coffee mug from IKEA. It looks like 1970s stoneware and comes in gray or blue for under $5. It’s just the Goldilocks size for me, and keeps my coffee warm.
Also, room shoes from Uniqlo. Mine were a discontinued color and felt fabric on deep discount, but they’re worth every penny at full price for simple, no-fuss slippers that stay on my slim feet and cushion hard floors. I found them in the men’s section.
Cerave facial cleansing balm for $9 on amazon, best ever. I swear my skin looks better, smoother, glowier after just 5 days.
When the whole Roe v Wade disaster happened I bought some green bandanas from an Etsy seller. They’re made in the US, 100% cotton and come in several different shades of green to suite every complexion. You can bet when Betty and I fly back to Texas we’ll both be sporting green bandanas. (the company is: BurlapFabric, but there are a number of Etsy sellers with bandanas) I always love these posts!
I had no idea that green bandanas are a thing… Thanks you to your post and google I learned something new today! A great way to show support for reproductive rights!
Fun socks. Most recently a red-checkered Vans pair.
What a fun post! I love reading about everyones favorite cheap purchase! I learned a few things! 🙂
Organic Jojoba oil from Whole Foods – it’s like 13 bucks for a decent size bottle. My menopausal skin started freaking out this summer so I simplified my skin care routine and now just use jojoba as a moisturizer. It has been a game changer.
The Bug Bite Thing. I think it was $15 on Amazon. I react badly to even the teeniest mosquito bites and this has been a game changer!! Bought one for my similarly afflicted son who brought it on a camping trip- the whole crew was borrowing it.
I have one too! I was skeptical but amazed that it actually helps!
https://www.amazon.com/DuomiW-Bedside-Organizer-Magazines-Accessories/dp/B07MBZ72XZ/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1ODEXJFG4O4O&keywords=bed%2Borganizer%2Bhanging%2Bpocket&qid=1663870114&s=home-garden&sprefix=bed%2Bor%2Cgarden%2C125&sr=1-4&th=1
Get the junk off of your bedside table. Particularly good for homes with cats, who also don’t enjoy the junk on your bedside table. But deal with it differently. 😉
a couple of Lipsticks in bright berry shades – from Drew Barrymore’s Cosmetic range Flower Beauty – $5 each, really pretty!
Compression packing cubes, ordered from Amazon, have really helped me be a much more organized packer — plus I can squish in so much more this way.
https://www.amazon.com/Packing-Compression-Organizer-Luggage-Backpack/dp/B07DH4R5PZ/ref=sr_1_11?keywords=compression+packing+cubes&qid=1663814543&sr=8-11
LUCAS’ PAPAW OINTMENT. For lips, ends of hair, and believe it or not “slugging” my face a couple times a week. It’s wonderful.
My son a recent grad is back home with us and brought his plants … girlfriend influence …. have been getting them in better pots and was pleased with this inexpensive black one from CB2 which is a modern style that will work anywhere https://www.cb2.com/seminyak-black-indoor-outdoor-cement-planter-9.5/s149425?localedetail=US?localedetail=US&a=501&campaignid=17338280108&adgroupid=137866762555&targetid=aud-1659702832530:pla-1479196034874&pla_sku=149425&pcat=HSW&scid=scplp149425&sc_intid=149425&gclid=Cj0KCQjwj7CZBhDHARIsAPPWv3dQMDI5IvBm5tn7kVN-xBdbx3pTPC-fmLJTJBtdcUxJHSnqcdxe9zsaAoSFEALw_wcB
I seem to buy a lot my cheap, chic home decor from Cost Plus World Market. I love their throw pillows (I have a pair of Moroccan Berber carpet pillows on my couch), and pottery candle holders, and I recently bought some cheap orange and grey art deco-style sheer bedroom curtains from them. Their stuff always looks much more expensive than it is. Kim, your pitcher reminds me of my favorite mug, which I got as a gift from my nephew who bought it at a Farmer’s Market. I use it literally every day for my coffee.
Me too! Cost Plus has a great selection of fake plants too. My living room just got seriously spruced up.
These little folding fans! Cheap enough to buy one for every bag, fit into the smallest going-out purse, sturdy, and create a good wind. These things are saving my menopausal ass right now! MXY Foldable Fan Japanese Style Summer Handheld Round Folding Fan – https://www.amazon.com/MXY-Beautiful-Birthdays-Decoration-Different/dp/B07XR9NB33/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1LQDFEO476XS0&keywords=MXY+Foldable+Fan+Japanese+Style+Summer+Handheld+Round+Folding+Fan+Beautiful+Pattern&qid=1664252497&sprefix=mxy+foldable+fan+japanese+style+summer+handheld+round+folding+fan+beautiful+pattern%2Caps%2C307&sr=8-1
Your jug reminds me of this one I bought from Ikea. https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/fallenhet-vase-off-white-50497682/
Lovely, tiny early 20th century Sèvres box, picked up at a Paris flea market for €30. Entirely useless for anything except sitting on my dresser, but it is so beautiful I don’t care.
Speaking of cheap, this group seems like a good source of potential replacements for the Neutrogena anti-wrinkle face cream that has been [email protected]#$% discontinued so J&J can steer us towards a Roc-brand “alternative” that costs twice as much for 3/4 the product. I’ve used this stuff for literally decades and it was perfect, and cost only $12-15 a tube. Nabbed a small stash of the night version online, but worried about what to do when it runs out in about 6 months. And the last bits of the SPF day cream are for $40+ a pop! Any suggestions for girls who will invest in useless Sèvres boxes, but can’t stomach the price of fancy face creams?
You’ve come to the right place – I’ll go alert people in the Friday comments, bc people here have mannnnny thoughts about face creams. Btw, what is the active ingredient(s) in the discontinued cream? And what was the name, if i may ask? … … … My issue with creams is getting myself to use them up. I don’t like the smell of Vit C creams, but I am in need of them anyway.
Oh also, from time to time, Kim will do a post about cosmetics, and those posts are always good for tips. If nobody gets back to you, you could try a search. I learn a ton of useful stuff here too.
Thanks! She does, but is definitely more willing to spend money on face cream than I :)!. The product was Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream (with and without SPF), “a daily Retinol facial moisturizer with multi-vitamins.” Any suggestions *most* welcome.
I highly recommend La Roche Posay, not expensive and saved my rosacea-prone, sensitive skin in the past months. Truly excellent. I buy it online at a Dutch retailer but I’m sure there’s international options!
I just posted above about “Soft” from Nivea which I am loving. It was only $6 at Walmart…
I bought this Olive oil dispenser and I love! It fits my hand perfectly, it has a cover to keep out bugs and I love the look.
https://kinto-usa.com/products/29707?variant=39297907228720&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1bqZBhDXARIsANTjCPLSYgYb-nT2H81-40Pm3zTrw1ZcYgsRr5bleMPekM59gbSYgHWLxeYaAixAEALw_wcB