I don’t always have a bunch of extra money to splurge on fun items for myself, but I can usually swing 20 bucks without doing too much damage to my budget. When I’ve got 20 dollars burning a hole in my pocket, I usually head straight to Amazon to find something cool. Most of the time it’s a book (in fact, I have a separate wish list for books — I’m up to 112 books on the list so far!), but there are plenty of other things available on Amazon that I’d like to have in my home. That’s mostly because Amazon carries items in pretty much every category you could ever think of (and a few you probably would not).
If you’ve found yourself with an extra $20 to spend on something fun just for you, then I’ve got 31 things that might strike your fancy! I hope you find something you like.
Every Cook Should Have a Digital Food Scale
I’m a huge Alton Brown fan, and he absolutely insists that measuring ingredients by weight (rather than volume) is the way to go (or maybe the weigh to go). I’m certainly not going to argue with Alton Brown.
This scale weights up to 11.24 lbs — it also easily converts between five different units of measurement, so even those fancy British recipes can be made in your kitchen!
This Travel Jewelry Case Would Save So Much Hassle
I do a fair amount of traveling, but I have not figured out a good way to transport jewelry yet. I usually put everything in a little plastic baggie and resign myself to the fact that I’ll have to spend a few minutes untangling every necklace before putting it on.
This little box sure would save me a lot of time. It has places for rings, earrings, and necklaces, and also features a little mirror in case you need it.
This Storage Bin Is Made from Woven Paper
I firmly believe that you can never have too many storage solutions in your home, and also that said storage solutions should look good whenever possible. This basket measures 16×11.5×10.2 inches, making it the perfect size for all kinds of stuff — bed linens, dish towels, or even dog toys. It’s a nice-looking bin that I certainly wouldn’t mind having out on display!
This Himalayan Salt Candle Holder Looks So Cozy!
I’m a huge fan of cozy things, and these candle holders are basically the epitome of coziness. Supposedly, there are a bunch of health benefits to having Himalayan sea salt in the home, but even if you think that’s a little far out, you’ve got to admit that the glow these things give off is comforting AF.
Simply drop a tealight into the candleholder and get ready to feel like you’re living in a hug.
This Espresso Maker Has Such a Cool Look!
If you like espresso, then you should know that it’s actually pretty startlingly easy to make it yourself at home (and it’s way cheap, too). This espresso maker is in the classic shape but has the added Pantone color scheme, which is just the icing on the cake. You can use it on an electric or gas stovetop and it makes espresso in just about four minutes.
This Water Bulb Will Turn You into a Greenthumb
I love having plants around my home. I do not love when I forget to water them and they get a little droopy. They probably don’t love that either, actually. That’s why I want to get some of these water bulbs. The idea is that you fill them with water and they keep your plants hydrated for you when you’re on vacation (or if you’re just a little absent-minded when it comes to green things.)
This Birdfeeder Is the Best Birdfeeder
I mean, look at it. It is obviously the best birdfeeder. It’s shaped like a little food truck! I have another birdfeeder at my place currently, but it hasn’t been attracting very many bird friends — presumably because it’s not shaped like a food truck. This feeder is made of ceramic and features an easy-clean-steel tray. Hang it from a tree branch and enjoy as birds flock around your food truck!
This To-Do List Notepad Is Super Lovely
One of my favorite things to do is to make lists of the tasks I want to accomplish for the day. It really helps me start the day off on the right foot. Sometimes I even add a few things that I’ve already done to the list, just so I can experience the joy of crossing something off.
I think this notepad is particularly beautiful, and I imagine that using it for my to-do lists would make me even more productive.
This Sand-Free Beach Blanket Is Ideal for Beach Lovers!
First of all, it folds up and fits into a pocket-sized little pouch. If you spend time at the beach, then you know how amazing it is to be able to transport anything in a pocket-sized little pouch. But beyond that, it’s waterproof and sand-proof, which pretty much makes it the best thing ever for beachgoers, campers, concert-lovers, or anyone else who spends time enjoying the great outdoors.
This Soap Bar Is Actually TWO Soap Bars!
Even though I’m usually more of a body wash person, I cannot resist a beautiful bar of soap — and this is definitely a beautiful bar of soap, right? Actually, the two halves of the soap bar are interlocking and each half has its own unique features. One half is a pumice soap for exfoliating purposes and the other moisturizes. With their powers combined, they make up one Captain-Planet-like soap that covers all the bases.
This AirPods Stand Makes Your Tabletop Neater!
I love my AirPods, but I do find it kind of fiddly every time I have to plug them in to charge. I think this stand looks pretty sleek and would keep the AirPod case from slipping off my nightstand. It also makes it so you can charge your ‘Pods with a single hand! Just pop the case right in the stand and voila!
This Wine Aerator Is Also a Chiller and Pourer!
It’s amazing what aerating a bottle of wine can do for the taste — it can seriously make a $7 bottle from the grocery taste more like the fancier stuff. This aerator also has a built-in chiller to cool your wine in record time. As for the “pourer” part, this tool provides a drip-free pour every time so you never have to worry about staining your tablecloth or countertop. This would make a great housewarming gift (especially if you gift a bottle of wine with it!). Since it’s only about 9 bucks, you could actually get one for yourself, too!
I Just Love These Shark Socks
Even in the middle of summer, living in Los Angeles, my feet are always. cold. I wear socks every day and sometimes even wear them to bed (much to my husband’s chagrin). If you also wear socks with some frequency, why not at least make them fun socks? I think these shark ones are so fun — look at their little teeth!
These Taco Earrings Are Also Pretty Perfect
You know what they say. Nothing goes better with shark socks than some taco earrings. (OK, they don’t say that yet, but they will.)
These adorable tiny tacos are made from laser-cut wood and have stainless steel posts. They’re also hand-painted! Basically, there’s nothing not to love about these earrings, and if you think there is, well, let’s taco ’bout it.
Every Home Should Have a Mortar and Pestle
I just imagine that getting a mortar and pestle is the thing that sets the adults apart from the adult wannabes. Like, yeah, I can just buy ground herbs and spices, but wouldn’t it be way cooler to grind my own? Of course it would. This one is made of solid marble, which just seems extra fancy and grown-up.
This Handy Pouch Is Covered with Edgar Allan Poe-lka Dots
Remember when I said you can never have too many storage solutions in your home? I think the same thing is true for your purse, too. For instance, this adorable pouch would be the perfect place to keep a few snacks, some cash, or even some tampons. Or you could keep it in the glove compartment of your car! Mostly, I think the “Edgar Allan Poe-lka dots” pun is too good to pass up.
These Notebooks Are Super Lovely!
Add notebooks to the list of things you can never have too many of! As I write this, I have five different notebooks within arm’s reach, and I still want to add these two to the collection. They are the perfect size for popping into a backpack or purse and using for grocery lists or for jotting down thoughts you have throughout the day. Or for making to-do lists! You know how much I love those.
This Travel Mug Is Very Chic
Everyone should have a go-to travel mug, especially if you have a morning commute! Personally, I wouldn’t be able to handle morning LA traffic if I didn’t have some caffeine to rely on. This mug has a no-slip silicone base that will keep it from sliding all over your countertop or desk. It’s also the perfect size for standard car cupholders. And it’s dishwasher-safe!
And for my at-home beverages…
I Would Love to Have This Mug
It’s made of high-quality borosilicate glass, which can withstand temperatures from -4ºF to 302ºF. I think the dolphin print looks super cute and classy, and the handle is the perfect size for multiple fingers (that’s important!). It’s microwave safe, although the instructions say hand washing is recommended. Honestly, worth it.
This Weekly Paper Pad Will Keep You Organized
I know what you’re thinking. How many different places do I need to keep track of my daily tasks? Well, I don’t really know the answer to that question, but I do know that I haven’t reached the answer yet.
This pad of paper helps you plan out your entire week in advance — you’ll be able to see all your tasks for the week at a single glance! The pad has 50 sheets, which will get you almost all the way through an entire year.
These Wine Glass Markers Keep Everyone’s Drink Straight
When everyone is drinking from the same bottle of wine (which has been appropriately aerated, chilled, and poured), it can be easy to mix up your glasses. Unless you have something on each glass to mark it as your own. That’s what these little cacti do. Just hang your cactus on the rim of your glass and no one will mistake your drink for theirs!
This Popcorn Popper Works in the Microwave!
Popcorn is the best snack. That’s not even up for debate.
Personally, I prefer popping my own popcorn to using the microwaveable bags, which makes this little container the best thing ever. You don’t even need to use oil with it (although I am totally going to). The silicone lid also has a small divot where you can put some butter in order to melt it.
This Moon Lamp Is Super Gorgeous
I’m all about making life more cozy and this lamp is the perfect way to do just that. For less than 20 bucks, you can bring the warm glow of the moon right into your home. The built-in rechargeable battery provides between 4 and 20 hours of illumination depending on how bright you have it — the lamp emits either warm yellow or cool white light according to your preference.
This Wax Seal Stamp Is About to Class up Your Snail Mail
Haven’t you always wanted to seal a letter with a wax seal? I definitely have. I’m pretty sure that getting something like this little bee seal would make me want to write letters just about every single day.
This seal stamp is made with high1quality brass and a sturdy rosewood handle — definitely a legacy item if ever there was one. This listing does not include wax sticks, so be sure to pick up a couple of those, too!
This Lint Roller Is Much More Stylish Than the One You’re Used to Using
Everyone should have a lint roller in their home — you never know when the cat is going to decide that your new dress is the perfect place to take a nap!
This one looks super classy with its rose gold finish (so on-trend) and is also retractable so you don’t have to look at all the lint and pet hair in between uses. the Flint roller is also super compact, making it the perfect size for your glove compartment or purse for lint rolling on the go.
With The Easy Quick Jumper, You Don’t Even Have to Pop Your Hood
I drive a pretty old car, so needing a jump is something I deal with on a pretty regular basis. This jumpstarter doesn’t hook onto your battery like the clips you’re used to; it just plugs into your cigarette lighter! Just plug one end into the dead car’s lighter and the other end into the donor car’s lighter, wait a few minutes, and you’re good to go!
This Travel Wallet Is the Perfect Traveling Companion
Whenever you travel, it’s especially important to keep your information secure. This wallet is made from special RFID-blocking material that will protect your identity and other personal information no matter where you are or who you encounter. It also has so many pockets that are great for keeping everything organized — it even has pockets specifically for your passport and boarding pass!
This Is Just a Roll of Pizza Stickers
You don’t need me to explain why a roll of pizza stickers is amazing. You know it to be true. Stick ’em on your (many) notebooks. Stick ’em on your dog’s crate. Stick ’em on your computer case, your dresser, or your planner. Just think about how happy the sight of pizza makes you. That’s how happy you can be every time you look at one of these stickers. ‘Nough said.
This Terrarium Is Very Classy
I’ve always thought that terrariums looked super fancy and luxe. This one is also super affordable! You could use it to house succulents, air plants, or even as a place to hold your keys when you get home! You could probably even put birdseed in there and hang it up for the birds, but we both know that it’d still be slightly less cool than that food truck birdfeeder.
This Citrus Reamer Looks Like an Heirloom Item
I actually use quite a lot of citrus juice in my cooking — nothing like some fresh lemon or lime juice to elevate your dish with some acid (I think Alton Brown would be proud, anyway).
This citrus reamer is made from olive wood, and it looks so dang classy! If you take care of it, this reamer will easily last a lifetime.
These Literary Postcards Would Make for Some Amazing Art!
I already mentioned how much I love books, but I also love book-related art (my favorite piece being a cool Ender’s Game-inspired poster!). These postcards feature super elegant illustrations by Evan Roberston. The set of 100 cards features two copies of 50 different designs, meaning you can send half out into the world and keep the other half at home!