Go for the refurb

Stuck in a jam away from home? Next time, travel prepared like a good little scout. Bring these nifty gadgets to fix:

• Hiccups, with a straw that stops them instantly (need this for the studio).
• Bad breath, with pre-pasted disposable toothbrushes.
• Glasses, with this all-in-one pocket repair kit.
• A dead phone battery, with a battery-powered charger.
• Everything else, with pocket-sized, go-anywhere duct tape. It just works. I sure wish I had invented that!

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Look inside your car. I thought so. It needs a little TLC, right?

• Tiny cordless car vacuum that charges by USB. Cheerio chaser! 
• Elegant dust brush to tackle the fuzz on your dashboard and vents.
• Hang your bags with these headrest hooks — civilized.
• Cupholder coasters to catch Diet Coke (or whatever else) drips.
• Washable cloth garbage bags help keep trash contained and out of sight.

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I know you can just glance at your phone for the time. But what fun is that?

• Just like the one I stared at during high school math class with Sister Margaret, minus the ticking (and the ruler slaps on my wrist).
• This super-modern clock has LED lights that illuminate words to tell the time — “IT IS ONE O’CLOCK.”
• The Kit-Cat Klock is a midcentury classic. Purr-fect.
• A minimalist cuckoo clock with a gentle tweet … tweet.
• It’s a clock, it’s a nightlight — it’s a nightlight clock.

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Is your keyboard trashed? Do you find it easier to use an actual keyboard than the keys on your tablet? Me, too. Take Ctrl! (See what I did there?)

• Bring this lightweight folding keyboard anywhere and connect it to any device with Bluetooth.
• This one’s ergonomic and affordable — a rarity!
• This split keyboard adapts to your natural hand positions.
• Prefer a tablet? This double-duty case has a built-in keyboard.
• Looks like a mint-green typewriter, holds a tablet or phone, and connects via Bluetooth? Sold!

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• A foldable water bottle to keep in your bag and protect you from extortionate bottled water prices.
• Love the convenience of Amazon, but the box pile-up is real. Break them down faster with an injury-proof box cutter.
• Make all your shoes slip-ons with no-tie elastic laces. (Andrew would LOVE these.)
• This slim, portable phone power bank is perfect for when you’re at 3% on the go.
• A cord tamer sticks right on your appliances. No more cord spaghetti!

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• Get rid of bad breath at the source with a tongue scraper. Sounds crazy, but it really works.
• Keep your cups from dripping everywhere with these coasters that look like LPs. The rubber bottoms help you avoid spills, too.
• A magnetic bag for your water bottle — strap your keys, wallet and phone to any bottle, and then keep the whole thing off the floor by sticking it to metal. Smart.
• These ingenious pens keep a bit of paint on hand for touchups. Need this! 
• Clever self-watering planters have an aerated bottom to ward off root rot and store water to keep your plants happy. Love the color, too.

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• Keep your prescriptions stored away from curious kiddos (and nosey guests!) with a lockable medicine safe.
• Everyone needs a thermometer, like this classic under-the-tongue digital model for under $10.
• These versatile hot or cold gel packs relieve everything from muscle strains to stubbed toes.
• Cut won’t stop bleeding? Put this first-aid powder on it. (If you’re on blood thinners, you definitely need this.)
• I love these menthol-infused pain relief patches. Crick in the neck, begone!

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• Forget plastic baggies — swap in these reusable silicone zipper bags for sandwiches and snacks. Pro tip: Flip ‘em inside out and wash them on the top rack of your dishwasher.
• Beeswax wrap is organic cotton coated in beeswax — and it’s 100 times less annoying than plastic wrap. Reuse it for up to a year. 
• Drop the single-use paper towels and replace them with these cotton cloths.
• These colorful silicone straws come with a travel case — pop them in your bag and leave the soggy paper ones behind.
• Fill these reusable cups with medium-ground coffee and keep the convenience of a K-Cup — without the trash.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• Apple uses this screen-safe cleaner on the fingerprint-smudged iPads in its stores. 
• I’ve got a cleaning cloth in every bag — perfect for phone screens and glasses, too. 
• This cute retractable keyboard brush is ideal for quick crumb sweeps post-lunch.
• Compressed air in a can — the classic for removing dust and loose gunk from the crevices of your laptop.
• This handy multitool will clear all the earwax and lint from the nooks and crannies on your earbuds.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.