Useful deals under $20

October 1, 2024

Bluetooth shower speaker: Turns your shower into a concert hall! Waterproof, good sound and super affordable. (60% off, now just $12)
Smart LED bulbs (2-pack): Light up your life with color-changing bulbs you control right from your phone. (50% off, only $10)
Cordless handheld vacuum: A lightweight lifesaver for crumbs and dust bunnies. (Just $19)
Silicone baking mats (set of 2): Bake like a pro. No more scrubbing, sticking or buying expensive parchment paper. (Only $6)
Multipurpose phone stand: Use it for video calls, watching videos or propping up your phone in the kitchen. (40% off, only $6!)

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Tags: buying, deals, phone, video, video calls, videos

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Do you need the latest and greatest phone?

Shiny, new things sure have their appeal — take the brand-new Apple iPhone 16. But are the newest flagship phones and laptops worth the extra premium you pay to get them?

Most of the time, and for most people, no. There are a few good reasons why. If you’re tempted by a new smartphone that costs more than a mortgage payment, keep reading. I’ll help you figure out what’s right for you.

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Sellers, beware of this new eBay scam

People are buying high-ticket items on eBay, filing returns, then sending back thank-you cards instead of the product. Sellers are reporting the scam (with proof the return label is on a tiny envelope) but get stuck in an endless appeals process. Good luck getting eBay on the phone to help. I’d steer clear for now.

EVs are cheap right now: You can score the Hyundai Ioniq 5 for $259 a month or lease a Nissan Leaf for just $20 a month (paywall link). How the heck? Dealer incentives. Leased EVs are classified as “commercial vehicles,” qualifying them for a full $7,500 tax credit, which gets passed on to you.

Speaking of Temu and Shein: Their cheap wares are for sale on Etsy, a site meant for vintage and handmade goods. Sellers are breaking the rules by listing mass-produced items, sometimes at 10 times the original price. Don’t get duped: Do a reverse image search to see if the same product pops up elsewhere.

It’ll only get worse: More companies than just Uber are now on the surge-pricing bandwagon. Wendy’s announced AI-powered digital menus (then walked it back), and Kroger’s got digital price tags that can change grocery prices in real time. They say it’s to lower prices during peak hours. Start by discounting items close to expiration dates, and I might believe it.

Suddenly, I’m not hungry: Want unlimited grocery delivery from Amazon? That’ll be $99, in addition to the $139 annual charge for Amazon Prime. It works on orders over $35 from Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods and select retailers on Amazon.com. I’ll stick with Instacart.

💸 Old electronics lying around? Costco’s revamped trade-in program lets you swap them for a store gift card, no membership needed. The trade-in values aren’t small potatoes, either; you can get up to $1,080 for an old laptop! Go to this portal for a quote. If you’re cool with their offer, the shipping’s free and you’ll have your money in under three weeks. PSA: Amazon has a trade-in program, too, so compare both to see which gives you the better price.

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

💦 I’ll tumble for you: Forgetting about clothes in the washer is the worst. GE’s new Profile Ultrafast washes and dries. It’s super energy-efficient, saves space and can finish a load in two hours. Hey, look! It’s on sale on Amazon. I have a similar machine on my boat, and I’m lucky if I can get three towels in it.

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

🧪 Deadly deals: Toxic substances have been found in cheap products from Shein and Temu at levels hundreds of times above what’s acceptable. Case in point: A pair of shoes on Shein contained phthalates at 229 times the legal limit. The chemicals make plastics more flexible but can cause infertility or worse. Not worth it, folks.

📦 Happy deal hunting: Amazon rebranded its used item marketplace to Amazon Resale (secret link there!), where you can snag deals on used, pre-owned or open-box products. I found a pretty sweet Chromebook for around $200 and an iPad for just $110. Every listing is inspected and covered by Amazon’s return policy. Check it out!

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