15 Practical Under-$12 Amazon Buys You Should Always ‘Add to Cart’

updated Dec 30, 2019
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It’s all too easy to buy everything—and we mean everything—you could ever need on Amazon, especially if you’re a Prime customer. The online megastore stocks $1,000 sofas all the way down to $3 bottles of air freshener, and that’s just in the Home category. While we can’t emphasize enough the importance of shopping small and local as often as possible, we also know that sometimes it’s hard to resist the convenience of making household purchases from your sofa (especially if you live in a city like New York where running errands is its own kind of torture). Personally, I try to reserve Amazon for larger or bulky items that I know I’ll never want to lug home on the subway, but often when I’m shopping for those products, I find myself browsing the smaller stuff too: Little, inexpensive, practical things that always come in handy and you can easily throw in your cart. Check out these 15 picks below.

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1. Cable ties, $8

Keep cords, cables, and headphones neat and untangled with flexible fabric strips. As we all acquire more and more gadgets, these become increasingly helpful.

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Mrs. Meyer’s soaps will leave behind such a heavenly scent, they’re practically also an air freshener. Just note this is an add-on item, meaning you can only add it to your shipment if you’re already buying $25 or more worth of stuff.

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3. Command hooks, $8

These adhesive, removable hooks are infinitely useful for making the most of vertical space without leaving holes in your wall. Use them to hang hats, scarves, jewelry, or even lightweight frames and artwork.

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4. Water filters, $11

You’re supposed to change these about every two months. Purchase a multi-pack so you don’t fall behind.

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5. Plant food, $10

Don’t starve your houseplants! A little dose of plant food can help greenery grow big and stay healthy.

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Did you know sponges are one of the dirtiest items in your house? It’s safe to say most of us could replace them more often.

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7. Poo-Pourri, $10

This stuff is, well, the shit. A few spritzes will leave your bathroom smelling fresh, no matter what kind of business goes on in there.

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8. Sharpies, $9

Everyone needs a permanent marker in their utility drawer. And Amazon’s selection of Sharpies is no joke. Metallic gold ink, anyone?

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9. Washi tape, $12

This colorful tape has pretty much replaced all other kinds of tape for me, especially when I’m labeling containers or wrapping presents.

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10. Super glue, $6

This ultra-sticky adhesive always comes in handy, and it’s good to have a stash because an open tube will invariably dry out.

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11. Binder clips, $11

Not just for offices, these clips also seal bags of chips and other snacks.

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If you use any kind of Swiffer wet or dry mop, you’ll want to keep a stack of these on hand.

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13. Ziploc bags, $5

A storage essential, and perfect for bringing snacks with you on the go.

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14. Lip balm, $8

In the winter, I go through tubes of this stuff. Burt’s Bees multi-packs offer a mix of yummy scents and flavors.

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When phone reminders just won’t do.