10 Small Purchases to Better Your Life

Last week, Corporette published a piece on the small purchases that can make your life better.  It was such a great idea, that I decided to share the ten small purchases that I can’t live without.  Feel free to share your inexpensive game changes in the comments.

One. A Scrunchie. Oh, I know what you’re thinking: Why is Abra channeling Kimmy Schmidt, right now?  Because when you have acne, keeping your dirty hair tied up while you sleep is a game-changer.  My acne is 40% better since I started sleeping in a scrunchie.  Is it cute?  No.  But for a drastic improvement in my skin, I’ve done more to get less.

Two. Packing Cubes and Pouches. Just $10 can keep your suitcase perfectly organized every time you travel.  These packing cube and pouch sets from Amazon keep your toiletries, laundry and other extras perfectly corralled.

Three. A Rwanda Basket. Where are my keys?  They’re in the basket.  Where are my AirPods?  In the basket.  Where is the business card I left on the counter nine days ago, that I now urgently need? The basket.

If you live with someone who leaves little trinkets and tchotchkes lying about, you need a place to store them.  I love the black-and-white basket I bought last year for corralling all K’s left behind items.  I’m thinking about adding this blush-and-black one to our bedroom decor.

Four. The Tubshroom. After spending $89 to have a plumber clear hair from a backed up shower drain, I bought a $13 Tubshroom.  The device catches hair before it’s sucked down your pipes, eliminating clogs and preventing the awful smell of a clogged drain.

Five. A Mug Warmer. You brew a perfect cup of tea, only to be called a way from your morning pick-me-up by your boss.  By the time you return, it’s ice cold.  The worst.  Buy a mug warmer for your desk, and you’ll never drink luke warm Earl Grey again.

Six. A Necklace Hanger. Putting your jewelry in a drawer is a great way to ensure that you’ll never wear any of it.  You’re also just asking for tangles.  Hanging your necklaces makes getting dressed easier and keeps your jewelry untangled and snag-free.

Seven. A Multi-Device USB Charger. Since taking on a campaign job, I’ve ended up with two cell phones, AirPods, an iPad, and an Apple Watch.  That is a lot of devices to charge, esp. when hotel room plug-ins are at a premium.  So I bought this full-speed USB wall charger with four ports.  Life changing.  I also recommend the 6ft long Lightning Cable so your phone can charge while you use it.

Eight. Liquid Chalk Markers. Are you a list maker?  Do you lay and bed and think about what you need to do in the morning instead of sleeping?  Yeah, me too.

To solve my list-somnia, I developed a system.  Before I go to bed, I write my “first thing in the morning” list on my bathroom mirror in liquid chalk.  When I’m done, it wipes right off.  This way, I never forget the number for the early call or any other morning chores.  And, I don’t have to look at my phone before bed, which can interfere with your sleep.

Nine. Poo Bag Dispenser. Have dogs?  Never forget poo bags again with this Zippy Paws dispenser that attaches to the leash and doesn’t bounce around when you’re walking your dog.  It makes life with pups so much easier.

Ten. A Giant Lint Roller. Speaking of dogs, cleaning their hair off of the couch, the pillows, and the bedspread is a nightmare.  For a neat freak, like myself, this huge Scotch-Brite lint roller is salvation.  Just roll it over the furniture and wipe the dog hair away.

[featured image here + post image here]