People are sharing their favorite, most clever purchases they made under $35 this year

“I'm obsessed with this phone stand,” says Mic editor, Amy Biggart. “Everyone in my life has heard me talk about it. I bought it this year and it's completely changed the way I use my phone on the go.” It folds flat so you can toss it in a bag. And when you arrive, it transforms your phone into an alarm clock and adjustable-height, hands-free viewing device. It comes in nine colors.

“I love this apple cutter,” effuses Biggart. Set the apple slicer on top of the apple. Press the ergonomic handles and the specially designed blade cuts into the apple with little effort. Instant apple slices! “You can use it to cut all kinds of food, too,” she says. It fits in a drawer and you can toss it in the dishwasher.

These suction cup blackout curtains are the perfect solution for napping. You can install them at home or in a vacation rental so that anyone can have sleep-ready darkness when they need it. “I've put up a lot of blackout curtains for my nieces and nephew,” says Biggart. “These suction to the windows so we don't rip up the paint on our walls — genius!” They come in five colors.

Be prepared next time you fly by bringing this wireless audio transmitter along. It lets you connect your own devices to the arcane in-plane equipment so you can listen to the in-flight entertainment with your own high-quality headphones instead of the cheap ones the airline hands out. “This is such a genius way to make old technology Bluetooth compatible,” says Biggart. It works in cars and with old stereos, too.

“This was one of those purchases I had been eyeing for a long time,” says Mic editor, Karen Belz. The head massager is a simple tool that scratches your head with delicate wires, delivering a near-ecstatic sense of bliss and relaxation. “I finally took the plunge and it was worth it,” she says. “It's nice to have a few minutes of zen during the day — plus, it comes with an extendable backscratcher that's of a much higher quality than I expected.”

“This shelf organizer made me feel a little more like an actual adult, since it's a clever way to add extra storage while actually keeping all of my spices in view,” says Belz. The three tiers allow you to see the cans or spices in the back and it fits neatly into a cupboard. “I also love the shelf underneath, which is really convenient for extra condiment packages,” she says.

“I keep rebuying these dishwasher detergent tablets because they actually work without leaving a residue while also being plastic-free,” says Mic editor, Jen Fiegel. Drop one into the dishwasher dispenser and run it as usual. The plant- and mineral-based cleaning tablets have no dyes, fragrances, preservatives, or phosphates. The starter kit comes with a cute bin for storing them.

“I bought these on a whim but have been pleasantly surprised by how often I wear them,” Fiegel says of these adorable waffle-knit socks. “They add a little more fun to any outfit while still being versatile and comfortable. They also don't slip down on me.” This pack of four pairs comes in four colors. There are two color options.

If there is an area of your house that smells less than fresh and you can’t eliminate the source, these odor eliminating packs are a terrific solution. Drop them into the trash, near the litter box, or in your gym bag. “I love how effective these compact packets are at keeping odors at bay,” says Mic editor, Kate Miller. “I'm using them in our entryway to keep shoe smells away.”

This egg cup tray is a modern solution for serving a meal that is as old as time. Drop a soft-boiled egg in the cup and the elegant tray allows space for toast or eggshell. “For serving soft or hard-boiled eggs for breakfast, these are the cutest plates,” says Miller. “I love how they have a space to put the shells. And the fact that they stack easily for storage is a huge bonus.”

“This speaker takes up almost no suitcase space,” says Mic editor, Anna Anderson. “If you're like me, you'll appreciate having music along when you travel.” This waterproof Bluetooth speaker is durable, too. Bring it camping. Take it to the pool. Hook it to a shower hook. It will keep right on playing. It comes in six colors.

Get rid of all the boxes that house your cling wrap and parchment paper and move it all to this wrap dispenser that sits in a drawer, cuts the wrap effectively, and never gets in the way. “I am so annoyed when cardboard boxes jam up drawers, so this has been an amazing kitchen upgrade,” says Anderson. It’s easy to load and holds three rolls.

“My last oil dispenser was clogging up, so I took the plunge and bought a new one,” says Mic editor, Carolyn Menyes. “I so wish I did sooner.” Not only does this one operate smoothly but it sprays and pours oil so you can use it to prep every dish. “It's a massive upgrade from the one I had,” she says. “This one has a wide neck that's easy to fill, the mist is fine and wide, and I love that this also has a pourer so I can just ditch my ugly plastic bottle of canola oil for good.”

Drop this mini fan, backup power bank, and flashlight in your bag, and be ready for all the challenging moments that are coming at you today. “This fan has been a game changer for long amusement park lines, steamy subway platforms, and lengthy walks in the park,” says Menyes. “It's remarkably powerful yet compact, and I like that it has little ears because it makes it kitschy. This fan has also been nice to keep on my desk for a little extra breeze since it can fold out to a 90-degree angle.” It comes in six colors.

Solve your toilet paper storage problems permanently with this toilet paper holder that clips right to the side of the toilet, keeping up to four rolls within reach. “This is compact but holds three to four wider rolls without taking up any real estate in a cabinet or drawer,” says Mic editor, Lauren Beach. It comes in seven colors and sizes.

This set of three flameless flickering candles doesn’t need replacement batteries because they are rechargeable. This makes your life so much easier. “I have tons of battery-powered flameless candles and it's a pain replacing them all,” says Beach. “This is such a money saver and kinder to the earth as well.” The glass jars and candles come in 11 colors.

Instead of letting your razors float around the bathroom creating a hazard and getting lost, stick these plastic razor holders to the wall so you have a place to store them where they will be safe, dry, and easy to find. “This makes such a difference,” says Beach. “No more dropped razors and they're always handy.” There are six options.

If you have a garbage disposal, you know it can get pretty funky. It’s also hard to get clean. This garbage disposer freshener makes it easy. Drop one in and run the disposer. “This genuinely upgraded my kitchen cleaning routine because they clean the garbage disposal way better than citrus peels, are so easy to use, and make my kitchen smell amazing,” Mic editor, Allison Bolt. This is a pack of 40.

Keep fruit flies, flies, and gnats out of your home and hair by plugging this flying insect trap into an outlet. It lures the pests in with a tempting light and traps them. “I can't handle bugs, so I have a few of these around the house because they really work and they have a sleek, low-profile look,” says Bolt. This starter kit comes with a plug-in housing and one cartridge.

“Mason jars have, of course, been useful since they were invented in the 1800s,” says Mic editor, Kelsey Lawrence. “But sometimes old things strike you in new ways. I bought a pack of these jars recently and forgot how handy they are for overnight oats, storing homemade teas, or containing odds 'n' ends things that are hard to find homes for.” These 16-ounce jars are decorative and come with metal lids that are self-sealing and airtight so you can store anything in them or use them for canning.

Plug this leak detector into any outlet and it will stay vigilant, monitoring the air for natural gas, propane, methane, coal, and other gas leaks. It will alert you to problems with an 85-decibel alarm and flashing lights. “As someone who can have a (sometimes irrational) fear of accidentally leaving a stove burner on, buying one of these natural gas detector plug-ins has given me major peace of mind,” says Lawrence.

This bag sealer is a fast and easy way to reseal the bags in cereal boxes, chip and cookie bags, and more. The 12-piece set includes four sizes and each size is a different color. They slide on quickly and seal bags effectively. “They are so easy to use and very lightweight,” said one reviewer. “When I am not using them, they fit perfectly into a kitchen drawer without taking up much space.”

If you have pets, you need this pet hair remover. Roll it back and forth on your couch, pants, or carpet and it grabs all the pet fur and stashes it in the easy-to-empty receptacle above the roller. When the bin is full, snap it open to empty the fur into the trash. “This is an extremely clever invention,” said one reviewer. “Not only does [it] up cat hair well, but [...] the removal of the cat hair from the product [is] a non-event.”

If an ugly outlet is marring your minimalist vibe or getting in the way of the furniture, move it with this power strip. Plug the wall plate into the outlet to conceal the ugly. Then run the wires where you want the plugs to be. You can choose from several cord lengths. “I’m so happy that I found this. It’s a clever and sleek way to hide the cords,” said one reviewer. “It comes with sticky cable holders.”

Tuck this toilet paper storage basket into any small corner of your bathroom so you can keep the TP handy but out of sight. It looks decorative, holds 23 rolls, and comes in five colors. Scrunch it down flat when you aren’t using it. “Love the fact it's [collapsible,]” said one reviewer.

This clever vegetable chopper makes whipping up a meal so much faster. It does all the prep work in a few slick moves. Choose a blade. Drop your food on it. And close the lid. Your onion will be minced in seconds. It also makes ribbons and spirals. “This is a clever tool to have!” said one reviewer. “Have used almost every two to three days!”

Instead of wrestling with an awkward colander, snap this pasta strainer to the pan you cooked your pasta in and pour the water off. No need to clear the sink. No aiming for a rickety target in that sink. This is easy. And it stores in a drawer. “A clever kitchen gadget. I can't imagine life without it now,” said one reviewer. It comes in five colors.

Instead of struggling to get the last of your soaps and lotions out of the bottle they came in, invert the bottle so that the goods flow freely when you want them. This bottle emptying kit makes this simple. Change the caps to these tripod-style ones and stand the bottle upside down. “There was almost an inch of lotion on the bottom of a relatively expensive hand lotion that was not reachable by the pump,” said one reviewer. “This clever device allows you to get every drop you paid for.”

Drip drying a thermal water bottle or wine glass is not as easy as it should be if you are using standard kitchen tools. This water bottle drying rack fixes that. It holds your water bottle above the surface so the water drips out. It also secures a wine glass so it won’t tip over. “We used to dry our coffee-to-go cups and water bottles on a dish towel and they would never dry and would be a little ‘funky,’” said one reviewer. “No more! What a clever device!” It comes in three colors.

Some dogs can drink from a bottle and some cannot. If you have one of the latter, this dog water bottle will help that pup stay hydrated. It dispenses bottled water into a lap-able bowl your bestie can handle. “Such a clever product,” said one reviewer. “[Our pups] love drinking from this, plus there is no water waste. If they aren’t thirsty, you simply press a button and the water goes back [into] the bottle.”

“The battle of the liquid detergent mess is REAL,” said one reviewer. “This clever stand eliminates that.” Set the detergent holder on top of the dryer or a shelf and mount that big bottle of detergent into it. It holds the bottle at the perfect angle for dispensing into a cup and catches any errant drips that might escape. It comes in 11 colors.

When working on crafts with tiny parts, you need these magnifying glasses so you get it right. You can choose how much magnification you need for the job by switching between the five included magnification lenses. A built-in LED light illuminates your task at the same time. “These glasses may seem ridiculous but they are an absolute game changer for detailed crafts, like crocheting!” says Mic editor, Danielle Kraese.

Get ready to play the world’s smallest Uno game with this set of tiny cards. They are cute. And they are fun to play. “I got this set to play with my niece and nephew, not sure what to expect,” says Kraese. “The tiny cards are undeniably adorable and it's an added plus that they're so portable. You could literally carry the whole set in your pocket.”

When a headache threatens, pull on this soothing headache ice pack for instant relief. It wraps your head — and eyes — in a cold gel while blocking out the light. “I love this so much,” says Kraese. “I immediately bought a second one that same week so I could always have one ready to use. It feels incredibly soothing when a headache strikes and I love that I can still move around and have my hands free while getting relief.”

If you are splurging on fresh herbs, be sure to take care of them when you get them home. This herb keeper creates the perfect environment for the cut leaves to survive in. The water well in the bottom keeps the stems hydrated while the clear jar gives the leaves room to breathe. “I've left town for two weeks and come back to still-crisp green onions (that probably weren't new when I left...),” says Mic editor, Cassandra Seale.

Put away the heavy books and all your other ad-hoc tofu-pressing equipment. This tofu press is tidy and efficient. Drop the block into it, put on the lid, and it will press your tofu in minutes while catching the drained-off water. “As an efficiency lover, this is a win,” says Seale. “It makes the usually necessary tofu task of squeezing out the water much less messy and wasteful.”

Keep this easy drywall repair kit on hand so you can recover quickly from any design ideas that don’t turn out the way you hoped. Rub it on the wall like a deodorant, rub off the excess, and paint over your mistake. “Too often I'm of the ‘measure once, drill twice’ school,” says Seale. “So I have quite a few errant little holes in the wall. This is the simplest, quickest way to get them gone.”

Drop your phone into this phone mount and drive with the navigation in easy sight. It clips to the air vent, holds your phone securely, and rotates to whatever position you want. “Hands down the cheapest, most game-changing gadget,” says Seale. “Don't know why I waited so long to get one. It holds my giant novelty case with ease and beats the pants off the phone-in-the-cupholder method.”

This toiletry kit is the perfect, stylish, and compact solution to bringing shampoos and cleansers in your carry-on bag. Each one is a different color so you can skip the labels and the pop-tops and squeezable silicone bottles make using your products easy. “I finally replaced my old travel toiletry bottles with this set and couldn't be happier,” says Mic editor, Cristina Sanza. “They're easy to fill and dispense a good amount of product with a gentle squeeze, plus the included case makes for quick packing.” There are 12 color options.

These instant sole and sneaker cleaner sponges are the solution for your messy footwear situation. Keep them near your shoe closet and pull one out to give shoes a fast, effective scrub. “My white sneakers were looking super scuffed after wearing them constantly, and these handy sponges cleaned them up nicely with very little effort,” reports Sanza.

Witch hazel is an ancient cure for skin ailments as well as an excellent, gentle cleanser. These soothing cleansing cloths are soaked in it, packed into an easy-to-cart package, and disposable so you can treat your skin well on the go. “I keep these around for when I'm traveling,” says Sanza. “They're great for freshening up and soothing any little skin irritations, and they're super easy to toss in my suitcase.”

Want to lift or lower the toilet seat without touching your hands to the seat? This toilet seat handle is the hack you need. Stick it to the seat and it will always be there — unsoiled and helpful — so you can set the seat into the position you want. “Clever little device that works,” said one reviewer.

When you don’t know the size of that part you need to screw in or unscrew — or it is damaged or unusual — pull out this universal socket tool and let the pins adapt to its shape so you can get the job done. It fits into your socket wrench or power tools and will very likely save the day. “Clever idea,” said one reviewer.

“If you've ever been trying to read on an airplane and can't reach the overhead light, or don't want to disturb your seatmate (or bedmate), this device is for you!” said one reviewer of this rechargeable book light. “It is lightweight and compact, and clips easily onto your reading material.” Plug it into a USB plug to recharge it. It is so small you can easily pack it into your day bag or carry-on and it will do double duty as a flashlight. It comes in five colors.

Set this utensil rest on the counter or stove so you don’t make a mess when tasting or stirring your cooking creations. It is large enough to hold every tool you use while cooking and goes into the dishwasher when cleaning up. The flexible silicone is heat resistant and the colors — there are 23 to choose from — are gorgeous. “This utensil rest is small enough to fit between stove burners, but its clever design still sturdily holds four full-size spoons or spatulas,” said one reviewer. “I will be getting another.”

Make it easy on future you by labeling the cords you are plugging into a power strip or tossing into a drawer today. These cable labels make this chore easier, making you more likely to do it. They attach easily, are easy to write on, and come in lots of colors. “Very nice labels,” said one reviewer. “Velcro is clever and holds well [and the] colors work well for coding different items.”

Are the dishes in the dishwasher clean or dirty? Put an end to this eternal question with some signage. When you run a load, flip this dishwasher magnet so the sign reads “clean.” When you unload the clean dishes, flip it back to dirty. No more mistakes. And whatever the status of the dishes, it looks good in the kitchen. “Cute and clever,” said one reviewer. “It’s tasteful in design and color!”

Open this slender and decorative over-sink colander and set it over your sink. You can use it to wash fruits and vegetables, strain the water from pasta, or dry a few dishes. It looks pretty — it comes in 12 colors — and works well. “Clever and unique design [...] that saves space and functions well,” said one reviewer. “Bought a second one immediately after using the first one.”

Instead of dropping tanks and bras into a chaotic mess in a drawer where you will promptly lose track of them — at the cost of an entire drawer — hang those items on this tank top hanger. Each one holds eight garments and fits in the space of one hanger. “I'm so glad I found these hangers because they are a fantastic space saver,” said one reviewer. “I was able to clear out a drawer and a big chunk of closet space.”

Drop this adorable mini trash can into a cup holder in your car so you have a place to drop wrappers and bits of trash so your car stays clean. The lid keeps the mess inside while the shape and look make its purpose clear. “Perfect for keeping straw and gum wrappers contained,” said one reviewer. “My kids love to use it which means no trash on the car floor!!”