If you use your phone a lot (or if your battery is old and you haven't replaced it), a power bank is very useful.
A reputable powerbank (such as those from Anker) cost just under $20 USD for 10,000 MAH
Mini Swiss army knife. I don't know how to live life without this on my keychain
I've got a Gerber Dime pliers-based mini multitool on my keychain instead.
A beard trimmer. Shaving sucks and irritates my skin, plus I look like a baby without facial hair. But that's only one benefit.
I have been using a beard trimmer to cut my own hair for the last 10 years which has saved me probably $2000 worth of haircuts (estimating a $25 haircut + tip every 2 months). Not to mention saving about 1 hour waiting at the barber every time. I only messed up once and had to do a buzz cut.
So you just buzz cut your entire hair essentially? I did that once and looked like a serial rapist
Don't get a beard trimmer and also use it on your hair; get a hair trimmer and also use it on your beard. Specifically, get the kind that comes with an assortment of combs up to 1" (and then maybe even buy the 1-1/4" and 1-1/2" combs that are sold separately, too).
Only of you do it wrong, or you want to look like a serial rapist.
If you have a simple cut/style all it takes is a little practice to DIY.
A cheap over shoulder satchel, it's like having a extra pocket always available
There are a few brands that make decent backpacks/satchels in the 10L - 20L size, within that price range. They're very helpful
Not luxury, but I keep a small AAA flashlight with me nearly all the time.
Easier to handle and faster to use than a phone light. Also doesn't use phone battery. I clip it on my hat if I need both hands like taking out the trash.
I have an Olight i3T but I would try out the i3T 2. More lumens and better battery efficency.
A small USB-C hub. It has a USB-C out on one end then HDMI, 2 USB-A ports and another USB-C in on the other. I use it as my travel dock for my switch and steam deck, I've used it as a USB A to C converter, and I'll use it to test inputs on various TVs. I've gotten so much more mileage out of this $15 Amazon purchase than I ever would have expected
$20
OP said under, so $19.99.
Okay... Now only over-budget by $79.95. I'm starting to think we're bad at this.
The Lady we got ours from isn't showing up at the farmer's marker anymore, but for well under $20, you can make your own corn pillow
This winter's been bad for deep freezes and 4 minutes in the microwave will keep my corn pillow hot for an hour or more.
when I was younger, my family used dry rice. I wonder which works better.
Some Warmies are under $20 too. My son freaked out when I started to put his cute new kitty in the microwave haha
Platinum Preppy fountain pen. Often, it's less than 10$
No one needs a fountain pen to write, but writing with a fountain pen is a unique experience. Alas, many fountain pens will cost a little fortune and other will cost a large fortune (what about a 40k$ one?). The Preppy is an exception. It's not the best fountain pen but it's very decent, it's even incredibly good considering its price. For slightly more 25-30$, I would also suggest the Lamy Safari.
Beside that, I can't think of many luxury items under 20. I mean, I can think of a few useful luxury things but they cost more than 20.
Love Platinum, they’re the only fountain pens I can even consider using, as they’re the only ones I found that can handle my low writing volume without drying out between uses.
Freshly roasted coffee beans. A bag sets me back maybe $13 or so and gets me approximately 10 cups. Not what I would call outrageously expensive but I enjoy it a whole lot
A bamboo back scratching stick. I bought dozens back when Pier 1 existed and sold them for 75¢. Most are still around.
I carry an arch lighter everywhere. It cost me $15 but saves me a ton in lighter fuel, and you'd be surprised by the number of every day situations that a controlled burst of plasma solves. Opening packages, lighting candles, kills mosquitos in the dark, and it's a fantastic taking piece as mine slots into a zippo.
Only downside is I can't use my zippo for light on the off chance I get trapped in a dark tunnel.
Zippo sucks imo because the gas evaporates so quick
Exactly, as a non smoker, I don't use it enough to justify the cost of fuel. That's why I like the arch lighter insert. All the look and feel of a zippo but I have to fuel it annually instead of hourly and it takes USB instead of oil.
An electric 'coffee grinder' just for grinding up spices / seeds. Don't use the regular coffee grinder, or your coffee drinking housemates will get super annoyed. The flavor, and nutrition is so much better when you cook with freshly ground spices.
A coffee cup warmer. No more getting up from my desk to nuke cold coffee.
Those are stupid cheap at the thrift stores and there's always one there.
Get a double walled cup, i can have hot coffee for 4 hrs and warm for another 2-4 hours
Orthotic shoe inserts. The good ones (superfeet) cost more than $20 but I was able to use my HSA $ to buy another brand for $0 out of pocket. Feet not hurting is worth the money.
Foam roller. I roll out my back 2-3 times a day.
Can you tell I'm getting old?
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