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Aug 05, 2023

31 Cool And Random Things Under $30 June 2023

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

Including a few summer must-haves you're not gonna wanna wait to buy.

BuzzFeed Staff

Glue immediately for a permanent bond, or wait until the glue turns white for a temporary bond.

Promising review: "Boy, I wish I had these in ninth grade, when we had to mount a bunch of dried wildflowers for biology class! These pens are amazing. The amount of glue that comes out is like a bold gel pen. It flows quickly and smoothly, and I have not experienced a skip yet. The glue adhesion seems to hold up, and it even works great for foiling. Note: if you were going to use this for something delicate like glitter or foil, I would wait until the blue has faded to clear, and the glue is almost dry. Otherwise, any pressure will cause it to spread." —little bet

Promising review: "Where has this been all my glueing life? This pen is amazing. The ease of use alone makes this thing worth every penny. Small spaces, forget about it. Done. Also pretty fast drying time, and adhesion is in point." —Tammy Kay

Get the set of six from Amazon for $14.83.

See it in action on TikTok here! P.S. this LED light is battery operated! Be sure to grab some AA batteries, too.

Promising review: "This is an awesome addition to my patio. It really adds the light I need at night. My nephew put the light shooting up towards the umbrella and it really shines the light a further distance around the umbrella and the surrounding area. It looks great and the variety of colors are fun. I prefer the regular white and yellow colors. Extremely easy to install. Insert batteries and clip onto umbrella poll. Just click and done. Play with remote and find a color you like or have all the colors changing automatically. So happy with this umbrella light!

Highly recommended. 👍🏼👍🏼" —Susan

Get it from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in white and brown).

Get it from Amazon for $14.38 or from Bookshop (to support local bookstores) for $13.90.

Here's how it works: pour in the macaroni and add enough water to the fill line. Then microwave for two minutes and 30 seconds. Remove, stir, and microwave two more minutes, then add the other ingredients per the mac 'n' cheese instructions. Check out a TikTok of the rapid mac cooker in action. PS — people also use this to rapid cook their ramen!

Promising review: "There is nothing I dislike about this. I don't like milk so didn't add it but it's surprisingly as good or better than stove top. The texture and flavor is on point and it's not soggy like easymac. I laughed when I got this and was like wow it's no different than any container. It's harder material so idk what it's made of but the directions inside the container are on point for good mac and cheese except I drained the water. The days of scrubbing a big pot are over for me. I can't believe this actually worked. Especially bc the texture of the noodles and the taste is so on point. I got no discount and wasn't paid for this review. I just really am shocked it worked and worked so well. They got this down to a science with this container and directions. I am amazed." —me

Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in six colors and a two-pack).

Rapid Brands is a California-based small business that specializes in dishwasher-safe, microwaveable, BPA-free kitchen products.

Promising review: "Love this top! I know have it in two colors and would buy every color if I could. It's comfortable and cute. Can be worn for a workout, or as a cure top for a casual day or night out. Doesn't need a bra and is the right amount of supportive. It's a stretchy spandex like material and is thick enough to not be see-through." —Julia Kennedy

Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in women's sizes S–XXL and 23 colors).

Yes, they easily wash clean with soap and water without losing stickiness, so the fun can keep going even after they end up in one of your houseplant pots.

Promising review: "I waited over two months to write my review! My 4-year-old daughter plays with these DAILY! YES they do attract dirt and hair. HOWEVER they are so easy to rinse off, it's not a big deal! We took these to a family gathering and ended up giving two away because they were SO loved! The two we gave away went to a 12-year-old and my 19-year-old brother. They discovered throwing them at the ceiling fan and watching them shoot across the room, which was pretty entertaining! None of them have busted or ripped and they are definitely NOT gentle with them! I will definitely be buying more!" —Kindle Customer

Get a pack of six from Amazon for $10.69.

Check it out on TikTok here!

Promising review: "You NEED this. This product is AMAZING. When I run errands, I hate bringing both a water bottle and coffee tumbler. This product solves that issue. I ran it through my dishwasher to clean it, and the plastic didn't morph at all. 10/10 recommend!" —Megan Huffman

Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in three colors).

The card includes an eyeglass screwdriver, letter opener, nail puller, ruler, bottle opener, can opener, box opener, cellphone stand, hex-head nut and bolts, screwdrivers, and a fruit peeler. And attention travelers: reviewers said it is TSA-approved, but some had to remove it from their bag and put it on the belt by itself just to be safe.

Promising review: "This is definitely helpful to have on hand! The Ninja is small and slim but punches above its weight class in terms of usefulness. The tools are all things you might find yourself searching through a drawer for and are useful in a pinch. It fits comfortably in your wallet and will help you open a beer or tighten a screw. The coolest feature that I couldn't find on most other similar products was the credit card phone stand. It is great for planes and other travel applications (I haven't had trouble bringing this on a plane anywhere I have traveled, FYI)."—Mary

Promising review: "I bought this as a gift for my husband. I can't tell you how many times this little card has come in handy. We take it with us when we travel and we always end up using it." —Andy Aguirre

Get it from Amazon for $12.50 (also available in packs of two, three, and five).

You can also wear themem without the raindrop jewels so the cloud shines all on its own — they come with extra backs!

Promising review: "These earrings are SOO CUTE. My new favorite jewelry, I've been wearing them since they arrived. Great quality and shipped quickly. Thank you!" —Etsy Customer

Get them from Kellan & Keira on Etsy for $28 (available in four colors).

Kellan & Keira is a small business based in Seattle that makes unique earring jackets. Their earrings are hypoallergenic and nickel-free, made with surgical-grade stainless steel.

Promising review: "I would give these 1000000 stars if I could. They’re a bit difficult to put on with one hand but that's my only complaint. These are genius and gave us so much peace of mind. Would recommend to literally everyone." —Alex K.

Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in four colors, larger packs, and a version for beer bottles).

Check out a TikTok of the cloud knife in action.

Promising review: "I love these — sturdy, sharp with retractable blade. I keep them in different rooms for opening packages or breaking down boxes to recycle. Would recommend and buy again." —Amy Yasneski

Get a set of six assorted colors from Amazon for $13.99.

Promising review: "I am lucky I took this pillow to my last trip, our hotel pillows were harder than a rock and this pillow saved my trip. I purchased the regular size after my return and I can't sleep without this pillow." —Yessie Medina

Promising review: "Great pillow for traveling. It rolls into a bag for easy and compact packing. I’m used to sleeping on a foam pillow, so I always have problems with support of hotel pillows. Of course this does not give same support as home pillow but much better than hotel pillows. Don't be alarmed when you open package and it looks very thin, give it some time and it fluffs up and gives good support." —jan64

Get it from Amazon for $24.49 (also available in standard, queen, and king sizes for at-home use).

Promising review: "The adults in this house love water balloons but not the mess….. plus with toddlers around, it didn't quite make sense to have water balloons but we saw a random video on TikTok and HAD to find reusable water balloons to try out. These were the first ones we bought to try out, and WHOA we were blown away! Super easy to for the 2- and 3-year-old to use, which means more fun for all of us!! Do not think twice or continue with regular water balloons, you’ll waste precious time cleaning up and filling that could be used to make memories." —Taurus

Get a four-pack from Amazon for $15.99 (also available in multiple pack sizes).

Promising review: "A useful and amusing stocking stuffer for my 79 year old dad. The Splatypus is gentle on his arthritic but still very busy digits. And as a Baby Boomer, he never wastes a smidgen of his beloved peanut butter or orange marmalade. Dad loves the Splatypus!" —dk72

Get it from Amazon for $12.95.

Promising review: "I first ran across the Chopula at a little kitchen store in North Carolina. I was so impressed with all the ways it can be used, I came back to Amazon and ordered another for myself and one each for my kids. I really do love how easy it is to get underneath fried eggs to flip them with this gadget. I had other spatulas but they always seemed too think or they were metal and couldn't use them on my nonstick pans. I find myself using it instead of a wooden spoon for a lot of things I stir on the stovetop. You can chop pounds of groundbeef with the side of it too. Nice product for sure!" —Lois Thurston

Get it from Amazon for $9.95 (available in nine colors).

Check out a TikTok of the DogBuddy scooper in action.

Promising review: "I normally don't leave reviews but this is amazing! It's easy to use and saves so many dog bags if you’re taking multiples dogs on a walk because you don't need to open a new bag for each poop. It also makes the whole process a lot less gross. I would 100% recommend this for dog walks and even picking up poop in the backyard. It holds a lot more than you’d think!" —Joslyn Cavitt

Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in four colors and two sizes).

DodBuddy is a small business specializing in pet care products including bowls, mats, and scoopers.

I just bought this fan (in the pink colorway here), and have already used it several times to quickly dry my setting spray! And it'll be a game-changer on hot subway platforms this summer waiting for the train to arrive.

Check out a TikTok of the portable fan in action.

Promising review: "Our vacation planner suggested getting something like this for when you're waiting in line at an amusement park when the sun is out. Best advice ever, used this when we were at Disney this past year. It's lightweight and doesn't weigh you down, the fan has adjustable speeds and also includes a phone charger via USB A port and also a flashlight function. Love that it folds up nice and small, great fan that I'd recommend to anyone!" —Andrew

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in three colors).

Promising review: "We recently moved to a beach area, and we are constantly there. This item has changed our entire lives! It lasts decently long (depending on how much you use it), it smells super good (not at all like baby powder), and it's super effective. It has saved me from vacuuming my car at least 1–2 times a week. And I even use it on my dogs paws and bellies to make sure they're taken care of too. I will definitely be buying the refill & another baggie to have exclusively in the car." —Gabbs Uresti

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.

Shakalo is a small business based in San Diego.

Aaaaand for the fancy pants you are, they come with a wireless charging case and provide up to 14(!!) hours of charge, and four-plus hours of continuous playback. (with the earbuds able to play for four-plus hours with each full charge). Did I mention they're are also sweatproof and waterproof?? With over 160,000 5-star reviews, they are mega popular, too.

Promising review: "Excellent sound quality and easily to pair with many devices. I have four other pairs of earbuds and these are the best I have found. I use earbuds every night to listen to movies on TV so as not to disturb the wife while she sleeps. These are fantastic for that. I also use them during the day to listen to music while walking or biking. The best earbuds at an incredible value. Everyone who needs earbuds should have at least a pair of these in there possession. Awesome quality in the best earbuds I have found online!" —Michael1

Promising review: "I've been wanting to get some cordless wireless headphones for a long time that were affordable. Decided to go with these and they were honestly worth the money. The bass is great and the sound is clear. Everyone should pick one up; they are amazing!" —Linda

Get it from Amazon $25.99 (available in five colors).

I loooove this essence for whenever I need an added boost of hydration. It absorbs into the skin beautifully!

Promising review: "Light moisturizing that absorbs perfectly into my skin, no irritation at all. Doesn't clog pores. It lasts months and is the best product I've ever bought." —Isaac Worley

Promising review: "If you can get over the ick factor of snail mucin -it is deeply hydrating and helps with hyperpigmentation and acne. Calms inflammation and redness. If you’re having flaky, dry skin from eczema or reactions to retinol use-this helps repair your skin barrier and keep your skin supple. It is a gentle occlusive and seals in moisture. Everyone's skin is different. What works for me may not work for you. But I swear by the essence to help my reactive skin, repair the skin barrier, and helps with my eczema. I will use it forever." —Connie

Get it from Amazon for $23.

Promising review: "I pack really light, and wash clothes in the hotel sink/bath to rewear. These are great for that, even on my sweaty/stinky/sunscreeny bathing suit cover up that needs to be washed every day during tropical travel." —iheartmmp

Get a box of eight packets from Amazon for $14.99.

Check out why a mom calls this pouch topper the "coolest thing" in this TikTok.

Promising review: "I am OBSESSED. I saw these on a TikTok and ran to Amazon...so glad I did! My toddler loves yogurt/applesauce pouches but started purposely dumping and squeezing the contents out. But these make it absolutely impossible for her to do that without making it difficult to eat! I tested them, and it's SO easy to drink out of, but I was unable to squeeze anything out. 10/10 recommend. I’m definitely buying more." —Amanda

Promising review: "These are amazing! I bought two sets of them so I can keep some in our diaper bag (or in case we lose one). We use these every single day for our 12-month-old with her yogurt (Gogo squeeze) and her fruit and veggie pouches! Seriously, love them. We previously had yogurt/fruit all over because she would squeeze them. My husband accidentally stepped on the pouch with this on, and it still didn't squeeze out! Once your baby figures it out (ours did quickly), it's a game changer. I tried the pouch holders with the handles, but she just swung it around, and it still spilled out. This is what you want!" —Shem Slater

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in five color combos).

ChooMee is a small biz based in Northern California, owned by a mom, that specializes in innovative products that solve everyday feeding challenges.

Promising review: "Do you have a stinky garbage disposal? If so, get some of these. They are cheap, smell nice. and the foaming action really provides you with a visual they are cleaning the drain. After using these the garbage disposal seems smoother (fewer strange noises, like it's been lubricated). I'd recommend these over Plinks any day as I feel the Plinks only hide smells whereas these foaming packets actually clean the disposal."—Sugacookie

Get a pack of four from Amazon for $10.96.

Lots of reviewer pets love being brushed by it too!

Promising review: "I've spent hundreds of dollars on toys, treats, houses, scratchers, etc for my cats. This is hands down not even close, the best money I've ever spent! I got so much fur off them, and they loved it! They are looking so sleek and shiny, and they are rolling around like kittens they feel so fresh and happy. My cats are still young (all ages 4 and under) so they were pretty well groomed to begin with. I couldn't believe how many knots and snags were hiding in their fur. The whole time I was brushing them, they were purring and rubbing all over me trying to get more. The self cleaning feature is so easy!! A click of a button and all the hair falls off. The brush itself is bigger than what I anticipated. I thought my cats would be afraid of it but once they figured out what was happening, they weren't at all. I got the original brush which I thought would probably feel good (like a good back scratch!) And I was right. They loved it." —Samantha

Get it from Amazon for $15.99.

You can also use it in a chair position, with the floaties as arm rests! BTW, lots of reviewers traveled with these to vacation destinations.

Promising review: "This floaty is an absolute must for any vacation or home pool. Easy to pack and inflate. I saw another person floating around the pool with ease in Cancun and immediately hopped online to purchase. Best purchase ever made!! You can seriously relax comfortably in the water with this floaty and use it for mutiple positions in the pool. Everyone who used it fell asleep relaxing in the water. Don't give it a second thought. Buy it!!!" —Chrissy_Chris

Get it from Amazon for $12.93 (available in nine colors).

Promising review: "Was skeptical about adding a mask like this into my body care routine but boy am I glad I did! Since using this mask once or so a week, I literally have 0 razor bumps and no redness / irritation after shaving. Hooked for life. Also the packaging is adorable, these look super cute on the shelf in my bathroom" —Nancy K.

Get them from Amazon for $7 each or directly from Lapcos for $7 each or a pack of 5 for $32.

Lapcos is a Korean-owned, family-run beauty brand making cruelty-free products.

Get it from Elite Humor on Etsy for $26.99. It's also available on a hat!

Elite Humor is a Miami-based Etsy shop making cocktail themed hats, pop culture inspired merch, and more.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.