My Favorite Things: Confessions of a Gift Card Hoarder
I don’t know about you, but I am not a big spender. I have always been rather frugal, I guess which comes from having fairly frugal parents and being a teacher—for years, I lived paycheck to paycheck and did not have a lot of disposable income. And, I’m a big Dave Ramsey fan, so I have never had debt outside of a car and house payment. So when someone gives me a gift card, I don’t run right out and spend it! I hoard them. I save them up for a rainy day. I keep them until there’s something I really want, and then I will spend them…maybe. It drives my husband crazy that I will leave things on a wish list and not buy anything for myself for months, while my gift cards just keep piling up. But I have a ton of patience (I am a boymom and middle school teacher, after all), and I am just not an impulse shopper. Unless I really need something, like hard drives, batteries, or memory cards for my photography business, I will add ideas to a wish list in February and wait for my birthday, anniversary, or Christmas.
But the one time of year I love shopping with my gift cards is during the summer Amazon Prime Days, which this year, are July 8-12! I will keep a close eye on my wish list and wait for items to go on lightning deals or steep savings and then use my gift cards to give myself a little Christmas in July and do a little early Christmas shopping for others!
There are quite a few inexpensive items I have purchased on Amazon that I can’t believe I didn’t buy sooner—they have come in so handy! I have an entire post all about my favorite photography-related accessories, but today, I’m sharing some random things that I just can’t live without. So without further ado, here are my top ten, in no particular order!
*All links are Amazon affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission for promoting them!
1. Handheld Milk Frother
I am not a coffee drinker, but I love hot chocolate or a chai or matcha latte. Lately I have been trying out the Ryze mushroom chai and matcha, and this little frother is amazing! What used to take me 30-60 seconds of stirring now takes 5-10 seconds to blend, and it leaves a great froth on top!
Cost: $9-12, depending on sales
Amazon Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/4jRmxLj
2. Amazon Basics Breadmaker
I have always been interested in making my own bread, and last summer, I added a breadmaker recommended by Katelyn James to my wish list. But it was almost $400! So when Prime Day happened, I found this one and decided to try it out before I dropped several hundred dollars on a machine I wasn’t sure I would like. This one is great! I got a recipe book that gave me a ton of ideas (the honey wheat is my favorite), and it’s great! I deleted that expensive one off my list because this one works perfectly for me!
Cost: $60-70, depending on sales
Amazon Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3STDYQx
3. Acetone Free Nail Polish Remover
I don’t paint my nails often, but when I do, I hate removing the polish with acetone—it dries out my nails and has awful fumes! My Color Street lady recommended this, which is good for regular polish and gel/gel strips. It doesn’t smell horrible and is much more gentle!
Cost: $10-12, depending on sales
Amazon Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4l5VIUI
4. Spray Bottle
I have a head full of thick, curly hair and often need to use a spray bottle while styling. This is the same one my hair stylist uses, and it is magic…I don’t have to constantly pump the handle to get water to come out! It just sprays…and sprays…and sprays… I’ve had mine for 3+ years and it still works great! It would also be great for cleaning products.
Cost: $8-10, depending on sales
Amazon Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3ZAiX0V
5. Cookware Rack
Kitchen organization is the bain of my existence. I hate when pots, pans, and lids get all mixed up in giant piles that fall all over the place when you open the cabinet. This rack has made our pot/pan cabinet so much calmer!
Cost: $35-40, depending on sales
Amazon Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/40cm7YR
6. Lash Princess Mascara
I hate shopping for makeup. One of the photographers I follow mentioned this, so I tried it out…and it’s amazing! And the best part, it usually costs less than $5!
Cost: $4-5, depending on sales
Amazon Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/448pfX4
7. Magnesium Sleep Gummies
Good sleep is always a challenge for me. I have Seasonal Affective Disorder, so there have been times I sleep 2-3 hours a night during the months of October-March. I have tried EVERYTHING: weighted blankets, white noise machines (see below), yoga, deep breathing, melatonin, other herbal supplements, and even prescription medication (which I hate). A friend recommended these gummies a few months ago, and they are a miracle! I haven’t slept this well in years. And, it has other added health benefits! Win-win!
Cost: $12-15, depending on sales
Amazon Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4lfyThC
8. Dohm White Noise Machine
When I was pregnant with my first son, one of my friends suggested adding this to our baby shower wish list. I cannot tell you how much sleep this thing has preserved for me and my family! Both my boys are great sleepers; we all have one in our bedrooms. It drowns out noises that prevent sleep, but it doesn’t keep me from hearing my kids when I need to! We even bring it along on vacations!
Cost : $45-50, depending on sales
Amazon Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/46aH8qI
9. Wireless Headphones
I hate earbuds. And I don’t need anything super fancy…but I did want some noise-canceling headphones so that I could listen to podcasts, audiobooks, or music, especially on long trips with my family when they are all listening to video game music or movies. My husband got me these for our anniversary last year, and I really love them! They are comfortable, the charge holds really well, and they are super easy to pair with my phone.
Cost: $30-40, depending on sales
Amazon Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/43Y1T7M
10. Window Bird Feeder
Who needs a fancy bird buddy when you have one of these? I bought one of these over 2 years ago, and it is STILL stuck to our window. The suction cups are heavy duty for sure! I put it right next to my cat’s climbing tower, and it is so fun to watch him interact with the birds (and squirrels) that come to visit!
Cost: $10-15, depending on sales
Amazon Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4eC9YTi
Kimberly Cauble…
…is a mom of two wild boys, middle school teacher, and wedding & portrait photographer in the Charlotte, NC area who has been photographing families, seniors, and weddings since 2012. She has photographed over 90 weddings and loves people, the art of photography, and sharing what she has learned with others!
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