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    26 Cheap Things That Look Way More Expensive Than Their Price Tag

    Or as I like to call it, being bougie on a budget.

    1. A pair of mules people may mistake for a certain designer brand, and you don't have to correct them if they do.

    reviewer wearing the buckle-detail loafer mules in tan
    model wearing the mules in snake

    Promising review: "Wow, what a steal. These look great. Good value and quality, true to size, and comfortable. Highly recommend a good slip-on shoe; perfect for summertime in the workplace or to tie your outfit together at brunch. I want them in black now too." —LC

    Get them from Amazon for $45.99+ (available in women's sizes 6–11 and in 10 colors and prints).

    2. A lipstick you'll go out of your way to reapply when you're around people because the reaction to seeing the tube will elicit the biggest "OOOOOH, that's gorgeous" you've ever heard. 

    the tube of lipstick in teal with gem-colored illustration of birds on it
    Catkin Cosmetics / Via www.instagram.com

    Promising review: "The package of this lip is delicate, even more beautiful than my Tom Ford. It's a matte lip, not very dry even though I don’t use the balm as a base. I used this lip every day last week, and almost every day someone asked me about this. I love it and recommend!" —Amazon Customer

    Get it from Amazon for $18.99 (available in 13 shades and also four sets of three).

    3. A set of two buttery-soft satin pillowcases so your skincare and haircare can – well – stay on your skin and hair (and not absorb into the fabric of your bedding), all while having a much friendlier price tag than a silk style. 

    two pillows in pink satin cases on a bed
    Amazon

    Promising review: "My husband and I notice the difference in our hair and skin when we sleep on these pillow-cases. Instead of 'hanging on' to your hair, the pillow cases let your hair slide. The satiny softness is great for your face as well. I've tried really expensive pillow cases and didn't like them nearly as much as I like these. I bought a second pair." –Brenda A. Rodgers 

    Get a set of two from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in four sizes and 22 colors). 

    4. A V-neck ruffle maxi dress — wedding season is quickly approaching and you won't have a ~ruff~ time deciding what to wear when you have this beauty hanging in your closet. 

    reviewer wearing the dress in teal
    reviewer wearing the dress in pink

    Promising review: "This dress was perfect for a wedding. I received so many compliments on it, and everyone was surprised when I said it was from Amazon!! I love how expensive it looks. The pattern has a pretty shine to it in the light." —Jami

    Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in women's sizes 2–22 and in 40 colors, patterns, and sleeve-lengths). 

    5. A globe table lamp to add a modern glam look to your nightstand without having to spend a huge chunk of your paycheck.

    gold lamp with circular bulb on a nightstand
    Abby Kass / BuzzFeed

    I just bought two of these lamps for my bedroom and can say that look even better in person than they do online. I spent a good amount of time trying to find a beautiful lamp that wasn't a million dollars, and finally stumbled upon this one. I am so glad I did. The lamp is a pretty substantial size, but it doesn't overpower my pretty small nightstand. The lamp is beautiful. And one of the coolest features — it's dimmable. For the price, it's a steal. 

    Promising review: "This lamp is absolutely stunning and unique for bedroom lighting! I purchased the last two in store, no mismatch color to the brass tone and had no faulty issues like the other reviews mentioned, thankfully. I think the quality and design makes the lamp look so much more expensive then it is, and it’s so hard to find a stylish lamp that’s dimmable!" —Rayak

    Get it from Target for $50 (available with or without a light bulb).  

    6. A maxi cutout dress I'm pretty sure is guaranteed to make your confidence level shoot up the second you put this on. And when you're radiating confidence, you'll feel like a gd superstar, trust me.

    Promising review: "10 stars. Absolute best dress I’ve purchased on Amazon! Amazing fit. Beautiful, perfect neutral. Not see-through and super comfortable. Makes me feel like a goddess. I’m in love." —T.C.

    Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in women's sizes S–XL and 16 colors and lengths).

    7. Salt and pepper marble bowls designed to fit perfectly into the wood base to add an element of elegance to your dining table sure to impress at your next dinner party.

    a black and white marble bowl resting on a wooden tray with salt and pepper in each bowl
    Amazon

    Promising review: "I love this little salt and pepper server. The quality is sturdy and beautiful and for the price, it is a beautiful statement as a gift or for your home. The price point is perfect and makes it truly a wonderful housewarming or host/hostess gift. I am very picky about quality and this product I give 5 stars. Will be buying many more." —Sancha88

    Get it from Amazon for $29.35.

    8. A fashionista pouch. It's not necessarily designed to be a purse, but something this cool and beautiful deserves to be shown to the world. 

    pouch with illustration of girl wearing sunglasses with green background and black and purple flowers
    Eeni Edit

    Eeni Edit is a Black woman-owned business with some amazing illustrations and art that I am OBSESSED with!

    Get it from Eeni Edit for $20

    9. Polarized vintage-inspired sunglasses you'll have ~a-round~ for a long time because this style is made to stand the test of time. 

    Promising review: "OBSESSED!!!! They’re sooo cute! They look super high end and expensive. They’re very light weight and fashionable. I love everything about them. They came in the cutest box, came with a drawstring bag to hold them in and a lens cloth! Love love love !" —Tianna

    Get it from Amazon for $21.99 (available in 12 colors and two sets). 

    10. A padded tee to instantly give your style a boost. Wear this with your favorite pair of jeans, and you'll look like an influencer. Just be prepared for your DMs to be flooded with, "Where did you get that top?"

    reviewer wearing the sleevless padded tee in light orange
    a different reviewer wearing the tee in white

    Promising review: "I love this shirt so much! It's super comfortable, excellent quality, and fits perfectly. More than I expected for the price. I have been looking for a shirt like this, but all were so expensive. I will buy more in other colors." —pearnet

    Get it from Amazon for $20.99 (available in women's sizes S–L and in 15 colors).

    11. A wire countertop basket for an understated yet sophisticated centerpiece that screams, "I bought all these limes just for show," which is one of the fanciest things I've ever heard.

    Promising review: "This is so cute, and I love it. I keep it right in the middle of my kitchen table. It looks nice, and I like to keep different stuff in it depending on the season. It’s very light weight and looks expensive." —Brittany

    Get it from Amazon for $18.99 (available in four styles).

    12. A set of chunky dome rings, a must-have for anyone who wants a trendy set that will pair well with any outfit. Wear all three at once or mix and match whichever ones you're currently feeling.

    a reviewer wearing the plain dome ring and signet ring
    the same reviewer wearing the croissant ring

    Promising review: "So far, I absolutely love these rings! I’ve washed my hands with them on twice, but I would air on the side of caution and avoid that as much as possible since they aren’t real gold. But they’re the perfect chunky gold rings and so fun!! I’ve had them for a month now, and I don’t see any tarnishing." —The Tester

    Get the set of three from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in ring sizes 5–10 and in two styles).

    13. A wrap blouse featuring voluminous sleeves that can be worn off the shoulder that just may become your favorite top you've ever owned (very strong phrase, I know). But when you have a semi-formal occasion coming up and are struggling with what to wear, this top will always be the right answer.

    reviewer wearing the green top
    reviewer wearing the top in black

    Promising review: "This blouse is definitely a statement maker. I love how voluminous the sleeves are, it really adds so much drama to any outfit. The material is definitely thicker than expected but it makes it feel more luxe!" —Wyatt

    Get it from Amazon for $36.99+ (available in women's sizes XS–XL and in 17 colors).

    14. A luxe brow pomade to give your eyebrows a touch of volume and color for a natural look you'll love. 

    gold brow tint
    model showing before and after using the brow tint with darker fuller eyebrows after
    Merit

    Promising review: "Everything about this product is so intentional. It provides the perfect tint without being too heavy and looks so natural. I just love that Merit uses clean, cruelty free ingredients in their products." —Amanda H.

    Get it from Merit for $24 (available in three shades). 

    15. A silicone placemat in neutral colors with small details because not every single thing you buy for your child has to stick out like a sore thumb in your home. These will match your decor *and* protect your table from the mess of food that does not make it into your child's mouth during dinner.

    half circle placemats
    baby with matching placemat and bib
    Amazon

    Plus, you can also get the matching bib!

    Promising review: "I'm the biggest fan of all things Mushie. I love the neutral colors, cutest prints, and clean products. I already own several placemats (floral print, rainbow, and a pretty mauve/blush color) but I had to get this grey one too. Totally gender neutral, smooth, chic, and worry-free because it is clean, non-toxic, and made by a real mom. Happy to support a woman/mama-owned business." —Paul Kwon

    Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (available in 21 colors).

    16. A Jane Austen planter pot you'll show off to everyone you know with ~pride~ (not prejudice) because it'll be the perfect bibliophile addition to your bookshelf. 

    the white planter pot
    Amazon

    Promising review: "I love it! I am OBSESSED with Jane Austen, so I ordered this for my desk. It is small, about the size of a teacup, but makes me smile every time I see it." —Madelyn Petrovich

    Get it from Amazon for $15.95.

    17. A luxe serving tray with a marble design that will look so good sitting on your coffee table and giving a space for you to put your assortment of remotes, books, and magazines.

    Reviewer close-up of the green and gold tray
    Reviewer photo of the green and gold tray in a living room

    Promising review: "The tray is an attractive contemporary design and easy to handle. Glasses, mugs, and smaller breakfast/lunch/appetizer plates or bowls fit on it. I both got one for myself and for my best friend’s birthday. My lovely friend who has a low-key aesthetic, mid-century house in California really did love the tray. She told me she uses it to bring her breakfast out of her kitchen most mornings to a more relaxing spot." —N. Erdmann

    Get it from Amazon for $40.99+ (available in two sizes and four designs).

    18. A faux suede pouf that actually comes unstuffed, which means you can fill it with your extra blankets and pillows for a chic storage piece you can rest your feet on while you watch TV. 

    Promising review: “I live in a one-bedroom apartment and there isn’t a lot of storage, I have wanted a pouf but I couldn’t justify the expense. Then I read an article about poufs that you can stuff pillows, blankets, etc in. I went on Amazon and I found these beauties. They look great and can store a lot of pillows, bedspreads, blankets, etc. I do mean a lot. They are soft but firm to sit on. I also use them to stand on to reach objects on the top of my bookcase. I highly recommend them!” —Julie Brum

    Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in six colors).

    19. A set of geode agate bookends that ~rock~ at keeping your collection of books organized and upright.

    Promising review: "Love! I get compliments on these ALL the time! They look so high-end and much more expensive than they actually are. A great way to add some color and texture when styling built-ins!" —elise1230

    Get a set of two from Amazon for $28.99+ (available in four weights and in six colors).

    20. A set of black foil playing cards for sure to impress your friends when you have them over for a game night. Just be sure to practice your shuffling skills to make it seem like you were an extra in Ocean's 11.

    Promising review: "My husband and I have friends over occasionally to play cards at our house. So upon looking for some new cards I saw these, and I had to get them. They are so sleek and unlike any deck I've ever seen. Also, they are plastic cards! Even the case is plastic! I was surprised, but happy about it. Plastic is much more durable that paper and will last longer. The holographic designs on the cards are beautiful. The back of the cards almost look like a rainbow when the light hits them a certain way, so does the card packaging. The front of the cards are just beyond cool. These far exceeded my expectations." —MesEHair

    Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in 13 styles).

    21. A set of amber soap dispensers because nothing screams "I HAVE A LOT OF MONEY" like sleek nonlabeled soap dispensers, even if you got the soap inside from CVS with your 40% off coupon.

    Promising review: "These are amazing soap dispensers. The amber glass is sturdy and strong, and the pump works great. They're easy to fill and they look so good on your bathroom or kitchen countertop. Highly recommend!" —Emily

    Get a two-pack from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in five different pump colors).

    22. A splash catchall dish sure to make a ~splash~ in your home because it will give you a place to set your keys down immediately when you get home. 

    oval-shaped catchall dish in black and white splash
    Mercia Moore

    Mercia Moore Artisan Studio is a Black woman-owned small biz that creates home decor and jewelry out of epoxy resin and acrylics inspired by African American diaspora.

    Get it from Mercia Moore for $30

    23. A set of sleek raised cat food bowls that are not only designed to help your cat have proper posture while eating (which helps with their digestion) but also won't clash with the rest of your nice-looking home decor pieces.

    a grey striped cat eating out of a light grey raised food bowl
    Amazon

    Plus, they're dishwasher safe!

    Promising review: "I love these cat bowls. They are very easy to clean, they have a nice modern look, and best of all, they are ergonomic/healthy for your cat (or very small dog). They have almost completely eliminated my cat's "scarf and barf" tendencies. If you're on the fence, buy them." –J Rucker

    Get them from Amazon for $7.71+ (available in two colors and with or without mats). 

    24. jade roller and gua sha set that not only looks super luxe but will actually help you make your skincare routine feel fancier. You can use this on your face to help reduce puffiness, firm skin, and release any muscle tension.

    Gyan rolling the jade roller on her face
    the pink jade roller and gua sha
    Gyan Yankovich / BuzzFeed, www.amazon.com

    Promising review: "I’ve only been using it for the last three days but it’s so relaxing and beneficial. I can already tell a difference in my skin and for the price this is so worth it. I love the packaging because it’s in such a cute magnetic box and come with instructions for the more beneficial way to use the product!" —brianna

    Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in six colors).

    If you want to learn more, check out a full review on everything you need to know about jade rolling.

    25. A set of porcelain serving bowls you can use to create Instaworthy salads, bowls, or even pastas.

    model holding one pink dish with salad in it with another one holding apples in it below it
    Amazon

    Promising review: "I wish I'd have bought these years ago. Having a dinner salad has always been a choice of cramming it into a bowl or having it fall off a plate. With these, that issue is solved and, as a bonus, things like pasta are much easier to serve and eat. They are very well made and heavy." —CNorris

    Get a set of two from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in three colors).

    26. A fluffy area rug that'll make you feel like you're stepping on an actual cloud (!!!), as well as add a simple but stylish touch to your living space.

    a fluffy, cream-colored area rug in a bedroom
    Amazon

    Promising review: "Best rug EVER! No seriously...it is so soft! Bought this one for our living room. We have a similar rug we purchased at Lowes for three times the price for our bedroom and my husband and I decided that we would buy this one again instead. We are actually ordering two more for the baby's room and our middle daughter's room. So many people have complimented this rug and asked us to send them the link!" —Ashley Bryan

    Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in 13 colors).

    Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.