33 Cheap Things To Treat Yourself To In 2021
A couch potato lamp, adorable stickers, your new favorite eyeliner, and more under-$25 delights you deserve in your life in the new year.
We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.
1. A 2021 wall calendar featuring a different unlikely animal friendship and the story of how they met each month, because goodness knows we could all use a little more wholesomeness in our lives.
2. A beautiful acrylic and faux pearl barrette that reads "Magic," because honestly, is there a better word to describe you and the energy you want to channel with your style and everything else this year?
These clips are from Black woman-owned, D.C.-based small business Fibs and Fables, which focuses on creating gorgeous hair accessories to help people of all hair types feel fabulous.
Get it from Fibs and Fables for $10 (originally $16; available in two colors).
3. Constellation-print socks you should be proud of, because finding socks that everyone will be horo-scoping out is no small ~feet~.
Promising review: "Comfortable and attractive! I'm not usually one for longer socks, but in the cold weather they're an absolutely necessity. How better to don my feet than with the stars? Love these socks; bought two sets of them and have convinced friends that they need them too. Definitely would recommend!!" —K Orion Fray
Get a set of four from Amazon for $9.99.
4. A sheet of peel-and-stick marble-effect paper to customize pretty much any of the surfaces in your home — from floors to countertops to drab pieces of decor — to make them look like they belong in a million-dollar listing. Not to mention give you a fun and Insta-worthy project in the new year.
It can easily be removed and re-stuck if you don't get it perfect on the first try (I feel you)!
Promising review: "So Pinteresting! I used this adhesive film to turn two cheap Ikea tables into less cheap-looking Ikea tables because I'm not made of money but I would like others to believe I am. Super simple to use and a ton of it for the price; I was really pleased overall. The pattern actually looks like marble, not a weird pixel-y repetitive pattern, so that's great as well." —Spencer House
Get a 17-inch x 78-inch roll from Amazon for $10.47.
5. Super spicy ground habanero powder you can use to (literally) heat up every dish you cook this year, from meat to veggies to rice to soup. May I also ~pepper~ in the fact that it's kosher, non-GMO, and sourced from environmentally responsible farmers?
It's from a Black woman-owned brand that specializes in sustainably produced African spices, powders, and baking mixes.
Promising review: "Oh my!!!! I love this so much. The smell is so intense and the flavor is well-preserved. The powder is of a dark color so I was worried the drying process might not have preserved the spiciness or flavor, but boy let me tell you. The flavor is superbly balanced with spiciness. I made scrambled eggs and muffins the first day and I love this so much. I've been looking for a decent habanero powder for a long time and I am so glad I found it!" —Da7mi
Get it from Amazon for $6.99.
6. Eggs-cellent stud earrings sure to help you keep on the ~sunny side~ of life, even during dreary January weather.
Promising review: "I love these eggs! The enameling is really smooth and high quality." —Amazon Customer
Get them from Amazon for $11.99.
7. Some surprised-looking pig pens you and your co-workers (even if for now your co-workers are just your just your roommates or your family) are sure to go hog wild for.
Promising review: "Oh my gosh these are so cute! I bought them as a gift. The pens write extremely smoothly and the ink flows quickly. There are four hot pink and four light pink pens. Very fine point, capped pen. For the price, unbeatable! Highly recommend." —Kelly
Get a set of eight from Amazon for $8.55.
8. A massaging, exfoliating, and blood flow-increasing scalp brush over 5,000 (!!!) reviewers swear by to give you that feeling of someone deep shampooing your hair at a salon that you miss so much. Not to mention this helps with dandruff and buildup, plus even helps encourage hair growth!
Promising review: "I’ve suffered with dry, flaking scalp for about a year now. I've used tea tree oil shampoo, dandruff shampoo, coconut oil, you name it. I finally read somewhere that exfoliating the scalp might help, but I was hesitant because years ago, I had a shampoo brush and it was very rigid and the bristles were fine and close together and it made my hair a tangled mess. Anyway, I saw this shampoo brush and it looked a lot more flexible, so I thought I’d give it a try and HOLY MOLY my flakes are gone! It’s made out of a silicone-type material and the little 'bristles' are flexible but still get the job done. I can literally brush my hair with shampoo in and it doesn’t get tangled. It’s amazing. Not only do I have zero flakes now, but I feel like using this does a way better job at working the shampoo in and getting your hair and scalp really clean. I have super thick hair and no matter how much shampoo I use or how long I scrub my hair, I felt like the back, underneath part of my hair would sometimes stay dirty. This brush gets all that." —Meg R
Get it from Amazon for $8.59+ (available in three colors).
9. A glittery enamel pin that (literally) combines beauty and brains — just like your badass self — to inspire you to keep kicking butt in 2021.
I have this cutie and it's just as pretty IRL! It's from an LA-based, woman-owned small business that makes all kinds of adorable pins, stickers, stationery, and tees featuring feminist artwork.
Get it from LittleWomanGoods on Etsy for $10.75+ (available with or without a bonus sticker sheet).
10. NYX Epic Ink eyeliner, a waterproof formula that'll make you wonder why you spent years dropping major $$$ on liquid liner when you can get a ~meow~velous cat eye or super ~fly~ wing that'll last all day with this.
Plus it's cruelty-free!
Promising review: "I don't usually write reviews, but I had to rave about this eyeliner because it's amazing. This is my new favorite. I think the quality is even better than Kat Von D overall, plus it's at least $10 cheaper. It basically fits all of the requirements I would want in my perfect eyeliner. It's affordable, extremely black, opaque, easy to use, and waterproof, it stays on for a long time, and the tip is quite thin so you can get wings as sharp as a sword. I also usually have to use makeup remover and concealer to clean up my lines, but I barely need to do any maintenance with this. My cat-eyes have been turning out so clean and beautiful. It bleeds less than most eyeliners I've ever used." —Cat
Get it from Amazon for $8.97.
11. A grippy fitness hoop that's the grown-up version of the sparkly one you had in your garage as a kid and ideal for starting a fun workout routine you'll actually want to do.
12. A dramatic yet cute dumpster fire charm you can affix to your bag or keyring and just casually point to when someone asks how you are or mentions the year — *gasp* — 2020.
This very large mood of a product is from an amazing Black-owned small business that makes tons of adorable and quirky pins, stickers, pillows, and charms. The site even features a handy list of resources of ways to get involved with and places to donate to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Get it from Teal Teacup for $7.
13. A super cool Nike x Stranger Things hat that combines streetwear and fandom so perfectly, I give it an Eleven out of 10.
Get it from Nike for $19.97 (originally $32; available in three colors).
14. An expensive-looking faux leather double circle belt you (and your fave jeans) will love so much you'll wanna put a ring on it.
It's got over 1,000 positive reviews!
Promising review: "This is my favorite belt! It's perfect with jeans and I get so many compliments on it. I love that the double-ring is sort of designer-inspired, but not a complete knockoff of the Gucci belt. I highly recommend! I am typically a medium and the medium was perfect." —Everyday Teacher Style
Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in women's sizes XS-XL and in 12 styles).
15. A rawr-some dinosaur planter so your plant can go down in ~pre-history~ as having the cutest abode in all the land.
16. Whimsical cactus dryer balls that'll actually make laundry something to smile about in 2021 (you read that right). They'll fluff and help circulate air through your laundry while drying, plus provide a touch of whimsy to ~spike~ your interest in doing chores.
Promising review: "Bought these because an article on Facebook named them as one of the best Amazon buys. They were right. They make my clothes dry a ton faster, not to mention they are adorable! In love with these. They would make amazing gifts and are awesome to use for yourself. They made a loud noise in the dryer at first because they are hard, but once they warm up they become softer and you don't hear anything. Love love love them." —Amazon Customer
Get a set of two from Amazon for $9.50.
17. A squee-worthy couch potato LED light to commemorate how you spent most of 2020.
Promising review: "This is the cutest ever! Even when not lit up, it serves as adorable decoration for your room or office. Might have to get the matching plush." —K C.
Get it from Smoko for $18.
19. A LOL-worthy fruit-shaped cat cap that'll pretty much pay for itself in entertainment value with just one picture of your kitty (though you'll be taking approximately 863, and they will probably all end up in next year's Top Nine).
Promising review: "I would give these 10 stars if I could, but I'm sure Freya would give it a -3. I think she looks like an angelic banana, but she is not amused. I don't believe this causes her physical discomfort, but her self-esteem has plummeted. Long story short, makes your cat look stupid, as planned. LOL." —Amazon Customer
Get one in a random fruit from Amazon for $7.49.
20. A glam and surprisingly inexpensive gold chain link bracelet you'll wear for years to come, both on its own and stacked with other chic baubles.
This is totally timeless, but I will say I have seen a big chain link jewelry trend this year that I hope continues — I'm a fan!
Get it from Banana Republic Factory for $13.49 (originally $26.99).
21. A cute and inspirational lemon sticker that'll help cheer you up when you're feeling sour.
Get it from HappyCutieStudio on Etsy for $1.43.
22. Or a whole set of sweet and self-care inspired stickers to deck out your laptop, water bottle, or any other everyday essential that can become a reminder to look after yourself even when things are busy as heck.
Free Period Press is a queer- and woman-owned business that makes adorable stickers and paper goods!
Get a set of five from Amazon for $9.99 (available in two combinations).
23. A delightfully retro Reptar tee for my fellow millennials who refuse to acknowledge that the '90s were (*gasp*) 30 years ago. 😮
Get it from Old Navy for $22.99 (available in unisex sizes XS-3XL regular and M-3XL tall).
24. A charming snail soap dispenser you shouldn't be slow to add to your cart — and don't worry, you won't have to ~shell~ out much dough for it. Listen, frequent hand-washing is still very much going to be a part of life in 2021, so why not add some extra cuteness?
25. A squee-worthy Totoro AirPod case here to Miyaza-keep your precious Pods safe and sound.
Promising review: "This case was just as described. I appreciate having this cute case to distinguish my case from others who have AirPods at work. Initially, I worried about the small ears breaking, but I've had it for a month and a half (I think?) and they show no wear and tear." —James
Get it from Amazon for $7.99.
26. An absolutely hilarious Schitt's Creek cake sticker ideal for celebrating birthdays, graduations, selling out motels, successful a cappella performances, or just getting through the year that was 2020.
I'm honestly obsessed with this entire shop's selection of Schitt's Creek stickers that go deeper/more obscure than the references you see on most other merch!
27. A clean/dirty dishwasher magnet to help you keep a cool head in 2021. You'll be so glad you impulse bought when it saves you from yet another fight with your roommate because they threw their icky dinner plate in with the dishes you JUST. FREAKING. WASHED.
28. Some absolutely OMG-worthy Kevin spilling his chili socks so you can capture the iconic moment on your feet forever.
Promising review: "Not only do I love the socks because they are hilarious, and when people see them and know what it is it’s even funnier, but the quality of the socks were shocking. Most kitschy socks I have are pretty low quality and have a terrible thin thread count, but these are great and comfortable. Buy them!" —Alyse_Luurtsema
Get them from Amazon for $13.95 (available in three colors).
29. A darling Dapper Animals Coloring Book for anyone who wants to try their hand at fashion design this year but thinks human models are a little overrated, tbh.
In addition to the whimsical pages to color, the book also features color pictures of nine of the 30 animals in case you want some color-scheme inspo, plus pages on color theory and how to draw patterns to make your masterpieces especially Lourve-worhty.
Promising review: "The pictures are absolutely adorable. All of the animals are dressed up and ready to go out. On the back of each page is a cute little quote too, so as you're coloring the opposite page you can read it and get inspired. The pages are not perforated, which is always my preference, but the cuteness factor of this book makes that easily overlooked. The paper is a nice medium weight, not smooth, not too rough. I find that it works well for colored pencils. The lines are dark so you don't have to guess where one starts or stops. There's also more finished examples inside the back cover and some tips on doodling and patterns — great if you want to add some backgrounds to your pictures." —Punk Rock Ruck
Get it from Amazon for $8.69.
30. An absolutely inspired car dipping sauce holder that'll clip to your vents so you can easily dip your drive-thru meal without spilling BBQ all over your seats or balancing ranch precariously on your center console. Where has this been your whole chicken-nugget-eating life???
It's designed to be able to hold different sizes of sauce containers depending on whether you position them horizontally or vertically, and it even comes with a removable tray you can squeeze sauce packets into.
Promising review: "This is the best invention ever! I’m a sauce queen and this allows me to have sauce in my car without wasting it! Who ever invented this knows my love language!" —Quintana
Get a set of two from Amazon for $10.49+ (available in three colors).
31. A game-changing wine gadget that's a stopper, pourer, aerator, filter, and re-corker all in one and a must-have for anyone who loves wine. It's under $10, so wine not?
Promising review: "Throw out the others, this is the one. I have a drawer full of wine pour spouts of varying designs. Some don't fit all bottles, some leak while pouring, and some are so tall that storing upright in a refrigerator is difficult, and none seal completely. This spout/stopper seals completely and lets you lay the bottle on its side. The aerator allows air to move back into the bottle while pouring to avoid the 'glug glug' effect of other pour spouts. The strainer may filter large cork pieces, but is not fine enough for sediment. The portion of the corker that fits inside the bottle has fit every bottle I've tried it in, from standard size bottles to the larger 1.5 liter bottles. It appears to be made from a flexible material that doesn't add any unwanted taste to the wine. " —Jack Dallas
Get it from Amazon for $9.68.
32. An adorable and versatile beanie you'll wear all winter long, all different ways — it's reversible and the pom pom is removable, so the days of your winter hat not going with your outfit are long gone.
Reviewers say it fits a bit small and is best for folks with smaller heads!
Get it from Gap for $15.99+ (originally 24.95; available in six colors).
33. And finally, a screaming goat figure, because if you don't have one of them by now, it's time to fix that and scream your way into 2021.
Honestly, this is a very, very big mood, especially these days. Just press him and he lets out a shriek! He also comes with a little book of equally delightful goat facts.
Promising review: "This is one of those things you don't know you need in your life until you see it. Yes, it may have been a late night, altered state kind of purchase that surprised me a bit when it showed up, but it's one of the best things that's ever happened to me. For just a few dollars, you too can receive an informational mini-book full of goat facts to awe and impress your friends as well as a miniature screaming goat. If you're a fan of the screaming goat videos on YouTube, this will be right up your alley. It sounds best when set on a hard surface like a table or desk, so the sound can echo. It's just loud enough for coworkers to ask 'did y'all just hear a screaming goat?' Yes. Yes you did, Phil. If you've read this far, it's been decided: you need this. This will be there for you longer than that dumb T-shirt you're considering. This screaming goat will complete you. Better get one for your best friend too, while you're at it." —echobunny
Get it from Amazon for $7.25.
Treating yourself in the new year like:
The reviews used in this post have been edited for length and clarity.