27 Things That'll Earn You Extra Credit In Life

It's time to go above and beyond.

Hey! While we try to keep our posts updated as much as we can, this post is actually from 2018, so we can't guarantee that the pricing and/or availability of the products featured are accurate. For our most up-to-date recommendations, check out the 2019 version of this post!

We hope you love the products we recommend! Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.

1. A set of multicolor pens to color-code your notes like a pro. Plus the set is big enough that you can share with coworkers and score BONUS bonus points at work.

amazon.com

Each pen includes blue, black, red, orange, green, and purple ink, and you just click the top to switch between them!

Promising review: "These pens take me way back to my teenage years. I'm a very neat person (at least in my writing) and these pens really help me organize my notes in a manner that's clear and colorful (always an added bonus). The colors are as described and I had mine shipped all the way to Kenya and they arrived without leaks or breakages, which is pretty impressive." —Miss Kananu

Get a set of 12 from Amazon for $10.83.

2. A veggie spiralizer for cooking up a meal that scores an A++ in nutritiousness and deliciousness.

amazon.com, amazon.com

You can use it to turn squash and zucchini into "pasta." Plus, it'll thinly slice veggies and potatoes into the perfect shape for stir-fry, garnishes, or even fries.

Promising review: "This is awesome. I bought as a gift for a very healthy husband and it turns out I'm the one pushing to use it all the time! It's simple to use and makes long pasta in two different thicknesses. A quick run through the steamer, put some marinara on there and boom, a super healthy, super tasty dinner. We've been using and hand washing this for a few months at least once a week with no damage, signs of wear, or rust." —M. Severson

Get it from Amazon for $9.99.

3. An 11-function pocket tool you can whip out in any sort of minor emergency and dazzle your friends with. "Me, a hero? I just did what any well-prepared person would do."

amazon.com

It features a can opener, two-position wrench, four-position wrench, butterfly screw wrench, sun compass, keychain hole, ruler, saw blade, knife edge, screwdriver, ruler, and bottle opener — basically, not unlike Rihanna, it's good at everything. It also comes with a pouch to safely carry it with you wherever you go.

Promising review: "This is a very useful little gadget. It's great if you need a tool for an unexpected thing. The saw and knife are sharp, so it should be kept in its carrying case. The ruler is useful when a measuring tape isn't on hand and the wrench holes work with a nice strong wrist. Plus, a bottle opener is always handy. I'll have fun discovering all its possible uses." —Annette Thimsen

Get it from Amazon for $3.99+.

4. Or if you really just need a bottle opener, a crafty ring that combines fashion and function in the most genius of ways.

amazon.com

Rock it opener-side down and it looks like a sleek, classic band. Then grab a drink and amaze your friends as you seemingly open it with just a touch.

Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in sizes 6-12).

5. Unf*ck Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Life, a guide to becoming even better version of yourself by saying "so long" to the negative thoughts that are holding you back.

amazon.com

Promising review: "I read a lot of self-improvement books and this is by far the best one I've ever read. The no-nonsense approach the author takes is just what you need to get motivated and understand how you can sometimes be your own worst enemy. This book has completely changed my mindset in dealing with my problems. It's helped me overcome a lot of the negative thinking I participated in daily. When I get into a rut with my thinking or life in general, I go back to this book for reminders of what to do to overcome these obstacles. If I had to recommend one book for people who are struggling with negative thinking or self-doubt or who feel like they're stuck in a life they don't want, this would be it." —Jeff B.

Get it from Amazon for $11.99+.

6. A waterproof, 13-pocket purse organizer to show the world that you've got this whole organization thing in the bag (literally).

amazon.com, amazon.com

Not only will it keep you from getting stuck in the legendary purse black hole every time you try to find your keys, it'll make switching from one bag to another way easier. Hello, matching your purse to every outfit like a legit fashion plate.

Promising review: "This bag has revolutionized my life! As a professional woman who needs to stay organized, my purse was my downfall. All my adult life I've fumbled to find things on the bottom of my handbag, no matter what size. Do I have a pen? It's got to be here somewhere. Paper, yes I think I have paper? Well, its crumpled, but it's paper. Now I'm the picture of efficiency, with my wallet, pens, paper, cords, phone, keys, gum, safety pins, comb, ID badge, mouthwash, lipstick, cold capsules, and more all tucked nicely into this travel bag, which easily slips in and out of any purse I choose to carry. This organizer holds a ton of stuff and everything is in full view. It's completely changed everything." —Janis Creason

Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in three sizes and 30 colors and prints).

7. Dr. Bronner's liquid soap, which can basically wash anything it's possible to wash — from your hair and skin to your home surfaces and clothes — to effortlessly achieve a level of cleanliness even Mr. Clean himself would award an A+.

amazon.com

As if finding the holy grail of one-and-done cleaning products wasn't enough, this stuff is worth extra extra credit for being organic, natural, and vegan.

Promising review: "Dr. Bronner's is amazing stuff. One bottle of this will last you months. At first, I only used it for refilling my hand soap containers (I dilute it with about ten parts water to one part soap). Then I started using it for other stuff, like dish detergent (I dilute it a touch less than the hand soap) and it works equally as well as the name brand dish soap that I used to buy. When I ran out of my all-purpose spray, I made my own with a bit of Dr. Bronner's and a 50/50 mix of water and vinegar, and it works AMAZINGLY. I now use Dr. Bronner's for just about any cleaning that requires soap. It's infinitely cheaper, overall, than buying the specific products for each use, and it doesn't have all those chemicals. One bottle does almost everything and I'm never going back." —Brooke T.

Get a bottle of the unscented formula from Amazon for $15.99. Find more scents here.

8. A stripey button down fashioned with a just-right V-neck and in a material that's silky, not stiff, so you can look professional but show some personality.

express.com

Promising review: "This is the third shirt I've bought in this style. Really, this is my favorite shirt. I wore it to two of my most important interviews, and both of them gave me offers! I wear it to work and on the weekends. It's just a nice shirt! Plus, it's machine washable and there's no need to iron. Too good to be true!" —BobbyTTTT

Get it from Express for $59.90 (available in sizes XXS-XL). Find this shirt in more colors and prints here.

9. A bottle of Poo-Pourri travel spray to make people say, "Wow, they're so perfect, their shit doesn't even stink."

youtube.com, amazon.com

Just spritz a bit of this into the toilet before you go, and the blend of essential oils will coat the water and trap the fumes. Having to go at bae's house? NBD. Check out BuzzFeed's full write-up on Poo-Pourri.

Promising review: "This is surprisingly effective! I keep this in my purse for bathroom trips at work and my boyfriend's house. It doesn't leave a strong, lingering scent like Febreze, it just traps the smell while you go, then flushes down and leaves a very faint and natural citrus scent behind." —Jenn

Get it from Amazon for $4.99 (available in six scents).

10. An exercise peddler that pretty much provides the life hack you've been searching for your entire life: how to sit on your couch and and be active at the same damn time.

amazon.com

This device folds up so you can move it to wherever you're sitting. It's got adjustable resistance and a display screen, which can tell you your time, calories, RPM, or number of rotations. You can even take it to work and impress your coworkers with your ~commitment~ to fitness.

Promising review: "I'm pretty impressed. For a very low price, you can pedal while you're watching television, working, on the computer, reading a book, or whatever. It's smooth, very quiet, and you can add resistance, just like the higher-priced ones. I even use it in my kitchen when I'm sitting on a low stool. I bought it because I loathe exercise except occasional walking and it's too cold outside to walk right now." —Pen Name

Get it from Amazon for $25.99.

11. A bright expanding file folder to earn you points for presentation. Because frankly, it doesn't matter how good that report is if you turn it in as a crumpled mess.

amazon.com, amazon.com

It's got five pockets and can hold up to 200 (!!!) letter-size pages. Check out our full write-up about the folders.

Promising review: "I absolutely love this! I've always been the type of person to have a different folder for every single subject in school, but it becomes too troublesome when you're a college student to have to switch them out every day depending on your schedule. You could easily forget a folder you need. I found this large file folder and decided to give it a try. After four months of continuous use, it's held up really well! It holds everything I need and is always by my side, and it actually still looks somewhat new. I get compliments on it for being cute as well as a great organizational tool." —KaleSensei

Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (available in eight colors, and also in floral prints).

12. The Healthy Meal Prep Cookbook, because if you can master eating healthy and always having a meal ready to go, you basically deserve a gold medal in adulting.

amazon.com

It features over 100 recipes, three two-week meal plans, weekly shopping lists, and guides on how to safely store your pre-made meals.

Promising review: "Having personally worked with clients as a registered dietitian, I can attest that most of the difficulty people have reaching their health goals is not just with eating healthier, but preparing and having the right foods stocked so that when hunger hits, you’re prepared. My favorite part of the whole book is the step-by-step process for Sunday meal preps. Choosing a day to commit to your shopping, prepping, cooking, and storing is no joke. In many ways, this is meal prepping in a nutshell, but the author makes it easy and fun. The organization is already done for you. The book provides three meal plans to choose from: weight loss, clean eating, and building muscle. Pick your goal and head to those recipes, easy peasy." —Manuel F Villacorta

Get it from Amazon for $7.99+.

13. And a set of two-compartment containers perfect for storing your pre-made meals (or even just making your lunch look a bit more luxe).

amazon.com, amazon.com

Promising review: "I really love these! My meals are well portioned and everyone at work assumes that I have a personal chef. The containers are good quality." —Elizabeth S.

Get a set of 20 from Amazon for $16.99.

14. Some honest-to-goodness grown-up PJs to set you apart from the plebeians who still sleep in an old T-shirt and boxer shorts.

shop.nordstrom.com

Promising review: "I love these pajamas. I now own two pairs. I'm 5'5" and weigh over 200 lbs and the XL set fits so comfortably! I'm so pleased. They're made of a nice cotton, which is so hard to find." —DCChickinBethesda

Get them from Nordstrom for $95 (available in sizes XXS-XXL and in three colors).

15. A collapsible drawer organizer set, because whenever I see someone whose underwear drawer isn't a jumbled mess, I automatically assume they know all the magical secrets of the universe.

amazon.com

These things really take the concept of "having your shit together" to another level. The set includes four collapsible containers, one with six sections, one with seven, one with eight, and one with 24. Plus, they're moisture- and mold-resistant, so they'll keep everything fresh.

Promising review: "This is a very nice and well-priced product. I like the differently sized sections (though some reviewers said their bras didn't fit in the largest sections, mine are a pretty good size and fit beautifully into the six-section divider when I folded them in half). I fit quite a large group of rolled-up camisoles and silk shirts into the seven-section piece. And the eight-section one is perfect for bulky wool socks. I especially like the way the pieces fold flat and then pop into shape when you zip the bottom, which gives them structure." —econut

Get them from Amazon for $11.51.

16. A serving platter so pretty, it'll upgrade anything you put on it. Talk about ~serving~ looks.

jossandmain.com

Because the only thing better than food is food that looks fancy.

Get it from Joss & Main for $39.99.

17. An eyeliner stamp that'll allow you to achieve the impossible. Yes, I'm talking about showing up with a perfect cat eye and being on time.

amazon.com, amazon.com

You get two stamps, one for the the left eye and one for the right. Plus, each one has a classic eyeliner pen on the other side, which'll save you even more time — no need to rummage through your makeup bag to find another product.

Promising review: "I'm so impressed with this product. I was certain that my first attempt would end up a mess, but it was surprisingly easy and they came out beautiful! My husband even complimented my eye makeup, not knowing I used a stamp. When I told him, he said he would never have known, it just looks like I’ve gotten really good at doing even wings. This product literally made applying eyeliner and creating a perfect wing hassle free and super quick. I don’t wear eyeliner every day because it’s so time consuming, but now I will likely wear it more. I’ve been wearing this for eight hours and my eyeliner still looks on point. I couldn’t recommend it more!" —TickTockAlice

Get it from Amazon for $9.19+.

18. An adorable reversible swimsuit featuring two 100% awesome prints for a look that's 200% fabulous (that's how math works, right?).

amazon.com

The padding in the chest is removable and the ties are adjustable, so you can really customize this baby to make it fit your body as well as your mood.

Promising review: "I normally don't write reviews, but this suit is AMAZING! I'm 5'2" and 125 lbs. It's so hard to find one-piece suits when you're short, especially when the shoulder straps aren't adjustable, but the way you can lace the straps in the back makes this super easy to adjust! The fact it's two in one is the best part. This is better quality than suits I've bought at Target for $10 more!" —Em Guercio

Get it from Amazon for $26.99 (available in sizes S-XXL).

19. A flower delivery subscription, because nothing says, "I'm an adult who has their shit together" like a perfect floral arrangement (bonus points for never having to schlep to the florist).

cratejoy.com

You can choose to receive pre-arranged bouquets or loose stems you can arrange yourself.

Through 5/13, get 10% off by entering the code MOMSDAY at checkout.

Promising review: "The bouquets so far have been FRESH and GORGEOUS. They last for several weeks and are just as nice as what I might order from a local professional florist, but they're less expensive. The assortments have been lovely — not run-of-the-mill but a cut above, and suitable for any decor. I moved in the middle of my subscription and wanted to put it on hold for a few months till I settled in. There were no problems, No mixups, just good service!" —Susan

Get it from Cratejoy for $40+/two weeks.

20. A productivity-boosting planner to help you break down your goals by days, weeks, and months and totally take your life to the next level.

amazon.com, amazon.com

The daily pages have places to rank the day's priorities, track what you're grateful for, and review wins and struggles at the end of the day. The pages at the beginning of each week provide space to set goals and projects, and plot out what you want to work on in each area of your life, from work to relationships. Finally, each of the three months begins with a blank calendar for you to fill in and spaces to plan and reflect. With the purchase of the planner, you even get access to an online course about productivity.

Check out BuzzFeed's full review (#2).

Promising review: "Taking time to write about what you are grateful/excited for changes your whole life. If you're feeling apathetic or just not living up to your potential, buy this book! On the first day of using it, I made more sales than the whole prior month. I was SUPER motivated. This is something you can do for your mental and physical health that works immediately!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $24.97+ (available in four colors).

See the best planners you can get online.

21. A turntable speaker that can do it all: play records, serve as a Bluetooth speaker, and convert your beloved vinyl into MP3 files. In other words, it sets the record for coolest music gadget ever.

awin1.com

You'll get coolness points for the records, but all your friends will be extra impressed when you're able to switch over to Spotify.

Get it from Firebox for $81.59 (available in two colors).

22. A LBRD (little black romper dress) to give you the best of both worlds and prove that yes, you deserve the limo out front.

amazon.com, amazon.com

A sexy dress you can actually move in without fear of flashing the world? Yup, you've earned that spot at the top of the fashion class.

Promising review: "I absolutely love this romper! I needed something lightweight for the humid Florida weather and this little number was just perfect! You can dress it up or down depending on where you're going. The size was on-point and the quality is pretty impeccable considering how affordable it is." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in sizes XS-L).

23. A three-in-one portable razor featuring two blades, a shave balm stick, and a spray bottle that goes above and beyond the functions of a basic travel razor.

urbanoutfitters.com

This thing is essentially a secret agent–level gadget for grooming on the go. Just twist the dial on the front to switch between functions and escape any hairy situation without a scratch on you.

Promising review: "I'm the coach of a cheerleading team and at every event I literally have three people ask me if I have a disposable razor for those spots they missed in the shower. Those cheap things always leave razor burn. I started buying these as gifts for all the girls and they are LOVING them. They're perfect for what they need without the risk of razor burn." —Leader900

Get it from Urban Outfitters for $15 (available in three colors).

24. A glam pair of outfit-upgrading earrings capable of making that perfectly passable LBD you've worn a zillion times look brand new.

nastygal.com

Get them from Nasty Gal for $7.20.

25. A peel-off nail polish barrier to get a manicure so flawless, no one will believe you did it yourself. Are you sure you didn't go to beauty school?

amazon.com, amazon.com

Nobody has to know how much of a mess you made on your cuticles while swiping on your favorite shade. Just apply this stuff around your nails first so you can peel away any mistakes. You can also use it as a base coat to make polish easier to remove later!

Promising review: "I've seen and used several of these kinds of liquid, peel-off cuticle guards, and this is the best one! It has a latex base, so if you have allergies stay away from it! However, if you don't, this is great! It has a very nice feel, applies easily in a pink tone, and dries clear almost immediately. There's no real wait time to continue on with your work and it's very easy to peel off in one piece!" —Vianney Luna

Get it from Amazon for $8.88.

26. An in-depth online photography class so you can rise above the common folk who let portrait mode do all the work for them.

udemy.com

You don't need any experience or a snazzy camera — you can follow along with something as simple as a smartphone camera. Once you enroll, you'll have lifetime access to over 20 hours of video, 60 articles, and 30 supplemental resources.

Get it from Udemy for $9.99 if you sign up before Mother's Day (usually $199.99).

27. And an iPhone-charging bracelet that truly puts the extra in extra credit.

uncommongoods.sjv.io, youtube.com

It gives you up to a 50% charge in only 40 minutes and looks cute to boot.

Promising review: "This is a stylish and practical lifesaver. My boss LOVES this. She's on the phone all the time and I noticed she was always carrying cords to plug in her phone. This made it super easy! She used it the first night I gave it to her at a business dinner when her phone was dead. It gives enough of a charge to finish that business deal AND still catch a Lyft home!" —Elizabeth D

Get it from Uncommon Goods for $149 (available in two colors).

Your friends, your family, your boss, your coworkers, and strangers on the street when they see how good you've become at life:

Warner Bros.

The reviews for this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.

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