23 Ways To Be A Better Adult This Month

Staying hydrated, organizing the underwear drawer, keeping plants alive, and other ways to be a good grown-up.

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. Try out a monthly vitamin subscription (designed especially for women) that won't feel like a chore to stick with.

ritual.com

These 9-in-1 capsules taste refreshingly minty and are extremely Instagram friendly. Read a full review of this vitamin subscription service by a BuzzFeed editor!

Get a one-month supply from Ritual for $30.

2. Download an expense-tracking app so you can input every dollar you spend and compare the numbers against a set budget.

everydollar.com

This app came highly recommended by a friend, and I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to use. After creating a set budget, you can input the amount you actually spend on a daily basis and see how much you've got left or gone over in each category. (This also helps you adjust your budget accordingly for future months.) You don't have to link your bank account (although you can, for an extra fee), and you can share an account across several devices, which is great for couples who want to track their expenditures jointly.

Promising review: "I have been using EveryDollar since it launched. It replaced the other two or three budgeting apps that I had previously used, and there has been no going back. It’s updated very regularly and is produced by a good-sized company where their whole focus is helping people get control of their finances, so the regular updates are always going to be the case. I usually set up the budget for the month on my computer and then do updates throughout the month on my phone while I am on the go. The app is very intuitive and easy to use. There is an extra feature called EveryDollar Plus that is available for a fee each month to integrate your bank data and the expenses that your bank sees so that you can quickly categorize them with a few taps into the correct budget categories and you don’t have to manually enter each transaction. I have been using the free version for the last year and a half or two years since the app launched. Great app that I use all the time! This is one app that I could not do without on my iPhone." —big_dan_

Get it from the iTunes Store or the Google Play Store for free (in-app purchases available).

3. Remind yourself to drink more water (especially at work, when you're too concentrated to be thirsty) by attaching a hydration reminder device to your water bottle. It blinks every so often to catch your attention so you know to take a sip.

amazon.com

Promising review: "I don’t know who invented this, but I can’t thank him/her enough. Now I easily drink my daily quota+ of water which really does make a difference in how I feel. And the flashing light isn’t irritating or annoying. If you want to make sure you are drinking enough water, the Ulla is the answer." —Irene R. Ocallaghan

Get it from Amazon for $25+ (available in seven colors).

4. Calm red and irritated skin after a beach day with a soothing after-sun lotion formulated with aloe and coconut oil.

amazon.com, amazon.com

Promising review: "Nothing feels better than this amazing formula after getting too much sun. I am impressed by how this seems to eliminate the effects so quickly and make it feel so much better. This does not mean one should get sunburned just for the relief of this product. Please avoid harmful sun exposure, but if by chance you happen to make a mistake, have this on hand. It works so well, it is incredible. I am sold on this product and make sure I always have it on hand. I even take it backpacking, and a tube is always on hand in my cabinet. I live in the sunny southwest U.S., so I know a little about the sun." —Doug & Laurel

Get it from Amazon for $4.36.

5. Select an AC model that best suits your space and budget with this comprehensive guide.

energy.gov

Check out the full article on how to choose the right AC for your apartment.

6. Prevent pit stains from forming with a pack of absorbent underarm sweat pads.

amazon.com

Promising review: "I was a bit skeptical at first. I sweat a lot, especially in my underarms. I hate always wearing dark-colored shirts. They work perfectly on dress shirts and have done a great job. A regular T-shirt can be challenging to get them lined up right. But hey, Monday through Friday at work, my confidence has been improved thanks to these." —Samuel Bunting

Get an 80-pack (40 pairs) from Amazon for $12.96.

7. Give your grill a thorough post-July-4th-BBQ scrubbing using a scouring brick. Don't procrastinate and leave it until the next BBQ party (which might be in September or next July — who knows?!).

amazon.com

This non-toxic scouring brick is made of heat-treated glass that's fashioned after volcanic pumice stone. It wears down like natural pumice stone.

Promising review: "My grill accumulated a lot of crud as a result of many cookouts. I tried to keep it as clean as possible with a wire brush and various cleaning pads and cleaners. I never could get the rack and grates to look like new. There was always a layer of permanent food residue, carbon, and other debris that defied removal. I decided to give the Magic Stone Grill Cleaner a shot. It arrived as a lightweight square without the grooves shown in the product illustration. I had serious doubts that this thing could do any good. Surprise! Surprise! This is truly a magic stone. It removed everything from the grill parts that I worked on and left them looking like new. The cleaning process did put grooves in the bottom of the stone and that helped to get the sides cleaned off as well. I am now a true believer and highly recommend this item. I can't speak for any other uses this may have but for cleaning my grill, it is a winner." —Duffer.

Get it from Amazon for $4.99.

8. Avoid waking up in a puddle of head sweat by investing in a memory foam pillow with a cool gel surface.

amazon.com

Promising review: "I've been dealing with insomnia the past two months and would flip and flop all night. I had a bunch of expensive feather down pillows. Finally out of desperation, I started replacing them and found this pillow. The first night's sleep was heaven. I haven't been able to watch TV in bed because I never make it to the end. Would definitely recommend." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $32.99.

9. Organize the crap out of your drawers with aesthetically pleasing honeycomb dividers.

amazon.com

These are made out of a durable yet flexible plastic — you can trim them to fit your drawers.

Promising review: "Okay, admittedly, I am a bit of an organization freak. I purchased two of these organizers (yes, you do need two PER drawer) to organize my underwear drawer. I agree that $20 seems like a lot to pay for a few pieces of plastic to organize a drawer no one else really sees, but... it's totally worth it. The gratification I got from being able to see exactly what I had, neatly organized, easy to find... Wow. I definitely recommend this product. And the actual dividers are well made and super easy to assemble. As a previous reviewer said, the number of times you will look at your drawer and be totally satisfied makes the price well worth it." —Brigette

Get it from Amazon for $10.

10. Jot down important memos, meeting times, and to-do items on a desktop dry-erase board. You'll be able to see everything at a glance.

amazon.com

I keep one of these on my desk and write down everything I want to remember for the day. It's super helpful, especially if you have a bad memory like me. It's a serious upgrade from tacking a bunch of sticky notes on my computer monitor. There's a pull-out drawer on the side that you can stash pens in, and it comes with one dry-erase marker.

Promising review: "I really like this small dry erase board. It's built really well, and the materials used are really good quality. The glass surface is great to write on, and the markers work really well with the surface. The hidden drawer for storing more markers and other desktop things is a great addition. This product is easy to recommend to anyone looking for a note-taking solution right on their desktop." —HeyoPrinsen

Get it from Amazon for $17.99.

11. Apply an anti-friction powder to solve the annoying problem of chafing between the butt — or any other crack for that matter.

amazon.com

The formula combines cornstarch and calamine powder to relieve itching and soothe irritated skin. It'll work for the cleavage/underboob area as well.

Promising review: "I would like to start by saying that I am a big girl with big thighs that touch. My thighs rub together all of the time. I get really bad chafing when it's hot, especially during the summer. I was hesitant about a powder helping to prevent that but this powder works wonders. When I wear a dress, I put some between my thighs and call it a day. No chafing and my legs do run together, but they glide! I totally recommend this product for anyone who chafes easily and whose thighs run together." —Mor3na

Get it from Amazon for $8.47.

12. Throw your wet (and possibly sandy) swimsuit into a neoprene bag so it doesn't contaminate the rest of your stuff.

papersource.com

Get it from Paper Source for $14.95. Or, check out a cheaper option from Amazon.

13. Pack a refreshing salad lunch in a container with a snap-on ice pack to ensure the ingredients stay nice and cool.

amazon.com

The container is microwave-, dishwasher-, and freezer-safe and BPA-free.

Promising review: "I like that the box is compact but in my opinion, it holds a lot (and I am not a small eater). At lunchtime, I dump in the top contents, add some dressing, replace the lid, and do a quick shake to toss it all together. Most importantly, and part of why I like this so much, is that the ice block can fit on the top, near the toppings. That keeps your toppings nice and cool but also keeps it from sliding down and frostbiting your greens." —Sapph

Get it from Amazon for $8.19.

14. Ensure your makeup doesn't melt off in the heat with a cooling and hydrating makeup-setting spray.

Facebook: UrbanDecayCosmetics

It's paraben-, sulfate-, and phthalate-free.

Promising review: "This is a GREAT product! It does exactly what it says — holds the makeup and gives you a lovely dewy complexion. As simple as that. Totally worth the money because a little goes a long way. Would and will buy this again and again and again." —dhanif

Get it from Sephora for $32.

15. Find out some cheap and easy ways to give your home a makeover with this handy guide.

BuzzFeed

Check out all 36 home makeover tips (including proper rug placement to make your living room look bigger and a simple way to update an old nightstand).

16. Extend the shelf life of your fruits and veggies with a pack of miraculous produce-saving sheets. They work in the fridge and at room temp!

amazon.com

These sheets are disposable, recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable. Once opened, each sheet lasts for about one month. Unused sheets in the packaging can be stored for up to two years.

Promising review: "These add substantial life to your produce. I've used these, and I've used the balls, and these work much better. I can put a sheet in a bowl, pile on the fruit, and keep the bowl at room temperature. That's a death notice for most fruit, but the sheet keeps the produce nice and fresh — outside the fridge — for a week." —Torey Beavers

Get an eight-pack from Amazon for $9.86.

17. Use a natural yet effective scouring paste to dislodge stubborn stains from your stovetop and oven. This way, you won't be afraid of accidentally ingesting some toxic fumes.

amazon.com

This paste is made from natural mineral abrasives and biodegradable cleaning agents. It does not contain chlorine, bleach, or dye. It'll also work on tiles and tubs.

Promising review: "This stuff is made of magic, rainbows, and unicorns. I've scrubbed my oven — something I haven't done in about a year (whatever, don't judge me, I hate cleaning ovens and chemicals), and it got everything off. Well, nearly everything, but again... it's been a year and I cook every night. I took this stuff for a walk around the house — scuff marks on the wall? Gone. Weird, random marks in the fridge? Obliterated. Grease on pots and pans that refuses to budge? Kick rocks! And the obvious greatest thing about this stuff? It's not chemical-laden, it's non-toxic, and smells kind of like sour cherries. It's definitely expensive, and when I first considered how little you get I was pretty skeptical. When I read things like 'a little goes a long way,' I typically question people's ability to measure anything and/or how clean they are. This actually holds true for this paste. Very, very little goes a long way. Adding water activates its superpowers like woah." —Evelyn Choua

Get it from Amazon for $17.88.

18. Get major dinner inspo with these cool and refreshing recipes that won't require you to turn on the oven in 90-degree weather.

BuzzFeed

Check out all 30 recipes, including spicy ahi tuna poke bowl and shrimp and avocado tostadas.

19. Stash an 11-in-1 pocket tool in your wallet because you can never be too prepared.

amazon.com

It's the size of a credit card and has these features: can opener, bottle cap opener, four-position wrench, two-position wrench, butterfly screw wrench, direction ancillary wrench, screwdriver, knife edge, saw blade, ruler, and keychain hole.

Promising review: "I have two other credit card tools from other makers that are almost 10 times more expensive than this one, and this is the one I always carry and like the most. Get this one. It has more functionality and usefulness than the others IMHO. The sharpened edges are what sets this one apart from the rest. It comes with a little pouch so the exposed edges are not a real problem when carrying. I have used most of the features on this card tool and would not hesitate at all in buying it again. A winner." —A. Walters

Get it from Amazon for $3.99.

20. Install a countdown outlet timer to turn appliances off after a certain time, prevent your devices from overcharging, and save on electricity bills.

amazon.com

Promising review: "I use this product daily to charge my devices. You don't have to worry about overcharging your devices or leaving appliances on with the accurate timer feature. I like that it has a mechanical timer, meaning if you leave it plugged in and the timer goes off, it completely shuts off without sucking up electricity." —Luziel L.

Get it from Amazon for $9.99.

21. Squeeze in a daily dose of self reflection by writing in a five-minute journal.

amazon.com

Promising review: "I've tried journaling many times in the past with mixed results. I'd usually see benefits but found it difficult to maintain any kind of consistency. I've been using the Five Minute Journal for about six weeks and love it. I start and end my day with it, and it literally does take just five minutes. It helps me stay on course, stay motivated, and stay in a place of gratitude. I usually prefer a digital solution for journaling but I've taken to this journal and feel like writing things out by hand works better. I also recommend using the Productivity Planner from the same publisher. Together, I've found my productivity has gone through the roof, and I genuinely feel better." —Bill Hibbler

Get it from Amazon for $22.95.

22. Store plastic grocery bags in a wall-mount dispenser (and declutter your cabinets) so you can easily find and reuse them.

amazon.com

Promising review: "This cool little device has saved me aggravation and helped organize an otherwise messy cabinet. Connected this to the door of our utility cabinet and all our bags are tucked away. Now I can actually find the things in the cupboard that I need to find. This item is versatile. You could hang it up vertically or horizontally...even upside down if you'd like. Good purchase." —HTHONLINE

Get it from Amazon for $3.85+ (available in two colors).

23. Keep your plant buddy alive and healthy while you're on vacation with an adorable watering globe.

amazon.com

Each globe can hold enough water to last approximately 1.5 to 2 weeks, but results may vary due to different conditions, soil, or plant types.

Promising review: "Purchased this product right before I left for a 2.5-week vacation abroad. I was nervous my newly gifted orchids would die while I was away. But this watering globe watered my orchids perfectly, and I found the buds bloomed when I arrived. So glad I made this purchase!" —PeaceE

Get it from Amazon for $7.99.

You, after a long day of being a responsible adult:

Walt Disney Pictures

Reviews here have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Looking for the perfect gift for any occasion? Check out all of BuzzFeed’s gift guides!

Allison Krausman / BuzzFeed