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Sometimes you splurge on things and, afterwards, think: why the hell did I buy that? The truth is there are some buys that just don’t live up to the hype.
Now, for the good news. There are also plenty of seriously good products that will not only meet your expectations, but totally exceed them. I’ve tried and tested some random stuff in my time as a shopping writer, but I can confirm the selection below will genuinely improve your life.
Some are the kind of things you might wonder if it’s really worth spending on. However, I can assure that every single one of these simple, low-cost products is actually a total game-changer.
This stuff's called "Elbow Grease" for a reason, because the product inside is powerful enough to remove oil from plastics and metals without any scrubbing on your behalf. Spray the formula onto the affected surface, let it sit for a couple of minutes, wipe it away, and you're done!
Price: £0.90.
I did The Deep Clean recently (we're talking fridge, oven, and most importantly, shower caddy here), and to be honest I was disgusted by how many old disposable razors I found on my shelf. Seeing as I was out of my most recent pack of razors anyway, I thought I'd make my next purchase my last one. This reusable metal safety razor is compatible with all double-edged razor blades, takes up way less space in my shower than the five or so discarded razors I'd had before (I am who I am), and gives an amazingly close shave. Plus, I bought this pack of 100 razorblades for less than £6, so between the two purchases I've saved massively on a minimum of a year's worth of shaving.
Price: £7.99.
I use this ridiculously hydrating and protective cream all the time now that the weather's getting colder and damper (half of our shopping team swear by it, and just a little bit goes a really long way).
Price: £5.09.
It'll stay firm in cold water to tackle tough stains without scratching your dishes, and it softens up in warmer liquid for lighter washing. I use the 'smile' to clean my cutlery – it keeps its shape for ages too!
Price: £3.49.
Its shades are impressively highly-pigmented, so you won't have to spend ages building them up.
Price: £4.00.
This body lotion went into my basket seconds after I found out it existed! It's left my skin smoother, softer, and less coarse, and I've found that its deeply exfoliating ingredients have helped to cure my chronic bacne too.
Price: £7.99.
I love the extra-frothy milk you get in coffee shops, but there is frankly no way that I'm going to spend the best part of a fiver every time I want a fancy cuppa. My colleague (who is also a caffeine addict) showed me this inexpensive frother that achieves the same results, and I bought it in approximately 0.007 seconds! It gives all my hot drinks a luxurious and silky-smooth finish, and it doesn't take up much room in my cutlery drawer either.
Price: £4.45.