Best Inexpensive

After a thorough home review, Mary writes about her favorite products and services. These Best Inexpensive recommendations will help you obtain the best performance at the best price. First, shop for value.  Next, look for high quality.  Finally, pay only for the features you want.

Don’t miss the popular posts in this category including Best Inexpensive Bed Sheets, Kitchen Drawer Makeover: Top 10 Essential Kitchen Tools and The Three Vacumns that I Use Everyday and Absolutely Swear By. Look for Mary’s Best Inexpensive label before you make that next big purchase!

collage disk drain racks

Best Inexpensive Dish Drainer Rack

After a season of searching, trial, and error, I’m excited to reveal EC's Best Dish Drainer Racks in two choices—Best

This $10 Self-Sharpening Gadget is Best Thing Ever to Speed Meal Prep

For years, I’ve been relying on a pair of produce peelers. One is red, the other green. Green is for
mattress topper close-up showing how it attaches to a mattress to make it more comfortable.

The Best Mattress Toppers to Help You Sleep Better

Whether you’re looking for the kind of cushioning that hugs a body, better support, or perhaps just a touch of
flannel sheets in red tartan plaid with patchwork cover

Best Flannel Bed Sheets

There are few things as comforting as slipping between super soft, comfy flannel sheets on a cold winter night. But not
hands on laptop computer surrounded by coffee cookies other comforts

Best Inexpensive Chromebook Laptop Computer

A Chromebook In many situations is much better (and so much cheaper) than a Microsoft Windows or MAC computer because it
hot coffee near fireplace

A Good Hot Cup of Coffee: Best Inexpensive Coffee Maker

So you like coffee. A lot. Me too. I like it so much I’m a home roaster. And importer. I
air fry guy

What is an Air Fryer? Why You May or May Not Need One

Air fryer recipes are sweeping the nation, but what is an air fryer? How does it work? And most importantly,
Photo of Irish Stew or Guinness Stew made in a crockpot or slow cooker.

Best Inexpensive Slow Cookers

A slow cooker is an ingenious appliance. It’s simple. It cooks slowly. Really slow—like it takes 8 hours to get a
Woman texting on her smartphone

Best Inexpensive Smartphones Under $400

Today’s budget smartphones have nearly all the same technology and capabilities as their super pricey cousins—some for less than half
Hamilton Beach Set and Forget 6QT slow Cooker

How to Use a Slow Cooker to Discover the Joys of Easy, Delicious Meals!

Without a doubt, slow cookers have improved immensely over the years, while the prices have remained remarkably affordable!
Anker portable phone charger

Best Inexpensive Portable Power Bank and More to Keep You Powered Up

It’s hard to imagine how we’d live our lives without all of the electronic devices we’ve come to depend upon. I’m
6 pc set white bathtowels

The Best Inexpensive Bath Towels in 2023

When it comes to purchasing bath towels, what do you look for? Price or quality? How long do you expect
burglar

Best Inexpensive Home Security System

Several months ago, we had a serious home security wake-up call with the news of a home invasion in our
collage of canopers

The Best Inexpensive Can Openers

Can't anyone make a can opener that's easy to use, does a great job, and doesn't turn into absolute junk
a collage of makeup products from the drugstore

Best Inexpensive Makeup to Replace M.A.C. Favorites

Overall, I figure that I’ve cut the cost of makeup by more than 60%—without sacrifice—by switching to what I consider
Message on a napkin Hello February

February is the Best Time to Find These Deals

February is a busy month. First, we have the Super Bowl, then Valentine's Day, and Presidents' Day with its 3-day
A bicycle parked in front of a building

Best Inexpensive Home Dehumidifiers

Recently, lots of readers have inquired about how to deal with high humidity, which can get pretty miserable this time
hands up questions galore

Ask Me Anything: Silicone Storage, Kitchen Gadget, JCPenney Sheets, Dehumidifier, and More

Today’s the day I reach into the inbox and pull out some of your questions and only because I want
cropped shot of male holding garment steamer with steam on black

9 Ways to Use a Clothes Steamer That Have Nothing to Do with Clothing

A compact clothes steamer is handy for removing wrinkles and stale odors from fabric, but is that all? Just another
A pan of food on a plate, with Steak

Best Inexpensive Cast Iron Skillet and How to Love It

I must have been all of 10-years old the day I decided to surprise my mother by cleaning her old
wood floor with area rug

The Vacuums I Use Every Day and Absolutely Swear By

Keeping a home clean is crucial for maintaining a healthy living environment. Vacuum cleaning plays a vital role in this
iron

Best Inexpensive Steam Iron

There's something soothing and instantly gratifying about a good steam iron with a heft of heat and steam gliding back and
Dinner and Chef

Just in Time for Thanksgiving—Best Inexpensive Kitchen Tools

I've done Thanksgiving Dinner enough times now to know that there are a few pieces of equipment that are absolutely
Mountain

Ask Me Anything: Best Vacuum | Best Blow Torch | Best Meat Thermometer

My mail doesn’t arrive one message at a time. It comes in piles. Think avalanche. While I have recently hired
Dishwasher and IKEA

Best Inexpensive™ Dishwasher

Just this past week I heard from my dear reader Penny who is frustrated in the face of needing to
A pink umbrella

Best Inexpensive™ Umbrellas

What we should expect are umbrellas that are waterproof, sturdy, and above all, reliable for a decent period of time.
Served table for breakfast with toast and fruit, on blurred background

Best Inexpensive Toaster in 2024

A toaster is just about the most basic piece of equipment in a working kitchen. Seems pretty simple, doesn't it? And
Bed in a box

Best Inexpensive: Mattress, Bed Pillows, Duvet Cover

The idea to buy a mattress online and have it shipped to your home is still rather mind-boggling. It seems so
water filter made sparkling clear water filling drinking glass

Best Inexpensive Water Filters | Pitcher, Under-Sink, Countertop

Having some method for the water you drink and cook with pass through a water filter is the best way
A table with wine glasses

Best Inexpensive Dinnerware, Drinkware, Stainless Flatware

Recently, when one of my staff turned 30, I quipped that I have dishes older than he. It’s true. Sometime
heated mattress pad

Heated Mattress Pad: Effective Cozy Way to Cut Winter Heating Bills

Until several years ago, I didn’t know something called a heated mattress pad even existed. It makes sense since I’d lived
A large bed in a hotel room

Best Inexpensive: Towels, Sheets, Mattress Pad, Down Comforter

Here they are—Mary's updated picks for the Best Inexpensive bath towels, sheets, mattress pads, and down comforters!
affordable skincare products bright white bathroom mirror woman washing face

The Best Skincare Products Recommended by My Dermatologist (Surprisingly Affordable!)

If the high-price of quality skincare is enough to give you a rash, good news. You don't have to spend
eufy robovac 11S black vac on wood floor showing how it picks up debris

The Best Inexpensive Robot Vacuum (It Really Works!)

Vacuuming sucks. Literally. One year, my idea of giving our adult sons robot vacuums for Christmas was intended to help them with that
A desktop computer sitting on top of a desk

Best Inexpensive Computer Printers

With so many technologies and capabilities available, choosing a printer isn’t easy. And don’t assume you’ll find the perfect printer
Black and Decker Handheld Vac

Still The Best Inexpensive Cordless Handheld Vacuum

Can't anyone make a decent cordless, handheld vacuum cleaner that is convenient to use, holds a charge well, runs for
A young boy standing in front of a brick wall

What Are the Best Headphones for Kids, Adults, and Every Budget?

Many readers have recently asked about the best inexpensive headphones and earbuds for themselves and their kiddos. Today seems like
collage of small appliances

Best Inexpensive Small Kitchen Appliances

Recently, I heard from EC reader Douglas who wrote, "Would you please repeat your column that describes the best inexpensive
sewing

Best Inexpensive Sewing Machines

Turning 7 years old is a big deal on its own but for me it was even better because I
vacuum sealer

Best Inexpensive Vacuum Sealer and Best Room Humidifier for DIY Fumigation

What do vacuum sealers and apartments that smell like a stale ashtray have in common? Absolutely nothing other than these two
crock pot casserole slow cooker

Crockpot Casserole Slow Cooker: A Review

Since I purchased my manual version in 2016, before a programmable version was available, I've been using it regularly to
cropped view of girl with blanket warming up with heater in cold room

Best Space Heaters (That Won’t Burn Down the House!)

The most efficient and easiest way to reduce your home heating cost is to heat only the rooms that are
Drive trash bin

The Best Inexpensive Car Trash Container

I’ve always thought that a car should come outfitted with some kind of incinerator that sucks the accumulation of trash
paper towels

How Scarcity and Bar Mops Helped Me Kick My Paper Towel Habit

It was this event, now more than 20 years ago, that served as the catalyst to change my arrogant attitude

The Best Inexpensive Overnight Deal in the Best Vacation Spot on Earth

When it comes to overnight accommodations, I don’t care that much about how pretty the lobby might be; if the