What’s the Best Thing (Under $50) You Bought Yourself This Year?

SarahCooper

Turn it on, put your feet on it while you’re working, and it’ll warm them up. Can you tell that I just love being comfortable? It’s the best gift I’ve ever given myself.

YeardleySmith

A fast, efficient tabletop setup that I can move easily from room to room. This particular ring light comes with multiple settings, from warm to cool, because of “digital permanence.”

IvyPochoda

No fuss and effortlessness. I buy them a size larger, which brings them into the orbit of pajamas (without making me feel sloppy or hungover), yet they remain polished enough for an online book event or waving to a neighbor. The fabric is forgiving of wine and coffee stains, and there’s no need to iron or dry-clean them. They actually look better wrinkled (perhaps even dirty), which gives off a bit of a Dickie Greenleaf vibe.

JessamynStanley

This brush is the gospel. If there are thick curls in your life, get thee to Felicia Leatherwood as quickly as possible.

TzeChun

KaylinMarcotte

I’m cooking more than ever, so I’ve indulged in quality olive oils. Pineapple Collaborative’s is sourced from women producers and growers in California, and its ingredients are sustainably harvested in small batches.

HarryLitman

The leash has a waist belt that keeps hands free. A lot of people use it for jogging with their dog, but that’s too frenetic for me.

SusanKorn

My apartment’s mini-fridge leaves me with little to no room for a Brita filter. These charcoal rods in a pitcher of water are my hack: They make water taste sweeter and cleaner, which makes me drink so much more.

I cannot tell you how pleased I am with this knife. Not only does it slice through the crustiest boules, but it also yields the thinnest, most precise tomato slices.

FranciGirard

ManiMe sells custom-fit, stick-on gel nails developed with proprietary 3-D technology. They are easy to apply and remove with zero damage. I’ll definitely keep using them post-quarantine.

AndrewKuo

After almost two decades ofthis story appearing here and there, Ware’s graphic novelRusty Brownis finally all in one place.

AshleyGraham

One of my favorite parts of modeling is traveling to tropical locations. I miss soaking up the sun on my off days, which is why this has been a dream. A quick spritz before bed and I wake up with a luminous, sun-kissed glow.

LeighPlessner

I bought a set for my 3-year-old daughter, Bluebell, but also for me. We play with them together. They are the sort of thing my mother wouldnothave bought me, so they feel like a great extravagance.

I’ve been wrapping everything I can find, from rose-scented wax tablets and small bottles of hand sanitizer from Santa Maria Novella to a secondhand copy ofIsland Boyby Barbara Cooney and a white bakery bag full of marzipan. Whether I use sheets of leftover tissue paper or pages torn from theNew York Review of Books, this metallic floss makes the humble wrapping gleam.

LianaFinck

I’ve been leaving it out on my window sill for the birds — mostly mourning doves — who fight with each other and whom I love. There’s also a lonely pigeon who comes now and then, whom we’ve named Beauteous.

YossyArefi

I switched to tea a few months ago, and I love how fast this electric kettle boils water. The carafe is made of borosilicate glass, and it automatically turns off when the water boils.

This pan makes beautiful, tall loaves ofAli Stafford’ssourdough that are perfect for sandwiches.

TreyZoeller

My 15-year-old son and daughter and I, along with many friends, have spent countless hours on the back porch shooting arrows with the bow. (After quickly losing one, I orderedthe refill pack of 12.) We sit around the fire and just shoot the shit while shooting arrows.

CynthiaGordyGiwa

Love Notes No. 2 is a blend of black amber, lavender, and pear that elevates our home into a flickering, aromatic experience.

TayoGiwa

With a balanced combination of spice and heat, it’s the perfect break from monotony and can go on everything from fish to chicken to eggs.

ChantelLouTattoli

They’re slim, but still cushy, and the pink floral is the most granny colorway.

VanessaPrice

I bought five of these Hula-Hoops — and some twine to hang them from the ceiling — for my dog, to keep her stimulated. After watching a few YouTube videos, she can now literally (and quite satisfyingly) jump through hoops. They’ve provided hours of activity for us, and she gets so excited to play.

AlexMorgan

We use them to make cortados with our espresso machine.

ShannonWatts

As both a Buddhist and baked-goods aficionado, I’m a fan of these brownies made at a Yonkers-based café sponsored by the Zen Community of New York. It hires people facing barriers to employment and supports a nonprofit community-development organization that offers housing, social services, child care, and HIV-related health care.

Self-care is a vital part of activism. These CBD (but THC-free) bath bombs ensure a good night’s sleep.

DaraAllen

LisaDennison

Aside from a drizzle on charcuterie and cheese boards, it’s wonderful on a spicy pizza or on the most decadent grilled cheese sandwich, and makes a great glaze for game birds. I’ll run out before I run out of ideas for how to use it.

DrewSeskunas

Ongoing donations to this organization are a gift to myself and all New York City residents who benefit from its work to revitalize our parks and green spaces.

SallyLaPointe

The best retinol I’ve found. A313 is effective without being harsh or irritating.

JuliaAlvarez

I turn it on in the bedroom and we’re in a tropical forest. I’m still searching for the perfect essential oil that will bring a combination of creativity, calm, inspiration, and enlightenment.

Corianna‘Coco’Dotson

Brooklyn-based HealHaus is committed to providing wellness to the Black community. As a fellow Brooklynite, I have found it a safe haven for yoga and meditation classes that have helped my mind, body, and soul.

RebekahPeppler

After getting sick with COVID-19, my cooking and eating shifted to being completely anti-inflammatory. So I’m flying through my turmeric stash. Diaspora’s is truly the best.

AmandaShires

These are made using real flowers and come secured on seeded paper. You don’t have to be a horticulturist to enjoy the happiness they bring; plus, you can mix and match.

FiorellaValdesolo

Why not try to start my 2-and-a-half-year-old daughter young? She can’t stack them without assistance, but she is very content to arrange the colorful wooden set into various designs and into a long line on the floor. Miraculously, she’s also very into putting them back into their handy box and sliding it shut.

It’s a marker board and chalkboard, has a roll of paper attached to it for drawings parents want to keep, and is magnetic — so kids can practice writing letters and numbers alongside magnets. It’s also small enough to plop on any surface or tabletop, and can easily fold up.

ShannonMaldonado

Dab it on before bed and some mornings to keep the dark circles and crow’s-feet at bay. The applicator is so unique and, dare I say, fun.

MichaelCuby

RuPaul’s Drag Raceis perhaps the only show I can watch in any mood. With a simple monthly subscription (via Prime Video), you can get seasons one through ten whenever you’re in need of some Werk Room drama.

GiaCoppola

Getting crafty during happy hour with the spices from this kit, and a bottle of my red or white wines, has saved me from getting bored of the same drink.

SofiaCoppola

My friend’s company, Soap & Paper Factory, makes natural soaps and candles that smell amazing. It’s a women-owned small business: They source everything in the U.S., and they’re made in New York. I’ve been enjoying them during all this time at home, and I even worked with her to create a candle to go along with my namesake wine from my family’s winery.

VerenavonPfetten

This spicy green paste kind of feels like a delicious secret. The stuff makes literally everything you put it on — avocado toast, eggs, plain rice, meat, buttery-cheesy-but-otherwise-plain pasta — taste better.

Subscription boxes, and their endless parade of un-asked-for nothings are not usually my cup of tea. But Brother Vellies’s commitment to artisan design practices gives this one a more enticing touch. While I’ve certainly loved some of my somethings more than others, all of them — from a terra-cotta mug to a hand-sculpted flowerpot — do indeed feel special.

AuroraJames

These perfect beeswax candles come from Alysia Mazzella, one of my favorite makers. I fill my house with them — when lit after pouring a glass of wine, they’re my little piece of Paris in New York.

AkinAkman

This brief history of humankind has given me perspective and inspired a lot of interesting conversations over the past few months.

ChloeKernaghan

Speeds up chop time and gives the perfect julienne cuts. Just make sureto be extra carefulwhen using the extra-sharp blade.

JuliaFox

While stuck in New York, I fostered a dog from Social Tees. I ended up adopting her because there’s no end in sight to this pandemic. And because she’s the best.

CrystalAnderson

My fiancé and I discovered that our dog Blanche loves bubbles. So we bought this bubble machine for her … but mostly for our entertainment.

SylvanaWardDurrett

The perfect shoe for around the house and being outside in the country on warmer days.

PaulFeig

During quarantine,I learnedhow to make more than 100 cocktails — and invented 10 of my own — with help from these tools (and the world’s largest collection of obscure cocktail ingredients).

StephanieLaCava

This is the best lavender oil I’ve ever smelled. It’s made by a community of Cistercian monks founded in 1148. They cultivate not only lavender fields, but olive groves as well. The oil is extracted at a Luberon Valley distillery. Throughout quarantine, I used it to help fall asleep at night. In order to have reasonable shipping costs you may have to order a few bottles, as well as the spray and candles. They all make great token gifts for insomniac or anxiety-ridden friends.

YewandeKomolafe

A meal-delivery service with a menu of ready-to-eat Nigerian classics. The brand seems to have mastered that Naija “party food” flavor. The spices, the smokiness — everything just pops!

Red Bay Coffee is an exceptional small-scale roaster out of Oakland. Its darker roasts are quite exquisite; I’m currently drinking Slow Burn as I write this!

LaurenNapier

I was uprooted from my apartment in the midst of quarantine. Creating the most comfortable, cozy, safe space became top priority as I moved into my new home. It’s a most gorgeous apartment, but the sound quality was pretty poor once I was settled in. I actually purchased these soundproof rug pads for my upstairs neighbors. It might seem intrusive coming from a neighbor, but I used a very kind approach, and they were receptive. They’ve given me absolute peace while working and living all day and night at home.

AkiliKing

Super helpful for at-home workouts. Sometimes I find myself just wearing them around the apartment for an extra toning boost while making tea or walking around.

JenaWolfe

The perfect coffee companion for long, early walks in the morning with my toddler.

RachelHochhauser

This chocolate company based in PDX makes my new favorite treat. It’s made from raw honey and coconut oil and has to be refrigerated, so it feels like an indulgent step away from your run-of-the-mill chocolate.

ZaraTisch

The disco dog sits right next to me at my “work space” in my bathroom. It makes me smile as I work. I love the nod to Jeff Koons and the sparkly glitter. The brand makes the most colorful and whimsical resin pieces that are filled with nothing other than joy.

BiancaGates

A soft and empowering T-shirt that reminds me to stay authentic and positive.

CharlotteCho

Simple, single-use coffee bags you steep with hot water, just like a tea bag.

KatieSturino

Mi-AnneChan

NaomiFry

On the recommendation of a friend, I signed up to do the Class: an hour-long, kind of goofy, somewhat cult-y form of exercise that combines cardio and strength training. It involves a lot of jumping around and “clearing” of “energy” (one is encouraged to emit sound while doing it), but it somehow never fails to lift my mood. I would never have attended the Class in person (too stressful and intimidating, as well as pretty expensive), but when I do it alone at home it’s kind of perfect and makes me feel like I’m pushing myself (I sweat like a crazy person when I do it). The price point is also pretty reasonable — and the first two weeks are free.

KateSpencer

This is a hefty sleep mask, but boy does it feel good on my face. Sleep is an elusive thing for me during the pandemic, but this has helped me snooze a bit longer in the morning thanks to its light-blocking power. It’s soft, cozy, and it doubles as a headband, so I end up wearing it while I have my morning coffee to really complete my “haven’t left my house in seven months” look.

TuesdayBassen

A tome, a bible, a massive compilation of traditional Scandinavian baked goods. Put your cardamom to work!

I’ve been drinking this chocolaty, graham-cracker-y medium roast on and off since college. This year, I started getting it delivered on a regular basis.

NateJones

After a day of working on my computer — and the previous evening spent wrestling with my small children — my glasses are nothing but smudges and kids’ glitter. Every day, at approximately 3 p.m. or 4 p.m., I get up from my desk, walk to my industrial-size box of Zeiss Eyeglasses Wipes, and pick out a single, individually wrapped wipe. They smell just chemically enough, leave no smudges, and give me the brief refresh I need to get me to dinner.

TilerPeck

This bodywash makes my everyday routine feel more extravagant.

TaylorTomasiHill

A great resource for real news. Host Jessica Yellin, a former chief White House correspondent for CNN, has helped me navigate this crazy political time.

SiraadDirshe

The pitcher — the largest vessel shown in the photo — makes something as mundane as drinking water feel elegant.

MarieKondo

I use them to tend to my garden, where I’ve been spending a lot of time. The act of snipping and pruning is very meditative.

SuzanneVega

I joined Misfits Market in the beginning of the pandemic, when we had trouble getting food delivered from other places. It sends boxes of slightly misshapen produce every two weeks. Most of our meals are now based around in-season fruits and vegetables.

BernieKaminski

JacquelineWoodson

I bought one like this to run in, but I mostly just wear it whenever I can. I pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha during my second year in college. One of our chants was “Deep in my heart, I love my AKA,” which has proven to be more than true over the years as I continue to see my sorors — from Ida B. Wells to Ava DuVernay to Kamala Harris — get their shine.

LaceyHerbert

These superthick socks have replaced the Doc Martens I’m known for marching around the office in. I have them in almost every color.

ConwayLiao