Best Deals Under $25

This ceramic butter crock has a cute, retro look. It’s shaped like a jam jar, with a lid that’s the same width as the bowl beneath, and features thick ridges along the lid for grip. The absence of a handle narrower than the lid means you’ll be more likely to get your hands wet while using this butter crock, so if that bugs you, stick with the French Kitchen or, better yet, Le Creuset’s butter keeper. 

The Dowan ceramic butter dish is dishwasher-safe and simple to wash by hand. It comes in a variety of colors, including a robin’s egg blue, a classic red, a sapphire blue, and a plain white, which is the color we received and the only version on sale.

The KitchenAid Gourmet 4-Sided Stainless Steel Box Grater features four sides for grating, shredding, slicing, and zesting, along with a convenient 3-cup container that fits neatly inside to catch your grated or sliced ingredients, making prep and storage a breeze.

This is a basic, no-frills portable coffee press. It didn’t wow our testers, but it did the job without letting coffee grounds seep through the filter. Plus, the plastic is insulated, helping keep the coffee warm for longer. It has no discernible flaws, so if you’re looking for a low-cost, small coffee press, this could be the answer.

The ThermoPro TP19H instant-read meat thermometer offers handheld temperature readings with a single stowable probe. There’s a built-in LED and rotation lock for the display, and a magnetic backing allows you to store it on your refrigerator between meals. Perfect for checking meats, this simple thermometer delivers reliably accurate readings within seconds.

This planner from Blue Sky wowed our tester, who pointed to the larger size as a major perk, leaving plenty of space for any notes you need to leave for yourself. It features full monthly calendar pages (with helpful laminated tabs so that you can skip ahead to a month and space to write in each date’s box). There are a few additional pages where you can keep notes and write down contacts and important dates, but these sections aren’t extensive. It’s most ideal if you leave your planner at your desk. If you want something portable, Blue Sky also offers a smaller size.

Minimalists at heart will swoon at this unassuming diary that forgoes bright colors and busy pages for a simpler design that consists of monthly calendars, ruled note pages, and an unruled note page. CR’s program manager of operations, Houman Saberi, had this to share about it:

“I’m so excited to share my fave planner. For the past four years in a row, I’ve been using the Midori MD Diary A5. In general, Japanese stationery products are elegant, simple, and thoughtfully designed. This one is no exception! It consists of three parts: a monthly calendar with ample space for note-taking, a lined section that doubles as a diary, and blank pages at the end for drawing or sketching. I love the fact that the planner is flexible enough to cover the gamut from unstructured creativity to ordered planning.”

If you’re a fan of features, this lamp is for you. It’s got four different brightness settings and different color choices, and you can set three timer shut-offs for 2, 4, and 8 hours. The lamp height is adjustable, but our tester found the base to be a bit unwieldy, so it may not fit every candle. Its metal material also made spilled wax a little annoying to clean.

This aesthetically pleasing pill organizer has a larger capacity than most other options we tested. It is a little bulky, making it less ideal for travel, and the caps are relatively easy to open, even with one hand. Each container has two compartments for morning and night, and these caps are numbered with 1 and 2, but testers reported that the numbers are a bit hard to see.

We found the Onlyone Water Flosser quite easy to use and charge. Despite its smaller countertop footprint, it holds quite a lot of water, which means longer flossing sessions without needing a refill. The removable tank has a large opening, which facilitates easy filling. It’s a few dollars cheaper than its previous sale price.

Detangling brushes save not only time but also effort when tackling knots or an unruly mane. And for me, the FHI Heat Unbrush is the one to beat. It earned the distinction of being the best for curly hair in our evaluations of the best detangling brushes, and our testers liked its lightweight feel. I personally switched to it because my old brush had those beads at the end of the bristles, and they were snagging in my hair and ripping out my extensions. The Unbrush has smooth bristles, so it glides through my hair so smoothly and detangles without catching my extensions. It’s available in a variety of colors at different prices, but this is the lowest price you’ll find.

​​If you are strict about using non-acetone formulas, this one from Mineral Fusion was at the top of our list. Although it didn’t place first, second, or third in fastest removal speed among the three nail polishes we used, it removed polish in respectable time frames. More importantly, it provided a dry finish to nails and cuticles without being too drying, and it didn’t leave an oily film, unlike many non-acetone polish removers, making it a great choice for those who aren’t fans of essential oils.

The bristles of the Bestool Detangling brush are flexible yet firm and well-spaced to give maximum effectiveness. The arms move with the hair as it detangles. , and the brushing section is wide so evaluators were able to detangle more hair at once. “To say I was surprised with this brush’s performance is an understatement. Totally floored is more like it,” says evaluator and CR writer Jodhaira Rodriguez. The arms move with the hair as it detangles. The brushing section is wide so evaluators were able to detangle more hair at once.

The Gillette Venus was a clear winner in our evaluations of the best razors. The silver handle is pleasantly weighted, and it has a grippy spot for your thumb that makes it easier to hold in the shower, and the razor head has a large lubricating strip. Since the head is so bulky, you may need to angle it carefully while shaving difficult areas, such as the hollow of an underarm or an ankle. 

A divided lazy Susan like this one from YouCopia can be a great way to keep smaller items like snacks or spices organized and easily accessible. This is the lowest price you’ll see for this handy product.

If you’re looking for a small fan to keep things cool at your desk or on a bedside table, this little Vornado model could fit the bill. It’s quiet and fairly versatile, with a 180-degree tilt and two speed settings.

This waterproof lighter is perfect to use when you’re on a camping trip or while hiking. It features a USB charger and can withstand wind as well as rain. It comes with a thick paracord lanyard so that carrying it is convenient. 

NYC Plant Doctor Christopher Satch, who’s a professor of plant biology and pathology at The New York Botanical Garden, always starts with insecticidal soap when faced with unwelcome visitors in his garden. “It’s superior to neem [oil] in that it not only has a greater efficacy at killing insects due to its mode of action but also doesn’t hurt the plant like neem oil can,” Satch says. “Neem oil suffocates the plant over time by the oil clogging the plant pores.”

Satch recommends this insecticidal soap from Bonide, which can be used on shrubs, trees, flowers, ornamental greens, and garden vegetables.

If you’ve been dreaming of a summer garden chock-full of fresh herbs, this set is not to be missed. Basil, oregano, and chives are just a few of the versatile herbs you’ll find. Pair this with a seed starter kit to help the giftee kick things off on the right foot.

Jenn Frymark, the chief greenhouse officer of Gotham Greens, an urban agriculture brand that specializes in local produce, is an avid reader and recommends her favorites to plant enthusiasts. “The Nature Fix” (W. W. Norton & Company, 2018) by Florence Williams looks at the positive impact of nature on our health, happiness, and creativity. And “Braiding Sweetgrass” (Milkweed Editions, 2015) by Robin Wall Kimmerer (from $13 at Amazon) explores our reciprocal relationship with nature. “These would make for wonderful winter reading snuggled up while thinking about plants and nature,” Frymark says.

Protecting yourself from the elements is just as important as anything else when it comes to caring for your lawn or garden. “For people who live in areas where black-legged ticks [the ones that cause Lyme disease] are common, it’s super-important to use insect repellent whenever you’re doing yardwork,” says Catherine Roberts, a CR senior health editor who has reported extensively on identifying common tick species and protecting ourselves against them. 

This 30 percent deet insect repellent from Off is one of the top-performing aerosol spray options from CR’s tests. It offers excellent protection against mosquitoes and ticks. It does tend to damage fabrics and other materials, however, so apply with care.

Although hard to close, these are very sturdy bags, and make a great option for parents with toddlers who have a penchant for throwing their snacks.

This classic, bright, concentrated cleaner can be used on most home surfaces. In our tests, it was especially good at lifting dirt from floors. It’s strongly scented, but if you’re looking for a bargain, it’s a solid buy, especially at 17 percent off.

The long-lasting suds produced by this dish soap left all our dishes clean with little effort. It’s mildly scented, easy to dispense, and doesn’t leave dishes smelling like the dish soap post-wash. The formula left our hands feeling a little bit dry.

Pair this lickable food mat with a delectable treat to keep your kitty content and happily occupied. Mary Beth Quirk, one of CR’s shopping editors, spreads Churu purée treats on the mat with the spatula provided and attaches them to her cat Frannie’s food tray with the suction cups on the bottom. “She’ll spend minutes on end cleaning out every nook and cranny, leaving me to work in peace,” she says. 

CR’s digital product manager, Merideth Mergel says her cat loves Kong’s ZoomGroom brush, which can also be used for dogs. “She wakes me up in the morning not for food, but to brush her,” she says. “And if I’m not moving the brush the way that she likes, she will brush herself against it. I’ve bought this for a few friends with cats, and they all love it.”

This is a great, budget-friendly option if you’re not sure your pets will adapt from a bowl to a fountain. You can try it out without investing too much (and you can always invest more in an upgrade later on if you want). The Veken water fountain, consisting of five parts, was intuitive for our tester to assemble, and the carbon and foam filter replacements are low-cost as well, at $10 for a four-pack or $24 for 16. It was the noisiest option, but that didn’t deter the tester’s pets. And the flower can be removed for a low-profile bubbler effect rather than a raised fountain.