Looking for the best deals before your next trip to the store with the big red bullseye on it? We’ve identified some of the best products that you can find on sale at Target as well as some of the worst that you will want to avoid. These picks are based on the average discounts as well as the potential for additional coupons.

Target’s Five Best:

1. Toys

5 Best / 5 Worst Products to Find on Sale at Target

Amazon Prime Day kicked into high gear over the last four years bringing a barrage of awesome deals. Here’s everything you need to know about Amazon Prime Day 2021.

What is Amazon Prime Day?

Originally playing off the Black Friday in July trend utilized by other major retailers, Amazon organizes third party sellers to create a single day of aggressive discounts designed to match sales found on Black Friday. In 2020, Prime Day was delayed from July 2020 to October 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. This year, the company moved the popular sale to June for the first time.

Regarding the requirements for 3rd party sellers, Lighting deals must be at least 20% off and have enough inventory quantity to last six hours. In addition, products must have at least a three star review average to be featured by Amazon.

When is Amazon Prime Day?

Prime Day has been officially announced to start in the wee hours of the morning on Monday, June 21, 2021.  The deals will start on June 21 at 12 a.m. PT / 3 a.m. ET and run for 48 hours until end of day (PT) on Tuesday, June 22.

How long does Amazon Prime Day last?

Over the past couple years, Prime Day has expanded to 48 total hours, previously running for 36 hours. In addition, Amazon will be include extra deals that roll out during the same month; specifically targeting an early holiday season push after Prime Day ends.

Can anyone access the deals?

No. You have to have a subscription to Amazon Prime to get the sale prices. Of course, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime to access the deals, then cancel before the yearly-subscription fee is charged to your credit card.

What’s going to be on sale?

Amazon has released some limited information on their sale items (found here). Some deals last year included heavily discounted 4K televisions from Toshiba / Insignia, significant discounts on Amazon Echo products, 40% discounts on Amazon clothing brands and discounts on Amazon services like Amazon Music and 50% off Kindle Unlimited.

What about Walmart, Target & Best Buy?

Last year, Walmart announced that a competing “Big Sale” promotion would launch on the Sunday before Prime Day. While Walmart’s sales during the last 4 years have been fairly soft, we did see some decent discounts on lower-end 4K televisions and toys last year. However, that could have been related to Q4, end-of-year promotions.

Target went live at the same time as Amazon last year. Best Buy went live approximately 2 hours before Prime Day started. Interestingly, Best Buy offered automatic price adjustments on anything that went to a lower price prior to Black Friday last year. It’s unlikely this promotion will repeat since Black Friday is months away.

How Does Prime Day Compare to Black Friday?

We found that the majority of Prime Day deals were cheaper, if not matching, the prices that fell on Black Friday. Look for solid deals on Amazon tech, like the Echo and Kindle, as well as solid deals from online competitors like Dell, Newegg and the Microsoft Store. Look for more aggressive back to school discounts on tech as well as discounts on summer-related items.

5 Amazon Prime Day Shopping Tips

• Prep your account in advance!

There’s nothing worse than missing out on an amazing online Lightning Deal because you had to set up new shipping / payment details. If you plan on shopping on Prime Day, visit Amazon a few hours prior to the event and setup any new shipping addresses & payment accounts. There are currently two Amazon credit cards that offer 5% to 20% cashback on all purchases (as well as a gift card deal for new signups, see below).

• Timing is everything!

During Prime Day 2020, the best deals appeared when the event started. But that was the middle of the day during peak traffic hours. This year, Amazon has officially scheduled deals to start at 12 am PT on June 21.

While you can wake up early (or stay up late) to log into your Amazon account 15 minutes early, it’s likely the best deals won’t launch until the East Coast starts to wake up. Last year, we saw a huge rush of amazing deals during the first hour. The quantity of deals slowed down a bit until the following morning, then picked up again throughout Prime Day.

• If something sells out, don’t give up!

Amazon plans on having inventory saved for specific times of the day, especially for products they promote in advance of the sale. The most aggressive deals will usually be released during the peak shopping hours of the day, so check back frequently.

In addition, other retailers will often compete with price drops. Amazon may lower a price on a product and sell out within 15 minutes. However, Target may decide to price match the same product later in the day.

• Watch for Walmart’s pickup discount.

Rolled out first during 2017, Walmart attempted a reverse Amazon Prime model, essentially paying customers to come pick up a purchase by adding an additional discount. Due to the ongoing price war between the two companies, Walmart may attempt to undercut Amazon’s pricing on Prime Day by offering hefty pickup discounts on products listed in Prime Day sales. Alternatively, Amazon is trying to match those discounts at the same time by offering the same discount when opting for slower shipping.

• Product categories to keep an eye on.

During Prime Day 2020, the best deals were heavily focused on technology and comparable to Black Friday prices. Keep an eye on 4K televisions, smartphones, and wearables as well as any devices made by Amazon such as the Echo, Kindle and Fire TV. Apparel is another category to watch, especially shoes. Popular shoe brands like Adidas and New Balance were heavily discounted on Prime Day.

Any other ways to save money on Prime Day?

Yes! Amazon is offering multiple ways to save additional cash on deals, both in the form of cashback and bonus gift cards. Those include:

• 5% + 1% cashback using the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature card (as well as Whole Foods) In addition, Amazon will be offering a $150 gift card for new signups. There’s also discounts up to 25% on select Prime Day items by using this card.
• Running June 7 – June 20, Amazon customers will be able to earn a $10 credit after spending $10 on specific small business products. In addition, users will receive 10% cashback using a Prime Rewards Visa card.
• Running June 1 – June 20, Prime members will receive a $10 credit when purchasing $40 or more in Amazon gift cards.
• Starting June 1, customers that sign up for Prime using an Echo device will receive a $5 Amazon credit.
• Users that try Prime Wardrobe for the first time will be able to receive a $15 off $100 credit when using the service.
• Prime Gaming users can download a free copy of Battlefield 4 between June 1 and June 20. (Requires Origin to play)
• Amazon is running a Prime Day photo sweepstakes. Customers have to follow (@amazon.photos) on Instagram, turn on post notifications, and comment on the post using the hashtag #sweepstakes each day to receive 1 entry.  Entries run from June 1 to June 20. Details here.
• Anyone signing up for Amazon Music Unlimited for the first time is eligible for 4 months of free service rather than the traditional 1 month of service. The same promotion is running for the Wondery+ podcast service.

Everything You Need to Know About Amazon Prime Day 2021

Looking for the best deals before your next trip to the big orange hardware store? We’ve identified some of the best products that you can find on sale at Home Depot as well as some of the worst that you will want to avoid. These picks are based on average discounts as well as the potential for additional coupons used in the transaction.

Home Depot’s Five Best

1. Lights (LED bulbs and string lights)

At Ben’s, we see the most (and best!) deals on LED light bulbs coming from Home Depot than any other store. The best prices are on multi-packs. They also have great deals on holiday string lights, especially when you factor in their annual Christmas Light Trade-In promo.

The store typically gives out coupons for new lights when you bring in your old string lights–usually starts the first week in November and lasts a week or two.

2. Tool combo kits

Home Depot doesn’t necessarily have the best prices on single tools, but they often have very good sales on multiple-piece power tool combo kits, specifically from brands like Ryobi and Milwaukee.

We see these deals throughout the year but they’re especially good during Home Depot’s “Spring Black Friday” sale in April, as well as around the holidays. They’re also often featured as the “Daily Deal” (a new one starts every morning and lasts for 24 hours).

3. Grills and other patio items

Home Depot has some great prices on grills, both on lower-end brands like Char-Broil and higher-end brands like Vision Grills. They usually offer a really special deal or two during or around their Spring Black Friday Sale in April–last year it was a Dyna-Glo 6-Burner Stainless Steel Gas Grill for $199.

Along with grills, Home Depot has nice deals on patio furniture, specifically their Hampton Bay brand. Look for aggressive sales in early spring and again at the end of the season.

4. Paint

Home Depot’s Behr brand of paint is generally very well-reviewed and a good value compared to other premium paint brands. Since it’s sold only at Home Depot they often have specials on it.

You can also get a good deal by looking at their “mis-tint” paint (only of course, if you don’t have a specific color you need to match). They also almost always have a $5 off $50 purchase text coupon available that stacks with sale prices.

5. Gardening supplies

Home Depot often runs sales on things like mulch, soil, garden beds, and other gardening supplies. To kick off the spring season they usually have bags of mulch for $2, as well as other aggressive deals on this type of stuff.

Home Depot’s Five Worst

1. Home decor / Wall Art

The decor items you’ll find at Home Depot are generally overpriced and you can find similar items for cheaper at places like IKEA, Target or even TJ Maxx Home Goods.

In general, Home Depot is great for DIY project supplies but not so much for just picking up already put together items like home decor.

2. Appliances

Every now and then we see a nice refrigerator or oven deal pop up from Home Depot, but the better deals mostly come from retailers like Best Buy. That includes discounts for opening a store credit card as well.

3. Kitchen / Grilling accessories

The pots and pans Home Depot sells are generally not the best quality and they’re definitely not the best price. Look to stores like Kohl’s and Macy’s for deals on high quality sets, especially during November.

Same goes for grilling accessories which are priced high for the convenience factor of being able to pick them up along with the new grill you just bought.

4. Batteries

Another product category that is priced quite high for the convenience factor of picking up batteries in bulk. You can find much better deals on batteries elsewhere, specifically dollar stores and other large retail chains.

 5. Cleaning Supplies

The volume of cleaning supplies offered by Home Depot is somewhat low and priced much higher than retailers like Target and Walmart. That goes for both conventional household cleaners as well as more aggressive cleaners like Goo Gone.

The same advice goes for Home Depot’s internal brand ‘HDX paper towels’. However that’s a comment on the quality, not the pricing. You are better off going with Bounty or another brand that’s more absorbent.

Check the latest deals from Home Depot on Ben’s

Five Best & Five Worst Things to Buy at Home Depot

Shopping for a Nintendo Switch this year? We’ve looked through all the Black Friday ads and broken down where you can get the cheapest Nintendo Switch bundle, the best overall Switch deal and the cheapest deal on additional Switch Joy-Cons (as well as advice on the Switch Lite).

Best Price on a Nintendo Switch Bundle w/ game: $299.99 + $25 Gift Coupon

This bundle was specifically rolled out for the major retailers to sell on Black Friday. It includes a digital copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe ($60 MSRP) and is available with the grey joy-cons or the red/blue colors. The best deal will be Thursday through Sunday at GameStop. Their bundle includes a $25 gift coupon as a bonus.

A word of warning on this bundle: Nintendo is clearing out inventory of the older version of the Switch using this bundle, which means you will get about 2.5 to 6.5 hours of battery life versus 4.5 to 9 hours on the new HAC-001(-01) model that came out during September. You will be able to find this bundle at retailers such as:

• GameStop: Not Listed on Site Yet (Bonus $25 Gift Coupon)
• Best Buy: LINK (comes with free screen protector as a bonus)
• Target: LINK
• Walmart: LINK

Best Deal on a Nintendo Switch Bundle: $319.99 + $90 Kohl’s Cash

This bundle doesn’t come with any games, but it does include a carrying case for the Switch (ideal for mobile users) as well as separate charging dock for the joy-cons. Those two additional items would typically run about $40 together.

Of course, the real bonus here is the Kohl’s Cash. Hypothetically, you could use it to pick up a couple new Switch games with the gift card, effectively increasing the value of the overall bundle.

• Kohl’s: Not listed on site yet. Online deals will start to appear at 12:01 CT on Monday Nov 25.

Best Deal on a Nintendo Switch Lite: $199 + $25 GC

Several of the major retailers are listing the Nintendo Switch Lite at full MSRP, no bundles available. However, Gamestop will be offering a bonus $25 Gift Coupon with a purchase of a Switch Lite.

In addition,, Kohl’s is currently listing a couple Switch Lite bundles (example), which would include $60 to $75 worth of Kohl’s cash. Not too shabby!  Online, we’ve already seen sales as cheap as $170 using 15% coupons on sites like Rakuten.  Our advice would be to look for any late arriving online bundles on sites like Amazon or simply snag a coupon discount on sites like eBay, Rakuten when available.

• GameStop: LINK

Best Deal on Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons

It’s always good to have a backup set of controllers available and having an additional set makes it easy for friends to join in on multiplayer games like Mario Party.

There are two retailers that have announced they will be discounting the official joy-cons this year, Best Buy and Target. Pricing is identical, a $20 discount on most models. If you are looking for more of a traditional controller, Wal-mart is discounting some $45 controllers down to $29.

• Best Buy: LINK
• Target: LINK
• Walmart: LINK

Here’s the cheapest Nintendo Switch on Black Friday 2019

Shopping for an Xbox One this year? We’ve looked through all the Black Friday ads and broken down where you can get the cheapest Xbox One S Digital console, cheapest Xbox One S console and the cheapest Xbox One X console on Black Friday this year.

Best Price on a Xbox One S Digital Edition: $149.99

The Xbox One S Digital Edition has a cheaper price than the regular console due to the lack of a disc drive. All games purchased for the console must be digital. It does come with three bundled games: Minecraft, Fortnite and Sea of Thieves.

Two retailers are reducing the cost on the Xbox One Digital Edition from $249.99 to $149.99 on Black Friday.  Those retailers include:

• Best Buy: LINK
• Walmart: LINK

You will likely sell similar sales at the Microsoft Store, Amazon and Target on or before Black Friday.

Best Price on a Xbox One S Bundle: $199.99 + $60 Gift Card

There are a variety of Xbox One S bundle options, but one of the top bundles for Black Friday offers the Xbox One S 1Tb console with Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (80+ average on MetaCritic).

Several retailers will reduce this bundle from $299.99 to $199.99 on Black Friday, but there are two standout options. Those retailers include:

• Kohl’s: Includes $60 Kohl’s Cash (gift card) with purchase.
• Target: Includes $40 Target Gift Card with purchase.

Other retailers that have this bundle for $199.99 include Best Buy, Walmart, Sam’s Club and Costco. Many retailers will also have other Xbox One S bundles at $200, if you prefer a different game than Fallen Order.

Best Price on a Xbox One X Bundle: $349.99 + $105 Gift Card

There are fewer Xbox One X bundles available than the S model, but the NBA 2K20 bundle is a solid purchase for an Xbox One X discount & a bonus gift card.

Similar to the S, several retailers are reducing the price from $499.99 to $349.99 for Black Friday. Again, there are a couple standout options. Those retailers include:

• Kohl’s NBA 2K20 bundle: Includes $105 Kohl’s Cash (gift card) with purchase.
• Target Gears of War bundle: Includes $40 Target Gift Card with purchase.

Other retailers that have this bundle for $349.99 include Best Buy, Walmart, Costco and Sam’s Club.

Here’s the cheapest Xbox One on Black Friday 2019

The 2018 Best Buy Black Friday ad is out and we’ve picked out our top ten deals from the ad. You can see the full ad here as well as more picks beyond our top ten by clicking here. Similar to last year, Best Buy is using a significantly discounted HDTV doorbuster to get people into the stores.

Some of these deals have started already, some will start on Wed night and others are in-store only. Check out our Top 10 Best Buy Black Friday Deals below:

1. 43-inch 4K Toshiba HDTV ($130)

This is the big doorbuster for Best Buy this year (In-Store Only), a 4K HDTV over 40 inches, but under $199. Toshiba is also a solid brand, more so than the Element doorbuster HDTV at Target. The TV comes with Fire TV built-in for smart apps as well as HDR.

Check Price at Best Buy

2. Ring Video Doorbell Pro + Chime + Echo Dot ($180)

If you are looking for a solid bundle on home security, this Ring bundle is pretty fantastic. You get the Ring Video Pro ($250) with the Chime Pro ($50) + a bonus Echo Dot 3rd Gen ($50) all for $180. Nearly a 50 percent discount off the MSRP for all hardware.

Check Price at Best Buy

3. Samsung 11.6″ Chromebook ($99)

If you are looking for an inexpensive laptop for a kid or perhaps just a second laptop for web browsing, this $99 Chromebook is a solid deal. While it’s definitely not as fast as a Surface, the speed is fine for basic use.

Check Price at Best Buy

4. 70-inch LG 4K HDTV ($700)

One of the best Black Friday prices for a television 70-inches or larger, this LG model will provide a stunning image at 30% off the MSRP. Beyond 4K resolution, the TV comes with HDR (HDR10 & HLG) and webOS for streaming Netflix / Hulu / Amazon Video.

Check Price at Best Buy

5. Sphero Star Wars BB-8 ($30)

While BB-8 did hit a price low at $25 last week at Bed, Bath & Beyond for first time customers, this $30 will be for all customers at Best Buy. This smartphone-controllable toy started at $150 a few years ago, thus this price drop is pretty impressive.

Check Price at Best Buy

6. 4K Movies for $8 and $10

If you want to expand your current library of 4K movies or are simply looking for some cheap titles for your new 4K player, Best Buy has some of the best sale prices on 4K titles.

Check Price at Best Buy

7. Apple MacBook Air 13.3″ ($800)

It’s tough to find a discount on a new Macbook unless it’s Black Friday. This 20% discount is probably the best price we will see on a new MacBook Air until Black Friday 2019. However, you can find MacBook deals throughout the year, typically on refurbished models.

Check Price at Best Buy

8. Sony Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones ($200)

Typically sold at $349 as an alternative option to the Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones, the $150 discount on these exceptionally well-reviewed headphones is pretty fantastic.

Check Price at Best Buy

9. Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1″ 16GB ($160)

If you are looking for an alternative option to an iPad, this Samsung tablet should so the trick. Comes with 16GB of memory, 10.1″ screen, octa-core processor and up to 13 hours of battery life.

Check Price at Best Buy

10. $200 off a Google Pixel 3 or 3XL

One of a few retailers that will be offering a discount on the Pixel 3 this year. (Most retailers focus on the iPhone or Samsung phones)

Check Price at Best Buy

Check for more Best Buy Deals in the Ben’s feed.

Top 10 Best Buy Black Friday Deals for 2018

The 2018 Target Black Friday ad is out and we’ve picked out our top ten deals from the ad. You can see the full ad here as well as deals beyond our top ten here. Similar to last year, Target is using bonus gift cards to sweeten specific deals.

Check out our Top 10 Target Black Friday Deals below:

1. 55-inch 4K Element HDTV ($199.99)

While Element certainly isn’t the most amazing brand in regards to picture quality, the pricing on this set is pretty amazing. Perhaps ideal for a guest room, the TV comes with a few streaming apps as well as 4K resolution options.

Check Price at Target

2. Xbox One Minecraft Bundle + $20 Gift Card ($199.99)

You will find a similar price on this bundle at retailers like Best Buy, but you won’t find the bonus $20 gift card promotion. There’s also a $199 PS4 Slim bundle with Spider-man, if you prefer PlayStation (but no gift card).

Check Price at Target

3. Turtle Beach Stealth 300 Headset ($45)

One of the few retailers offering a significant discount on a gaming headset, Target’s $35 discount on this Turtle Beach model is a solid deal. It’s available for both the Xbox One and PS4; includes memory-foam ear cushions and a flip-to-mute mic for conversations.

Check Price at Target

4. 23andMe Ancestry Kit + $10 Gift Card ($59)

While this is a pretty solid sale price on the kit (typically on sale for $69), the bonus gift card really sweetens the deal. this will be one of the best prices, unless you purchase the kits in bulk (which can often be found at a $49 price point for 2 or more).

Check Price at Target

5. Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Gen. ($24)

This is an excellent price on the 3rd generation of the Echo Dot, which was only released within the last month. You can also find the 2nd generation Dot on sale for $20, if you don’t care about the new style. In addition, the Google Home Mini will be on sale for $25 at Target, if you prefer that ecosystem.

Check Price at Target

6. 40-inch Westinghouse 1080p HDTV ($125)

If you are looking for an extremely inexpensive TV for a guest room or office, the 50% discount on this 1080p model is extremely solid. It is capable of streaming Netflix, but there’s no 4K resolution. This is also limited to in-store, as it’s not even listed on the Target.com site.

7. Kano Computer Kit ($100)

An absolutely fantastic gift for any kid that wants to understand how computers work, the Kano kit plugs into any HDMI port and is fun for anyone that likes to tinker with coding.

Check Price at Target

8. 50% off Board Games

The 50% off Board Games deal was pretty common at Toys R Us, thus it’s great to see Target carrying on the tradition after the toy retailer went belly up.

Check Price at Target

9. Family Pajamas (Starting at $10)

While not every family does the matching pajamas tradition for the holidays, many around the country certainly do. These sets start around 10 bucks and it appears that they even have pajamas for your dog!

Check Price at Target

10. Roomba 675 Vacuum ($200)

Definitely one of the least expensive Roomba models in years, this entry level model can work on both carpet and hard floors. It utilizes dirt sensors for high traffic areas and includes an edge-sweeping brush for corners.

Check Price at Target

Check for more Target Deals in the Ben’s feed.

Top 10 Target Black Friday Deals for 2018

It’s almost tax time again! The IRS has been accepting 2017 tax returns for the past couple months. Interestingly, there are a couple additional days to file taxes this year due to April 15 falling on a Sunday as well as the District of Columbia’s Emancipation Day holiday. That pushes the traditional April 15 deadline to April 17, 2018.

Of course, there are always a multitude of options when filing your taxes. While free is always preferred for Americans under a specific income threshold, we are also going to break down the top software options for knocking out those pesky taxes on a lazy Sunday.

The Best Free Options, $66,000 and under:

If you made less than $64,000 over 2017, you can visit the Free File page on the IRS site. That site provides thirteen software options on third party sites. Read each option carefully to see if you qualify. Many of the options are limited to a specific age range, state or even dollar figure.

For instance, the TurboTax’s popular software caps the limit at $33,000 rather than $64,000 unless you eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit. Alternatively, Free1040TaxReturn.com offers the $64,000 limit to anyone under 70, assuming you don’t live in five excluded states.

Some of these sites will also offer free state returns, but others will charge. It’s recommended that you search your state’s website for information regarding free filing options for state taxes.

The Best Free Option, over $66,000:

If you make more than $66,000 in your household, you can also just enter your tax information into the paper forms using FreeFile. Of course, this is significantly more complex as you have to understand how tax forms work rather than answering questions in tax software. However, you can use your tax forms (completed with tax software from previous years) to figure out where to fill out data correctly.

In addition, this is the second year that Credit Karma has offered this service. According to the signup page, the service will be completely free. Specifically, they claim to offer free federal & state filing, no additional fees for using the service and have a support staff on hand to answer questions.

The Cheapest Software Options:

TaxAct remains the champion for the least expensive, basic tax software at between $15 for federal filing and $17 for state filing. It’s also highly competitive (feature-wise) to H&R Block as well as TurboTax, particularly ideal for anyone that’s filing a simple return. It’s a little less intuitive for people that are self-employed or have lots of investment income, but it will do the job with a little digging. It’s our pick for the best option for most users.

If your taxes are very complicated and requires lots of itemizing, you may want to invest in TurboTax. This would be more ideal for anyone that’s a small business owner or has to deal with investments like rental property. The downside is that you will have to pay up to $120 for the right software as an additional $37 when filing your state taxes.

There are also some perks to consider with more expensive software. Some tax software has an auto-import feature that pulls all W2 information in without having to enter it line by line. Other features included in some tax software are audit-checks, saving tax info online and the ability to load your refund onto a Visa prepaid card or a store gift card.

Here’s a breakdown on costs for the top five tax software options:

• TurboTax – Federal: $60 to $120 / State: $40
• TaxAct – Federal: $15 to $70 / State: $17 to $40
• TaxSlayer – Federal: $24 to $47 / State: $29
• H&R Block – Federal: $50 to $95 / State: $40
• Jackson Hewitt – Federal: $55 to 75 / State: $40

Do You Even Need to File?

Just a reminder, you may not need to file a tax return if you make less than $10,350 per year (under age 65). Here’s a chart that breaks down income thresholds for filing. However, you may want to considering filing anyway, especially if you can tax advantage of credits like the American Opportunity credit. That will help you get a little money back this year.

Are There Deals on Tax Software?

Yes. Turbotax’s software packages will go on and off sale frequently starting in late January through about early April. Look for deals in the Ben’s feed here from retailers such as Amazon and Dell.

The Cheapest Ways to File your Taxes this Year

So maybe you just got back the credit cards bills you’ve been ignoring since Black Friday and Cyber Monday. And Christmas. And maybe you realized you went way overboard on spending this year. And maybe you’re slowly coming to terms with your out-of-control habits but aren’t willing to accept them quite yet. We got you, fam. These tech accessories are priced at the bottom of the barrel without sacrificing on quality or reputation. No, they aren’t gimmicky. Yes, they are useful. Yes, you’ll want them all. No, we can’t be held liable for your own personal financial crisis.

Grid-It! Organizer

This flexible little wrangler lassos up all your head phone cords, tiny tech devices, and sundry items with ease. The rubber-threaded straps grip onto your valuables with the might of a cowboy keeping them safe from getting lost in your carry-on. These things come in small, medium, large, and extra large. And when coupled with 8 seconds of planning can save you a  horse-load of time.

Check Price on Bed, Bath & Beyond

goStrap Smartphone Holder

Are those pop-out thingamabobs not your jam? Us either. They don’t allow the phone to lay flat, causing it to wobble. But these goStrap Smartphone Holders actually keep your phone safe in hand and on the table. Their stretchy grips make it possible for you to loop your phone around your fingers in a hands-off kind of way, making this version of the smartphone stabilizer the more practical one.

Check Price on B&H PhotoVideo

CJ Tech 3 Outlet Wall Tap

It’s not your fault you have more devices than you do outlets. Your home was probably built before we as humans ceased to function without screens. This CJ Tech version of the power strip not only allows you plug in your tablet and smartphone, but also your eReader, electric blanket and lamp. BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE! It also acts as a nice little cradle for that oh-so-necessary smart phone of yours.

Check Price on Staples

Zeuste Charging Cable for iPhone

If there is one thing a tech-loving person can never have enough of, it’s those pesky smartphone charging cables. No matter which camp you’re in, iPhone vs. Android, there always seems to be one cable too few. This pack of three ought to solve that problem, at least for iPhone fans. Keep one by the bed, in the car, and at your office desk for optimal charging convenience.

Check Price on Amazon

Camyse Apple Watch Band

Typically, these types of off-brand products are questionable at best. But with a five-star rating on Amazon, this Apple watch band stands out from the crowd of counterfeits. The version seen here has three different color options: black, brown, and browner. They aren’t waterproof. They aren’t the real deal. And they aren’t going to break the bank.

Check Price on Amazon

THZY Mini Car Suction Cup

For the budding Youtube vlogger in all of us, this THYZ GoPro suction mount enables you to churn out content even at highway speeds. We don’t outright endorse recording yourself while driving (eyes on the road, people) and would instead encourage you to stick this dude on your mirror for some make-up how to’s, on the side of the fridge for some excellent POV meal prepping, or perhaps even on a nearby smooth surface to live stream those Steam plays.

Check Price on Walmart

Dotz – Reusable Cord Straps

The area behind your TV cabinet is not actually meant to look like an overgrown jungle despite your cat’s attempts to climb those electrical vines. We can’t promise that these reusable cord straps will be the tech gadget that will actually dissuade your cat from doing whatever the hell it wants. But we can promise that it will at least make it more difficult for them to yank your Xbox down off the shelf.

Check Price on Best Buy

Mr. Coffee Mug Warmer

Low tech is still tech when it comes to low cost and inexpensive. So while you’re working overtime to pay off all that you’ve seen here plus those #treatyoself moments of 2017 (who are we kidding, that was the entire year of 2017), keep the motivation juice flowing at piping hot temps to keep your productivity levels somewhere near luke warm.

Check Price on Target

8 Inexpensive Tech Accessories to Enhance your Life

Prime Day will be kicking off in less than 12 hours, specifically 6 p.m. PT on July 10. Running for a full 30 hours this year, Amazon released information this morning on the barrage of deals that awaits shoppers. Some of the most notable options on Amazon devices include:

• $90 Amazon Echo (MSRP: $180)
• $399.99 Element 55-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV (Amazon Fire TV version, MSRP: $650)
• $150 2-pack Fire HD 8 Kids Edition tablets (MSRP: $260)
• $35 Amazon Echo Dot (MSRP: $50)

Other TV deals include: (found here when the sale goes live)

• $100 720p TCL TV (32-inch)
• $200 1080p TCL TV (40-inch)
• $600 Unnamed Premium Brand name 4K smart LED HDTV (55-inch)
• 25%  off select TCL smart-TVs

Amazon also released information across a variety of other product categories:

• Save up to 50% on select video games, consoles and accessories
• Save up to 40% on PC gaming laptops, desktops and accessories
• Save $50 on August Smart Lock
• Save 50% on two-pack of Tile Slim Phone Finders
• Save 40-50% on Prime Exclusive clothing, handbags and more
• Save up to 70% on select Samsonite two-piece spinner sets
• Save up to 40% on select furniture, mattresses and rugs
• Save 20% on nursery essentials
• Save $100 on the Bissell Multi Reach Cordless Stick Vacuum
• Save up to 40% on Radio Flyer, Crayola, K’NEX and more
• Save up to 30% on select Under Armour training gear
• Save 30% on select adidas apparel
• Save up to 50% on select Callaway Golf products
• Skywalker Trampolines Jump N’ Dunk Trampoline with safety enclosure and basketball hoop, 8-Feet, only $119.99
• Save 30% on the Sportstuff 1030 Adventure Stand Up Paddleboard with accessories
• Save 25% or more on AmazonBasics – from office products to outdoor gear
• Get 20% back on thousands of items with an Amazon Prime credit card including select Disney Pixar Cars toys, select Thule jogging strollers and luggage, and select Yamaha musical instruments
• Save up to 50% on grocery items by Amazon, including Wickedly Prime and Happy Belly products

If you already have an Echo, you can place voice orders on these deals starting on Prime Day:

• Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic Instant Film Camera for $99 – say, “Alexa, order an Instax camera”
• Save 25% on Hasbro Speak Out Game – say, “Alexa, order Speak Out”
• Save 35% on Soylent Meal Replacement Drink, Cacao, 14 ounce bottles, Pack of 12 – say, “Alexa, order Soylent”
• 90-day free trial of AmazonFresh for all new and existing Prime members who shop with Alexa – say, “Alexa, buy bananas [or any other grocery item] from Fresh”

You can find the full list of sale items at this link. If you want to read more information about Prime Day, be sure to check our guide Everything You Need to Know About Amazon Prime Day 2017.

Prime Day Deals: $90 Echo, $399 4K HDTV (55″) and more