We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and itspublishingpartners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
And shed fewer tears over your credit card statements.
Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed
1. Order online now (like, yesterday!) so you won't pay an arm and a leg for a Mother's Day bouquet you have to rush-deliver or fight someone at the grocery store to buy.
fromyouflowers.com, fromyouflowers.com
Get them from From You Flowers: quaint blue butterfly bouquet for $31.99+ (same-day delivery) and lavender rose and lily blooms for $31.99+ (same-day delivery).
2. Buy a mattress during Memorial Day sales (like your mother told you) to score a cheaper deal and get some better ZZZZs.
Columbia Pictures Corporation
Mattress industry pros recommend buying a new mattress every seven or eight years and big-box, specialty mattress stores often have major sales over Memorial Day. Or, if you need one ASAP, just go with one of those fancy in-a-box mattress startups like Casper, Tuft & Needle, and Brooklyn Bedding.
Here's looking at you, person who's still sleeping on a mattress from college. (It me.)
3. And shop around for a new grill now for some *sizzling* seasonal discounts.
We're on the cusp of barbecue season and getting your grill on is just another good excuse to eat well and get out of the house.
Get them from Amazon: infrared electric grill for $109.99 (down from $199.99) and charcoal grill for $124.20 (down from $140.48)
And check out our picks for the best cast iron skillets on BuzzFeed Reviews.
4. Love Eggos as much as Eleven does? Make a big batch of mini waffles with this waffle maker and freeze them for a cheaper breakfast treat.
H/T to our reader Chelsea Fedora (via Facebook), who gave us this idea on our housewarming gifts story:
“I bought the mini waffle maker for myself and it's AMAZING! I make a huge batch of them every couple of Sundays, wrap them up in aluminum foil, freeze them, and pop them in the toaster when the mood hits me. Awesome homemade Eggo waffles ALL THE TIME.”
Get the mini waffle maker from Amazon for $14.40+ (available in six colors).
5. Cash in six old MAC product containers for a ~free~ lipstick.
@MACCosmeticsMiddleEast / Via instagram.com, maccosmetics.com
MAC has an extensive guide on what qualifies and if you're still not sure, live-chat with one of its reps. Enter the six product types, choose three preferred lipstick colors, and print a form for your package to return the containers. Read the details here.
If you're a MAC addict anyway, that's a $17 lipstick FO' FREE.
And check out our picks for the best matte lipsticks on BuzzFeed Reviews.
6. Avoid shipping costs (boo, shipping costs!) by opting for in-store pickup when possible.
OK, so not all retailers offer this, but lots do, like Walmart (including groceries and limited items), The Home Depot, Nordstrom, CVS, and more of the usual shopping suspects. See a lengthy list of stores on RetailMeNot. When shopping online, search via "in-store pickup" or "your store" to find eligible items.
In-store pickup not an option? Check out our list of stores with free shipping, no minimum.
7. And save on packaging when you mail a beach ball, frisbee, pillow, and basically lots of things you could use for a beach vacation.
Michelle Porucznik/BuzzFeed
So next time you think about sending a loved one a "Wish You Were Here" postcard from a tropical locale, adhere a shipping label directly to a beach ball instead. Read the full list of things you'd be surprised you can mail.
8. Perfect some delicious under-$10 recipes so you'll stop using all your credit card rewards points at McDonald's. (Sorry for telling you that's a thing you can do.)
This dish includes stuff that's mostly from your pantry/fridge. It whips up four servings for about $7 total in less than 25 minutes. If you dig it, stock up on the required frozen broccoli florets and wide rice noodles when you find them on sale. Get the recipe on Budget Bytes.
And check out six more budget-friendly recipes we're loving rn.
9. Price-stalk Amazon items with CamelCamelCamel so you can score the best deals on something you don't need ASAP.
Casual Amazon shoppers will notice that prices fluctuate quite often and can differ based on a size or color. Beat(-ish) the system by entering the URL for a product at camelcamelcamel.com to see an item's pricing history and set up a watch for an item. Download the Camelizer extension for Chrome, Firefox, or Safari.
If you're in the mood to browse, you can also check out deals in CamelCamelCamel's price drops section.
10. Search surrounding bars and restaurants on the Yelp app to get deals when you check in...like this regrettable (but free!) whiskey shot I've taken many a time.
Yelp
This is also a swell way to force a group of people into choosing a destination when no one wants to make a decision. Download the app from iTunes or Google Play for free.
11. Set a shopping budget and keep tabs on your spending with Parcel.
When you sign up for free here, you'll answer questions like your age, what kind of shopping you'll use it for, and your monthly take-home income. Install a browser extension and add products from other sites to your parcels (aka Pinterest board-y things) as part of categorized checklists with budgets. Within a parcel you can sort by things like store, low stock, and sale. In short, you can curb impulse buys and not shudder in fear at your credit card statement at the end of the month. (Probably.)
12. Eat hyperlocal by growing vegetables from scraps.
Check out our tutorial on Goodful.
And make the most of those veggies with our picks for the best blenders on BuzzFeed Reviews.
13. Put off having a ring resized with this cheap size adjuster.
Resizing a ring definitely costs more than $10. Just sayin'.
Promising Review: "I just got engaged a few days ago and my ring seems to be a little big, even though it's my normal size. I'm thinking it's because it's a little warmer than usual outside and I'm not sure if I want to get my ring resized or not. This is a perfect solution until it gets warm outside again. The guard hasn't moved around on my ring and it's very comfortable." --Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $7.99.
14. Reuse plastic bags over and over again for a million different things — including non-food stuff!
Ninety-six gallon bags are $13.37 on Amazon, which, tbh, is quite a deal. BUT if you reuse this pack, they could last for what feels like an eternity.
Grossed out? Read The Yummy Life's explainer on how to get them clean and ready for another useful round.
15. Switch over to soy candles, which typically last about 50% longer than regular candles.
Also, this scent is straight-up delightful.
Get it from Amazon for $6.64.
16. Bring your old kitchen knives back to life with a cheap knife sharpener that's crazy easy to use.
Elizabeth Lilly / BuzzFeed
Read my lengthy personal review here.
Get it from Amazon for $5.99 (available in three colors).
17. Subscribe to the Money Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for a Richer Life podcast to get detailed explainers on financial matters in normal-people speak.
Financial expert Laura D. Adams received an MBA at the University of Florida and has written several financial advice books, like Smart Moves to Grow Rich and Smart Moves to Deal with Your Debt. She's pleasant and friendly, and doesn't talk down to listeners. Plus, it's interesting, even if the episode is N/A to your current financial sitch! Topics include the likes of wisely managing your money after a pay raise (episode 484), prepping your credit for a mortgage approval (episode 450), and paying off student loans in the cheapest ways (episode 478). She started the podcast in 2008, so if you need advice on a financial woe, there's probably an episode that addresses it.
Subscribe for free via iTunes, Google Play, Podbay, Stitcher, and Player FM.
18. And let a (thoroughly washed!) Sriracha bottle stand in for a soap dispenser in desperate times.
Walt Lilly / Via Twitter: @waltlilly
What, you don't get all your decor inspo from your brother's tweets about dive bar bathrooms?!
Get a 56 fl. oz. jug of hand soap refill from Amazon for $3.99.
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