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20 Items Under $20 That Everyone Should Own

20 Items Under $20 That Everyone Should Own

Ashley Lutz

Retail4 min read

Some of the most useful items are inexpensive.

A recent Reddit thread asked for the most useful items you can buy for under $20.

We picked some of our favorites.

1. Small set of screwdrivers

"With them and the Internet, you'll be surprised how much you can fix stuff, which saves you a lot of money in the long run," writes Reddit user candydaze.

We recommend the Stanley 10-piece screwdriver set at Amazon for $14.31.

Via Flickr

2. Fire extinguisher

"If you do need it someday, it will be well worth the 20 bucks," writes DaNinjaKitten.

Try the First Alert Fire Extinguisher available for $19.95 on Amazon.

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3. Carbon monoxide detector

"When my sister and I were younger, the carbon monoxide detector went off in our house. She heard it, I did not. My parents were not home, so she ran up to my room and grabbed me and told me to come outside. We went across the street to our neighbors and they called the fire department for us. My sister saved our lives," writes DoctorCrouchJrWho.

Try this First Alert battery-powered detector for $18.88 at Amazon.

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4. Jumper cables

"When I first moved for college, my car broke down the first week of school in the Wal-Mart parking lot," writes halfwaythere88. "I had to stop a ridiculous amount of people before I found one with jumper cables."

Amazon has them for $11.82.

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5. Spray bottle

"You can buy them at the dollar store but in my family (and now in my dorm) mine is getting constantly borrowed. It's used for cleaning, ironing, doing hair, and more. The lack of people who have them astounds me!" writes bgaigalas.

Amazon has a pack of 3 for $8.20.

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6. Car cell phone charger

This suggestion by sauce480 is self-explanatory.

Amazon has this Omaker USB car charger for $16.99.

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7. Rechargeable batteries

"I love my Eneloop batteries," writes CaptPikel.

Energizer's rechargeable batteries are $9.99.

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8. Lodge cast-iron skillet

"All the fancy, expensive, 'high end' cookware can not touch the magic that this $15 gem can bring to your cooking," writes hvonn.

Buy one here for $14.97.

Flickr/ I Believe I Can Fry

9. Dry shampoo

"Do you like to sleep in? Dry Shampoo lets you do that," writes Hello_nerds.

Here's some for $10.25.

Batiste

10. Salad spinner

"Instead of using a paper towel for drying lettuce, herbs, berries or heck just about anything food related you can dry, just throw it in the salad spinner basket rinse and spin," writes imjoshua.

Get one on Amazon for $16.22.

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11. Tongue scraper

"I know, I know. I thought the idea was nasty at first too. And, yes, I also thought that my toothbrush did a perfectly fine job. Then I actually used one," writes MyReligionIsPhysics. "Uncannily clean-feeling mouth, no more dental problems, fresher breath."

Amazon has one for $5.19.

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12. Sink plunger

"It's got a flat bottom to match the drain on your sink," notes kidl33t.

Get one for $7.87.

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13. The right pillow

"Pillows for under $20 can be of good utility and quality if you buy the right firmness pillow for your sleep style and follow the care instructions carefully," writes MmeLaRue.

This memory foam pillow works for most and is $16.86.

Via Flickr

14. Fresh pepper grinder

"Freshly cracked black pepper corns will blow your mind," writes edeneleven11.

Amazon has this one from OXO for $11.95.

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15. Micro-chip for your pet

"The police and local shelters have the equipment to scan you pet. If they find the chip number, they call the company and you are notified," writes jpsrv. "You go pick up your pet. Without a microchip, in most animal shelters throughout the US, your pet is euthanized."

Here's one for $9.98.