If there’s one thing I enjoy more than reading The New York Times, it’s making fun of The New York Times. I’m hardly the only person guilty of doing it. One of my favorite parody accounts on Twitter is The Times Is On It, which offers commentary on some of the paper’s more useless and obvious “news.”
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[cincopa AMBArV-2mI8i]
The Times Is On It, is just one of those things. Once you’re in on the joke, you’ll never be able to read the paper the same way again. At least once a week, I send an article to my friends to demonstrate the very best in news that absolutely no one can ever use.
Botox for camels is a thing… and the Times is on it!
Not enough people think critically about salt… and the Times is on it!
It’s hard to know when to wash your hair… and the Times is on it!
Perhaps one of my favorite sections of the Times is Smarter Living, which is supposed to help readers live a “better, more fulfilling life.” Sometimes they publish things that are useful, like how to read a food label or taking steps to improve financial literacy. And then there are other times when the editors really have to reach. Like last week when they published an article called “5 More Things that Could Disproportionately Improve Your Life” and included a pair of scissors at #4.
I’ll allow them to explain their reasoning:
Nothing makes you appreciate the value of a good pair of scissors like moving. I know this because I had to use my house keys to slice through multiple layers of packing tape while I searched for the scissors I’d haphazardly thrown in the bottom of a box.
This was annoying. Having good scissors would have made it less so.
Do you need more details? Good. Because the editor broke it down further:
I like the Fiskars Original Orange-Handled Scissors, because the brightly colored handles make them easier to spot in my junk drawer. But if you’re planning to spatchcock a chicken or snip herbs, you might want to snag a separate pair of kitchen shears, like the OXO Good Grips Kitchen and Herb Scissors.
Ah yes, the spatchcocking of a chicken. Now we’re Timesing!
But let’s not get too bogged down on the scissors. Another cheap(ish) thing that could disproportionately improve your life, according to the NYT, are… pens!
I’m not kidding. “Great pens” made the list…. above scissors!
Writing with a really nice pen is like watching a movie in 4K for the first time: It’s still the same thing you’ve done a million times, but it’s better in every conceivable way and you wonder how you got by before.
I actually do use nice pens, so I’ll admit there’s some truth to what they’re saying. Still I wouldn’t say it’s life-changing. In fact, the only way my nice pens will ever impact my quality of life in a significant way is if my employer finds out that I stole it from work and then fires me for doing so. Which is now within the realm of possibility.
I would be willing to cut the Times some slack about their choices but for the fact that nobody is forcing them to compile the list in the first place. As far as I know, there is no an angry mob banging on the door demanding cheap-ish life improvements. No one asked for tips on scissors or pens, so I don’t know why we’re here wasting inches and ink on it.
At the very least, if the Times is going to keep publishing a list of “cheap-ish”, “life-improving” things, then they should live up to their own headline. Last month’s pair of wireless earbuds is not cheap-ish, just like scissors are not life-changing. If they can’t find products and services that meet their own criteria, then they should change the criteria.
But I don’t want to kill the idea just yet. Because I do think it can be done and I also think it can be interesting.
What the Times needs, in my opinion, is a little dose of reality. If they want to put together a good list of cheap and useful products then they should skip the press releases and editor events and instead ask real people to submit their favorites. The items they choose should be both affordable and life-improving – by which I mean that the product either saves money, offers greater efficiency, safety or comfort, or is environmentally friendly. Here are my picks.
Baggu reusable plastic bag: $10
What it does better: Holds 2-3 plastic grocery bags worth of stuff (up to 50 pounds). Folds into a flat 5 in. x 5 in. pouch. Can be carried by hand or over the shoulder. Machine-washable. Cleaner, lighter, bigger and more compact than a canvas bag. Far more environmentally friendly than plastic bags.
Why I like it: Here in Europe, you’re charged up to $.20 per plastic bag – which adds up quickly. With this, I earned my $10 investment back many times over.
Simple Modern stainless-steel water flask: $15.99
What it does better: Double walled and vacuum insulated water flask that keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours and hot for up to 12 hours. Insulation prevents the bottle from sweating or getting hot to the touch. Made from premium gauge, rust resistant 18/8 stainless steel. BPA free. Leak-proof, screw-on lid.
Why I like it: This bottle goes everywhere with me – to the gym, the airport, and out for errands. Since I started carrying it, I never have to drop $2-3 on a bottle of water with lunch or before a flight.
iDrive cloud storage: $13.90/year
What it does better: Cross-platform backup for unlimited devices, including computers, phones and tablets. Files and folders sync in real time. Online portal is fully searchable and can be accessed from any computer – which means you can share files and documents even when you’re away from home or the office.
Why I like it: I’m a writer, not a technologist. I want to know that whatever I work on is saved somewhere else in the event my computer gets lost, stolen or cranky. I want that done automatically and with minimal intrusion. This checks all the boxes. That said, there are many options for cloud storage; review some others here courtesy of PC Mag.
FreshDirect grocery delivery: $5.99/delivery
What it does better: Grocery e-tailer that delivers to your home. Delivery times can be chosen from 6 a.m. to midnight. Website and app saves previous purchases, which makes reordering simple. Excellent customer service.
What I like about it: Removes an errand from my to-do list. Skipping the trip to the grocery store, the lines, and lugging it all home was well worth the $5.99 delivery fee when I lived in New York. Downsides: Prices, overall, are higher than brick and mortar stores (even in Manhattan) and the quality of produce can vary. May not be suitable for super-foodies.
Lightweight Raincoat by Hotouch: $28.99
What it does better: Pretty raincoats are fine – but most of them aren’t waterproof or windproof. An old-fashioned rubber one is a game-changer if you live in a wet climate. Getting one with a hood saves your hair in ways an umbrella never will.
What I like about it: Here in Helsinki, I often say, “If it’s not raining, just wait an hour.” I was tired of showing up places with wet clothes and frizzy hair when the forecast took an unexpected turn. The rubber raincoat is an all-in-one solution for me: I don’t have to carry around the just-in-case umbrella, my clothes stay dry and my blow out doesn’t get ruined. True, a rubber coat isn’t the cutest look going, but it looks better than being wet!
Silisponge foundation applicator: $9.90
What it does better: Silicon applicator uses about half the amount of liquid foundation than a traditional beauty sponge or brush. Cleaner than using your fingers. Can be washed with soap and water. Lasts virtually for-e-ver.
Why I like it: Since I started using this, I never have to worry about smearing mold and bacteria all over my face like I did with a sponge. I rinse it off after every use, which saves my makeup bag from foundation stains.
Silicon Facial Buffer: $9.99
What it does better: Removes dirt, impurities and dead skin better than a washcloth or hands alone. Increases the skin’s ability to absorb beauty products, like serums and moisturisers. Easy clean material. Lasts forever. Can be used with any face wash or soap.
Why I like it: For years I’ve wanted a Clarisonic because I’ve heard about life-changing results. Initially, it was the $200 price tag that stopped me. Then, it was the idea of adding an extra two pounds to my overpacked suitcase. I can’t say this low tech version does the same job, but it does a good job at a fraction of the price. Added bonus? No need to charge the base or constantly change brush heads like you do with a more expensive option.
So – that’s my best attempt at seven cheap, life-improving products or services. What would you add? Let’s get ON IT.
Enjoying the pictures and you have some neat ideas!
thanks, voula! xx
My best friend is heading to Iceland in a few weeks and has been stressing about coats/jackets. Just sent her a screen shot of the raincoat and the link on Amazon! How time appropriate!!!
oh nice! for me, the raincoat is clutch. they make lots of pretty cute ones now, so I’m sure she can find something she likes. I’ve heard that Iceland is very much the same – lots of rain and most of it comes out of nowhere. another option, albeit not a cheap one, is a lightweight down jacket, like a Patagonia. If she has one of those already, that will also work – it’s what I was using during my suitcase days :)
I lost my mind at the scissors. “I packed my scissors and couldn’t open the box. Scissors would have made that easier!” Until the next time you moved and packed both pairs of scissors.
Clearly, it’s not the scissors that would improve your life. You already had scissors. In a box. What would have improved your life was forethought and, you know, not packing the thing you need to open the box you packed it in.
That aside, I’m curious about that silisponge makeup applicator. I feel like a silicone applicator would leave streaks compared to a traditional sponge which stipples and softens. Are streaks an issue with this? I’m always down for reusable, healthier, easier options. Cleaning that beauty blender can be a pain and it’s impossible to know if I’ve gotten everything out.
Ha, yes. Common sense improves your life in ways a pair of scissors never will. Let’s all remember that.
As for the silisponge, for me, it works fine. I was kind of surprised, actually, when I went to find a link for it and the other reviews and write-ups were not that positive. I bought it on a whim at Sephora and never gave much thought to whether or not it would work well. I figured it just would and it did. I can’t say that it’s any better or worse than a blender, but it’s different – mostly just the texture of the applicator itself though. With a sponge, I guess you can layer a little more naturally because the makeup soaks in both ways – to the sponge and your skin. With this, it’s all one way, so it’s easy to go heavy. Some users say it takes some getting used to and that they still use a sponge to finish up. But again, for me – I honestly don’t notice a difference in the end result – but I’m also not someone who has professional lighting or a contour kit or some kind of 20-step routine. (Nothing against them, I just don’t do it). I think it’s meant for simple people who want to make things even simpler.