41 Practical Things To Buy With Your Tax Return Money (2024)

This 10-speed mixer has a five-quart stainless steel mixing bowl. It comes with a two-piece pouring shield with a large chute for adding ingredients as well as a flat beater, a dough hook, and a wire whip!

Promising review: "What can I say? Having had our Kitchenaid for 25 years, I am impressed with the durability of the product. This was purchased as a Christmas gift for my son and daughter-in-law. Construction appears as solid on this one as on my 25-year-old Kitchenaid. Considering how much abuse ours has taken in a heavy-use household, I wouldn't consider any other option. Pizza and bread dough is a breeze, as is pretty much anything else you throw at it. And the design still reminds me of the head of the creature in the movie Alien for added coolness." —Steve RJ

Get it from Amazon for $259.99 (available in 45 colors).

These bowls are made of melamine and come with matching lids for storage!

Promising review: "I love that it comes with covers. Each container fits inside each other, so you only need storage space for one bowl! Every bowl is so pretty that you can mix and bring to the table to serve. I used each piece on Easter. I mashed my potatoes in the large bowl, wiped the side and rim clean, and done! One pretty bowl for preparing, serving, and to clean!" —CC

Get a five-piece set from Walmart for $29.

Read a BuzzFeeder's review of this toothbrush!

Promising review: "A few years ago, I got my first substantial Christmas bonus, so I was feeling pretty accomplished as an adult. Having felt as though I've really arrived, I knew exactly the kind of thing a responsible, successful adult like myself should buy with it: the mother of all toothbrushes. This luxurious hygiene machine makes my teeth feel like little individual CEOs of companies who fly to Bali to get massages on the beach. I mean, brushing your teeth is something that (ideally) happens every day, multiple times. Why not make an investment and make 15 minutes of your day exponentially more enjoyable? And what's more, this thing comes with this nifty, elegant little charging glass that looks completely out of place in my tiny, crappy bathroom. And it also comes with a sweet traveling charger case, and all of it matches. This toothbrush has improved my quality of life and probably my dental hygiene. If you would like to spend loads of money on a toothbrush because you're a successful, responsible adult who cares about your dental hygiene then you should definitely buy this toothbrush." —Samantha Willner

Get it from Amazon for $178.97+ (available in five colors).

In addition to essentials like a flashlight and battery booster cables, this kit also includes unique items like a heavy-duty tow rope, a window breaker, and a seatbelt cutter. It also comes with tons of first-aid supplies like a variety of bandages and antiseptic towelettes.

Promising review: "Seriously one of the best things I've ever bought on Amazon. At the end of the day, it's by far the best and most complete roadside emergency kit you can get for anywhere near this price point. Even the *bag* is nice — grippy rubberized handles, nice practical logo, and just the right size to slide under a seat. Besides the essentials like jumper cables and first aid supplies, this kit has an unusual number of extras that are useful to keep in your car even in non-emergency situations. I've already used the bungee cords to move a difficult piece of furniture — what would have been an 'I guess we're out of luck' situation became a 'just a second, let me grab something from the trunk' situation. Same goes for the high-grip rubber gloves, multi-tool, etc. — there are so many situations where they can come in handy. Overall, very impressed, and I'd wholeheartedly recommend this kit to anyone." —lff111

Get it from Amazon for $42.97.

Promising review: "The size is excellent for putting in a backpack, and it's very lightweight. The water that the dog doesn't drink goes back down into the bottle, which is so much more convenient than the travel bowl we usually use. Can't wait to use this during the hot summers of northern California." —Tasha

Get it from Uncommongoods for $15 (available in two colors).

When opened, this umbrella measures 38 inches in diameter.

Promising review: "This umbrella arrived during a week filled with rain and wind in the forecast. I eagerly put it to the test, and it passed with flying colors. It withstood strong winds and heavy rains and not once did it falter. Water rolled off of it once inside, and it did not take long to dry. Overall an excellent purchase!" —KkJuliani

Get it from Nordstrom for $28 (available in four colors). Or, check out the best umbrellas you can get on Amazon!

This sauté pan comes with a helper handle and a glass lid!

Get it from the Tasty collection at Walmart for $27.88.

Get a membership from Amazon for $12.99/month or $99/year.

Promising review: "Excellent product — works well with no leaks while decanting the bottle. There is a huge, very noticeable difference between relatively young wine decanted with this unit and a non-decanted bottle. It's fun to use and very effective. This was a nice recommendation from the proprietor of our local wine bar. Highly recommended." —Glenn Neilson

Get it from Amazon for $49.95.

Promising review: "I have had this keyboard for approximately a year now. I brought it into my office to use there because I have a bad habit of eating my lunch at my desk. Even after tons of crumbs and spills, it is still going strong. Easy to clean, hasn't lost it's 'clickity-ness' nor any stuck keys. Great product." —blindv

Get it from Amazon for $58.97.

Promising review: "I have four children, and we have owned many car seats over the years, but we LOVE Gracos the most! This convertible car seat is perfect to take your child from birth to ten years old. Set up was easy as it came all in once piece. To adjust the height, you simply pull the lever at the top. Padding on the butt and back is similar to that of a nice bicycle chair, squishy and thickly padded. The material is also soft and wipeable. The recline feature is very neat for sleepy babies. I love that all my kids fit comfortably and safely in this model, and it grows with them, saving me money over the years to come!" —Candra C. Georgi

Get it from Amazon for $239.99+ (available in four colors). Check out other splurge-worthy parenting products!

Each set includes an 8-inch chef's knife, a 7-inch Santoku knife, an 8-inch bread knife, a 5-inch serrated utility knife, a 3.5-inch paring knife, and a walnut knife block.

Promising review: "I simply love these knives! I have never had a good set of knives, and I thought it was time to splurge, and these are amazing! The set is beautiful, sharp, and cleans so well with just a sponge and a little soap and water. It takes just seconds to clean it and put it in the lovely wood block! They feel great in my hand, too!" —Myschief

Get a six-piece set from Amazon for $179.97.

It can make a variety of drinks, from iced coffees to lattes!

Promising review: "Incredible machine! It has to be one of the best coffee makers you can get. The modes are super easy, and you can use your own coffee (rather than be stuck with K-cups). It's easy to use, and the coffee comes out like a coffee shop. There are two modes that are kinda like espresso (hard to describe, maybe like a 1.5x diluted espresso). There's a mode to make iced coffee directly from the machine that actually works pretty decently. The standard brew for a cup of coffee is brilliant. Coffee is HOT. Settings are smart. I can't say enough good things about the machine." —Raheem Levanti

Get it from Amazon for $98.97. Check out other useful coffee products that people actually swear by!

This ottoman has 12 separate storage compartments!

Promising review: "This product was exactly as advertised and great at this price point. I bought two and am using them with trays as a coffee table, additional seating, and storage. Functional!" —DaytonOH

Get it from Walmart for $53.40 (available in three colors).

Each set comes with one flat sheet, one fitted sheet, and two pillowcases! Check out a BuzzFeeder's review of these sheets!

Promising review: "I like a cotton sheet, but it has to feel silky. I don't want to slip into bed and feel like I am on waxed paper. These sheets are very smooth. They wash like a dream. My mattress is older and isn't overly thick (9"). This bottom sheet fits with ample room. With a king-sized bed, sometimes it takes two attempts to get the bottom sheet in the right direction. Not with this set! There is a tag on the side that says 'side'! Genius, I tell you...genius." —Ellie

Get it from Target for $42.74 (available in 21 colors). Or, check out the best sheets you can get on Amazon!

The compact size (48-ounce/1.4-liter jar) also makes it great for small kitchens. To clean the jar, simply mix a drop of dish soap and warm water and blend on highest speed for 60 seconds!

Promising review: "The Holy Grail blender, y'all. I grew up with a Vitamix (big, tall, classic model), and since being on my own, I have really missed it. I tried food processors (because they're cheaper), less expensive blenders, immersion blenders, etc. Nothing came close to what a Vitamix can do. If you're wondering if it's worth the price, I would give a resounding YES. It's so supportive of a healthy diet (smoothies, soups, scratch-made dips and salsas, nut milks and butters, etc.), and it's stupid easy to use AND clean. I live in an apartment, so my kitchen is small, not a lot of space. It fits easily on one shelf, the pitcher sitting next to the base (NOT stacked, it's too tall for that). I couldn't be happier with it. What sold me ultimately was 1.) the smaller size (the classic ones are larger), and 2.) I thought about how much I spend (or would like to spend) at my local smoothie/juice bar. A 16-ounce smoothie costs a ridiculous $8-9 and a juice at least that much, if not more. If I could afford it, I would have gotten one daily. So, this Vitamix pays for itself in about a month." —lovespuppies

Get it from Amazon for $299.95.

This litter box also comes with a scoop!

Promising review: "Like many people I'm sure, the price tag on this box initially kept me from purchasing it, even though it's a brilliant idea. But I'm glad I did in the end. My 17-year-old cat has ALWAYS been a high pee-er and trying to find a litter box that could accommodate this has been near impossible. This litter box is genius, and my cat now prefers this one to any others in the house. I live in a condo with minimal areas to place litter boxes. This box is compact (but not too small) and discreet and fits in the corner of my dining room with no problem! My wood floors are now saved! Worth every penny!" —PamelaJR

Get it from Amazon for $79.95. Check out other game-changing pet products actually swear by!

This machine provides ten fan sounds and ten ambient noise variations!

Promising review: "We've had nonstop construction going on outside our NYC apartment for the past several years. Most vexing is that they get away with doing this construction in the middle of the night, which is nothing short of outrageous! I'm telling you, this little machine has been a lifesaver! There are several settings (sounds) — we listened to them all and then settled for one that sounds like a fan. We turned it up loud to block out the noise of the torturous construction and can I just say... sleep, sweet sleep! What a relief it is. The machine was worth every penny. If you're having issues like we were, get it. You won't be sorry." —BLS

Get it from Amazon for $49.95+ (available in two colors).

This toaster oven can toast 6 slices of bread, air fry three pounds of chicken wings, bake a 12-inch pizza, or roast a four-pound chicken!

Promising review: "I absolutely LOVE this appliance. It's the best appliance buy I've made recently. I tried three other popular brand air fryers, and potato fries (my test food) did not crisp. This one actually yields crispy fries, fresh and frozen, in no time. I've used it to cook other fresh and frozen foods designed to be pan or deep fried, like shrimp tempura, sweet potato fries, mac and cheese bites, fish, fish sticks, oven fried chicken, etc. I use it to reheat fried and grilled chicken, and the skin crisps up perfectly! Crispy results, every time!" —M. E. B.

Get it from Amazon for $199.

Promising review: "I love this carrier. I have tried so many carriers before this one — this is the only carrier my baby likes. I love that it's adjustable so we can use it without the insert. During the summer, the wraps and the carriers with the inserts are too hot. This carrier is a nice, pliable, and breathable cotton, but still very sturdy; it doesn't feel like the baby is going to fall out, and I was able to walk around outside without the baby feeling too hot. The straps on this carrier are also really easy to adjust, as are the different size options for the carrier. I also love how when I put it on, it doesn't look so intense like I'm about to go on a 20-mile hike like some of the other carriers. Very cute and stylish, but still comfortable for if you are going on a 20-mile hike." —Nina

Get it from Amazon for $159 (available in 10 colors).

This handy kitchen gadget has seven functions: rice cooker, pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, sauté, yogurt maker, and warmer! Check out a BuzzFeeder's review of the Instant Pot!

Promising review: "This is quite possibly the coolest, most versatile kitchen gadget I’ve ever owned. I love it so much that I’ve purchased two more for friends and relatives. What can it do? I think the real question is 'What can’t it do?' I truly believe you could replace every cooking appliance (including your oven and stove top) and do EVERYTHING in the Instant Pot. I purchased two sizes for my own use: the three-quart (which is my almost-every-day workhorse for two person dishes) and the eight-quart (which I bring out to handle my dinner party dishes). Everything I’ve tried has been fabulous. In the realm of kitchen appliances, there is no better investment than the Instant Pot. Highly recommended!!!" —Stereoman

Get it from Amazon for $79.99+ (available in three sizes).

You can actually adjust the level of noise cancellation to suit your environment! Get 20 hours of wireless play time and up to 40 hours of listening in wired mode. These headphones offer Bluetooth and NFC pairing. It also has a noise-rejecting dual-microphone system for super clear phone calls!

Promising review: "While these are on the expensive side, these are hands down the best headphones that I've ever owned and are well worth the investment. It's no secret that Bose has the noise-cancelling market cornered, and these are probably their best model to date. It's still incredible to me how well it works each time I flip on the noise-cancelling switch, and things really do go silent almost immediately. The sound quality is amazing — the treble is bright, the bass is deep and rich, and vocals are crystal clear. The ear cups themselves are extremely comfortable, and I can wear these for hours on a plane or on my commute without any discomfort. While they feel incredibly sturdy and well made, they surprisingly don't feel too heavy. If you listen to music/the radio/audiobooks fairly frequently, then you should seriously consider investing in these headphones. They're the best on the market, incredibly comfortable, deliver amazing sound quality, and feel like they'll last for years to come." —Matt S.

Get it from Amazon for $349 (available in two colors). Check other awesome headphones you can get on Amazon!

Promising review: "There are a number of reasons to choose this fire extinguisher. It is lightweight and easy to operate. Most small ones aren't rechargeable, but this one is. It has a simple and effective bracket for wall mounting; mine was up in 15 or 20 minutes. It is also guaranteed to hold a charge for TEN YEARS! We rent small apartments through Airbnb, so it gives us peace of mind when visitors are cooking. The instructions for operating as well as where to mount it are quite clear." —Bob

Get it from Target for $21.99.

This battery pack can provide three-and-a-half iPhone 8 charges or two-and-a-half Galaxy S8 charges!

Promising review: "It's about the size of a pack of cigarettes and weighs a little more than your phone. Dead simple to operate and holds a charge for a looong time. I've charged an iPhone 6+, and it dipped from four lights (full charge) to three (75% charge). Admittedly that's pretty unscientific, but you get the idea. If you're on the road or out in the woods without access to a plug, this thing is an absolute life-saver. I also find that even when I do have access to power, sometimes it's just easier to plug into this device than to be tied to a wall outlet. It charges fast, too. The best thing is that once it's fully charged, it doesn't seem to lose anything in storage. I went about two months without using it, and it still shows full charge. You won't regret this little guy." —Matt

Get it from Amazon for $27.99 (available in three colors).

This machine is designed to mix formula powder and water to a perfect consistency without air bubbles within seconds. It heats water to near body temperature (about 98 degrees). The water and formula powder are stored in airtight compartments right in the machine so it's ready to go anytime. It works with all bottle sizes and most formula brands and types.

Promising review: "I wish this had been available for our first two kids. I know it is expensive, but it makes the bottle-making experience so easy. We have been using it for several months, and it has never given us trouble. It is easy to clean, easy to maintain. Our baby gets excited when she hears the motors running. Never again will I have to measure out water in a bottle and struggle to not make a mess putting formula in a bottle in the middle of the night while holding a crying baby!!! Highly recommend this to anyone that is using formula." —R&N

Get it from Amazon for $179.99.

These insulated water bottles are backed by a lifetime warranty!

Promising review: "Hydro Flask is by far the BEST vacuum insulated water bottle that I have ever owned. It truly keeps liquids ice cold for 16+ hours. For example, I went to our state fair yesterday on a beautiful 80-degree summer day but decided to leave my Hydro Flask in the car instead of carrying at the fair. I had filled it with ice cubes and tap water that morning at 6:45 a.m. and left it in the hot car all day, but when we returned to the vehicle at 7 pm, there were still ice cubes rattling about and my water was super cold. That is amazing! Plus, the thing is indestructible since it is stainless steel. Worth the money, and now I own five of them in various sizes and colors." —Michelle D. Fisher

Get it from Amazon for $33.80+ (available in two sizes and nine colors).

Casper allows you to try a mattress for 100 nights to see if it works for you!

Promising review: "I love my new mattress. I was worried about the memory foam not being supportive enough, as I tend to prefer a firmer surface to sleep on, but it's perfectly balanced. I slept so well on it the first night and have experienced full eradication of my persistent lower back pain. I've had it for about three weeks now, and I absolutely love it. I cannot recommend this mattress more highly!" —Emily

Get it from Casper or Target for $350+ (available in sizes Twin–California King). Or, check out the best mattresses you can get on Amazon!

This multitool is made of stainless steel and has 14 functions including knives, pliers, screwdrivers, wire cutters, bottle and can openers, a file, a saw, and a ruler. It has a 25-year limited warranty!

Promising review: "Good tool and a slightly lighter weight to take on camping or backpacking trips; has everything you would need to make repairs in those situations. It is what you would expect from Leatherman — very durable. I have had this for seven years now, and it works as good as the day I got it. If I ever lose it, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy again." —Ron

Get it from Amazon for $49.95.

Promising review: "For starters, installation took about 10 minutes without bumping into any problems. I am 6'1" and 195 pounds, and I work at home and spend about eight to 10 hours daily sitting on this chair. So far, it has provided continuous comfort for my back, and my productivity has increased since switching to this chair. After eight months of daily use, the cushioning still feels like new!" —TY16

Get it from Amazon for $109.99 (available in two colors).

You can also tell Alexa to show you security camera footage, photos, weather forecasts, and to-do and shopping lists!

Promising review: "I was already using Alexa with the Amazon Echo throughout my house and definitely felt I was getting my money's worth. Purchasing the Amazon Show kicked things up to the next level! I bought a two-pack and gave the second one to my parents who live nine hours away. The hands-free video chatting and phone calling are a blessing for all of us. My parents struggle with controlling things with their phones and computers, and now we are all becoming pros at staying in touch using Alexa. The screen adds so much, not just because of the added video component but because the screen constantly offers suggestions for new Alexa skills. Calendar reminders appear on the screen, making this function more useful. Song lyrics appear on screen while I'm listening to music. I just bought an Arlo indoor/outdoor video camera, so I can see who's at the front door on the Echo screen. This really provides a quality of life improvement for keeping organized, keeping in touch with family and friends, giving another way to enjoy my Amazon Prime video, and helping me enjoy and access my vast collection of music already in Amazon Music cloud storage!" —JDB

Get it from Amazon for $229.99 (available in two colors).

Each set comes with flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar keepers and two mini keepers!

Promising review: "Everything about this set is great; each container comes with a special extra, be it a leveling tool for the flour (which is removable) or a terracotta disk you soak and add to your brown sugars (it also has a place in the lid to hold the disk if you don't have sugar in it). It keeps whatever you put in them fresh, and you know you shut the lid by the 'click.' There is nothing about this set that I don't LOVE." —Mim Roy

Get a six-piece set from Amazon for $55.99.

You can set up to 12 meals to feed on your pet's schedule, and you can also use the "Feed Now" option to feed your pet outside normal feeding times. With the app, you can get notifications from the feeder and control the feeding remotely! There's also a special "Slow Feed" option allows the food to dispense slowly over a 15 minute period! It's designed to feed on schedule as programmed even if Wi-Fi connection is lost or feeder is offline.

Promising review: "So far so good. Set up was easy on iPhone, and I was able to control it manually or on my phone. I measured the amount dispensed, and it was the correct amount I had selected to be dispensed. This fits a lot of kibbles by the way so it will last them for days. I'm trying it out all this week before I go on vacation to ensure that it works properly. The bottom has grip, so it doesn't slide and can't be easily be knocked over." —BUZ_D

Get it from Amazon for $179.95.