If you’ve felt overwhelmed recently by the sheer number of viral “must-haves” flooding your feeds, you’ve come to the right place. Because unlike almost everything else you could click and read right now, I am not here to tell you about something that will change your life, instantly improve your home or be worth every penny you pay for it. In fact, I’m here to point out some currently viral items that you would, quite frankly, be better off without. We’re not just a shopping site, after all, we’re a money-saving site, and we have officially entered our de-influencing era.
Read on to find 7 things you really do not need to buy (and problems you do not need to be solving for by buying more stuff) in 2024.
Dyson Corrale Hair Straightener
The people of TikTok act like Dyson created the cordless hair straightener, but since the Dyson is $500 (albeit often on sale for more like $350 on Amazon), I have good news for you: They did not. Sure the Corrale has a charging dock and flexing plates that give you more control so you can achieve the results you want with less heat, but let’s be honest–do you really need the best tool in your arsenal on the go? A cordless straightener is amazing for after-work touch-ups, in-the-car quick fixes and spontaneous weekend trips that may involve camping, and in those situations, you just need something to do the job, not do the job better than anything else you own!
As a sub, we suggest the L’ANGE HAIR Le Duo 360º Airflow Styler, which is a 2-in-1 curling iron and flat iron and costs under $100, or this cordless, ceramic straightener from the brand ZAVAREA, that’s $70.
Plufl
Marketed as “the original human dog bed,” this giant, well, dog bed, is designed with gel-infused memory foam to be the most supportive, cozy environment possible and is supposedly amazing for people with anxiety. But with a price tag of $300, I’m going to say this respectfully: You have a bed. Don’t get me wrong, this does sound like a napping dream, and for people who have $300 to burn, why not? But in this economy? A bed substitute just isn’t a must-have.
LuluLemon City Adventurer Nano Backpack
Tiny is in, I get it, but this particular tiny bag has garnered its fame thanks to people attaching it not to their larger backpack or handbag, but to their dog’s collar. People love watching videos of a well-accessorized, self-sufficient dog! And while people swear by it, so their pet can keep up with their own toys, treats or waste bags, at just 3.3 inches wide and 4.7 inches tall–how much storage is this thing actually offering? And does your dog really need to be self-sufficient? If your fuzzy companion isn’t an influencer with his/her own following, we vote no to this tiny dog bag.
Balmuda the Toaster
Kitchen-Tok is abuzz with this baby: A toaster that has five different modes and is said to bring out the best taste, aroma and texture of all of your foods using, wait for it…..steam technology. That’s right, this steam technology supposedly perfectly toasts your bread without it losing its “inner moisture.” Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t toast supposed to be crunchy? Isn’t that kind of toast’s deal? Save the nearly $300 on the price tag of this viral sensation and stick with the technology people have literally been using since 1919 (yes, I actually looked up when the pop-up toaster was invented). It worked then, and it works now.
Zadro TWB Towel Warmer
Repeat after me: “I am not Kim Kardashian, and my bathroom does not have to replicate a 5-star luxury spa.” Doesn’t that feel liberating? I just saved you $155 on a towel warmer, because a room temperature towel is not going to hurt you, and you have always been perfectly happy drying off with that room temperature towel until you found out you could have a towel warmer. Fight that inner high-maintenance diva, my friend. Stay strong.
Stanley Quencher H2.0 40 oz. Tumbler
I can already hear the soccer moms, middle schoolers, varsity cheerleaders and let’s face it: Half of the female population of the United States coming for me for this one: Stanley cups aren’t any better than a plethora of other insulated, stainless steel cups. At some point in the last couple of years, some influencer that you love made a Reel saying how much she loved her Stanley cup. But what has since happened is the purest example of label obsession (for example, the run on the limited-edition red Stanley). Are Christian Louboutins actually better than any other brand of pumps? No, but they have that red sole that gives you status. Stanleys don’t keep your coffee hotter for longer or your water colder for longer or fit in your minivan cupholder better than any other cup, but that Stanley name makes you feel cool.
Here are a couple of alternatives: At $30, the Simply Modern 40 oz Tumbler will save you $15 from the $45 price of a Stanley, and it will serve you just as well and comes in tons of fabulous color options, too. The PickBag 40 oz Tumbler has a 4.8 star review status on Amazon, which is actually slightly higher than the Stanley; the ombré colors are even more fun in my opinion than the solid color options from Stanley, and at $18.98, you could buy two (and still have a few bucks left over) for the price of one Stanley.
Rollie Egg Cooker
The viral nature of this one is really hard to wrap your head around, especially when you watch this shockingly unappetizing video:
The Rollie is supposedly a huge life hack must-have, because it takes “half the time” to make eggs, you don’t need any oil for your scrambled eggs or omelet, so you don’t get the added fat content, and it’s smaller and easier to use than a egg poacher for hard boiled eggs. But considering how epically simple and quick it is to make a scrambled egg, do we really need something to make that task even easier? You have a pan (probably). And if you have a non-stick pan, you don’t even need that tiny bit of oil that isn’t hurting anything, either. If you have a standard kitchen and stove of any kind, this seems like the most ridiculous purchase ever. But if you are in a camping/dorm room situation where you have an outlet but no stove, and this becomes enticing? I encourage you to watch the above video again and just eat a bowl of cereal.
The post 7 Things You Do NOT Need To Buy in 2024 appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.