Stuff Parents Need - Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

Car Woes and Wows with Zubie

January 20, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

This post brought to you by Zubie. All opinions are 100% mine.

As I type this, my car is sitting in our back yard, in official "time out" for making some seriously bad noises (metal-on-metal….NEVER good).

My only consolation while I wait for shop to open Monday morning so I can limp my car over (just 2 blocks, thank goodness), is that I already know that the problem isn't in the engine. How do I know? My Zubie Key told me.

The Zubie Key, which fits into the standard port found in most cars, interfaces with the engine and the battery to let me know if there are any perceived problems or weaknesses. When I checked on my smartphone app that connects with the Zubie Key, I noted that thankfully, the engine seems to be having no problems. There's still a problem, to be sure, but it isn't in the engine. If it was in the engine, I'd be needing to brace myself for one killer auto bill. Dodged a bullet there, and I'm glad to know that now rather than having to worry about it all weekend.

We've had the Zubie key installed for about 3 weeks now, and one of the features that impresses me the most is its ability to assist with safe driving. You'd better believe that I'll want one of these in my car when my oldest becomes a teen driver. I'm sent an alert whenever the car has a hard break. I have to admit, I'm aware of that notification, and it is making me actively work to improve my own driving skills.

I also really like the real-time tracking location. While I feel safe in my neighborhood, I'm no stranger to living in a city with a high car theft rate (shout out, Memphis!). With the Zubie Key, you can track the location of your vehicle, even when you aren't in it! Great to know for keeping your family tracked without having to send text messages back and forth, and also great in the event that someone else decides that they want to steal your car. You (or rather, the police) can track them down, likely before they even realize that the Zubie Key is in place!

And best of all, the Zubie app, which can help you coordinate a trip with other drivers, is completely free. You can get a feel for some of the great features the Zubie Key can offer before making the purchase. Give it a try; I bet you'll like it enough to get a Zubie Key. And you can order today with code SAVE20JANand SAVE 20%. Offer good through February 28, 2014. Shipping charges may apply.

Keep up with the latest by following Zubie on Facebook and on Twitter.

On My Workout Wishlist: Wireless Earbuds

January 20, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

So we are almost 3 weeks into 2014, friends. I’m curious how many of you have goals and resolutions for the year that involve improving your health in some way? I certainly do, and I’ll be the first to tell you that I have struggled right out of the gate to address it. While I have been improving my breakfast habits, which is an area I wanted to work on, I haven’t yet made it to the gym.

Yikes.

I need to get motivated, and that means that I’m about to start firing up my FitBit again. When I used it last year, it kept me honest about how much I had been moving, and on days when it seems that I had been particularly sloth-like, it helped me to recognize it, and then get the family out the door for a walk. Time to get back in the habit!

I also want to have some great earbuds on hand for when I finally do make it over to the gym for a little one-on-one time on the treadmill. I absolutely WON’T do it without music! I think I have some earbuds around here, somewhere. Maybe? Tim is the one who uses them the most often. And our cat, Hattie, has chewed through her share of earbud wires, so some have been lost that way.

I think I just need to get an official pair for myself. And I’ve got my sights set on the yurbuds.

These are WIRELESS earbuds. The are Bluetooth compatible, andthey don’t plug into your device at all, which is awesome! No more having your plug rip out while you are jogging or doing some other form of exercise. I’ve had that happen to me multiple times on the treadmill, and it always causes me to stop what I’m doing, which kills the momentum! Studies have actually shown that playing music during a workout can increase intensity and duration of exercise time by up to 15%. These earbuds were created by an Ironman Triathelet and 24-time marathoner in response to the problem of earbuds coming disconnected during exercise.

The Wireless Sport Earphones are sweat and water resistant, and they are ergonomically designed for maximum comfort. You get to focus on your workout, and not on if your earbuds are about to fall out or disconnect. I really love that! The battery lasts for 6 hours, too, which can get you through an entire week’s worth of 1 hour workouts (assuming you take a day off!). You’ll also never be caught off guard by the battery running out, as it provides visual and audio notifications of the need to recharge.

Best Buy knows a great product when they see one, and they are SUPER excited about the launch of these wireless yurbuds. To celebrate, they are offering 20% off all yurbuds products online and in-stores! Valid 1/19/14 – 2/22/14. If purchasing online, just use code yurbuds20 at checkout.

Additionally, now is a great time to get any sort of Health and Fitness product you might need (like a FitBit!). Best Buy is offering a $5 Best Buy Gift Card when you make a qualifying Health and Fitness product right now ( at Best Buy Mobile Specialty Stores). Valid 1/19/14 – 2/22/14.

What do you think about these? Would they make your workouts a bit easier? And do you have any song suggestions for my workout playlist? It needs an update!

Back On Track to a More Balanced Lifestyle (#WowThatsGood)

January 19, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 4 Comments

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser.

I have to tell you, as much as I love the fact that my family is together for almost every single meal daily (even lunch!), it comes at a price to my ability to maximize my work day. Since I work from home, I’m the one who is in the house and can get lunch and dinner ready each day. Mondays and Wednesdays are the worst, because I don’t have the kiddos with me before lunch, and it is prime “work” time. To spend 30 minutes of that precious time preparing lunch totally wrecks my attempt at a balanced lifestyle, because it gives me less time to get my job done, which in turn makes me more stressed out.

I’ve been noticing that as a result, I’ve been throwing together meal options that aren’t the best choice for my family due to their high salt intake, and I’ve been stress eating while trying to work lightning fast on those days. I need to get back on track with some healthier options that are also really convenient so that I can focus on my work, and also not feel guilty about what I’m eating.

#wowthatsgood stocked freezer

So I headed to Walmart to find some options that would help me make the most of my work hours without coming at a steep cost to my waistline. I really hit the jackpot, too, and now my freezer has an ample supply of healthier choices that can be prepared in a flash.

Breakfast this week has been looking like this:

#wowthatsgood lean cuisine turkey sausage english muffin

This is the LEAN CUISINE Morning Collection Turkey Sausage English Muffin. I’ve been eating it with some sliced citrus and a glass of almond milk. It is totally filling and takes 2 minutes to prepare. The box I purchased at Walmart cost $2.50 for 2 muffins, which makes it very reasonably priced (I can tell you from experience that a similar product at a certain fast food joint with golden arches costs more than double that price per serving where I live, and I don’t even want to know what the calorie difference is!).

For lunch, my new favorite go-to dish is the Lean Cuisine Sesame Chicken dish.

Now, in my experience, frozen Chinese food is ok at its best. And if it is a lighter version? You’ll be doing good for it to taste edible. I know that LEAN CUISINE has a reputation for putting out excellent products, so I wasn’t expecting it to taste bad.

But I also wasn’t expecting it to taste great. But it really did! It tasted like REAL Chinese food, and it cost only $1.97 and was ready in 4 minutes. It is safe to say that I was shocked by just how yummy it was. Sesame Chicken from LEAN CUISINE immediately went back on my shopping list, and I plan to buy 5 more, and then treat myself to this particular lunch once a week for the next month! Little Layah also LOVED the noodles in the dish, and certainly ate her fill of them after tugging on my sweater and pleading, “Mommy! Noodle! Peeeze!”

Did you know that LEAN CUISINE items actually come with a Money Back Guarantee? I just recently learned this, and that’s really all I needed to hear in order to start trying multiple new (to me) products each week. I’ve tried their Salad ADDITIONS before (AMAZINGLY good, by the way), and I have just learned that they also have Wrap ADDITIONS. I picked up the Creamy Balsamic Chicken, and it is DELICIOUS, and MINE, MINE, MINE! Tim doesn’t like balsamic vinegar, which means I don’t have to share. Hooray!

I’ve also been wanting to try the LEAN CUISINE Simple Favorites Macaroni and Cheese, as that is a go-to dish for really bad/hard days (it is comfort food, after all) and I’d really love to try LEAN CUISINE’s take on it. With that Money Back Guarantee, I’ve got nothing to lose!

But here’s the tricky thing about the mac and cheese: getting it past my kids without them taking (ridiculously large) bites of it! Not only did I NOT get to keep this all to myself, but when I prepared this dish, it was all I could do to get a few bites in. My little ones were like hungry piranhas around it!

When I was shopping, I also knew that I needed to help myself make some better choices during my coffee breaks (which are frequent!). I’ve been curious about CoffeeMate’s Sugar-Free French Vanilla creamer, so I picked some up. Now I just needed a little chocolate, and found a great option with Skinny Cow. They have Divine Candy is a variety of options, but I knew the moment I laid eyes on the peanut butter creme filled chocolates that they would be going home with me. What a delicious and guilt-free snack break! I highly recommend them! And as for the creamer, I was very pleasantly surprised! I think it will take a little bit of time to get used to the sweet factor being not quite as strong, but given how much coffee I drink, making the switch to a sugar-free creamer is going to have a significant impact on my daily intake of calories. I’m glad I made the switch!

Later today I’m going to be serving a really fun snack to my entire family. LEAN CUISINE Three Cheese & Spinach Stuffed Pretzels will make for the perfect 3 o’clock treat for my crew, and is a much better choice than the alternative, which at the moment is leftover holiday candy.

What about you? Do you struggle to find food options that don’t take long to prepare and that promote a balanced lifestyle? Any particular products you think I should pick up the next time I’m grocery shopping?

Baby Shower Hostess Gift Ideas I Love

January 17, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

If you are the lucky recipient of an upcoming baby shower, don’t forget to remember your hostess, and bring along a thoughtful baby shower hostess gift as a thank you for all the work your friend put into your celebration.

Sometimes it can be difficult to come up with ideas that don’t seem to expected or boring, though (especially during the third trimester of a pregnancy, when I found it to be challenging to have a coherent thought most of the time!). I’ve got some ideas for you today (some affiliate links included) that are outside-of-the-box, as well as some fun twists on more conventional ideas. I hope they help you quickly identify a baby shower hostess gift that will be just perfect for you (and for your friend!).

1. If you want to be a little tongue-in-cheek with your gift, consider getting a really cute umbrella, and attach a tag that says, “Thank you for showering us with love!” I found these beautiful umbrellas for just $10 each. Score!

2. Toast to your friend’s efforts by bringing a bottle of wine and a set of really cute wine glasses, like these with a chalkboard-dipped stem. Since you are expecting, you’ll have to wait to share a bottle of wine with her, but the day is coming, I promise!

3. I think one of the most thoughtful gifts you can give is a bit of help after the party. If you are able to help with the dishes and clean up, why not bring some fancy dish soap, an organic hand towel, and a bit of your time? Honest.com has really awesome cleaning products that feel like a treat to receive. Don’t forget to get all your Honest.com freebies if you’ve never ordered from them before!

4. Flowers are a nice sentiment, but what about something that will last longer, like a beautiful potted plant? Bonus points if it also offers a few blooms, like this Serene Peace Plant !

5. Unoriginal, I know, but in this case, if the gift ain’t broke, don’t fix it! A Starbucks gift card is a welcome sight for any coffee enthusiast. StarbucksStore.com has some really cute design options that you can get shipped to your home. Easy peasy!

6. How about a break for those tired feet? Dr. Teal’s Epsom Salt Foot Soak in Cooling Peppermint is one of my favorite indulgences. Buy two, because you should have a bag, too! Just trust me!

7. I know what you are thinking: a scented candle? SO boring! But not this one from Diamond Candles. This one has a pretty ring inside, and that ring could be worth up to $5,000. Totally makes burning it and enjoying the delicious scent that much more fun.

8. Finally, if your friend isn’t so much into coffee (which means I totally can’t relate to her), perhaps she would like a fancy iced tea gift set? I thought this one was too cute, and the price point is nice, too!

Do you have any other ideas for thoughtful and fun baby shower hostess gifts? I’d love to hear them in the comments, and I’m sure others would, too!

Cruising: All About the Food!

January 15, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 4 Comments

I was sent on a Royal Caribbean press trip in November. My experiences and my opinions are mine alone.

Before we experienced what it’s like to cruise with Royal Caribbean, we heard a whole lot of tips, tricks, advice and anecdotes from our friends and family who had been on a cruise (or 7, in the case of my older brother). But one theme was consistent from person to person: everyone raved about how great the food is. And especially so on Royal Caribbean.

I will tell you that having a break for several days from having to prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner was a HUGE treat. I would have been pleased as punch with mediocre food as long as I didn’t have to prepare it.

But friends, NOTHING is mediocre on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Every meal is perfection and so much fun. We had breakfast one morning in our room (room service is free of charge for the vast majority of the day!) and also enjoyed a character breakfast with the likes of Shrek and Fiona one morning. And don’t get me started on the waffles!

The chefs on Freedom of the Seas, the ship we sailed on, were so thoughtful about presentation. Eating happens with your eyes, as well as with your taste buds. I was smiling before I took my first bite!

We also enjoyed the lunch options, which were casual but, that doesn’t mean they weren’t excellent! As you can see below, attention to detail wasn’t spared. And the taste? Delightful!

This is the main dining room, where we enjoyed our extravagant dinners, as well as a few lunches and one special breakfast. You can’t help but feel totally spoiled eating in a room like this!

Our evening meals were true events: I particularly enjoyed taking time to “dress” for dinner (even though on most nights the suggested attire is on the casual side). We had 3 course meals that surprised and delighted us. And we were encouraged to let our server know if anything was less than stellar so that it could be swapped out for something different. One of my favorites was the seafood pasta I enjoyed. Since Tim doesn’t care much for seafood, I rarely make it at home. What a treat!

The desserts, as you can imagine, were their own little treasures. On our first night I enjoyed a cobbler that truly is one of the best I’ve ever had (and I’m from the South, where we don’t mess around with our cobblers, so that’s really saying something!).

And I also snapped a shot of my very favorite dessert of the entire cruise. Would you believe that it was served to me at lunch?! This flan was AMAZING!!!!!! Best I’ve ever had by leaps and bounds. I totally regret not asking for another one.

From the grab-and-go dining options on the promenade (pizza and pastries available around the clock, Ben & Jerry’s, and even a cupcake shop!), to the spectacular dining options at the Windjammer and main dining room, I really thought I had seen it all.

And then we had dinner at one of the specialty restaurants on board, Portofino’s.

I’ve had people ask me why you would pay an extra charge to eat at a restaurant on a cruise ship when the dining options are already so wonderful. Honestly, it’s a valid point. You certainly won’t be feeling shortchanged t by sticking to the complimentary options.

But now that I have had the experience, let me tell you what makes the specialty restaurants so darn special. First and foremost, there’s an intimacy about it that you won’t experience in the beautiful but vast dining rooms. It truly feels like a tucked away, quiet, romantic restaurant. Such great atmosphere!

The food is also a notch above what you’ll find in the main dining halls. I found that hard to believe since I was so wowed by everything I ate. But it’s true! You’ll find very premium dishes in these restaurants. And the presentation is just over the top!

I would recommend that you book one meal at one of the specialty restaurants during your cruise. The prices are quite reasonable when you consider the food quality and the service you will receive. It will also stand out as a #RoyalWow moment that you’ll remember for a long time to come.

If you’ve never experienced the joy of cruising with Royal Caribbean, and if you’ve never dined like a celebrity for a week (that’s what it felt like to me!), then let me suggest that you take a look at how to book a cruise with Royal Caribbean. The value, in my opinion, is simply unbeatable, unless you happen to have your own yacht, and your own house on a Caribbean island, I suppose. And if that’s the case, we should totally hang out on your yacht sometime!

Have you ever been on a cruise? What was the food like???

I’m Spending Valentine’s Day with My In-Laws

January 14, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

Special thanks to Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort for providing upcoming accommodations. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

So we are just shy of a month away from Valentine’s Day. It actually is a very special day to me because I accidentally started dating my husband on Valentine’s Day all the way back in 1999.

So this February 14th marks 15 years that Tim and I have been together. I think that is worthy of a getaway somewhere very special. We’ve selected Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.

And we’re bringing Tim’s parents with us.

You are most likely wondering why in the world we would be bringing our in-laws on what could potentially be a very romantic getaway. It’s simple, really. We are eager to show the ocean to our little girls, who have never been before. We just got to have a child-free vacation, and now we are wanting to have some really great family time.

And my in-laws are part of that equation. They travel the world right now, and the stars just happen to be aligning so that they can join us on this adventure. I was totally shocked to hear that they have never seen the beautiful white sand beaches of the Emerald Coast. Destin was the beach I grew up going to, and only after visiting my first beach outside of the area did I realize how spoiled I was. I can’t wait for everyone in my family to experience the majesty of the area.

And I definitely can’t wait to explore Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.

I mean, just take a peek!

This resort has 2,400 acres! And they offer complimentary amenities to all of their guests, including:

Bicycle rental
Fitness Center access
Tennis court time
Resort transportation
Seasonal water amenities including kayaks and boogie boards
kitchenware in all units

I can’t wait to share pictures and more detailed information with you as our trip nears. Are you looking for spring break or summer plan options? The Emerald Coast is one of the most breathtaking in the United States, I promise you that! Definitely see what Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort has available that could meet your family’s needs!

Valentine Craft for Kids: Heart Jelly Bean Bracelet

January 14, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 19 Comments

Affiliate links included for this Valentine craft. Enjoy!

I wish I had documented the day that my oldest learned of candy necklaces. Special treats joining forces with jewelry?!?! YES!!!!!!!!!!

So on a recent trip to the grocery store, I thought I’d see if I could find any Valentine’s jelly candy that we could use for a craft. Remember, I’m TOTALLY NOT CRAFTY, (no, really….) but I figured that poking holes through some jelly beans and tying knot in some string was something I could handle.

So here’s how I made a Valentine craft for kids in the form of a jelly bean bracelet.

First, I gathered my supplies. You need some jewelry elastic. I found mine at Walmart with all the jewelry making supplies, and I’m sure Michael’s has it, but that store scares the crap out of me (remember, NOT CRAFTY!). I also found these heart shaped jelly beans, but you can use anything you can find that you think will withstand the puncture of a needle really well.

Speaking of the needle, I wanted to get something really thick, and not sharp on the tip since this craft is intended for kids. I found a tapestry needle, and I have no idea if that was the “best” choice, but it worked for me!

Even with the large, “dull” needle, I still felt that the act of puncturing each jelly bean was a bit too challenging for a 4-year-old. I’m thinking this would be a good craft for maybe ages 7 and up.

I tied a few knots on one end of the string to get started, and then ran the needle and thread through the center of the jelly bean, like this:

And then I realized that I made a hole far too large for my dinky little knot. So I needed some other way to keep the string from falling through while I got all the jelly bean hearts on the string (I hope that makes sense!). So I busted out my Scotch tape and just taped it in place for the moment. Once again, no idea if that was the “right” thing to do, but it worked!

Once I had all the jelly beans on the string, I tied lots and lots of little knots. It needed several because this plastic material is very slippery, and I noticed that one simple knot will come undone. Several are needed for it to behave!

That’s it! You are done and now have a really cute bracelet. This is such a great craft for parent/child bonding time, or for a play date. You can even make necklaces or anklets using this concept.

I spent about $5 on the supplies, and I could probably make 4 bracelets with the jelly beans I have. Not too bad, and it was a huge hit with my daughter! Give it a try, even if you are like me and “don’t do crafts!” And just a head’s up: your tapestry needle will not survive the craft. It will be completely coated in candy by the time you are done. I gave the needle my most heartfelt thanks for its service, and then sent it to the garbage can!

Our Word for 2014: Sanctuary

January 14, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

I am participating in the ZonePerfect Blog It Forward program, and am receiving complimentary products as a thank you for my participation. I am encouraged to provide honest feedback, be it positive, neutral or negative! So just like always, all thoughts and opinions listed here are my own. 🙂

For the past 2 years, Tim and I have switched from having a list of New Year’s Resolutions to having a word that captures our goals and dreams. The first year we did it, we chose the word rooted. Last year we went with awakening. We have actually found that we are far more successful at achieving our goals when we have a word to guide us and a theme, for lack of a better word, than simply a list.

So we put our heads together and talked about the itches we really needed to scratch in 2014. At first, they didn’t seem to jive.

I wanted to work on getting our house clutter-free and getting back into a workout routine so I could be healthier. Tim wanted to figure out how to manage his stress better (he started a new position at his job this year, and the stress level pretty much tripled over night for him).

But after going back and forth about the issues that went deeper than a clean kitchen and attending yoga classes, we found our word, indeed.

Sanctuary

photo credit: mudpig via photopin cc

Tim and I realized that at the heart of it all, we are both craving space and time that is calm, quiet, contemplative and that just feels good. We are both seeking some sanctuary in our lives, and this year, we are going to make space for it.

ZonePerfect challenged me to write a letter to my future self that encourages me to stay on track and that highlights some of the specific steps I plan to take to reach my goals. Just as I have enjoyed reading my previous entries about our words for the year, I smile at the thought of me reading this, likely right around this time next year. So let’s do it!

Dear “Zen Master” Tiffany of 2015,

Look at you. Having the time to read. I bet you are sipping on iced coffee, munching on a ZonePerfect bar, and feeling great because you’ve already worked out today AND the house is looking good. High five, sister! I’m so glad we purged the home of all the clutter and developed new systems and habits aimed at bringing peace and happiness to the home.

I bet that Tim is less stressed these days, isn’t he? And tell me, what is it like for the girls to know where all of their toys live and to actually play with them all because they aren’t overwhelmed with options?

I’m very curious to hear if the professional organizer we hired was a game changer. Clearly I thought she would be, and opted to invest in her expertise. Over here on this side of 2014, I still feel very nervous. I feel like there’s a reason our house is so disorganized, and that’s because getting rid of stuff, in the quantity that we need to, is going to be emotionally draining. And finding new systems that actually work will be overwhelming, too. That’s why I’m hiring help!

My hope is that by truly getting the house under control and learning how to keep it that way, you and Tim have freed up time to work on your physical temples, creating more of a sanctuary there. You LOVE Zumba, and there’s no reason that you shouldn’t be back at it weekly by now. And with a little luck, you are making the yoga classes, too. Is Tim still waking up early so he can have time for meditation? He’s like a shiny, new and improved version of himself when he gets that quiet time, so I hope so!

What about breakfast? At the start of 2014 you were struggling to actually eat breakfast (a problem you have NEVER had before) because your work day starts so dang early (between 3:30 and 4:30 am). I’m just now getting back into the habit of reaching for a ZonePerfect bar instead of only drinking coffee, which I know is terrible for your body as its first fuel. I hope I have successfully changed this bad habit I was developing and now have healthy breakfast choices. And I hope I’m much less often starting the day at 3:30, too!

Thinking about what the start of 2015 might look like is really motivating. I know I have a long way to go to get there, but when I think about 2015 Tiffany and how she could feel, I think the pain is definitely worth the gain!

What are you working on for 2014? I’d love to hear about your word for the year, or any goals you have set for yourself. And if you have ever hired a professional organizer, PLEASE tell me about that experience! I’m excited, but definitely nervous, too!

Stretching Your Post Holiday Budget on Essentials at CVS

January 13, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

This post brought to you by CVS. All opinions are 100% mine.

Who else has a checking account that is begging for mercy after the holidays? I swear I get an eyeroll from my credit card every time I reach for it these days. It wants a break!

I can definitely back off on gift purchases for the moment, as our first family birthday of the year isn't until May, but there isn't much I can do about the essentials. When we run out, we've just got to replace them!

Fortunately, CVS has recently released (in last Sunday's paper) $51 worth of coupon savings on all Johnson and Johnson brand products.

I saw it as the perfect opportunity to get stocked up on my personal favorite mouthwash, Listerine®. It was also a good opportunity to get stickers for Darah. And by "stickers" I actually mean Band-Aid® products. If you have a preschooler, then you know that those are are the coolest stickers you can get.

Additionally, you might want to know about the You SAVE, we GIVE scholarship. When you purchase any Johnson & Johnson product at CVS until 1/11/14, 10 cents will be donated (up to $100,000) for 35 Nurse Practitioner Scholarships. Interested in applying for the scholarships? Check out http://minuteclinic.com/togetherwecare.

So what about you? What are some essentials that you simply can't go without, even when the budget is tight?