If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Why are piggy banks so fascinating, even to adults? Don’t tell me they’re all for kids, some of these are way too complex. Do we like keeping track of our money so much that we need to count pennies?

I don’t know the answer, but I know I like the idea of a box that tells me how much money there’s inside. The Digital Counting Piggy Bank does exactly that. It comes with a slot that automatically counts the coins and a digital display for the total sum, which could be a great way of teaching kids about the value of money.

On the other hand, it can be a great tool for adults to decide when they can buy the next useless cheap gadget, which somehow sounds like an even better idea.

How much under $29.99?
Exactly $29.98 on TaylorGifts.com.

Via Coolest Gadgets

The Waterproof Camera Floater is a very useful device if you pay attention to the important part of the name.

The floater is actually a foam-filled neoprene wrist lanyard that can keep most point-and-shoot cameras afloat and easy to spot in case you drop them in the water. However, in order to survive the trip, they need to be waterproof. No, simply attaching it to your regular camera won’t make it immune to water, so don’t try iy.

I suppose not many people use their cameras underwater and spend enough time at sea to risk losing it, but if you’re one of them $10 might save you a couple of hundred in lost equipment. Not a bad deal at all.

How much under $29.99?
A lot: $9.99 on Chisco.com.

Via bookofjoe

Keeping condoms in a drawer is so passé… what you need is a Condom Dispenser on your nightstand.

Condo-M, as it’s called, is basically a small metal tower with a tray that can be pulled out for easy access to prophylactics. “Protection is a turn on” indeed, as the product description puts it, but… a condom dispenser?

Protection is good. But when you need a special device for your condoms, that says “I sleep with so many women that a regular box isn’t enough”. And I don’t think that’s the kind of guy women go nuts for.

How much under $29.99?
A little: $28 on UncommonGoods.com.

Via Gizmodo

Bandages. Not something people devote much thought to. But I like them. They keep the bad shoes away from my delicate feet. And the Happy Bunny bandages I featured here a while ago were extra cute.

But if you’re trying to look manly, “cute” is the last thing you want. You’re looking for rugged. Rough.

Real men use duct tape. However, if you’re not trying to cause yourself more pain, but on the contrary, to cover up a wound, Duct Tape Bandages are the next best thing. They won’t rip your skin off, but won’t make you look like a wuss either. (And they are made from 3M duct tape, anyway, so they’re almost the real thing.)

How much under $29.99?
A lot: $3.27 in our store, powered by Amazon.com.

Via Uncrate

This is officially the weirdest product I’ve even written about. I’ve seen useless and bizarre things before, but most were just ugly, not… this.

Getting to the point: Nose Up Straight-Bridge Makers. As far as I can guess, this device squeezes your nose in the hope of making it straighter. Or something. The Engrish on the package is delicious: “In order to make your little nose clearer, more beautiful and full of happiness, this product is necessary for your nose!”. And, of course, it’s “anti-germ and stink-proof”.

Um, yeah, I’ll take 10. I want my nose to be happy.

How much under $29.99?
A lot: $2.63 on DealExtreme.com.

Via GearDiary

The phrase “memory of a goldfish” may or might not be true, but we don’t really care. What’s certain is that pet fish aren’t that bright and don’t get bored.

But people do. And regular aquariums are kind of boring, really. A tank with some plants, maybe a rock or two and a couple of fish… *yawn* Killer sharks sound much more exciting, but since real sharks would have your goldfish for dinner, fake ones would be best. The Discovery Shark Reef Aquarium offers those sharks - 3D sharks even! - with bubble streams underneath to make it look like they’re moving, a background of the ocean and even a sunken treasure.

Any kid who’s ever read an adventure story set at sea (or even seen Finding Nemo) will be excited by this. And who’ll be able to brag about their cool aquarium to their friends?

How much under $29.99?
A little: $23.99 on Discovery.com.

It looks like a paper wallet, doesn’t it? But that would just tear to pieces after the first day’s use… Of course, the manufacturers aren’t at all stupid: although it looks like paper, it’s actually a material called Tyvek, made from high-density polyethylene (plastic) fibers, that’s durable but lightweight.

The Tyvek Wallet - Par Avion is large enough to keep your money, credit cards and other random things you might carry, and because of the properties of the material it’s humidity-proof and very thin, perfect for popping in a pocket.

And maybe, just maybe, a thief who sees an “envelope” sticking out of your back pocket won’t find it worthy of stealing.

Two other models available if you’re not fond of this one, rawhide and dot matrix.

How much under $29.99?
A little: $25 in our store, powered by Amazon.com.

Via GearDiary

I was going to write about how some people like to follow trends, while others like being original, and I realized I wasn’t right. Many of the “originals” are just following their own trend - it’s now cool to wear handmade objects, to ransack your mum’s closet for 70s clothes and/or to be geeky. And, as far as trends go, I love it. People who follow it are likely to be kindred spirits.

While I doubt it’s handmade, I see the Cassette Tape Necklace as a future hit with retro fans and geeks alike, maybe even eco-minded people. The pendant is cut from an old vinyl record into the shape of the cassette tape and it has three things going for it:
- originality (everyone will notice a black tape among all the silvery and gold pendants around)
- recycling (those vinyl would’ve been thrown away, right?)
- commentary on life (ok, maybe that’s too much to say, but the tape replaced the vinyl and now it’s been replaced by the CD… what’s next?)

If you’re looking for special jewelry and you’re bored with the traditional precious metals and gemstones… look no further.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $19.99 on Insound.com.

Via Outblush

Thieves don’t usually spend much time in a house. They need to grab what they can and be on their way, so they naturally look in the most obvious places for valuables: drawers, safes, jewelry boxes. But I bet they can be outsmarted by the Hidden Wall Safe (unless they read this blog, that is). And even then, what thief has the time to check every single outlet in the house, just in case?

This safe won’t hold a dozen necklaces or a fortune in coins, but it is perfect for money, credit cards, some jewelry and any other important small items. Unless you have very thorough burglars, you’ll come home to a shock, but at least you’ll get to keep your vital things. Screwing over criminals is a fabulous feeling, especially when you use a $4 piece of plastic to do it.

How much under $29.99?
A lot: $3.99 in our store, powered by Amazon.com.

The world is officially weird. We now have a gadget specially designed to help men get a perfect goatee. And the weirdest thing is that I actually think it’s a great idea…

The Goatee Saver is a fully adjustable device that covers the part of your face you want unshaven, allowing you free movement with the razor around it. At the same time, it ensures the goatee will be symmetrical (because, let’s face it, no matter how much someone stares in the mirror, it’s never going to be perfect…) The “locking system” is the simplest possible: your mouth. You bite down on it. Results: Goatee Saver stays in place, user gets two free hands.

A woman isn’t the most qualified person to give advice on this, but I know men who go unshaven because they just can’t be bothered shaving around their goatee or sideburns… they would love it.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $19.99 on GoateeSaver.com.

Via DVICE