50 Problem Solvers Under $50

| Posted: 22 Jul, 2008 by Melissa Summers

1-25 of 50

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• MagWear

  

  $20 at The Spoon Sisters | Buy

  

  | Posted 21 Jul, 2008 by Melissa Summers

• Veggie Chop

  

  A vegetable chopper that works when you pull the cord. The only thing that could make it more Flintstones is if a tiny bird came out of a secret compartment and chopped your vegetables for you.

  $30 at Sur La Table | Buy

  

  | Posted 21 Jul, 2008 by Melissa Summers

• Spool Stand

  

  I’d love to look at my collection of ribbon displayed on my desk, or have baker’s twine on my counter. This spool stand is a lovely shade of blue and keeps everything visible and not in a tangled mass on your desk.

  $9 at Karen Elizabeth | Buy

  

  | Posted 21 Jul, 2008 by Melissa Summers

• Lotta Jansdotter Labels

  

  Pretty labels to adorn your books, folders or homemade treats.

  $16 at Amazon | Buy

  

  | Posted 21 Jul, 2008 by Melissa Summers

• Cool Feet

  

  These stick-on nubs keep your computer cool and make it a bit easier to type.

  via Uncrate

  $13 at Blue Lounge | Buy

  

  | Posted 21 Jul, 2008 by Margaret Mason

• Bottle Cap Tripod

  

  This tripod screw affixed to a bottle cap lets you turn bottles into tripods when you’re on the road. Fits bottles with 28.5 to 30.5 mm diameter.

  $20 at Semson's and Co. | Buy

  

  | Posted 21 Jul, 2008 by Margaret Mason

• Keypod

  

  You’re funding the locksmith’s summer vacations, and you’ve spent way too much time sulking on the porch. Use a key safe to attach a key to your car, or a safe place outdoors. Now you just have to remember the combination.

  $36 at Extreme Horizon | Buy

  (Price converted from pounds.)

  

  | Posted 21 Jul, 2008 by Margaret Mason

• Faucet Fountain

  

  The Faucet Fountain transforms most any faucet into a drinking fountain. Keep your germs to yourself.

  $4 at Tiny Living | Buy

  

  | Posted 21 Jul, 2008 by Melissa Summers

• Kaboost

  

  This ingenious product lifts your chairs up to table height for kids. Less conspicuous than sitting on a phone book.

  Also, who even has a phone book anymore?

  $38 at Shop Kaboost | Buy

  

  | Posted 21 Jul, 2008 by Melissa Summers

• Sombrero Wire Manager

  

  Attach this aptly named cord controller under your desk to keep everything neat. So colorful, it seems a shame to keep them under the desk with all the discarded gum.

  via Swiss Miss

  $4 at Mockett | Buy

  

  | Posted 21 Jul, 2008 by Melissa Summers

• Aluminum Collator

  

  Okay, the beige plastic tub on your living room desk isn’t doing much for the ambience. Give your papers someplace stylish to live and you might be more motivated to organize them one day. Preferably before the federal government asks you to do so.

  $48 at The Mut | Buy

  (13" high and 6" deep)

  

  | Posted 18 Jul, 2008 by Margaret Mason

• Key Storage Board

  

  Makes it more fun to put your keys back where they belong.

  $27 at Pure Modern | Buy

  (For the small.)

  

  | Posted 18 Jul, 2008 by Melissa Summers

• Number Clips

  

  Affix piles of bills with the numbers of the days they’re due, or assign each family member a number and keep their papers tidied.

  $12 at Museum of Useful Things | Buy

  

  | Posted 18 Jul, 2008 by Melissa Summers

• Travel Cord Keeper

  

  It feels a little silly to carry a whole bag for my rechargers while I travel. But then, it beats a plastic bag jammed full of all my rechargers.

  $25 at Kangaroom Storage | Buy

  

  | Posted 18 Jul, 2008 by Melissa Summers

• Apple Cutting Board

  

  Use your apple cutting board to cut into a big juicy piece of meat.

  $28 at Huset | Buy

  

  | Posted 18 Jul, 2008 by Melissa Summers

• Napf Napf

  

  These suction cups help you teach your kid to be a civilized guest at the holiday table, without risking Grandma’s bone china.

  $23 at Kids Modern | Buy

  

  | Posted 18 Jul, 2008 by Melissa Summers

• Newspaper Brick Maker

  

  This ingenious product keeps your newspapers out of the landfill. Fill the Brick Maker with dampened sheets of newspaper, squeeze out the excess water, let dry, and use them to give your fire a head start.

  $30 at Lehman's | Buy

  

  | Posted 17 Jul, 2008 by Melissa Summers

• Lacquer Docking Station

  

  Someday even a docking station won’t be enough to hold all our rechargeable gadgets, we’ll require docking closets.

  $49 at West Elm | Buy

  

  | Posted 17 Jul, 2008 by Melissa Summers

• Six-Piece Finger Food Set

  

  If you keep six types of finger foods in your pantry and put them on these dishes when unexpected guests drop by, they’ll think you’re unstoppable. You are.

  $40 at Pure Modern | Buy

  

  | Posted 17 Jul, 2008 by Melissa Summers

• Salad Spin-N-Store Bags

  

  If you don’t eat a lot of salads, having a salad spinner in your cupboards is a huge waste of space. But not having a salad spinner means hand washing and drying each piece of lettuce individually. It’s hard to love salad enough to make that process worthwhile.

  These reusable bags do just what a salad spinner does but in less storage space.

  $4 at Green Feet | Buy

  

  | Posted 17 Jul, 2008 by Melissa Summers

• Twist and Spout

  

  This little gadget fits most two-liters and water bottles, making them easier to pour or use as watering cans. Take that global warming!

  $5 at Amazon | Buy

  

  | Posted 17 Jul, 2008 by Melissa Summers

• Clothespin Trash Can

  

  It’s a trash can minus all the things you don’t need.

  $17 at Pop Deluxe | Buy

  

  | Posted 17 Jul, 2008 by Melissa Summers

• 50-Year Calendar

  

  $11 at Museum of Useful Things | Buy

  

  | Posted 17 Jul, 2008 by Melissa Summers

• Wall Organizer

  

  A place for keys, outgoing mail and handy reminders all in one place. I can feel the mornings getting less stressful.

  $34 at Velocity Art and Design | Buy

  

  | Posted 17 Jul, 2008 by Melissa Summers

• Card Curve Clutter Cutter

  

  $14 at Hand Picked Collection | Buy

  

  | Posted 17 Jul, 2008 by Melissa Summers