Acquisitions

This is my version of a fashion influencer's haul video, where I rant and rave about recent purchases I've made.

To explore older posts, click a year: 2023 • 2024

Pressure Reducing Corded Earplugs

Travelon

In 2025, any veteran concertgoer should understand the importance of ear protection. The club kids and headbangers from previous generations suffered the consequences of ignoring their ear health, and viral products like Loop earplugs offer solutions that are as sleek and stylish as they are functional, so there's no excuse to not protect your ears. And yet, despite the fact that I've been dancing at clubs since I turned 18, and have been going to even more shows recently, I've yet to make ear protection a consistent part of my going-out routine.

The trendy name-brand earplugs start at around $30 — the same as a couple of drinks or a surge-priced Uber home — so it can be hard to hit 'add to cart'. I've made due with the basic foam plugs from the drugstore, but they're not the most convenient to carry or use while out and about. So when I found this set of corded earplugs — still in their original packaging — at one of my favorite local thirft stores, I was thrilled. At $6.99, they were a steal compared to the fancier brands, and about the same as what other budget-friendly brands cost new. Except this package came with two pairs (including carrying cases!), so it was even more of a bargain.

A price sticker from the original retailer showed an original cost of $4.99, but the yellowed price tag suggests the same product might go for a few dollars more these days, due to inflation. (Indeed, the same set is currently available for $8.25 on the brand's official store.) Plus, the earplugs were actually bagged up with some kind of six-outlet power adapter. I have no use for it, but since I got two things, I technically paid less than $4 for the earbuds. But I would have been happy to pay $7 for the earplugs alone.

As much as I love finding a good bargain at the thrift store, for me, thrifting isn't just about scoring deals. It's also an ethical choice to avoid buying new products that produce additional waste. Even if I'm buying a polyester shirt originally from a big box retailer that costs about the same as it would new, buying it used keeps already-produced items in circulation, rather than creating demand for more new product and funnelling money into major corporations that hoard profits while underpaying (and often mistreating) their employees. (Thrift stores have their issues too, of course, but there's only so much any of us can do!) And if I can shop ethically while protecting my ear health? That's just priceless!

Rechargeable Value Charger

Duracell

Everyone had one of those moments as a kid — it's Christmas or your birthday and you're excited to unwrap that electronic toy you wanted so bad. You rip open the package, eager to play with it right away, but then your parents read those three dreaded words from the manual — "Batteries not included." You would think the switch to built-in rechargeable batteries would make such occurances less common, but I feel like it's the opposite. Because fewer of my electornics require traditional batteries, I often forget about them until my wireless keyboard or whatever stops working randomly. Then I either have to walk to the store or dig out my old-school wired keyboard like its the 1900s.

That's why I snatched up this Duracell Rechargeable charger and battery set from the clearance section at my local grocery store. I almost didn't buy it because I didn't need new batteries right then, but I will need new AAs eventually, and having a rechargeable set is a lot more convenient and eco-friendly than just buying a multi-pack of the cheap off-brands from Five Below all the time. And it was such a good deal — originally priced at $23.99, it was on clearance for 75% off. That's just a couple of dollars more than a four-pack of my usual brand of disposable AAs.

Not a sexy or exciting purchase otherwise, but when I get a deal this good, I can't help but obsess about it. But I mean, the package does guarantee that the batteries will last up to ten years. So between the money I saved on this set, and the money I'll save on batteries over the next decade, I think it's safe to say I'm on my way to being a millionaire. At the very least, I can hopefully avoid the stress of running out of juice at inopportune times.

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