Top 5 items under $50
For all the life hackers out there -- I see you
I love lists. It’s the true test of can you defend or articulate the why. It’s the purest form of a stance. We all know asking “what’s your favorite movie or song?” is blasphemous, but a top 5 list? Now we are freakin talking!
A list is only as good as it’s constraints. Someone trademark that and send me the bill. The constraints define how you go about ranking them, so choose wisely. For me, this list is a composition of the top 5 items I think every person should own that cost under a $50. Why $50? Well, it's not a lot money, but this is where the real value lies in a lot of contexts. It’s easy to spend $1k and feel like it’s a high quality good. It’s often built into the price — quality. However, for goods that are more affordable finding the line between trash and treasure is often a lot thinner. That’s where I come in.
This is ranked by priority:
1) Tongue Scraper [link]
This is the single most important item I have purchased for myself in the last 10 years. I unfortunately have a hairy tongue, TMI ? — yeppers. When I sleep, I will accumulate a large amount of bacteria on the topside of my tongue near my tonsils. It’s gross — get over it. This device is a simple metal tool that essential runs over the top of your tongue, gathers and removes the bacteria resting there. After 30 years, I can confidently say I do not have bad breath anymore. Trust me, I come from a family of dentists. The science is real. Most bad breath stems from leftover bacteria, and this tool can fix it overnight. If you told 18 year old me that $10 is all that it took to fix my breath, I’d give you $20 and walk away with tears in my eyes.
Price: $7.99
2) Uniqlo Black Crew [link]
Finding effortlessly cool items of clothing is annoying difficult. I was skeptical on fast fashion, and Uniqlo has a weird middle ground. However, this sweatshirt.. how you say.. slaps? The quality of material feels quite good good, and the fit is loose at your hips / tight around your neck — chef’s kiss. The color also stands out as it’s a rich midnight dark, which is very important. You need a dark rich texture for a sweatshirt so that you can look by slim [thanks to the color] and comfy at the same time. This can be paired with literally anything. So, for anyone like me who struggle to put together an outfit.. buy this. It will pair with jeans, chinos, or sweatpants. I would recommend you size down a full size, wash with cold water, and air dry. If that sounds like too much work, suck it up. Women put fair more energy into looking great. If looking good for a man is literally just “being careful while doing laundry” then shut up and do it.
Price: $39.99
3) SLIP SleepMask [link]
I honestly can’t sleep without it. I knew I was light sensitive, but holy hell batman — this product fixed something I didn’t know I needed. The level of blackout on this seemingly small piece of silk is impressive. Whether it’s on a plane or my wife turning on the light before bed — I barely notice. It’s not perfect, and if you are someone who needs complete blackouts then you will need to spend more for a higher quality / more guaranteed blackout experience. That being said, the silk material is a game changer. It’s soft, and lightly rests on your face. The silk band that holds it against the back of your head is pliable and does not pull on your hair. You can machine wash this, and it’s become a staple for when I travel [for sleeping on planes] .
Price: $50
4) SmartWool Everyday Anchor Line Zero Cushion Crew Socks [link]
The only reason these are beneath the Eyemask is that sleep is more important than literally anything you do as a human. However, finding socks with strong elastic and durable wicking properties is a must for anyone. Raise your hand if by the end of the day your sock looks ragged and barely holds your foot shape? Cool, then buy the “Everyday Anchor Line Zero Cushion Crew Socks” ones. They have secure fit and a comfort welt with a “stay put” fit that actually works. If you haven’t worn SmartWool tech then let me tell you the facts. They actually absorb moisture without becoming heavy, and somehow stay cool in your shoe even if it’s hot outside. It might as well be voodoo magic. I wear these socks every single day regardless of a boot, tennis shoe, or birkenstock. The thickness is perfect, and the solid coloring is a match made in heaven. These are the best socks you can buy hands-down, and they will change the way you look at every other sock.
Price: $21
5) An MLB “mid-crown” Baseball Hat [link]
Regardless of whether you are an actual fan, pick your local baseball team and buy an official hat for them. For starters, it’s actually low-key cool to like baseball in a non serious way. You will get nods from literally anyone at a brewery, coffee shop, bar , or restaurant by repping your local team. If you want to rep your hometown team if you’ve moved to avoid the bandwagon jumping, this still applies. The weird thing about baseball is that any fan is just lucky you care — it’s about the sport, not the team. However, the most important thing is that a mid-crown hat that has a curved bill elongates your face. One of the sneaky best things to do for style is to create lines and sharpness to your facial features. The long bill at the top actually helps shape your face to fit the bill in a profile angle. It’s a clever and simple look that nearly every man can pull off — regardless of face shape.
I can’t be more clear: mid-crown, curved, and loose fit baseball hat.
NEVER A FLAT BILL OR TRUCKER. These are hard looks to pull off from most guys, and I would generally avoid unless you have ample amounts of rizz.
Price: $41.99
Conclusion
I promise you won’t be disappointed in a single purchase. In fact, I am so confident that I know you will love every single item here upon purchasing that if in the rare instance you are unhappy / dissatisfied — comment in the post, and I will buy you a beer as an apology [virtually via Venmo or in person] . That’s the Cam Guarantee.