Hot Products: Splurge on These, Skimp on Those

As with every gift-giving season, you are on a budget. We know you have a bigger-than-big heart and you only want to gift the best of the best to yourself and others, but it's just not financially smart. So, there will have to be sacrifices, and figuring out what those are and following through can be tough and often painful. Let us help you to get started on the process of figuring out where you can skimp and where you should be fine to splurge. We editors and blog contributors are here to ease your pain on some of these decisions with some words of encouragement and advice.

In no particular order, here are some splurges and skimps we came up with to begin your list. And, by the way, we're giving away one of our splurges to a lucky reader! Read on to find out which one!


Skimpies. It only makes sense that you should skimp on your skimpies! Any gifted underthings should be skimpy, right? Right! In all seriousness, though, underwear and lingerie should not be costing you an arm and a leg. Affordable can still look sexy and luxe. For example, these fetching corsets are all under $60 and these sweet baby doll nighties are under $50. And, check out these comfy undies for $15 or less. Interested in bras? Jezebel makes flirty bras at reasonable prices, and these push-up bras won't cost you more than $50. No one will even know that you didn't shell out an extra $50 - $100 to look as alluring as you do in these affordable pieces!


iPad. You want it? Go ahead and get it. It's worth the splurge. iPad owners will even tell you that. Although, if you already have an iPhone, go for the WiFi-only version. Since this is a splurge, you might also want to stay to the lower-priced memory model: the 16 GB Apple iPad for $499. That way, it almost becomes a kind of modest splurge. These coveted tablets can keep you connected, entertained for hours, and help you to streamline many of your daily tasks and needs (with the calendar, emailing, work, menu planning, online shopping), allowing you to be more efficient and productive on-the-go. This is a great piece of technology that you could easily use every day.


Faux-Fur. A definite skimp. It's one of the season's hottest trends, but don't think that you have to shell out big bucks to be able to incorporate it into your wardrobe. That it is so popular means that it is more widely available, and at different price points. Take a look at this cozy, chic version of a faux-fur ring scarf from Nordstrom for $34. It will look amazing and luxurious with coats and sweaters. Try it with a Swarovski Crystal Sunburst brooch from the Jacqueline Kennedy line by MyJewelryBox. On another day, you can add a little faux-fur for less with a trendy vest from Bebe for under $60 or sport faux-fur on your feet with $41 boots for snowy days. Faux-fur belongs on your skimp list "faux"-sure!

Robot Floor Cleaner. It's not a real splurge if you consider this: other robot cleaners range from $279.99 to over $300 (think Roomba). The new Mint Floor Cleaner is $249.99 MSRP, but it's $199.99 on Amazon and at Bed Bath and Beyond! Plus, there's Free Shipping offer and Free 3-Year Warranty until 11/12/10. It could be considered a splurge for the DIY-ers, but if your time is scarce, you have a pet that sheds constantly, or it is physically difficult for you to do chores...go for it! It intelligently cleans your entire floor, tracking its progress with its own GPS system. It's quiet, compact, perfect for cleaning edges, and you can use it with Swiffer Dry Cloths or Wet Cloths. It's perfect for anyone who enjoys cleaner floors without the fuss. Want one?


Military Trend. We like the whole military trend, but it's already been around for a few years, so we figure its days on the fashion scene are numbered. More money is better spent on classic, timeless items like a pea coat, for instance. You can definitely find cute, military-inspired wear for under $30, so don't cave at the first expensive military-whatever that you see. Now, we are seeing a lot of affordable double breasted sweaters that feature fun military details. Take a look at this Daytrip Double Breasted Cardigan on sale for $27.20. If you are looking for something with a hood that's even more casual, you'll like this AE Cropped Military Cardigan for under $30.


Nail Polish.
Sometimes it seems silly to spend $9 on a bottle of polish for your fingers and toesies, but there's a reason why OPI is the top leader in nail color. Sure, you can spend $1 or $2 on nail polish, but the color will probably chip fast and you'll end up having to frequently re-do your nails. Nobody wants that. OPI nail polish is among the longest-lasting and most chip-resistant that we've tried. It's worth extra bucks! OPI is always releasing the trendiest, fun, new colors each season. This holiday season is no exception. Don't miss out on their special holiday colors and holiday gift sets. We've got our eyes locked on the Merry Me! Nail Colour ($9), which couldn't be any more festive if it tried.


Statement Necklace. Everyone's got to have a killer statement piece to rock, but some of the statement jewelry out there are ridiculously overpriced. For something that you probably wouldn't wear everyday, skimp! Save the big bucks for versatile, classic pieces like gold layering necklaces and diamond pendants. Plus, wouldn't you rather have a collection of statement necklaces to play with rather than just one? Charlotte Russe, Newport News, JCPenney and even Ann Taylor carry cute, trendy jewelry you can afford. Here are some fab finds under $35: Guess Teardrop Statement Necklace ($18.50) | MixIt Pearl/Gold Statement Necklace ($15.99) | Spiegel Bejeweled Ribbon-Tie Bib Necklace ($34).

Riding Boots. Why not spend extra money on an item that is in fashion all year-round, and that you can guarantee you'll own for years to come? Riding boots have been and continue to be all the rage, and for good reason. They are very versatile -- you can pair them with skinny jeans, leggings, jeggings, tights, skirts, dresses, boot cut jeans, and even shorts! Riding boots are classic and, therefore, should be a fashion investment. A good pair of riding boots will cost between $200 and $400. Some styles will cost even more. But, if you're going to splurge, do it here! Favorites:
Frye | Ralph Lauren | Burberry | Tory Burch | Guess





Cookware. Non-stick won't last you as long as stainless steel cookware might, and it won't brown foods as nicely, but it ensures an easy clean-up, you don't have to use as much oil, and it's really affordable. It's quite easy to find entire non-stick sets of 10-12 pieces for under $100. The only recommendation is that you don't heat non-stick cookware over more than medium and, at max, medium-high heat for health reasons. If high heat cooking is your signature technique, stainless steel is for you. Does that mean you have splurge, necessarily? Not at all! There are some great deals out there on stainless steel cookware, too. Stainless will cost you more than non-stick, but you can still skimp on your stainless steel cookware with these deals we found.
Read: Stainless Steel Pans For You At A Deal
And Also: Save vs. Steal: Stainless Steel Cookware


North Face. Pricey, yes, but so worth it for the warmth and comfort the jackets and fleeces provide. A single fleece layer has kept each of us cozy in this bitter cold weather. That's the great thing about North Face jackets. There's minimal bulk providing maximum warmth, so not only do you feel good, but you look good, too. Our favorite is the Denali. Look around you in the streets and on college campuses and you'll see that it looks to be everyone else's favorite, too. The always-popular North Face Black Denali starts around $120. We also love the White Denali.



Interactive Toy. Interactive toys are definitely hot products this season. They are great for kids who could use an impromptu playmate. Interactive toys will even get your children's imagination sparkling, developing their creativity. One of the most exciting, but expensive, interactive toys popping up is Dance Star Mickey. He comes to life before your eyes, walking, talking and -- you guessed it -- dancing. He's fun, but he starts at $60. Interactive fun can be more affordable, however. Take Hide-and-Seek Jojo, for instance, who goes for just under $40 exclusively at Walmart. He'll actually play hide-and-seek (a child favorite) with your kids. Jojo counts to 10 while your kids run-off to hide with Jojo's carrot. When he finds the carrot, he celebrates with talking and singing. See how fun a skimp can be!
Read our article on Hide-and-Seek Jojo for more info.