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You might go into Black Friday and Cyber Monday with the best of holiday-gift-buying intentions, but let’s be real here: You’re probably just buying stuff for yourself. And we have the
receipts—literally. According to Wirecutter data from the week leading up to Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday 2018, the most popular purchases included bedding and linens, air purifiers, and
vacuums. Sure, small, gift-y electronics like portable chargers and headphones also made the list, but the most-purchased items were more useful, less fun. Of the top 100 items sold through
Wirecutter that week, the average cost per unit was about $50.
Take this list with a grain of salt. Wirecutter shares deals only on things we think are worth buying. It is possible that our readers are also purchasing wacky dog hats and hot dog kites
for friends and family without our help (no judgment). But our readers are definitely buying the utilitarian things they need.
So make a list of what you’ve been holding out for, set aside some of your budget besides what you plan to spend on gifts, and keep an eye on our Deals page (or Twitter feed or daily deals
newsletter) throughout November, so you can strike while the iron is hot.
Not our main pick anymore—we’ll be testing the new Eufys soon.
Not our large-space pick anymore, but it still works very well.
Read more: The Best Portable Chargers and Power Banks for Phones and Tablets
Not our main pick anymore—it was a little saggy in long-term tests.
From brewing buckets to bras, this is the stuff we bought this year that made our lives a little brighter, and a little easier.
Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and
confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time).