The New York Times - The best deals under $100 right now

Sure, discounts on big, glitzy purchases are exciting. (New computer, anyone?) But now’s also a great time to stock up on the not-so-glamorous. Here are a few on-sale, Wirecutter-approved essentials:

• Crest 3D teeth-whitening strips are easy to apply, work quickly, and show actual results.
• This classic waffle-weave, spa-like shower curtain will look good in any bathroom.
• These reusable silicone Stasher bags can go from the fridge to the freezer, into a boiling pot of water, through the dishwasher, and back again.
• Our favorite portable charger is small and lightweight, and its rounded edges make it nice and easy to slip into your pocket.

In senior staff writer Lesley Stockton’s 20+ years cooking in the food industry, there’s one blender she’s always reached for: the Vitamix 5200. Where others create a violent cyclone in a jar, the Vitamix remains ever cool, calm, and collected. No splattering to see here.

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It’s been our top pick for a decade. And it’s on major sale right now→

• This ultra-reliable meat thermometer is the fastest and most accurate instant-read one we’ve tested.
  
• This knife sharpener gets blades razor sharp. We’ve tested it against 10 other competitors, and none of them really came close.
• The coffee-obsessed on our staff love the Technivorm Moccamaster brewer for its stylish design and no-fuss interface.
• We’ve loved our top pick food processor for over a decade, but if you’re really looking to up your game, our upgrade pick—which chops, shreds, and blends exceptionally well—is on sale, too.
• This artisanal cutting board is good-looking enough to live on the counter full-time.

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All on-sale kitchen essentials→

All day, your friendly newsletter editors have been Slacking each other deals, asking “Wait, do I want this?” There have been a lot of ... lamp links. (Maybe it has something to do with us being up before the sun.)

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Anyway, we’re very into this adjustable light that could look right at home on Sofia Sokolove’s small desk in Brooklyn, and Brittney Ho is seriously considering this handsome floor lamp for her living room. (Meanwhile, Haley Jo Lewis is off on her own planet eyeing a toilet stool. Good for her.)

We’ll report back. Thanks for being on this journey with us.