Amazon Finds: Back-to-School (or Work) But Make it Budget-Friendly

Whether you’re heading back to campus, clocking in from your kitchen, or just giving your workspace a much-needed refresh, we’ve got you covered with budget-friendly options in mind.

These Amazon finds are functional, stylish, and wallet-approved. From useful planners to must-have tech, here’s how to glow up your setup without ruining your budget!

1. Laptop Stands or Monitor Risers

Prevent your laptop from overheating, accidental spills, and taking up too much space on your desk with a stand or riser that’ll also reduce strain on your neck from looking down too much! We like the following options to help keep you organized:

$16.99 – $19.99 BESIGN LS03 Aluminum Laptop Stand (Fits 10″-15.6″ laptops) Multiple colors
$22.99 – $34.99 OPNICE Desk Organizer and Accessories 2-Tier monitor stands. Colors vary.

You can also combine the two, if you’re like me and have both a laptop and a second monitor to work from. Keep all your office supplies close and tidy with the included basket accessories. These items are praised for their ergonomic qualities, easy setup, storage capacity, and great value for money.

2. Planners or Digital Notebooks

Sure, typing is more efficient, but writing things down can boost focus, memory, and overall retention. Whether you’re craving old-fashioned pen and paper for planning your week (or your whole year), or just love the tactile feel of jotting things down, there’s no shortage of aesthetic planners and notebooks on Amazon.

$24.99 Anectdote 2025-2026 A5 Planner (lots of colors!)
$14.95 bloom daily planners Garden Party
$20.99 Graphique 18-month Snoopy Organizer 8″x10″
$6.99 WTF Planner Notebook 8.4″x6.4″
$24.87 Roterunner Purpose Planner – Multiple colors

Want to go digital but not lose the handwritten vibe? Then we’ve got sleek, digital notebook options too, with a budget-friendly one vs a luxurious one.

$34.08 Rocketbook Reusable Spiral Notebook (Apply the extra 30% off coupon to get it for $23.86!)
$399.99 Amazon Kindle Scribe (16GB) with Premium Tungsten Pen

3. Refillable Pens and Highters

How about some writing utensils to pair with your new notebooks? Instead of constantly buying new pens and tossing out perfectly good shells, consider refillable pens and highlighters. They’re better for the environment, save you money in the long run, and let you keep using a pen or pencil you already love. Plus, with so many colors available, you can personalize your note-taking style while cutting down on waste.

$8.98 ChaoQ 3 pc Retractable Metal Pens with 6 Refills – lightweight with 1.0mm tip
$14.38 Sharpie S-Gel Pen with 1 Refill – copper body with 0.7mm tip, no smearing

$14.96 Uniball Kuru Toga Elite Mechanical Pencil – 0.5mm tip with 60 lead refills and 5 eraser refills
$6.99 Nicpro 3 pcs Pastel Mechanical Pencil Set – choose from various tips, includes refills

$12.25 Schneider Highlighter Pens Pack of 8 – refillable and evaporation-proof to keep the marker fresh for 2 years

4. Meal Prep Containers & Bentos

Eating out adds up fast, so skip the takeout and DoorDash and start meal prepping to save money. You’ll feel better (and healthier) enjoying meals you’ve made and customized to your own taste. Bonus: Neatly stacked containers in the fridge make everything look organized, and you’ll spend less time digging around for what you need.

$14.99 Bentgo 20-Piece Reusable BPA-Free 3-Compartment Containers – Navy Blue
$19.99 NETANY 6-Pack 16 oz Overnight Oats Containers with Lids – Glass jars – Multicolor
$21.99 5 PCS Large Fruit Containers with Removable Colander
$33.99 8-Pack Glass Meal Prep Containers
$12.98 Sinnsally Bento Box Adult Stackable Lunchbox – Black
$24.99 Stainless Steel Bento Box with 5 Compartments
$12.99 LOVINA Bento Box for Adults BPA-Free – Green

Look to Instagram (or TikTok) for recipe inspiration! I particularly like:

@tiffy.cooks – easy recipes to follow
@joexfitness – high protein, low-calorie recipes
@nourishedbynic – delicious recipes from a dietitian
@hipfoodiemom1 – home cooking from a mom
@mahalmariella – blood sugar friendly recipes

Instead of bookmarking recipes all over the internet, I download and save them in the Paprika Recipe Manager to keep everything in one place on my phone. It’s only a $4.99 one-time fee for the app, and I’ve been inspired more to cook since it’s so easy to use! No more bouncing between Instagram saves, Safari bookmarks, and random notes and screen captures I’ve forgotten about. Plus, you can also create grocery lists and make meal plans right in the app. Totally not sponsored, I just love this app!

5. Reusable Water Bottles

There’s no need to spend crazy amounts on a water bottle, but you do need to get one that you actually like, so you’ll use it! Consistent hydration is key, and there are plenty of options. My personal favorite is the 24 oz. Owala FreeSip as it’s not too heavy when filled, and I can easily refill when needed. Your needs may vary, and you might benefit from having multiple sizes depending on your use case. Here are some of our suggestions:

$29.98 Owala 24 oz. FreeSip Insulated Stainless Steel – Useful internal straw and plenty of colors and sizes. My fav!
$27.99 Ello Pop & Fill 32 oz. Stainless Steel – with quick fill technology, double-walled
$24.99 Hydracy Water Bottle with Time Marker – a super motivational and shatterproof water bottle with intuitive time lines so you know when to hydrate
$13.59 TaroKitc 40 oz Tumbler with Handle and 4 Silicone Straw Cover Caps – Stainless steel and keeps drinks cold for 34 hours!
$16.86 Nalgene Sustain Tritan 32 oz – wide mouth design for easy filling and cleaning

6. Affordable Earbuds & Headphones

When you don’t want to pay high prices but still want the convenience of earbuds or headphones, we’ve got you covered. Whether it’s powering through a workout, catching up on your favorite podcasts, or taking private meetings, these picks will give you the flexibility that you need without being too expensive. Many even come with noise-canceling features or long battery life, so you can stay plugged in most of the day.

Earbuds:
$24.99 Soundcore by Anker P20i True Wireless Earbuds – has 30 hours of playtime and a “Find my Earbuds” function to help track them if misplaced
$29.99 TOZO Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds – has 59 hours of playtime with an LED display case to show battery life
$34.95 JBL Vibe Beam Earbuds – up to 32 hours of playtime and enhanced bass performance
$39.99 Soundcore by Anker V20i Open-Ear Headphones – when you don’t want to plug up your ears completely and have 36 hours of playtime (at time of writing, clip the $8 coupon!)
$7.99 Skullcandy Jib Wired Earbuds – when you prefer to be wired in and have clicker controls. An old-fashioned favorite!

Headphones:
$21.99 Picun B8 Bluetooth Headphones – featuring sleek metal accents and massive 120 hours of playtime. And it’s foldable!
$25.99 BERIBES Bluetooth Headphones – with 65 hours of playtime and all-day comfort

7. Desk and Table Lamps with USB Ports

Maximize your desk’s limited space with multitasking essentials, like a lamp that not only brightens your workspace but also charges your devices. The right lighting can instantly set the tone for productivity, so make your space feel more inviting and functional! We’ve rounded up some options below:

$25.99 Desk Lamp with Wireless Charger with Digital Clock – LCD that shows time, date, and temperature can be turned on/off. Different finishes and colors are available.
$19.99 Dimmable Table Lamp with 2 USB Ports – when you want a cozier feel
$25.99 LED Desk Lamp with USB Charging Port – comes with pen holder, phone stand, and three different color temperatures

The Money Move

No matter where you’re studying or working, upgrading your space doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. These budget-friendly Amazon picks prove you can have style, function, and organization without overspending.

I hope you found some good picks in our recommendations and enjoy your refreshed setup!