9 Amazon Items Money Guru Rachel Cruze Says Are Worth Buying, Plus 1 That Isn’t

Laura BeckSat, February 28, 2026 at 11:07 AM UTC

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Rachel Cruze knows a thing or two about smart spending. So, when she shared her favorite Amazon purchases from the past year on YouTube, along with one expensive mistake, people paid attention.

Here’s what the financial expert actually uses and what ended up gathering dust.

1. The Kindle Changed Her Mind About Physical Books

Cruze resisted getting a Kindle for years. She’s a big reader who loved holding actual books, but traveling with them got old fast. Everyone told her to switch, and she finally caved.

She went with the Paperwhite model and keeps it in her purse. She said she thinks she reads more now and even reads faster, which sounds weird but she’s confident about it. For fiction especially, she recommended going the Kindle route.

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2. A Locked Bird Seed Container Solved a Squirrel Problem

This one was more for her husband, Winston, who apparently knows the name of every bird and tree. He has three bird feeders in their yard, but squirrels kept getting into the seed and spilling it everywhere.

They bought a steel container with a locked lid on Amazon and the problem disappeared. Not the most exciting purchase, but it paid off.

3. School Backpacks From Amazon Beat Back-to-School Shopping

Cruze bought backpacks for all three of her kids on Amazon instead of dealing with crowded stores. She said the selection was huge, the reviews helped narrow down choices and they even found the same brand her daughter Amelia loved from the previous year.

4. A Handheld Steamer Travels Better Than an Iron

Cruze hates ironing and doesn’t think many people even do it anymore. She travels with a compact handheld steamer that gets hot enough to actually work and doesn’t spit water all over clothes like some cheaper models do.

She said it’s compact when you take the lid off and fits easily in luggage.

5. A Cheap Beach Hat Works Better Than an Expensive One

Sun protection matters, but Cruze doesn’t want to spend a fortune on a beach hat that might get crushed in her suitcase. She’s definitely not buying a hat box to carry it on the plane.

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She described the style as classic millennial mid-30s, which is exactly why she bought it. If it lasts two years, that’s good enough.

6. A Silicone Crockpot Divider Changed Their Cooking

Winston was diagnosed with alpha gal last year and can’t eat red meat anymore. But Cruze and the kids still wanted ground beef in some meals, which created a problem.

She searched Amazon wondering if a crockpot divider existed, found one and bought it. Now she cooks chicken meatballs on one side and ground beef on the other. It also works for gluten-free meals or making two different dips at once.

7. A Bigger Lunchbox Fit Everything Her Daughter Needed

Amelia carries a lot in her lunchbox, more than a standard flat one could hold. Cruze found one on Amazon that was cute, good quality and actually big enough for everything her daughter packs.

8. Car Window Glass Breakers Give Her Peace of Mind

Cruze admitted she went down a social media rabbit hole watching videos of people driving off bridges and getting trapped underwater. New fear unlocked, she said.

She found a gadget that shatters car windows and also cuts seatbelts. She ordered six of them even though she doesn’t have that many cars. She doesn’t even know if they work and prays she never has to find out, but they make her feel better.

9. Samsonite Suitcases Work for the Whole Family

Cruze used the same suitcase for 10 years before deciding she wanted a hard-shell carry-on that wouldn’t cost a fortune. She doesn’t need the fanciest thing, just something that’ll last a couple years.

She found a Samsonite on Amazon and ended up buying two more so her kids could have carry-ons when the family flies.

The Expensive Mistake: A Walking Pad

Here’s the one that didn’t work out. Cruze bought a walking pad with good intentions, planning to walk while reading or watching TV to get her steps in.

She used it twice. It was one of the more expensive items on her list, and now it lives under the couch where she never sees it. Out of sight, out of mind, she said.

The lesson? Even financial experts waste money on things they don’t actually use.

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Source: “AOL Money”