When it comes to getting the job done, it’s not always necessary to shell out top-dollar for the best. The May 2012 issue of ShopSmart magazine, from the publisher of Consumer Reports, has compiled a list of more than 30 great bargains in food, housewares, electronics and more. These items, which include paper towels, TVs, body lotion, and knives, have performed well in our lab tests and won’t cost you a fortune.
Here’s is just a sampling of amazing, cheap products. The full list of 33 great bargains can be found in May issue of ShopSmart!
$6 and under
Suave Advanced Therapy Body Lotion, $3.25
Why it’s a bargain: Cetaphil, which costs $10.50 topped our moisturizer tests, but Suave did almost as well for less than half the price.
What you give up: Not much. It took a little longer to rub in.
Kirkland Signature Alkaline AA Batteries (Costco), $10 per 48-pack
Why it’s a bargain: They lasted as long as some pricey big brands in our tests.
What you give up: The extra juice needed for gadgets like cameras and video-game controllers.
Resolve Laundry Stain Remover, $3 per bottle; 10 cents per ounce
Why it’s a bargain: The cheapest prewash treatment we tested is also the best. It got out more blood, grass, wine, and motor oil.
What you give up: Nothing! Can you believe it…
$25 and under
Uniden D1660 Cordless Phone, $25
Why it’s a bargain: It has excellent range and voice quality. It also has a handy lighted keypad and gives you 11 hours of talk time on a charge.
What you give up: The phone lacks a headset jack.
Zyliss Smart Guard Slicer Mandoline, $20 
Why it’s a bargain: You can spend hundreds of dollars on a mandoline; but this cheap model turned out uniform, thinly sliced veggie rounds every time.
What you give up: A julienne blade for making veggie sticks.
Glidden Premium Flat Paint, $19 per gallon
Why it’s a bargain: This low-VOC pick is great for low-traffic areas. It’s very good at covering up old paint jobs, and it resists mildew.
What you give up: Fade resistance; pick another brand for vivid colors in sunny rooms.
$75 and under
Ginsu Chikara Knife Set, $75
Why it’s a bargain: You get an eight-piece forged set that’s great at slicing at the same price as a single knife from other brands.
What you give up: A fancy name brand.
Royal CX88 Paper Shredder, $50
Why it’s a bargain: It’s almost as fast and easy to use as models that cost twice as much.
What you give up: Capacity. If you have a big job, don’t plan on doing it all at once.
Roku LT Video Player, $50 
Why it’s a bargain: The cheapest streaming video player to date is great for movie and TV watching and can help you cut the cable bill.
What you give up: Full high-def and access to Roku’s games.
In case you have missed ShopSmart magazine. Here ia a little about ShopSmart magazine:
ShopSmart features product reviews, shopping tips on how to get the most out of products and “best of the best” lists. It’s ideal for busy shoppers who place a premium on time. ShopSmart has a newsstand price of $4.99 and is available nationwide at major retailers including Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart, Borders, Kroger, Safeway and Publix. ShopSmart is available by subscription at www.ShopSmartmag.org.
