Like most women, I try to take good care of my hair and part of my regimen includes using the best hairbrush money can buy. Enter the Mason Pearson Boar Bristle hairbrush. A hand-me-down from my mother, my Mason Pearson quickly became my most beloved beauty tool. I was convinced that without it, my hair would become dull, lifeless, flat — and that I might need to use (gasp) more than shampoo and a blow-dryer with any other brush. Enter the bitch who stole my hairbrush. (I wish I was kidding — someone actually stole my hairbrush. Ew.) My Mason Pearson was great, but without it, my life didn't end, and my hair didn't become flat and dull. — $150

Instead, I headed to our friendly local Walmart and picked up a replacement — an oversized, cushioned Conair brush. In fact, I didn’t stop at just one replacement, but I bought three, each in a different shape and color. Finally, I could stop being neurotic about my hairbrush! I even let other people borrow them (something I never dared to do with my overpriced MP boar bristle brush). And, to my pleasant surprise, the Conair brushes left my hair just as shiny and knot-free. All three of them. — $5

The Verdict:  Conair (and any well made, inexpensive brush) takes the cake.

This year, one integral item I needed when stocking my apartment's kitchen was a set of salt and pepper mills (not shakers — I like my salt and pepper freshly ground). I did plenty of research, including checking what we had in my kitchen at home, and finally decided that Peugeot made the best mills. After checking out the options, I deemed the 8.25 inch Peugeot Fidji mills were the best looking (and not too frumpy for a college apartment). The mills are lovely, they grind salt and pepper like a champ, and they look great on my dining room table. — $55 each

However, while browsing at Target I came across an interesting electronic set of grinders. The iTouchless automatic salt grinder and pepper shaker work with just the touch of a button, which means you can grind with one hand — perfect for when you are need to stir a dish as you grind in your pepper. The mills, while slightly phallic looking, come in an attractive stainless steel and make cooking with salt and pepper considerably easier. And the best thing? The price. Unbeatable— $20 for both

The Verdict: Go for the bargain — iTouchless automatic grinders are cheap and wonderful.