Cut Off the Spigot articles feature all researched companies,
including those not covered in videos.
It’s Labor Day Weekend and that means furniture sales. I’ve gone through another batch of furniture companies for you so you can shop with confidence! If you missed it, check out my first Furniture post here. Local, Direct, Thrifting, & Free Local/Direct: Search to see if you have a local furniture store near you! If […]
People use Spotify in a lot of different ways, and in this post I’ve got you covered for many situations: You were using Spotify for free and don’t want to pay for a music streaming service You like Pandora’s radio feature but want to switch You need an audiobooks alternative You can’t miss your podcasts […]
Check out my overall crafting post here for general crafting supplies and free/thrifting resources. Sewing & Fabric If you’re interested in learning how to make your own clothes, this creator on TikTok has a how-to zine, guides and videos. I haven’t tried myself yet so I’m not sure how helpful they are, but check ‘em […]
This is a MASSIVE category! There are so many different types of crafting one can do, but I think most crafting will be covered in this article. Check out my Part 2 for a deep dive on fabric and yarn/fiber arts stores. And while Joann’s may be gone, there are still a lot of options […]
If you haven’t heard, in June 2025 Spotify CEO Daniel Ek gave $693 million in funding to Helsing, a German-based military contractor, and serves as Chairman of the Board there. Ek originally invested $450 million in Helsing in 2021, and has since increased his investment through his venture capital fund. Helsing makes AI drone weapons […]
Party planning can be so fun! Unless you have no idea where to shop for supplies. But, that’s why you subscribed right? Cut Off The Spigot to the rescue! I included general party supplies options and a few kids-centered ones. I’ll likely do a separate dedicated article for wedding supplies specifically, but hopefully this will […]
If you need a laptop, other tech item, or something as simple as a good charging cord, most peoples’ first thought is Amazon or Best Buy. But! There are a lot of other options, including more sustainable and eco-friendly ones. Local, Direct, and Non-Shopping Choices: Local: If you have a local electronics store, definitely go […]
I’m launching paid subscriptions for my Substack today! If you’re interested in supporting my work, you can subscribe for $8 a month. If you subscribe through the Substack app it will be slightly higher as Apple and Google take a 30% cut. (And I will be covering ways to avoid Google and Apple at some […]
Back to school season is upon us, which can cause a ton of stress for both teachers and families alike. If you’re a teacher and trying to find ways to get classroom supplies support, I’ve put together a list of organizations that you can utilize. If you’re looking to support students-in-need or your local school, […]
Man, this category has been a doozy. I feel like every time I researched I hit another private equity wall or companies without clear DEI support. But! I hope with this comprehensive list it can help you solve some of your BTS needs across elementary, middle/high school, and college students. I also tried to include […]
Furniture. Something we all need, yet it feels like getting high quality furniture for a decent price is a fever dream. More Perfect Union investigated the causes behind furniture quality decline, but even if all new furniture is bad, there are some places you can shop at without feeling bad. Today I’m reviewing companies with […]
I got a lot of great comments on TikTok and Instagram from my cleaning supplies series and I wanted to share them with you, so here ya go! Good Store/EcoGeek: Founded by Hank and John Green, the internet video brothers. The Good Store is their overarching site for the Awesome Socks Club – a sock […]
Target is known for their sheets, and their Threshold brand consistently gets top ranking for quality and value. So, if you don’t want to shop at Target, where do you go? Good news – there’s lots of options! Local, Direct, and Non-Shopping Choices: If you have local bedding store options available to you, definitely check […]
One of the most common items to shop for at Target, Walmart, or Amazon are cleaning products. Since they’re lower-price purchase items it can be hard to justify shopping online, and often you may need them in a pinch and want to go to a store to grab an item quickly. But – there are […]
June starts in a couple of days which means IT’S PRIDE BABY! Even if you’re more of a quiet gay, there are plenty of ways to celebrate being part of the LGBTIA+ family. I’ve got Paris is Burning and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newman queued up to watch and I’m making a […]
With upcoming graduations and ceremonies as the school year winds down, there are a lot of kids’ clothes needed! Target and Amazon used to be great options for low-cost kids and baby apparel, but where are parents supposed to go to find something similar? But first – Behavior Exercise Cancel your Amazon Prime subscription. You […]
I used to go to Amazon all the time to buy random shit I needed for my kitchen. But, now that I’m avoiding Amazon, Walmart, and Target, it’s a lot harder to find those little things. So – to the research machine! Let’s find where to shop for Kitchen Stuff. But first – Behavior Exercise […]
My office is practically covered in books. I especially love physical books and I buy a lot of them. But – where should I shop for them? Amazon is the big, big player in this space. They’re expected to drive nearly 90% of US books, music, and video ecommerce sales in 2025 and they control […]
Summer calls! I have been delighted with the recent span of warm weather in NYC, but as the days slowly creep up to 80 degrees and above I need some sandals to keep my feet from the heat. Normally I buy sandals and summer clothes from Target, but now where to shop? But First – […]
It’s finally warm again in NYC so I have a newfound desire to clean out my apartment, swap winter for summer clothes and get rid of all sorts of stuff I don’t need anymore. I’m taking this as an opportunity to properly organize my closet after we moved into our apartment a year ago, but […]
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