I’m Michael. The Things I Bought is exactly what it sounds like: a website about things I have actually bought, owned, used, or lived with.
There are already plenty of websites filled with product roundups written by people who may never have touched the products they recommend. This site takes a different approach. I write about real items from my own home, garage, office, yard, and everyday life.
Some of those purchases turned out to be great. Some were merely decent. A few were mistakes. The goal is to share what I learned so you can make a better-informed decision before spending your own money.
What You’ll Find Here
The site may include:
- Reviews of products I personally own or have used
- Long-term impressions that only become clear after living with something
- Practical tips, problems, and unexpected benefits
- Clearly identified research about current alternatives, successors, or replacements
- Recommendations for the type of person a product may suit
- Honest explanations of when something may not be worth buying
I am not trying to review every product on the market. I would rather provide useful information about things I genuinely know than publish hundreds of shallow reviews about products I have never seen.
Older Products and Current Alternatives
Not everything I own is still the newest model available. Some products may have been replaced, updated, discontinued, or purchased somewhere other than Amazon.
When that happens, I may research and mention the closest current version or a similar alternative even if I have not personally used it. I will make that distinction clear so you understand whether I am writing from firsthand experience about the exact item or discussing a related product based on current information.
How the Site Makes Money
Some pages may contain affiliate links. If you click one of those links and make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Affiliate commissions help support the cost of operating the website, but they do not change what I say about a product. A bad purchase does not become a good one simply because a commission is available.
For more information, please see the site’s Affiliate Disclosure.
A Practical, Personal Perspective
I am not a professional product-testing laboratory, and I do not claim to be one. The core reviews and articles here are grounded in products I actually bought, owned, or used. When I research a current alternative, successor, replacement, or related product that I have not personally used, I will say so rather than present that research as firsthand experience.
Your experience may be different, and products can change over time. Prices, features, availability, and specifications should always be confirmed with the seller or manufacturer before purchasing.
The purpose of The Things I Bought is simple: to offer useful, honest information from someone who actually bought the stuff.