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As we approach the end of the year, I wanted to share some of my favorite Amazon finds that have been extremely helpful during my time as a Door Dash driver. I’ve delivered over 7,000 orders throughout my debt-free journey, and these tools have made things a lot easier.
Here are some of my top Amazon finds that I think are extremely helpful for people who work in the gig economy.
- Shiatsu Back Massager
- Tennis Balls
- Lumbar Support Pillow
- Wireless Car Charger Mount
- OtterBox COMMUTER SERIES Case
- HALO 10000
- Halo Bolt Air
- Halo Bolt Flashlight
- Mophie Powerstation GO Flashlight
- Neewer LED Video Conference Light Kit
- AVID POWER Tire Inflator Air Compressor
- Collapsible Storage Bin/Container
- Folding and Collapsible Hand Crate on Wheels
- Fire 7 tablet
- Insulated Pizza & Food Delivery Bag
- Backless Cap
- TOMS Women’s Alpargata Recycled Cotton Canvas Loafer Flat
- Minnetonka Women’s Hardsole Pile-Lined Moccasin
- Door Dash Tee Door Dash Food Delivery T-Shirt
- Rechargeable 3-Way Mirror
Shiatsu Back Massager
The Shiatsu Back Massager is perfect for when you get home from a long day of driving. It’s not only excellent for your neck, but it can target other pain points as well with its sleeve pockets. Additionally, it has adjustable heat settings and even comes with a car adapter so that everyone can enjoy a massage whether they’re at home or on the go!
If you’re not interested in the Shiatsu Back Massager because it’s outside your price range, then perhaps you would be more interested in something else…
Tennis Balls
Before finding the Shiatsu Back Massager, I was looking for something to help reduce the knots in my neck and between my shoulder blades. After my research, I found that the discomfort in my neck was due to long stretches of immobility. A tennis ball is an easy and cheap way to relieve those knots and tension points. So next time you’re feeling sore, try massaging the area with a tennis ball.
Lumbar Support Pillow
If you’re going to be driving for long periods of time, I would highly recommend using a seat cushion. It keeps your lower back in a healthy curve, which relieves pressure on your lower back and other areas such as your hips and tailbone. This position also relies less on core muscles to maintain good posture, so it can help reduce pain in the lower back region. This year, I have on my Christmas list to purchase the Love Home lumbar support pillow! It’s made with breathable material and can be machine-washed. This would be great for those days in summer when my back gets sweaty from the heat. I also appreciate the adjustable clips that keep it in place. I have another back cushion, and every time I get out of the car, I have to adjust it again.
Wireless Car Charger Mount
A wireless car charger mount helps you stay connected. Even if you’re forgetful and tend to leave your phone uncharged as I do, this product will save you from countless mishaps. It’s happened to all of us: we get so focused on what we’re doing that we completely space out on things we need to do, like charging our phones.
Now I don’t have to worry about that happening anymore, because all I have to do is hang up the phone on the charge amount and it charges the phone for me while I’m driving. Problem solved. The mount comes with a USB to USB-C adapter so that you can connect it to your car’s power source and charge your phone. Even though the mount must stay connected to a power source, using this method makes everything completely wireless since you never have to remember to plug in your phone each time you get into your car.
OtterBox COMMUTER SERIES Case
The wireless car charger mount comes with two mounting options- a suction cup attachment or a vent clip. I also have an OtterBox COMMUTER SERIES Case on my phone, and it charges just fine without having to remove the case first.
HALO 10000
Car mounts are great–that is until you forget to plug it in and can’t bring the car charger with you into the restaurant. In that case, consider picking up one of these instead.
This is the Halo Portable Phone Charger, and it’s amazing. It offers a variety of ports depending on what device you use, and it can become your main power source for up to four hours unplugged. Halo’s portable phone charger is optimal for travel as it provides various ports to accommodate any type of device, and it can hold a charge for weeks when plugged into an outlet and most importantly- it’s TSA approved!
There’s a lot of really cool tech and gear out there to support gig workers in all capacities. I didn’t want to make this round-up list too long, so be sure to check out the resource page on noirincolor.com for more info.
Halo Bolt Air
The Halo Bolt Air is an honorable mention in this year’s round-up. I had to include it because it has become a go-to item for me and has come in handy quite a few times. This car jump starter is portable, so you don’t need to rely on another person’s car to get yours started. To use this jumper cable, simply attach the black and red clamps to your car’s positive and negative battery terminals respectively. Then, wait a few minutes before starting your car. In addition to jumpstarting your car, you can also use it to inflate your tires and power up any USB-compatible devices. Carefully read the instructions before using.
If the Halo Bolt Air is a bit too pricey for you, don’t worry. I have two other great options:
Halo Bolt Flashlight
Halo-Bolt-Flashlightor
Mophie Powerstation GO Flashlight
Both have stellar ratings and achieve the same goal: charging your car’s battery in case you don’t want to rely on other people to jumpstart your car.
Neewer LED Video Conference Light Kit
Neewer LED Video Conference Light Kit is perfect for business trips or even just conference calls from home! Neewer lights provide the best possible lighting for video and pictures, and while most people use this as a portable phone light, I found an even better way to utilize it. I use the product by clipping it onto my phone. It functions as a flashlight in low-lit areas and also serves as a safety device so that drivers can see me when I’m crossing the street. In this blog post, I talk about the best times to dash, and one of those occasions is when it rains, but it’s important to keep in mind that dashing during this time makes it more difficult to see and people will have a harder time seeing you.
Furthermore, it’s difficult to hold someone else’s food, a flashlight, and an umbrella all at the same time. So this item offers a hands-free option. However, because of its multi-use functionality, I can just take it out of my work bag and use it for Zoom meetings if necessary.
AVID POWER Tire Inflator Air Compressor
Having a power tire inflator air compressor with you when you do gig work is essential. You never know when your tires might go low and you need to inflate them quickly in order to get back on the road. Not only will it save you time, but it also ensures that your tires are at the right pressure, which can help to improve your fuel economy. It’s quick and easy to use with its automatic shut-off feature, so it will inflate your tires quickly and efficiently without having to worry about over-inflating them. Not to mention, it’s super lightweight, small and easy to transport and store in your car.
Collapsible Storage Bin/Container
The Collapsible Storage Bin/Container prevents fluids and other substances from spilling onto my car seats, which can lead to odors and stains. This also helps keep food from shifting while in transit. Not to mention, it’s very affordable and lightweight. It can be folded up and stored away easily when not in use.
Folding and Collapsible Hand Crate on Wheels
I always keep a couple of these Folding and Collapsible Hand Crate on Wheels in my car because you never know what types of orders you’re going to receive. Sometimes you’ll be required to pick up larger, heavier items for customers. So these crates are perfect for delivering heavier items like dog food. They’re lightweight and can carry up to 55 pounds, which makes it a lot easier to walk up to the customer’s home and drop off the food. Plus, they easily store flat in my trunk when I’m not using them, so they don’t take up too much space.
Fire 7 tablet
To keep yourself entertained at restaurants while you wait for the customer’s order, consider investing in an Amazon Fire tablet. The Fire 7 tablet is perfect for this purpose because of its lightweight design and 10-hour battery life, the Amazon Fire tablet is easy to take with you on the go. Plus, if you’re looking for some good reads take a look at my library–you’ll find all of my top recommendations there.
Insulated Pizza & Food Delivery Bag
It’s always a good idea to keep an Insulated Pizza & Food Delivery Bag or two in your trunk, especially for those times when it’s 20 degrees outside and you’re the one delivering the piping hot pie. Not only will that increase your chances of getting a better tip, but your ratings will go up as well.
If you’re in the market to purchase some hot bags I recommend this one. This bag is perfect for carrying large pizzas and has a steam release to prevent condensation.
Backless Cap
I always choose to wear a hat over sunglasses, but I often have trouble because my hair doesn’t fit under most hats! I found this hat at Target as part of their 2022 Black History Month apparel line. I love that it provides the space of a visor with the style of a baseball cap, has an elastic band instead of Velcro so it doesn’t pull on your hair, and expands to accommodate different hairstyles. I went on a hunt to find others like it in different colors on Amazon and found this hat, which I also love.
TOMS Women’s Alpargata Recycled Cotton Canvas Loafer Flat
From time to time, I dash in sneakers, but they often come undone, which not only slows me down but also becomes quite annoying. Additionally, they are too hot to wear during the summer months. However, during my time working in education, I noticed that many of my teacher colleagues were all wearing TOM Shoes and they swore by them. The transition to these shoes has been a game-changer! These TOMS Women’s Alpargata Recycled Cotton Canvas Loafer Flats are an excellent choice for summertime wear! They’re lightweight and made with canvas fabric, so they breathe well and are very comfortable – perfect for when my feet swell from all the walking I do in the heat.
Minnetonka Women’s Hardsole Pile-Lined Moccasin
However, the TOMS Women’s Alpargata Recycled Cotton Canvas Loafer Flats aren’t the most ideal shoes to be wearing during wintry weather conditions when making deliveries. So instead, I switch to wearing the Minnetonka Women’s Hardsole Pile-Lined Moccasins during the colder months. They have the same level of comfort and are just as light as a Tom shoe but are made with high-quality leather, made to keep your feet warm in cold temperatures.
I know that my shoe recommendations aren’t the trendiest, but when you’re trying to get out of debt, fashion may not be a top priority. Comfort and practicality may be what you’ll find value in.
Door Dash Tee Door Dash Food Delivery T-Shirt
Some people may view the Door Dash Tee Door Dash Food Delivery T-Shirt as controversial because you are considered an independent contractor instead of an employee of Door Dash, so you’re not obligated to wear the shirt while making deliveries.
Personally, I believe the Door Dash Tee Door Dash Food Delivery T-Shirt is quite useful because it limits my interactions with employees and makes me more recognizable. Restaurant employees read the shirt and hand me the food. It’s a very quick transaction that saves time and creates more opportunities for me to pick up even more orders. Additionally, it’s easier to get ready to do my Dash, because I don’t have to worry about what I’m wearing.
Rechargeable 3-Way Mirror
The right tools are very important if I want to look my best with minimal effort. This Rechargeable 3 Way Mirror is perfect because it’s small and portable, so I can take it with me when I travel. It has a rechargeable battery, so I don’t have to worry about replacing batteries frequently, and the additional lighting is very handy. Plus, it comes with its own carrying bag for safe storage. This product solves two of my current problems: I can’t move the vanity mirror over my sink in my bathroom, and I can’t see the back of my head when I style my hair. This gives me multiple angles to ensure that I’m prepping myself to look my best for any occasion at a minimal cost.
Did you know that all of the things I mentioned in today’s video are tax deductions if you use them for your Door Dash food delivery business? Therefore, documenting all of these expenses can lower your tax liability. To learn more about how to prepare yourself for tax season, be sure to check out this post.
In conclusion, Amazon has great finds for the gig economy. From TOM Shoes to Minnetonka Moccasins, Door Dash T-shirts, and Rechargeable 3 Way Mirrors, Amazon has something for everyone that wants to work in the gig economy without breaking their budget. Not only are all of these items incredibly useful, but they are also tax deductions that can help reduce your tax liability. Whether you’re just starting out as a Door Dasher or have been doing it for years, Amazon is the perfect place to find what you need to make your gig economy job easier and more profitable.
