Published on February 8, 2026 in Smart Home Tech

Our Favorite Resources: Tools for a Better Nest

At DailyNest, we spend a lot of time testing gadgets, trying out DIY hacks, and researching sustainability. We get asked all the time: “What do you actually use in your own homes?”

This page is our curated list of the tools, apps, and products that help us save money, reduce our environmental footprint, and keep our digital lives organized. We only recommend things we truly believe add value to your “nesting” journey.

🏠 Budget Nesting & Home Maintenance

  • CamelCamelCamel: This is a free Amazon price tracker. Before you buy that “sale” item for your home, plug the link in here to see if the price is actually at an all-time low.

  • Command Brand Hooks & Strips: The absolute gold standard for renters. We use the “Velcro” style strips for 90% of the art in our homes.

  • Project Color by Home Depot (App): Not sure if that “Forest Green” will look good in your bedroom? This AR app lets you virtually paint your walls before you spend a dime on a sample can.

⚡ Energy Saving & Smart Home

  • Kasa Smart Plugs (EP25): Our top pick for monitoring energy. They are reliable, affordable, and the app is actually easy to use.

  • Energy Star Home Advisor: A great government resource that gives you a personalized “to-do” list for making your specific house more energy-efficient based on your zip code.

  • Sense Home Energy Monitor: For the true energy nerds. This device installs in your electrical panel and “listens” to the electronic signature of every appliance in your house to tell you exactly what’s costing you money.

🌿 Green Living & Sustainability

  • EWG’s Healthy Cleaning Guide: We use this database to check the “toxicity” score of laundry detergents and dish soaps before we buy them.

  • Bokashi Living: If you’re interested in the indoor composting method we discussed, this is the best place to find starter kits and reliable advice.

  • Guppyfriend Washing Bag: An essential for anyone trying to stop microplastics from entering our water systems when washing synthetic clothes.

đź’» Digital Nesting & Productivity

  • Bitwarden: Our favorite open-source password manager. It’s free, secure, and works across every device you own.

  • Unroll.me: The fastest way to see every newsletter you are subscribed to and “one-click” unsubscribe from the ones you no longer read.

  • Forest (App): A beautiful timer app that helps you stay off your phone and stay focused on your “physical” nest. If you stay off your phone, a virtual tree grows!

Why We Recommend These

Every resource on this list has been vetted for three things:

  1. Value: Does it actually save you time or money?

  2. Ease of Use: Is it so complicated that you’ll stop using it after two days?

  3. Sustainability: Does it help us move toward a “lower-impact” lifestyle?

Note: Some of the links on this page may be affiliate links, which means we might earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase—at no extra cost to you! This helps keep the lights on here at DailyNest.