Is it possible to turn your apartment into a smart home on a budget? Making any home smart can cost thousands of dollars, as it requires tons of gadgets, sensors, smart bulbs, security cameras, and other expensive stuff. But did you know that one affordable gadget can make any home smart quickly and efficiently?

Smart plugs are small devices that can be used with almost any plug-in device. Using smart plugs, you’ll be able to turn on/off remotely any device that is plugged into the smart plug via mobile applications! Smart plugs are not just your first step into home automation, but also a way to lower your electricity bill and have fun trying hands-free voice commands. If you are interested in making your home smart, here are some awesome things you can do with a smart plug!

Hands-free – have fun

Wouldn't it be fun to be able to control the devices in your house with your voice? Smart plugs will make your space smart, but also provide you with fun. How? Easy, by utilizing smart plugs and a voice assistant such as Alexa or Google Assistant. This way you will be able to turn on the lights or the microwave while lying in bed.

Control your holiday decorations

Smart plugs can help you have a smart home for the holidays. You can plug smart bulbs and various lighting into them and control your Christmas decorations. These devices can also save your energy and lower bills since you can use them to set up a schedule for when your lights turn on and off throughout the day.

Photo by Patrick Campanale on Unsplash

Feed your pets while you’re away

of the biggest problems we face when we stay longer at work or traveling somewhere is - how to feed pets? Smart plugs can help you to feed your pets while you’re away. There are automatic feeders that you can pair with smart plugs to feed your pets remotely. Automatic feeders are programmable and have a Wi Fi connection, so you can control them via a mobile app. By plugging the power adapter into a smart plug, you will be able to turn the pet feeder on/off remotely wherever you are. Isn’t it amazing?

Heat your iron while doing your face routine

If you forget to heat your iron or Figaro while rushing to work, don't panic, a smart plug can do it for you. Just plug your styler into the smart plug and switch it on at the optimum time. You can easily heat your iron while doing your face routine via a mobile app and make sure it’s ready when you pick it up.

Casalink Smart Wifi Plugs (2-pack) is a Wi Fi-enabled smart plug ideal for heating your iron or keeping you connected to lamps, bulbs, fans, and devices you use often in your home. Plug device you want into Casalink, turn on the mobile application, and set schedules or automatically control it. Whether you forgot to turn off the lights or the computer, or you want the iron to heat up when you get home, a smart gadget can do it for you - you're just one click away from it. Get it in the BREO BOX winter subscription box.

Get your coffee ready before you open your eyes

If you are someone who likes to wake up and have tea or coffee each morning, you are going to adore smart plugs. These devices can surprise you with coffee as soon as you wake up in the morning. Using the mobile app, you can schedule your coffee maker to start brewing before you even open your eyes.

Make sure to fill up your coffee maker the night before, and then turn it on remotely with your smartphone. Besides, you can also automate this by setting the smart plug to turn on at a specific time. Awesome!

Have a warm dinner waiting for you after you return from work

And how about getting lunch ready when you come home from work? If you want this, count on smart plugs. Just prepare the ingredients before you head to work or put a meal into a microwave. Set up your smart plug to switch on at the right time for the meal to be ready when you open the door. With smart plugs, you can always count on a hot and tasty meal.

Charge your devices

Forgot to charge your phone and your battery is running low? No worries. You can charge our mobiles, tablets, laptops, and other devices at home or remotely, even when you’re sleeping. Still, it is known that overcharging devices can cause damage and shorten battery life. Smart plugs can help you to avoid damages and charge your devices just as much as they need it, as you can set the amount of charging time needed.

Photo by Thomas Kolnowski on Unsplash

Control the time your children spend using a computer or watching TV

Children often watch too much television or play games for hours, which can have a bad effect on their health, behavior, and grades at school. Sometimes it's hard to limit their time in front of the screen because we're busy.

By using smart plugs, parents can schedule the exact amount of time kids can use these devices, and make sure everything is turned off by bedtime. Just install a smart plug between the appliance and the power outlet, and you’re ready to shut it down whenever you want. Well, in this case, the smart plugs will not be your children's favorite gadget.

Forgot to turn off the lights in the bathroom? Turn it off right from the bed

We all hate it when we forget to turn off the lights in the bathroom, and we’re already in bed. This may no longer be a problem if you have installed a smart plug in the bathroom. This way, you will be able to turn off the lights using smartphone app. No need to get up, just do a few clicks and the problem is solved.