This simple product makes everyday life easier — and today it's on sale

Aol and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article For as long as I can remember, my mom has had timers for her lamps in various rooms in her home. They serve multiple purposes: making it look like someone's home when they're not, switching on before she arrives after dark, or keeping the Chrstimas lights on a daily schedul no matter who's around. But these timers are not easy to use. They have a series of pins you pull in or out for when you want the lights to go on or off, and while my mother insists they are simple and easy, I never managed to get them right. While I wholeheartedly agree with the convenience of a timed light— I just think there are much simpler ways to go about it. My husband has been a fan of smart plugs for years. We used them even in our tiny apartment, where every light switch was less than 10 steps away, because the convenience goes far beyond just not getting up. We've used Kasa Smart plugs for everything from lamps to the humidifier in our basement. They work with our Apple HomePods, they're accessible from our phones, and they're simple to set up. Plus, today you can get a four-pack for just $24. Amazon This smart plug will let you control lamps, humidifiers, and other small devices right from your phone, no wiring or electrician needed. Just plug it into any standard outlet, and it connects to your home Wi-Fi. It's an easy, budget-friendly way to add convenience and peace of mind to your home. My favorite feature is the peace of mind they bring during forgetful moments. If you leave the house in a hurry and can't remember whether you turned off the curling iron, a smart plug lets you check its status and shut it off remotely. It's a genuinely reassuring feature. The automatic shceuldes are just as useful for making sure your home is lit when you get back, or for keeping those Christmas decorations on a timer. These plugs work with any lamp or device you already own, no need for rewiring or any need to call an electrician. Setting up the Kasa plugs is simple: Download the free Kasa app on your phone and set up an account. Then, plug the smart plug into a standard wall outlet and plug the item into the smart plug itself. In the app, tap "add device," and it will walk you through connecting to your home Wi-Fi, about two minutes, start to finish. Once you're connected, give the plug a name so you'll know which device you're controlling from your phone. If you have a smart speaker like an Apple HomePod or Amazon Alexa, you can link it in seconds and skip the app entirely, using voice commands instead. The whole process, including connecting to your smart device, should take less than 10 minutes.