Reviewing cheapskate accessories _ are they worth the money?

Putting 5 cheapskate accessories to the test

NEW YORK — Companies are unleashing lots of gadgets to help consumers be more frugal, but are they worth the money?

As I tested five gadgets, I considered price, whether the item was easy to use and whether it actually supported its claims

All the gadgets I tested were aesthetically pleasing, but had some design flaws. Some were worth the money; others weren’t.

— SQUEEZE IT, by Evriholder Products Inc., $2.99 for a set of two: What do you do when you’re down to the last few drops of toothpaste or lotion?

This white plastic gadget is sleek and fits in the palm of your hand. And the maker claims it can be used on a variety of items, from toothpaste to shaving creams to gels. But I found it a bit cumbersome to push the flattened tube end of my toothpaste through the slot to squeeze out the last drops.

Maybe it’s just as easy to do what my mother always does — roll up the tube with my own hands to get the last ounce. If a tube of toothpaste costs a few bucks, I’m not going to lose a lot of sleep if I can’t get the last squeeze.

— DAYS AGO DIGITAL DAY COUNTER, by Double U Products Inc., $7.99 for two: It’s always hard to remember how many days ago that you opened the jar of salsa in the refrigerator. I always end up having to throw out a lot of food that spoils.

This button attachment tracks the days (up to 99) and hours since you opened the food. The gadget, which does not work in the freezer, has a suction base and can attach to most smooth surfaces, such as a glass container. You just pull a tab and a digital counter starts counting the time.

To reset the timer, you press the button for a few seconds. Pretty nifty, but then I thought I could just date the jar or plastic container myself and save the $7.99.

— NET SOAP POUCH, Paris Presents Inc.’s Body Image brand, $2.49. Most of my soap slivers end up like mush on my soap dish. This bright green net soap pouch claims to extend the life of the soap remnant by turning it into a sudsy sponge.

I followed directions and put my soap sliver into the pouch and pulled the beaded cord. I massaged my arms with the pouch and worked up a lather. I could easily wrap that soap sliver in my wash cloth and produce the same effect. I could also break out a new bar and when both are wet, meld the two together.

But I liked this accessory, not to mention it looked pretty on my soap dish.

— BOTTLE TOPS, Telebrands Inc., $6.95 for set of 12: The problem with soda in an opened can is it loses its fizz in hours. Telebrands claims its Bottle Tops, which snap on top of an open can, keeps carbonation longer by turning the can into a re-sealable bottle. It also says it prevent spills.

The plastic Bottle Tops, which come in different colors, were easy to snap on, and they would also help keep drinks separate from my friends’ at a party.

And this gadget definitely did what it was supposed to do — it kept my drink fizzy even after 12 hours. But there were some design flaws. The cap is attached to a half-inch plastic strap so the user doesn’t lose the cap, but every time I drank, the strap hit my nose or my cheek. When I turned over the can and it leaked, so I knew I wouldn’t be able to throw it in my backpack.

When I was done drinking, it was hard to snap off the bottle top. The instructions say to squeeze the can a little as you snap it off, but it took me a while to take it off — not to mention I was afraid the drink would spill all over me.

— FIZZ-KEEPER: CAN PUMP & POUR, Jokari, $4.99. (for a set of two): This gadget claims it can restore the fizz in flat soda with each pump. The round gadget with a soft rubbery center has a hinged cap and can easily snap onto a can.

I snapped on the hinge and put the drink in my refrigerator. Twelve hours later, I tested it to see if it worked by pressing the center of the pump cap about four times to repressurize the can.

I was definitely satisfied with the results, and I like the gadget’s design and ease of use. There was a bit of leakage when I turned the can upside down. Still, this was a keeper.