Over the past several months, I've received more requests for the best inexpensive stick vacuum than all other such requests combined. I get it. I've been looking for my ideal stick vacuum for so long that I'd just about come to the conclusion that my expectations are completely unreasonable.

A stick vacuum is not a substitute for a good powerful household vacuum that can pull dirt, dust and debris from deep within a carpet. A stick vacuum has a different purpose altogether. It's a simple tool designed for quick pickups; cleaning up spills in the kitchen; and cleaning sand, dirt, cat litter, dust, and loose debris tracked in when you don't have time or the inclination to haul out a full-size vacuum cleaner for such a small task.

A good way to think of a stick vacuum is it's an electric broom and dustpan in one. It sweeps up and vacuums away debris in one handy motion without the need to bend over or get down on the floor.

My dream stick vacuum would be a cordless one that can stand alone and run for at least 20 minutes. In my dreams, this stick vacuum is so lightweight I can easily carry it up and down stairs in one hand while carrying a load in the other. It must have an on/off switch so I don't have to continuously hold down a trigger during operation.

By now you've guessed that my dream stick vacuum does exist. I found it. And, to my surprise, it has features I'd never thought about like headlights and a 180-degree swivel head I can easily maneuver around table legs and under furniture. I've been using my new Eufy HomeVac Cordless Upright-Style Vacuum Cleaner for about month now, and I'm in love.

It only weighs 5 pounds — half the weight of many competitors. And it's as quiet as a whisper when in operation. It is perfectly balanced to stand alone, and it is a powerhouse of suction with 28.8 volts of power — far more than any other stick out there.

This Eufy has a large 2200 mAh Li-ion, or lithium-ion, battery, and boy does it deliver! We're talking cordless performance for up to 50 minutes of vacuuming on a single charge. I'm learning that the beauty of a Li-ion battery is that once charged it will hold that charge for months, losing only 5 percent a month when not in use. Eufy even has a fuel gauge that tells me how much charge remains. It's amazing how it just keeps going and going and going!

Speaking of charging, this Eufy reminds me of my mobile phone. It comes with a simple charger that plugs into any outlet just like a phone. It doesn't have to sit in a dock. It can stand on its own while being charged, or hung on a wall via the wall mount accessory.

This Eufy stick vac has a big dirt cup that is easily removed and emptied and washed in the sink. The rolling brush is easily removed for cleaning but has no attachments. It's completely contained with nothing complicated to deal with or keep track of.

At about $130, the Eufy HomeVac Lightweight Cordless Upright-Style Vacuum Cleaner is my pick for best inexpensive stick vacuum.

Mary invites questions, comments and tips at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or c/o Everyday Cheapskate, 12340 Seal Beach Blvd., Suite B-416, Seal Beach, CA 90740. This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com, a personal finance member website and the author of "Debt-Proof Living," released in 2014. To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.