r/LifeProTips • u/Outrageous-Floor-100 • Mar 28 '23
LPT Request - What small purchase have you made that has had a significant impact on your life? Request
What small purchase have you made that has had a major positive impact on your life?
Price cap of 100$ roughly.
Edit: Thank you for all of the feedback! There have been so many great suggestion and I have added quite a few items to my cart on Amazon (Including a bidet).
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u/Gred-and-Forge Mar 28 '23
A double shower head. Like $25 on Amazon.
If you have a basic shower head, upgrade. It’s amazing.
I also got married for $37, but YMMV depending on your partner.
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u/A_Gain_Again Mar 28 '23
Over the counter heartburn medication.
I recently bought some over the counter Nexium, and it's absolutely changed my life. It's like 24 bucks.
Not only am I not slamming tums every day, but in a roundabout way, it's helped me eat better, too.
Before, I felt guilty for what I was eating. I couldn't drink coffee. I was trying to pinpoint specific triggers, all while slamming tums.
Now, I take one a day, and I haven't even had anything close to heartburn. I feel like I can eat whatever I want, which lets me have a better relationship with food.
I also sleep way better because I'm not waking up from heartburn or having to switch sides because sleeping on the right made it worse.
If you have frequent heartburn, this is your sign to just take the fuckin pill. Holy hell
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u/WebofLace Mar 28 '23
Sounds like you have GERD like me. Sometimes it's genetic or just stress. In my case it turned out the sphincter at the top of my stomach is decorative. The only way to fix it permanently is surgery in my case. I know if you were doing tums like that you probably can't afford a doctor, but if you can find a local Federally Qualified Health Center, they're sliding scale. You can take the nexium long term without a prescription but you want to get your kidneys checked with a blood test every few years.
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u/buddyweaver Mar 28 '23 •
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Just a quick PSA from someone who used to use heartburn meds with great success- you may need to supplement vitamin B12. I first noticed the joint aches and pains, then the tiredness. These meds have a habit of blocking your body's ability to fully absorb b12, and the effects can become pretty nasty
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u/vowih77880 Mar 28 '23
Sharper Image power percussion deep tissue massager.
My girl got into a car accident 2.5 years ago. Had a fusion and it failed, had it taken out and a disk inserted instead. Has had 2 ablations done and has been on painkillers and everything for pain under the sun throughout this whole ordeal. Has gone to chiropractors and massagers and spents tens of thousands of dollars and has gotten ZERO relief.
I was in Costco the other day and saw this thing and, although I have tried massagers on her before, decided what the hell and get it since it was $60 and TBH, Sharper Image never had branded a bad product.
Let me tell you, if this thing was $500 dollars, I would buy it. It has changed her life. When her pulling starts in her muscles, I use this thing for a out 10 minutes and she can function. She has finally been able to sleep through the night without waking up crying in pain. She has her color back, her smile back, her appetite back. It's been a miracle.
I hope I don't jinx it and she continues to get better to the point where she won't need the pain meds anymore. She is starting off them next week.
Thank you Sharper Image.
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u/Important-Tap-261 Mar 29 '23
Fyi: we have developed a rule with costco. If the item is something you can't live without, get a backup before they sell out. Costco sometimes doesn't restock some items and especially items that are collaborative with another brand.
Glad to hear you found something that really improves your quality of life.
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u/LarryOji Mar 29 '23
Many thanks! I will give it a shot for my wife; I’m very glad I scrolled all the way down to your comment!
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u/jasonzzzz99 Mar 29 '23
+1 on this. Chronic nerve and other pain in leg / sciatic, etc. Picked one of these guns up at Costco while on vacation in Hawaii last week, and it provides pain relief in like 30seconds. Told my wife it’s best $60 I ever spent. Agreed, would buy again at 5x the price.
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u/WhenLeavesFall Mar 29 '23
I was hit by a car and had a neck fusion. I cannot recommend a theracane enough. It's released muscles that my own percussion massager can't reach (and the thing has like 20 attachments)
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u/ghostengineering43 Mar 28 '23
Bought a cheap plastic bowl to put my wallet, keys, etc in when I get home. The amount of time I’ve saved looking for those items is priceless.
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u/TheBigOG Mar 28 '23
Immersion Blender, handheld Kitchen Aid brand - soooooo much easier to use/clean rather than a full-sized blender for smoothies. Also use it to make smooth salsas, soups, and ceasar dressing. Just whip it out and shove it in, rinse off when completed.
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u/MamaTR Mar 29 '23
How do you do smoothies with an immersion blender? Does it fit in a glass? How do you keep it from splattering?
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u/nicegirllikeus Mar 28 '23
I second this but would like to add that I purchased a cordless version (chargeable) and that has been an even bigger leap.
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u/Sapphire_Bombay Mar 28 '23
Sized up my duvet. King blanket for queen bed. Absolute game changer.
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u/smackpony Mar 28 '23 •
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I do the same, I also don't buy sheet sets anymore, I buy a queen fitted sheet and a king flat sheet.
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u/cyril0 Mar 28 '23
I have a king size bed and have had one for nearly 20 years. The bottom sheets wear out the top ones don't. I now buy bottom sheets only since I have so many top sheets.
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u/legoscreen Mar 28 '23
My dumbass used a regular double for the past 4 years, so I had to choose between keeping my head warm or my feet. Only occurred to me a few months ago that I can just buy a super king size one.... Yeah I have no idea why I didnt think about that before
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u/wevegotscience
Mar 28 '23
edited Mar 29 '23
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Sunrise alarm clock. Don't need an expensive one. The difference between being startled awake and slowly prompted awake is astounding.
ETA: for those who read this as "suprise" alarm clock, most people just call those a "toddler".
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u/I_REDDIT_ONE_TIME Mar 28 '23
Piggybacking off this, I put a smart lightbulb in my bedroom and have it turn on at 6am, and it’s incredible how much easier it is to get out of bed when it’s not just pitch black in your room
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u/SeinfeldSarah Mar 28 '23 edited Mar 29 '23
I love my sunrise alarm clock! I hate waking up on the actual sun's timeline so I have blackout curtains but waking up when your room is pitch black can be challenging. Thankfully that's no longer an issue with a sunrise alarm!
Edit: Lmao, I have been sick and apparently a little delirious today, which made me write such a cheesy last line, but in my defense, I didn't think anyone would even read it 😅
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u/DogsBeerCheeseNerd Mar 28 '23 edited Mar 29 '23
I got a good Phillips one in 2014 and it’s a game changer. Not just for waking up either, it reverses so it can slowly dim to mimic a sunset and it helps me fall asleep so much easier.
ETA: Philips Smart Sleep
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u/tommangan7 Mar 28 '23
I got one years ago for waking up to but the sunset feature still gets used everyday. So good for gently pushing you towards sleep.
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u/TJamesV Mar 28 '23
Boot dryer.
I stick my work boots on them every night, and every morning I get to put on toasty warm and dry boots. Makes a world of difference if you work out in the elements.
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u/ganawa Mar 28 '23
I’m with you. Got one for my birthday about 10 yrs ago and I cherish that thing more than any other possession.
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u/ayeImur Mar 28 '23
How tf did I not know this was a thing, seriously my jaw is on the floor right now!
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u/mekareami
Mar 28 '23
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blackout curtains
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u/BunnyHop4806
Mar 28 '23
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A bidet. Soared through the covid tp crisis and now pooping anywhere else feels like a filthy animal in the woods
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u/xnarphigle Mar 28 '23
Everytime this question is asked, bidet is always on the list. And for the longest time, I thought it was over-rated. But then I dropped the $40 or so on one that hooks up hot and cold water and I finally understood the hype. My cheeks have never been so clean.
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u/asdf0909 Mar 28 '23
It is insane how few Americans have a bidet. Why is this not a thing here? It's such a gamechanger. I would really like to be able to use one anywhere I go.
Business idea-- a standard bidet we get an entire generation hooked on with marketing. if Liquid Death can do it with water, just call it something cute and repeatable like "The Buttler" and do a better job marketing than Tushy with more irreverent ridiculous attention-grabbing social media marketing and stunts.
One you bidet, you never go back. All we have to do is get gen z hooked
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u/throwaway954383 Mar 28 '23
Part of it is honestly social pressure/cultural. When I got one my friends and family mocked me relentlessly and acted like it was some hilarious joke. I do think it's a major untapped market though bc I've never met someone who didn't like it once they got used to it.
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u/zxc999 Mar 28 '23
What would they be mocking you for, that’s so weird to me as someone from somewhere bidets are normalized, how are they making fun of you for having a cleaner ass
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u/Zoraji Mar 28 '23
I had people insist that water could not clean as well. My reply was if you get feces on your hand while wiping do you just rub it with paper until you don't see it any longer or do you wash your hands with water? So which cleans better?
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u/Bardini Mar 29 '23
I think the absolute cleanest my buttnhas been was in Thailand with the classic bum gun and then one wipe to dry/see proof of your cleanliness.
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u/Arrohart Mar 28 '23 edited Mar 29 '23
When I was in high-school, getting gel pens made a significant impact on my studying and note taking. Which in turn impacted my testing. I got way better test scores
In a strange way it also made me want to study more so I could have a reason to use those pens. That all rolled over to me being 24 and still wanting to study and learn about my career as an excuse to use the gel pens
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u/Ok-Bridge-1045 Mar 28 '23
A good pen will forever help one study. I loved note taking and maintaining them neatly, i loved writing stuff down.
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u/syzamix Mar 29 '23
Wow. Now that's an advertisement for an Asian parent to buy gel pens if I ever saw one...
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u/joshuamanjaro Mar 28 '23 edited May 10 '23
10+ Years ago I paid like 80 bucks for a set of stainless steel pans and I still use them all the time.
Edit: Brand: Ecolution
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u/LostMyKarmaElSegundo Mar 28 '23 edited Mar 28 '23
Those squishy anti-fatigue mats for the kitchen. They make standing on a hard tile floor a lot more comfortable while cooking or doing dishes in the sink.
They are usually between $30 and $80 depending on size and design.
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u/rocketfait Mar 28 '23
They're also excellent for standing desks!
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u/junglebetti Mar 28 '23
I was gifted an ugly one and put it in front of my kitchen sink to be polite - now I don’t know how or why I didn’t get one years ago.
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u/kitesurfr Mar 28 '23
I never thought I'd be saying this, but my chain mail sponge for cleaning cast iron is f-ing incredible. I feel like I got ten years older the day I decided a cleaning product was cool.
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u/InfowarriorKat Mar 28 '23
My boyfriend bought one of those and I'm like "wtf is this?" 🤣
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u/assholetoall Mar 28 '23
We have one that is just flat. I put it on the baby's head before taking her into battle.
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u/The__Imp Mar 29 '23
Mine even has a handy nose ring loop for connecting to the baby’s nose ring and ensuring proper head protection.
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u/Birdlebee Mar 28 '23
I buy a new dish sponge every month, and it makes me feel like a rich, pampered adult. Especially when I can get it in a different color or pattern. I look forward to Pay My Rent day because it is also New Sponge Day.
All of which is to say, I understand your complicated feelings on the matter.
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u/thusnewmexico Mar 28 '23
Automatic cat feeder. It goes off to feed at 6 am and my cat runs like a bat out of hell to get the food. I get to sleep in now. $40 is a game changer.
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Mar 28 '23
Ok so jealous. My cat comes back upstairs to tell me all about his breakfast after his robot feeding. No rest.
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u/Brave_anonymous1 Mar 29 '23 edited Mar 29 '23
My cat tells me about it too. And if I am not engaging in the conversation, he will just throw up a quarter of his breakfast to prove his story.
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u/OminOus_PancakeS Mar 29 '23
I get super envious of people with cats so I love comments like this that help to cool the enthusiasm.
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u/thebluebeagal
Mar 28 '23
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Waterpik! 34 years of my life, never flossed because I hated it. Got a waterpik and an electric toothbrush and my hygiene game has skyrocketed.
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u/Lariche Mar 28 '23
With you on this one. It's flossing, massage, refresh, just feeling of cleanliness.
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u/Earthemile Mar 28 '23
If you clean your teeth absolutely the best you can and then use a waterpik - the crap it brings out that the toothbrush missed is disgusting, dismaying and amazing.
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u/RockySterling Mar 28 '23
Waterpik was a gateway for me to just start using normal floss picks when I take a shower
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u/40ozkiller Mar 28 '23
Turns out its easier to maintain healthy gums than it is to heal unhealthy gums.
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u/UsingiAlien Mar 28 '23
Fuck i feel like an idiot, why have I never thought of flossing in the shower?…
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u/needusbukunde Mar 28 '23
I brush my teeth, floss, AND pee in the shower. Multitasking.
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u/grandzooby Mar 28 '23 •
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I also shave in the shower!
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u/wobblyweasel Mar 28 '23 •
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I also shower in the shower!
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u/Sch1z01dMan Mar 28 '23
Everyone look at this weirdo, showering in the shower. That’s where I cook my breakfast.
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u/Muppet-King Mar 28 '23 edited Mar 29 '23
My kindle paper white got me into reading. I can bring it everywhere and switch topics at ease + it looks like real paper and doesn’t strain my eyes. I also learn a lot when I look up words I’m not used to
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u/Pawneewafflesarelife Mar 29 '23 edited Mar 29 '23
When I read physical books, I'll have a split-second urge to touch words to look them up before my brain kicks in fully and remembers this is real paper.
Oh, and I love the highlight and notation options. I'll use a different color each time I read a book and it's like an interesting form of journaling, with my thoughts as I read reflecting my current life.
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u/behappysometimes Mar 28 '23
Get a tongue scraper, they’re more effective at tackling bad breath than brushing. Do your mouth a favor and do both.
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u/SailboatAB Mar 28 '23
I read this right after the bidet subtopic and thought at first this was part of that discussion. As in, never mind a bidet, use a tongue scraper.
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u/Fly__Eagles__Fly
Mar 28 '23
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Microcenter has a deal for a $99 3D printer. It’s been a ton of fun since I got it about 6 weeks ago. Some of the biggest hits:
Rings that you can wear and build legos on top of
Tupperware organizers
Bag clips
Cable organizers
Dinosaur fossils for the boys
Valentine’s Day gift for my 5 year olds crush
Body builder pikachu statue
Nintendo Switch joycon PLUS beer holders
Eagles coasters for a Super Bowl party that didn’t end well
So far I’ve spent about $25 on materials. Soon I will make little penis valve stem caps to put on my friends car tires to see how long they take to find.
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u/CatPurrsonNo1 Mar 29 '23
Never knew I needed a 3D printer until I read “penis valve stem caps”. I need to put these on my sister’s car.
The Lego-compatible rings sound really fun, too!
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u/Initial_Savings8733 Mar 28 '23
Blow dryer brush. I used to let my hair air dry and hated the way it looked so I had it up all the time. Now I blow dry my hair and use a blow dryer brush so hair is always curled/styled!
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u/StupiderIdjit Mar 28 '23
A good quality chef knife will absolutely change your cooking. You wouldn't think just having a sharp knife would make your food better, but it does. Same goes with pans. Don't buy sets - - just a few quality ones you'll actually use.
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u/Sknowman Mar 28 '23 edited Mar 29 '23
Make sure you also sharpen that knife regularly. A good knife still dulls down.
EDIT: by 'regularly' I mean a couple times a year, part of regular kitchen maintenance. Additionally, as others have pointed out, you should be honing your blades every time you use your knife.
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u/badgurlvenus Mar 29 '23
omg yes my go to knife was a miracle for me and then all of the sudden it wasn't. never put it in the dishwasher, it has its own special spot to rest so it doesn't get banged against other things. i was so sad, but i remembered i had a really cheapo knife sharpener, watched a video on knive sharpening, applied it to the one i have, my knife is now even better than when i first got it. so smooth, no drag, i would marry it probably
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u/estherhazelagnes Mar 28 '23 edited Mar 30 '23
Library card. Use it to connect to the app Libby; haven’t bought a book or used Audible in years.
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u/LierraWright Mar 29 '23
Installed Libby after reading this, can't believe this resource isn't more commonly known
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u/estherhazelagnes Mar 29 '23
Told myself If I got one person to download Libby, I’d be happy. Try to tell anyone you know who uses audible bc that shit is abusive in regards to their pricing and practices. Additionally, Libby’s UI is always improving.
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u/HarryHugeweenie Mar 29 '23
I pitch Libby like I work for them. Support your local library, support Libby, support yourself! It’s truly the best deal in entertainment…1000% free!
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u/phanerondezvous Mar 29 '23
You can also use it with Kanopy and Hoopla! Also can get you cheap or free memberships with tons of local places like art museums, kids learning places, etc
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u/Deltethnia Mar 29 '23
This depends on your local library system, but there are many libraries that offer cards to non-residents for a fee. The more libraries you have access to the more content you get.
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u/Mabosaha Mar 28 '23
A car bluetooth adapter! I have an old car that doesn‘t even support MP3. Bought a BT adapter for 14€! Now I can listen to anything I can imagine! Soundcloud sets and everything. I‘m having so much joy while driving.
I was reluctant on buying one since I tried one ~6y ago and that one was beyond horrible. I think you loaded MP3 songs on it and it kept making noise.
This new one is perfect :)
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u/Talkaze Mar 29 '23
I remember the days when my first car had a cassette player; I used a cassette adapter to plug in my ipod. I still have it! And the ipod thing the size of the postage stamp. It was in my "I should deal with this and donate it" box that I found last weekend. From like 5 years ago.
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u/zaj89 Mar 28 '23
An electric toothbrush, I got a sonicare toothbrush for like 50$ and have been using it for about 2 years now and everytime I see my dentist he says my teeth are looking much better since I’ve switched
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u/r-Dwalo Mar 28 '23
Likely my umpteenth insulated water bottle, but this one will 100% be dedicated to drinking plain, iced water only.
I recently traveled cross-country via train and sat next to an older woman who said she had had FOUR, excruciating kidney stones. She continued that if she had to decide which was more painful: childbirth, or passing the kidney stones, she’d rather go through childbirth without an epidural, than pass another stone.
Her anecdote was enough to get me more serious about drinking water. Thing is, I already drink water, but only during or after working out/hiking, things like that.
This new, $22, 40oz insulated water bottle is my commitment to not only be more hydrated throughout the day everyday, but to hopefully NEVER have to experience the passing of a kidney stone.
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u/SenseTheHype Mar 28 '23
A sleeping mask and ear plugs. My sleep has gotten so much better and I feel rejuvenated when I start my day.
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u/xXx_kool-kid_xXx Mar 28 '23
Be careful with the ear plugs btw, you can build up a lot of stubborn wax in the back of your ears without proper cleaning
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u/Isntlifefunny Mar 28 '23
Any tips on how do you properly clean your ears?
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u/kattieface Mar 28 '23
Mostly they're self cleaning. You can use drops to soften wax if there's build up. The classic idiom of "don't put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear" rings true. If you have issues with hearing or feel there's loads of build up, see a professional. I've a couple of friends who are audiologists, they have suction machines to carefully remove excess wax.
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u/grannybubbles Mar 28 '23
From my days is food service:
A shoe stretcher! My left foot is slightly larger than the right and has a wonky toe that would develop painful corns. New shoes would make me walk unevenly because of the pain, then my back would start hurting. The shoes would eventually stretch out from use, but not fast enough for me and they still rubbed the wonky toe. The stretchers come with bumps that you can put in places where you need just a little more room, so after using them, my wonky toe stopped hurting, the corn went away, I was able to walk normally and my back pain got much better.
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u/Avedis Mar 28 '23
FWIW: If your feet are different sizes, Nordstrom will mix-and-match to sell you a single pair of shoes such that both actually fit your feet. And, they will price-match competitors' in-stock shoes (but often have the best price or at least a very competitive one anyway).
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u/unusual-pigeon Mar 29 '23
I use this for all my shoes! They do have some restrictions (must be at least 1.5 sizes different, or 1 size + 1 width I think) but it's honestly saved my feet and my wallet from having to buy 2 pairs just to get a correct fit
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u/Rcknr1 Mar 28 '23
Phone stand from IKEA, it was like $4. Very helpful when I’m cooking and need to follow a recipe
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u/kevnmartin Mar 28 '23
I bought a wisteria plant for $19.95 and now it is so glorious people pull their cars over to take pictures of it. It's beautiful.
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u/ThePowerPoint Mar 28 '23
How dare you say people pull over to take pictures of it and not have a picture of it anywhere, I wanna see the pretty plant
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u/olmyapsennon Mar 28 '23
I have wisteria growing in my backyard. It's such a beautiful plant, especially once the vines start growing throughout tree limbs. However, they can get out of control if you're not careful. When I first moved in, they made made a canopy of old vine that's completely taken over half the backyard.
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u/iceblaze3k Mar 28 '23
Cups with wide mouths and wide bases, makes cleaning easy and they tend to be larger.
Psyllium husk fiber, have it every day since I had a large colon polyp removed. If you take this with adequate water, your bowel movements will be amazing. Give it a try!
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Mar 28 '23
edited Mar 29 '23
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u/humanperson999 Mar 28 '23 •
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Pro tip if you have an iPhone there's a white noise feature built in. Settings>accessibility>audio/visual> background sounds.
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u/stratasfear Mar 28 '23
Wait, WHAT? Why isn’t this more accessible?!
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u/stratasfear Mar 28 '23
Ok: this is cool - you can setup the background sounds to play rain or ocean noise and tether it to an accessibility button in the control centre for easy access.
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u/WingZombie Mar 28 '23
I use the 10hr fan noise videos on YouTube. If I'm traveling I just play it on my phone. If I'm at home I play it on the soundbar in my bedroom
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u/Zachafinackus Mar 28 '23
10 bucks for a pair of hair catchers for my shower drain. Lifesaver as I abhor cleaning out drain clogs, which used to happen often now that I have long hair.
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Mar 28 '23
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u/kerberos824 Mar 28 '23
Second this. The Zojirushi is amazing.
My only complaint: it works too well. I swear, I have made tea or coffee in it straight out of the kettle/press and it's almost too hot to drink until noon. If I don't pop the cap when I get to work it will stay uncomfortably hot until the drive home! It's ridiculous.
And yes. No leaks. No mess. Easy to take apart and clean and put back together. Fit's everywhere. Is tough.
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u/Hazel_nut1992 Mar 28 '23
I have a deep bathtub but was so annoyed when I couldn’t fill it as much as I wanted because the overflow drain was so low. I found a cover for the overflow drain on Amazon for like $10. It’s rubbery plastic,it goes over the overflow drain and has a hole on the top so you can actually fill your tub but will still drain if it goes too high.
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u/mr_wool_head Mar 28 '23
A password manager. Just not LastPass.
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u/PlagueCze Mar 28 '23
Bitwarden premium FTW, 100 USD gets you 10 years (10 USD/year). Otherwise free version is OK too.
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u/littleepatina Mar 28 '23
a scalp massager to use in the shower. it's helped with flakes, with getting my roots super clean, feels nice, is easier than using my hands, and helps stimulate hair growth.
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u/emmalew97 Mar 28 '23
I got one of those shampoo massagers for about $3 and my scalp which is normally unbearably itchy especially in the winter has never felt more healthy for this long.
Another not so cheap but great bang for buck is good sheets. I got a full set and extra pillow cases of Nestwell for about $200 and getting into bed is so much more relaxing. If you don't want/can't afford to get the full set, you could get just pillow cases for around $40.
If maintaining a clean living space is difficult, buying separate bottles/cloths for each room made it so much easier for me. That way when you walk into the room and see something that needs cleaning, you can do it right then without leaving and potentially forgetting about it or being too unmotivated to do the extra step of getting the products.
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u/AuntieBri Mar 28 '23
If maintaining a clean living space is difficult, buying separate bottles/cloths for each room made it so much easier for me. That way when you walk into the room and see something that needs cleaning, you can do it right then without leaving and potentially forgetting about it or being too unmotivated to do the extra step of getting the products.
This is something I have preached about for years. My parents always had the big horde of cleaning supplies under the kitchen sink. When I got my own place, I got one of everything for each bathroom, a can of pledge and stack of rags in the closet of each bedroom/office, toilet paper under the sink of each bathroom, etc. My mom lives with me now and at first she was confused and found it wasteful, until she realized how much more sense my way makes. I have converted her.
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u/Neratyr Mar 29 '23
Exactly - You dont use any more or less.. You just spend less time in transit or on the hunt. For many small cleanings you can complete the cleaning in the amount of time it would have taken you to walk around to grab the supplies from elsewhere
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u/OrangeCreamy Mar 28 '23
Squatty potty! Never pooped the same after. You need this
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u/triflers_need_not Mar 28 '23 •
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Word of warning: If you get yourself a bidet and a squatty potty your ass will become a pampered pretty pretty princes and pooing anywhere other than home will disgust you deeply.
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u/cobalt26 Mar 28 '23
No kidding. I shat at the office not long ago.
Sitting on that high top toilet with my feet dangling while wiping my booty hole with half-ply sandpaper was not a great experience.
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u/zadtheinhaler Mar 29 '23
half-ply sandpaper
Yet somehow being so delicate that even scrunching up 5-8 layers, you end up accidentally checking your oil.
Tim Hortons is the literal worst for that. two-square equivalent sheets of onion-skin 80-grit. Making you paw at the dispenser like a cat hunting greebles.
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u/lilpistacchio Mar 28 '23
I’ve been visiting family for a week and it basically feels like backpacking.
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u/Zimmonda Mar 28 '23
Digital Meat Thermometer, they go as cheap as 10 bucks on amazon and are instant.
No more fucking about with "palm tests" or juices running clear. Just pure piece of mind that I'm not poisoning myself or my family without massively overcooking our food.
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u/rpmerf Mar 28 '23
People tell me I'm so good at cooking chicken. I just use the thermometer and don't overcook it.
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u/ljr55555 Mar 28 '23
Same for me - people ask me "what is your secret?!" all the time. A thermometer isn't what they expect to hear!
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1.1k
u/_Tock_
Mar 28 '23
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A rice cooker - life changing, seriously… and about 20 bucks
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u/happydayswasgreat Mar 28 '23
The day we got sent home from work due to covid landing, I thought to myself "huh, what if we are home for months, what if the kids are home from school... they like rice. I'm crap at cooking rice. They might be home all the time. I would like to share out lunch and dinner duties"!!!. I drove up to Walmart before id finished the thought in my head and bought a 15 dollar rice cooker. Amazing. We all love it. We can all cook rice, together, independently, whatever. No going back. We use it ask the time. 15 dollars. Great value for money.
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u/DonkeySilver6051 Mar 28 '23 edited Mar 29 '23
A miniature, original Swiss Army Pocket knife with ALL the trimmings, the size of my pinkie more or less. Bought it on my first trip to Europe years ago. It fits into the side zip of my money purse, and it has the tiniest possible sharp scissors as well. And the minutest tweezer. As a lady, I stopped counting how many times, this little knife has been valuable to me and others that I helped out in situations when needed. My family members often times ask if I have decided who will one day inherit this incredible little darling.
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u/paxmlank Mar 28 '23
Pressure cooker: $40 - I had about $60 left to my name and my first paycheck was a month away. I bought this along with $20 of dried beans and rice and I was able to quickly and consistently cook a hot meal.
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u/7tattoosandcounting Mar 28 '23
Dish gloves! Only a few bucks and makes doing the dishes exponentially easier, faster, and better. Also saves hands from drying out too much.
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u/BanjoKablooey2 Mar 28 '23 edited Mar 28 '23
As someone who cooks a LOT—a couple weeks ago I bought a Gracula on Amazon. It’s this little garlic mincer that, randomly, looks like a vampire. (They don’t sell a normal looking one.) Unlike garlic presses and so many other things I’ve bought, this thing ACTUALLY minces garlic and is super easy to clean. I’m never ever chopping garlic again.
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u/Niko___Bellic Mar 28 '23 •
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First, that looks adorable!
Second, this technique was a game changer for me.
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u/endoire Mar 28 '23
Air Fryer! Opened me up to a variety of foods I had to go out for, that I can now just cook at home
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u/KieshaK Mar 28 '23
It was a gift, but a back scratcher. Holy hell, that thing is amazing. It has a telescoping handle so I can reach alllll the itchy spots.
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u/oddgrrl99 Mar 28 '23
A heating pad. After 20 years of being a mail carrier & now a server/bartender my feet freaking hurt 100% of the time & seriously cramp at night. The heating pad is under the covers for my feet, switch it on about 15 minutes before bed & it’s nice & toasty for my aching feet. No more night cramps & as a plus-my dog also loves it. Don’t suggest a heated blanket, I would die before the sun came up.
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u/jawesome4321 Mar 28 '23
Audiobooks on the Libby app and Bluetooth headphones. I listen to books while I'm driving, doing dishes, taking out the trash, cleaning, doing laundry. And for noisy times use Worktunes hearing protection with Bluetooth for lawnmowing or snowblowing.
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u/themissyoshi Mar 28 '23
The Scrub Daddy sponge. Miles above other sponges, last several months, is hard in cold water for more scrubbing/soft in warm water for general washing. It’s the best
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u/godcostume Mar 28 '23
All the scrub daddy products! Scrub mommy and power paste is amazing. My glass cooktop isn’t gross any more!
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u/NeedsMoreYellow Mar 29 '23
I bought a folding stool ($15) for my kitchen.
I have psoriatic arthritis and it can be incredibly difficult for me to stand to cook dinner. I bought a folding stool so that I can sit while I cook. It has changed my life. I cook much more often than I used to because my body is no longer in agony standing while I prep and cook.
My family, however, keeps telling me I should "just stand while [I] cook like everyone else." I should not feel ashamed or be shamed because I am using a disability aid. So all for all my peeps who want to eat healthier but have difficulty standing to prep and cook... get yourself the stool, change your life, and tell the haters to f*@! off.
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u/clairebearzechinacat Mar 28 '23
Embroidery kits. I never felt very artistic and since picking up the hobby feel so proud of things I have been able to create. It has given me such a fulfilling hobby that I get to enjoy as I complete it and then feel so accomplished once I am done.
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u/MarioTennis69 Mar 28 '23
Weighted blanket. Just slap that baby on top of the fuzziest blanket you got and you're out like a light
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u/Lovecrt Mar 28 '23
A plant.. was just doing the typical trying to cheer myself up thing and it really worked!
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u/Telemere125 Mar 29 '23
Careful with that one. Start with one, soon you’re at the local nursery checking out exotic pothos and variegated snakeplants and deciding whether a second mortgage is the best option for more plant purchases
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1.8k
Mar 28 '23
My cat. I got her for $50 and she has absolutely changed my life. I love her to pieces
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u/throwawaychef33 Mar 28 '23 edited Mar 29 '23 •
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My 17 year old cat is being euthanized today. She's been really great and our kids have never not had her around. She was free but you pay the cost at the end in heartache.
It's still better to love and lost than to never have loved at all though I'm sure.
Edit: it's over. She was so calm the entire time that I thought they'd given her a sedative when putting the iv in; they hadn't. she was ready to go and she faced it like the zen master she was.
Thank you everyone for your support.
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u/Gonrag23 Mar 28 '23
Kitchen aid hand mixer, I’m no professional baker and I don’t have counter space for the full thing. But the hand mixer works wonderfully when I am baking, it also does a great job with mashed potatoes, and shredding chicken. I’m sure there are other uses, but dang I love that thing.
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u/ILikeSoundsAndStuff Mar 28 '23
$10 clip on phone holder for car dash.
Instantly makes using a navigation with a phone way safer, and locks the phone into part of your dashboard. Texts, calls, and notifications are easier to glance at and swipe away, as if changing the radio station.
First thing I do when getting in my car now is put my phone in the holder, even when I don’t need navigation and don’t plan on using it. It’s just the easiest and safest place to have your phone while driving.
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u/3Suze Mar 28 '23
I live in a carpeted apartment. Alfalfa Pellets ($15) on top of puppy pee pads ($8) on a rimmed cookie sheet. My puppy is fully "litter box" trained at 9 weeks and associates the alfalfa with grass. Zero mistakes so far and that alone is saving me a ton of money and heartbreak.
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u/AstridOnReddit Mar 28 '23
One of those wall hangings (“tapestry” on Etsy) with a forest on it. Makes the basement office much more tolerable.
~$35 for 5’x7’
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u/KevinG34 Mar 28 '23
Carbon monoxide detector. Actually went off when we had a problem with the furnace, that could have killed the whole family overnight.
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u/Pairadockcickle Mar 28 '23
holy. fucking. shit.
a TENS unit. if you are a pain sufferer (joint, surgery, muscles etc etc, phys therapy pain).
This is literally a game changer.
I had some pretty traumatic recovery pains that had me seeing red through Percocet. Got the TENS hooked up, and literally with the push of a button the LACK of pain made sob and I went to sleep for 4 hours.
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u/FinanceMuse Mar 28 '23
A $15 full body pillow with a crushed fur pillow case. It’s like sleeping while hugging a cloud.
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u/dooma Mar 28 '23
I bought myself 2 sets of measuring spoons. I cook a lot and was having to frequently wash them in between uses.
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u/Alexis_J_M Mar 28 '23
Get a second set of measuring cups, too, but don't put them in your drawer. Put a permanent scoop in your flour, sugar, cornmeal, brown sugar, rice, whatever you use most. (I've got 1/3 cup in the cornmeal and 1/4 cup in the sugar, saves a lot of washing.)
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u/richardwonka Mar 28 '23
- A travel hammock ~30€
- a diary and a nice pen
- whetstone 400/1000
- …
The key to most things that have made a difference in my life wasn’t the things, but that I learned to use them well.
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u/Economy-Ad8668
Mar 28 '23
edited Mar 28 '23
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Bought a girl a drink in a club about 20 years ago, £5 or there abouts. Been married for 15 now, kids, dog, cat, etc etc! Edit - And I wouldn't change it for the world.
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u/scalability Mar 28 '23
Is this like one of those "Only £5!" deals that you do the math on 15 years later and it's actually £250,000?
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u/MeatBeater19 Mar 28 '23
Not me but one of my friends bought me a plant. Now i water it everyday.
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u/mountainkid Mar 28 '23
Headband headphones. Fall asleep to podcasts or music. For about $20 its a no brainer.
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u/cogentsimile Mar 28 '23
A pocket microfiber cloth for cleaning my glasses ($5-10). It’s in a little silicone case you stuff it in; tried to post a link but I guess that’s not allowed. - my glasses and the cloth stay so much cleaner and I love it! Probably my favorite in terms of utility/joy divided by cost.
Honorable mentions/other favorites:
A rubz foot massage ball for under my desk ($5-10). Can’t describe how much of a difference this makes. Totally unexpected.
Silicone ear plugs for sleeping (my wife snores) ($5-10)
Manta sleep mask ($35-70)
Balance board for my standing desk ($15-100+). My posture is so much better!
Battery jump starter for my car ($40-100) and portable air compressor to inflate tires ($15-100). I keep these both in my trunk and they have saved me multiple times! Worth the peace of mind
Meditation cushion! ($25-100). Makes sitting for long periods much more comfortable/doable, and gets you to properly align your spine/pelvis.
Kindle ($90-100+). Worth it to read infinite ebooks at night without LEDs shining into your eyes. You can find them much cheaper used or when Amazon has a sale :)
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u/PlagueCze
Mar 28 '23
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Safety razor - can be priced anywhere between 20 and 200 USD, but 60 is the usual price. It improved my shaving significantly, both in terms of quality and enjoyment. Pair it with some nice blades, soap and brush and you're set for life. After the initial purchase, the price of disposable blades is in pennies (compared to dolars for cartridge razors).
Some good ones for beginners - Muhle R89, Merkur Progress, Gillette Slim Adjustable.
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u/BagHolder9001 Mar 28 '23
yeah set for life they said....then you end.up with 10 razors, 20 different blades and you got to find the perfect scent lol. at least it turns a chore into a fun hobby
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u/soaper410 Mar 28 '23
A light with a fan. It provides white noise and keeps it cooler which means I don’t have to turn on my AC in the spring or fall. It keeps my power bill about $100 lower per months for about 5 months of the year. Plus I sleep better!
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u/eat-skate-masturbate Mar 28 '23
I kept thinking hmmmmm a light with a fan .......hmmmmm.....
Turns out you're talking about a ceiling fan. Duh.
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u/kidneyprobs Mar 28 '23
Took me until I read your comment. I’m sitting here like “I don’t understand how my box fan with a lightbulb would cool my room off?” Lol
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u/motherofcats4 Mar 28 '23 edited Mar 29 '23
I bought an anti snore pillow for my partner. It’s unbelievably good. He just gently “purrs” now instead of rattling the bed and ruining my eardrums. Less than £30.
I forget how much it’s saved our relationship until we sleep in a hotel without it.
Edit here’s the pillow
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u/GuacnJim Mar 28 '23
Diva cup. Period game changer.
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u/Anniesoptera Mar 28 '23
I had trouble with the Diva cup (long story involving TMI), but menstrual discs work fantastically for me. Definitely game changing!
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u/Benji_81 Mar 28 '23 edited Mar 29 '23
Viagra and I am not kidding. I am 41 and explained to Doc that I cannot stay hard like when I was younger. And now I can f. all night, but do not recommend this as every day practice 🙃
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u/GetBackToWorkSlacker Mar 28 '23 edited Mar 29 '23
A recipe app. There are several good ones, but the one I use is AnyList. It lets you automatically import recipes from almost anywhere, plan out the next several days’ meals, and create your grocery list from the ingredients in the recipes. America’s Test Kitchen is the only place I’ve found where the import feature doesn’t work… you can still manually copy and paste the recipe, you just can’t use the one-click thing.
It is a recurring purchase of $10 a year, but it pays for itself many times over. It helps me use our groceries more efficiently, so we spend less and waste almost nothing. But besides that, it’s just so damn convenient having my entire collection in one place. I can curate it anytime I want and write my edits right into the recipe.
I used to print recipes onto notecards and store them in a box. I haven’t seen the recipe box in years and never even wonder what happened to it.
Edit: There are other apps in the replies below that have similar functionality, so check them all out and see which one you like best. Recipe Keeper is another good one: it can read and import a handwritten or printed recipe and lets you use subcategories for organizing them.
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u/CrossV1 Mar 28 '23
2 of everything. 2 shampoos, 2 lip balm, 2 toothpastes, 2 chopping boards, 2 garlic presses (so that u always have one of standby if u were lazy to clean the other)
No need to fight with S.O. over the flavor, texture. And if you run out of one , you can temporarily use the other till u replace it. It makes life blissful.
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u/yeagercorps Mar 28 '23
Medical grade lanolin. Works great on chapped lips, diaper rash, etc.
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u/CentrifugalMuse Mar 28 '23
A 2 gallon Brita water container. We fill it and keep it in the fridge and replace the filter in it as needed. We have saved so much on bottled water, not to mention reducing all the water bottles (which we recycled, but still). No more half empty water bottles laying around the house, and since it’s filtered tap water that we only have to refill once a day, it’s convenient. We use it for cooking as well.
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u/ZaxonsBlade Mar 28 '23 edited Mar 29 '23
There was a LPT recently that said spend small amounts of money every month on things that make your life easier. It’s something I’ve kind of always done but had stoped for a while.
That night I got into a fight with my pots and pans and lids (I do all the cooking and dishes so I’m the only one that deals with it). Stacking them and piles of lids. The lids collapsed and made a huge clattering ruckus. Just totally pissed me off. I immediately hopped online and bought some racks and holders for that cabinet. Got them installed Friday. Really should have taken a before/after. My lord. Game changer.
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u/thegooddoktorjones Mar 28 '23
Fire gloves. Cheap welding gloves from farm & fleet that let you pick up burning things briefly. Makes grilling so much easier and when having a campfire no trying to move burning logs with sticks, just grab them. Need to not let them get wet or hold on too long, but they look like magic. Makes me feel like a real big shot when I am placing hot coals exactly where I want them.
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u/NiceGuyWillis Mar 28 '23
Not exactly a hidden or unpopular one, but genuinely? A portable power bank. Bought a Duracell one for like $35, and I just keep it in my backpack. I don't use it for my phone, but for my wireless earpods and Fitbit. I just plug them into my backpack when I'm not using them and they are always at full charge. I no longer have to worry about forgetting to charge my devices at night. The bank lasts like a full month as long as I'm only charging small devices with it.
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u/jvsews Mar 28 '23
A strap wrench and a pair of hand pruners to open bottles and packages.
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u/CuriousCat55555 Mar 28 '23
A $35 set a digital measuring calipers. It makes measuring different things and making precise cuts on the tablesaw so much easier, faster, more accurate, and painless!
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u/topazco Mar 28 '23
Left handed Logitech lift mouse - absolute game changer, was waiting for so long for a good mouse for a lefty
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u/Rataridicta Mar 28 '23
I bought an iFixit pro tech toolkit a few years back after considering it for a long time, but thinking it was quite pricy.
I was wrong. It is an amazing kit, and it has saved me both a lot of money, and a lot of time to quickly be able to fix so many more things; from a laptop hinge replacement to tightening the screws on a pair of glasses, it has become one of the best purchases I've ever made.
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u/PunkerWannaBe Mar 28 '23
A jump rope, I got a cheap one for $1 and it made me love working out.
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u/sourdoughbre4d Mar 28 '23
A rechargeable lantern, a label maker, a cleaver(cooking), a wyze camera, a noco battery (car)
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u/keepthetips Keeping the tips since 2019 Mar 28 '23
Hello and welcome to r/LifeProTips!
Please help us decide if this post is a good fit for the subreddit by up or downvoting this comment.
If you think that this is great advice to improve your life, please upvote. If you think this doesn't help you in any way, please downvote. If you don't care, leave it for the others to decide.