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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Silly little things to make life better...

314 replies

Arlanymor · 02/06/2026 21:05

... so not hugely necessary. But say you eat a pizza at a restaurant and you can't quite finish it all. Rather than a full-sized pizza box, can you please give me a half-sized one that I can fit in my handbag please?*

*only applies to more mainstream restaurants, I know that kebab/chicken places will jam anything into a small polystyrene/single use plastic container.

Just a little thing to make the world turn more easily. Also although I get the kids' menu and the discount, can we all please order smaller portions if we wish? Ta!

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Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride · 03/06/2026 16:35

Inspired by another thread. A tiny little tazer that gives a little gnat sting. Used in my house mainly on those who when asked what they fancy for tea, reply "Don't mind". But can see a multitude of uses against the multitude of arseholes and knob heads. Looking at you, lady who called out "coming through" on a particularly narrow bit of path. In fact can we have a pedestrian equivalent of the highway code please? Those who block pavements, dont give way to people with prams, wheelchairs or even big bags of shopping, stopping to chat with a gaggle of mates on a busy day. They get the gnat sting.

godmum56 · 03/06/2026 16:28

Scarlettpixie · 03/06/2026 13:40

Yes please, those little ones are too small but I sometimes want prosecco and not the whole bottle and the rest goes flat (I have tried the teaspoon and stoppers but it's not as good on day 2). A half bottle would be perfect.

I think I would also be inclined to drink less generally if these were a thing.

half bottles of wine are generally available but its an expensive way to buy. For sealing fizz, these are the dogs bollocks

www.nisbets.co.uk/olympia-champagne-stopper/c195?vatToggle=incvat&cm_mmc=PLA--19650569940--144325576445--pla-2237923576755&cm_mmca1=go_19650569940_144325576445_647502151651_pla-2237923576755_c&kpid=go_cmp-19650569940_adg-144325576445_ad-647502151651_pla-2237923576755_dev-c_ext-_prd-C195_sig-Cj0KCQjwof_QBhCgARIsADaMzOdn_FJIe4qs5V4i-c8CR3mu5OO3aqFyICf1iMPndVFgvMC-1yN8eZEaAiTnEALw_wcB&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19650569940&gbraid=0AAAAAD_ES7qLL9rxurm7OhvN3o2f-20ZS&gclid=Cj0KCQjwof_QBhCgARIsADaMzOdn_FJIe4qs5V4i-c8CR3mu5OO3aqFyICf1iMPndVFgvMC-1yN8eZEaAiTnEALw_wcB

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 03/06/2026 16:12

Mama2many73 · 03/06/2026 10:06

We had a meal out the other day was about £20 per head inc a soft drink. I also asked for a tap water, was asked if I meant a bottle (about £3), i said no just a tap water thank you and the server was not happy about it. When she left others at the table actually commented on it!
I can understand the 'oh you want a free drink' thoughts when you're not purchasing other stuff (i have seen this) but when a table is spending over £120 i thought it was just rude!

At a hotel in Germany recently I was charged two euros for a half-litre jug of water for those of us at the table to drink with the evening meal after a very hot day. And we had beer as well. What cheapskatery! And yes, it was definitely leitungswasser, it said so on the bill.

DeftGoldHedgehog · 03/06/2026 16:08

If everyone could park considerately. Yes, you are busy but just have a look in your mirrors - have you left enough room on either side for other drivers to get in and out? Or have you blocked someone in, in front or behind you? If not, another little shuffle forward and back can make all the difference.

Delivery drivers. Pull into the side of the road if there is a space, the middle of a cul de sac, blocking through traffic is not a good place to stop.

Lovemycat2023 · 03/06/2026 16:03

Scarlettpixie · 03/06/2026 13:40

Yes please, those little ones are too small but I sometimes want prosecco and not the whole bottle and the rest goes flat (I have tried the teaspoon and stoppers but it's not as good on day 2). A half bottle would be perfect.

I think I would also be inclined to drink less generally if these were a thing.

You can get 500ml bottles (or used to at Waitrose anyway).

Lovemycat2023 · 03/06/2026 15:59

AImportantMermaid · 03/06/2026 10:23

I would like to see a bag library at supermarkets and other shops. I have dozens of bags because I keep forgetting mine and have to buy more. I’d love to see bins where everyone puts their unwanted bags and then if you forget yours you can pay - I don’t know - about 20p per bag - that you get back when you return them. Or you pay a monthly fee of a pound or two to use and return bags as much as you like.

Yeah this is genius, and I can actually see it happening!

Missohnoyoubetterdont · 03/06/2026 15:53

I would like a really shallow but wide fridge. One that doesn’t stick it a mile. I don’t know why this isn’t possible design-wise.

MariaDingbat · 03/06/2026 15:07

Happycow · 02/06/2026 23:01

Different shelf arrangements in a fridge! Im not convinced anyone with a 185cm / 200cm high fridge freezer fills every fridge shelf front to back as they so deep you'd have to empty them to reach the stuff at the back (apart from christmas of course when the cheeses and trifles are rammed into every corner...)

So how about one shelf is half-depth, the next shelf is full depth, then half depth then full depth. I know I could get the insta-friendly pull-out shelves but I dont want to. Just a more flexible shelf arrangement please 😁

You need a Samsung fridge. They have shelves that are half shelves that side out and others that fold back on themselves. Very handy.

Bjorkdidit · 03/06/2026 14:34

chillibuns · 03/06/2026 13:52

Phone chargers to all be the same and have the same usb fittings in sockets.

But isn't there really only two types, that are dependent on what type of phone you have?

There's the bit that goes into either an Apple or Android phone and the USB at the other end that either goes into the USB socket in the wall or in a plug to go into a normal wall socket.

ERthree · 03/06/2026 14:29

Mama2many73 · 03/06/2026 10:06

We had a meal out the other day was about £20 per head inc a soft drink. I also asked for a tap water, was asked if I meant a bottle (about £3), i said no just a tap water thank you and the server was not happy about it. When she left others at the table actually commented on it!
I can understand the 'oh you want a free drink' thoughts when you're not purchasing other stuff (i have seen this) but when a table is spending over £120 i thought it was just rude!

The law states if a cafe/restaurant is licensed they must serve tap water free of charge if a customer requests it.

Greengage1983 · 03/06/2026 14:26

Bjorkdidit · 03/06/2026 11:30

If they did this, they'd probably find that transactions were 90% contactless, 9% cash and 1% or less apps, which would tell them what people think about apps, because who's going to use an app when they don't have to?

There's probably so many apps because it's easy to add on a load of sneaky extra fees which the app companies will present to the council as 'we'll give you a commission for all the added upselling' and not mention that they take most of the money for themselves.

Yes, these systems need paying for, but I don't understand what's wrong with card readers, especially when it frees the council from having to send someone round to collect all the money before the machine gets full, plus the risk of theft.

One good thing I will say about the apps, is you can extend your time without having to rush back to the car. We’ve done that loads of times when, say, you’re at the beach and having much more fun than you thought you would, or in the pub and want to stay for another drink, or got carried away shopping in town. But they are just SUCH A FAFF in other ways.

ToadRage · 03/06/2026 14:24

Real human parking attendants who permanently patrol the disabled parking area and are legally allowed to smash the headlights or key cars that don't have a blue badge.

godmum56 · 03/06/2026 13:53

MagpiePi · 03/06/2026 13:11

My SIL was convinced her car had been stolen from a multistorey car park and got the security staff involved looking at CCTV and everything, until they worked out it was on the floor above where she thought it was. 😂

oh I have done this more than once but not to the extent of reporting it stolen

chillibuns · 03/06/2026 13:52

Phone chargers to all be the same and have the same usb fittings in sockets.

Scarlettpixie · 03/06/2026 13:40

canuckup · 03/06/2026 03:39

Half bottles of wine please

🙏

Yes please, those little ones are too small but I sometimes want prosecco and not the whole bottle and the rest goes flat (I have tried the teaspoon and stoppers but it's not as good on day 2). A half bottle would be perfect.

I think I would also be inclined to drink less generally if these were a thing.

Katemax82 · 03/06/2026 13:34

AlternateLook · 03/06/2026 09:00

I worked for years in a place that did this. Once a year, you get paid twice in one month. It's the same with DLA/PIP payments.

For me it's just the universal credit that's per calendar month but it makes up about 45% of our income so it gets further and further away from payday so it's awkward to combine the 2 (payday being every 4 weeks)

GreenCa · 03/06/2026 13:32

Hmmmmwineandchocs · 03/06/2026 08:03

Yes to this! My daughter is 9 and gets so fed up of always being offered chicken nuggets or sausage etc, she’d love our meals. We were away recently and she just ordered fries then shared my husband’s salmon noodle bowl and my steak pie, think we’ll keep doing this if future.
Also The Lounge do a decent kids menu if you find one: https://thelounges.co.uk/

In France we order an adult meal to share between two kids. Arrived on 2 plates. Of course this only works if you have an even number of children.

UnPetitDunPetit · 03/06/2026 13:29

MagpiePi · 03/06/2026 13:11

My SIL was convinced her car had been stolen from a multistorey car park and got the security staff involved looking at CCTV and everything, until they worked out it was on the floor above where she thought it was. 😂

In our family it is pretty much compulsory to say "remember kids, we're in the Itchy lot" when entering a large car park (it's a Simpsons reference)

GreenCa · 03/06/2026 13:26

A size 13 in clothes. Size 12 is too tight size 14 too big.

MagpiePi · 03/06/2026 13:11

notacooldad · 03/06/2026 11:23

I use what3words to save the location. Especially useful when you've parked in a long stay car park and been on holiday for 2 weeks

Yes that is an excellent idea! I have it on my phone and keep forgetting to use it.

I use "find my car" a lot when I've gone to towns or places I don't know well, that's good as well. It was a massive help when I parked my car somewhere in Malaga last year and couldn't remember where 7 hours later!! 😆

My SIL was convinced her car had been stolen from a multistorey car park and got the security staff involved looking at CCTV and everything, until they worked out it was on the floor above where she thought it was. 😂

godmum56 · 03/06/2026 13:03

Crucible · 03/06/2026 10:55

I can do that as long as I can get service; the problem in multistorey and basement car parks persists. Fab suggestion, thank you HurdyGurdy

take a photo of the carpark level and area/zone identifiers. Most carparks have signs saying eg "level 3" and "zone A"

MichaelmasDaisiesAndAutumSunset · 03/06/2026 12:49

FlowerSticker · 03/06/2026 11:17

zips are even easier

But they break, or at least mine do 🤣

OneDogTwoCatsHalfaDH · 03/06/2026 12:11

Sounds like a lot of you are going to the wrong sort of eateries. Where I work we will always try to provide a childs' size portion of any meal, are happy to give a glass of tap water, and even do an extra hot latte. Although I might grumble under my breath about ruining the taste with singed milk!

I do love the idea of a permanently perfect temperature butter dish @OneInEight 😍