What inexpensive (or even free!) things have made your life better?

[AngeloMysterioso]

There’s a few threads similar to this where people talk about things they have that have improved their lives, but it’s often things like their puppy, or their £350 coffee machine, or their luxury sheepskin slippers etc. So I thought I’d start one where we can show our appreciation for the cheap things that have made life better!

Mine would be...

My crochet hook set which was about £15 from hobbycraft. I haven’t made anything mega-fancy yet and I only buy cheap yarn (the rainbow variegated one from Poundland is a firm favourite) but I’ve spent many a meditative hour with them. They haven’t had much of a look in since I had my baby and started my access course but over the past few evenings I’ve picked up a few wips and felt so much better afterwards.

• my library memberships, which mean I have access to free ebooks, audiobooks and magazines.

• the Hey Bear baby sensory YouTube channel, which I stick on when I need DS to chill the fuck out sit still and be quiet for a little while

Hooks on backs of doors and easy plastic tub storage have made my house much tidier. Oddbox veg box - is fun and makes me eat more veg.

Paprika - free iPad app for collecting recipes :)

Google sheets free of charge but honestly my financials and budgeting is so much easier its simple to use and doesn't need any special apps.

Oh this is a great idea!

Similar to you AngeloMysterioso I bought a ProKnit circular knitted needles, usually they're quite expensive (but get rave reviews) but I picked up a 2nd hand pair from ebay for about £3. Which ties into my other free/inexpensive thing that I get so much out of - the website Ravelry. If you've not heard of it get yourself on, it's a huge knitting/crochet community with patterns on etc, loads are uploaded by members for free.

sunflower seed for my birdfeeder - I get so much pleasure from watching the birds get their fill; particularly the goldfinches.

Although this is getting more expensive as more birds discover it.

My Kindle was about £60 and I'd be lost without it.

A little bud vase - about £8 from Arket, and makes even just a twig from the garden look pretty in it

2 nice Denby plates - the full set felt like too big an extravagance but at least OH and I can each have a nice plate each day now (At some point, I'll buy two more!)

Daffodils by the handful when they're £1 a bunch in M&S

Weleda Skinfood has really helped my poor, broken hands

I agree about Ravelry, lots of lovely free knitting & crochet patterns, yarn information & forums for help or just chats.
A lovely, inexpensive mug bought from one of the supermarkets. Tea & coffee taste so much nicer out of a lovely cup or mug.
Free seed catalogues from all the seed companies to browse & plan for spring.

Yes to the kindle. I know you have to lay out to buy it but after that there are hundreds of books for just 99p. Daily deals every day & even special subject ones that never go in to paperback.

Yesterday I bought 2 bunches of daffodils. They are my all time favourite. They are just starting to open. Such a short season so I try to take advantage! And it only cost me £2

A blue badge. Took me ages to get one but what a difference it makes to my life. Well worth the hassle and £10 fee it cost.

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie
What a great idea ! Plates for just us two .. I often see lovely sets but can’t justify the cost ,, but two plates is perfect !

when they are open 50p paperback books from the charity shop i work in i buy 5 or 6 at a time well worth the three quid it costs me and i take them back to the shop when ive read them so someone else gets to read them and the shop makes a few pence more on them

Overdrive (the app my library use to borrow books).
The kindle fire I use it on - was £35 so less than a normal kindle that the app can't run on.
£10 h and m joggers for lazing around/walking the dog/ popping to the shop- actually maybe don't do it, I don't want to take them off!
Dressing in nice clothes for work, as I am not going anywhere else! Makes me feel better and have even had a few compliments.
Ditto using nice shower gel/ facemasks/lip gloss that i was always saving "for best".
Mumsnet!

Daffodils! I've always bought the very first few bunches I see. It also used to be snowdrops in my garden. My one bluebell.

Twinnings tea. After years of not being able to afford it I now drink it every day.

A hot shower. I've been through 3 periods in my life when the boiler packed up and I've always been thankful for hot water.

A stay in a Premier Inn. Despite staying in much fancier hotels I just love staying in a city break Premier Inn

A V60 coffee filter - it cost less than a tenner and it’s just a little plastic cup shaped thing that sits on top of a mug. Makes it much easier to make just one cup of proper coffee if I’m the only one drinking it.

Kindle app on my phone and tablet
Library app, so I can borrow ebooks and magazines.
£1 vase from Tesco.
Grey leopard print joggers from Sainsbury's sale, they're lovely and soft and warm.
Teddy bed set from Primsrk, it's so cosy.

Ready-chopped onions. I’m massively sensitive to chopping onions and my eyes stream for ages. Cooking is so much easier with that step removed.

Spotify - love having practically any music at my fingertips. I subscribe at a tenner a month but there is a free version I believe. I heard a blast from the past on the ratio yesterday, a couple of seconds it was on one of my playlists. I also love podcasts and it has loads on there too.

You Tube for all manner of informative stuff, free workouts, entertainment.

Kindle for me too. Prefer a physical book but I have broadened my reading scope with Kindle Daily Deals.

Redecor interior design app. You can spend £ but you can play without spending £. It's a creative outlet for me, like colouring in with benefits!

Sockets with charging points. Recently changed our sockets to nicer ones (cheap upgrades but makes a good impact) and some of them have the charging things in too.

Hooks and storage solutions - inexpensive things that stop crap falling on you when you open a cupboard.

Mumsnet - sometimes infuriating, always entertaining and a massive resource of knowledge about everything under the sun.

Oh yes Spotify, I love it.
Also I listen to Magic Soul radio through Alexa, it's on all day long.

Mumsnet - sometimes infuriating, always entertaining and a massive resource of knowledge about everything under the sun.

Absolutely right!

Oh I LOVE a Premier Inn too !!! Can’t beat it . Dirt cheap , decent food , great locations, spotless , great beds and linen !! Miss them ......

Magic fm. I live it. Although I'm wondering if I should venture towards Capital radio. Also, piping hot water.

My Monzo bank account. It's transformed my finances.

Toast tongs. I spent my whole adult life unplugging the toaster in order to lever out an awkward item with a knife or fork. Now I just pluck it out with my toast tongs.

Long-nose bent tweezers. I bought them to use with my sewing machine, for grabbing threads or adjusting things close to the needle where it would be too dangerous to put my finger. They are great for that, but they have also turned out to be fabulous for getting hair out of the shower plughole, which is one of my least favourite tasks that has now become, if not exactly pleasurable, at least quick and less disgusting.

One of my dogs, paid for the first one but he was a bit of a lemon, only in the looks department, perfect otherwise 😊 when I went back for another the breeder didn't charge me on the condition if he turned out well she could use him for stud, but he only managed to descend one of his testicles so that never happened. He brings me joy everyday despite being a noisy pain in the arse as well 🤣