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

A back scratcher that cost a quid in a tat shop at the seaside.
So satisfying!

Plastic tubs with labels inside my kitchen cupboards, when I'm looking for something I just pull out the appropriate tub. Keeps everything tidy

A milk frothier for delicious lattes and hot chocolates. Bought my son a head massager for Christmas but mostly used it myself 😂.

Frother!!!

I've bought pre loved Roman blinds from gumtree, unpicked one edge, cut them to fit my windows and restitched the edge. Have enjoyed the process, saved myself a fortune and get such a buzz looking at my handiwork!

Another one saying Kindle. Mine is never out of my hand and when it is because I have stuff to do, I'm listening to a book on it!

Yoga with Adrianne-deep stretch in particular. I'm flexible for the first time since I was about 9.

Oh and for everyone who loves reading www.pdfdrive.com 75 million books to download for FREE

And TikTok! The algorithm is very clever and I just get hundreds of... cat, dog and horse videos, cooking tips and life hacks. Laugh out loud funny. Who knew!

Kindle unlimited
And really boring but the plastic bag clips for freezer or bags in the cupboard

Mumsnet

My allotment. £40 per year and it's been so great for me and the kids. Especially in lock down. There's always something to do and seeds cost so little and produce so much.

Hey Bear Sensory videos have been saving my life for 19 months now. DC is mesmerised.

Some Lidl maternity leggings which I spotted once on the off chance for a few £ - nothing comes close in terms of quality and durability and they've seen me through two pregnancies (and got me out of PJ's)

As PP mentioned - library membership - access to so many great physical and e-books, plus free magazines via the PressReader app.

EventBrite - so many great lectures and activities (many free and online) on a huge range of topics, from across the world. The art and history lecture sessions run by my local library have been great. Costs absolutely nothing, just download the EventBrite app and start searching (can filter by 'online only' and 'free').

My planner
Fresh flowers
My 5 minute journal
Candles
Books

My Next fluffy duvet set bought in the summer for far less than full price. Should have bought one years ago...

Mumsnet. I paid for premium when the letter went round as being unwell / disabled and not getting out much, it’s very important to me. This is my socialising.

BBC Sounds - love it. I listen to everything via the app now, rarely anything live.

Mumsnet - since I can’t spend a couple of hours with real life mates over coffee, I come here for chat with you lot. Thank you for the fun.

Wearing two pairs of socks when it’s cold. Now my feet aren’t freezing anymore.

Skype, one of my friends is French Canadian and on a Friday evening, she helps me learn French, its much easier hearing her say then her writing it.

A cheap milk frother from amazon (about £20). Has made normal boring drinks so much more exciting.

My lovely patchwork and floral design, lined bedroom curtains. I picked them up in a charity shop last year for £2. You can tell they were expensive when new. They make my bedroom look so rich cosy. They bring me happiness every day.

Last summer I bought a load of B&M half dead plants for 10p a tray. Every single one grew and bloomed. That made me very happy.

I live on a new build housing estate. Last year when the landscapers had finished a job, they threw lots of shrubs and plants into a skip. I presumed they had put them there out of the way until planting, until I saw the wagon arrive for the skip I ran out and took all I could salvage. All is now thriving in my garden.

My heated throw. It was the cheapest one I could find as I wasn't sure how much use I would get out of it, as prior to lockdown I was rarely in in the evenings, but I use it every single evening. The dogs appear from nowhere as soon as they see me throw it over myself, and come sit as close as they can to me.

My charity shop jigsaws have been a saviour through both lockdowns. I never dreamed I would enjoy doing one when my eldest daughter suggested it early last year. She bought me one and I was hooked. As soon as the charity shops opened, I bought lots more. Most I have paid for one is £2.

Netgalley- review books for free. Amazing site. I have read so many books before they arrive in the bookshops (normally via kindle but sometimes they send a hard copy).

Agree BBC Sounds, always something to cheer up WFH.

Another vote for craft, it doesn't have to cost much. We sometimes learn new things when we want a challenge, or do easy repetitive things when we want to relax.

Getting milk delivered, takes away so much faffing for just a little extra cost.

Homemade popcorn.

Agree about jigsaws, again very soothing. We have done them together and really liked it.

Loving this thread!
I’ve been umming and ahhing over a kindle for some years. Finally got one last year and my rate of reading has gone up so much!

What a great thread!

@MotherWol

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.

This is the very thing I was going to say.