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

Another one from me - Readly app. It replaces magazines. You usually get a free one months trial and then pay £7.99 or whatever the deal is at the time. Access to loads of magazines, I mean loads, all the big titles monthly and weekly, plus niche interests. Great for recipes. I have cancelled a few magazine subscriptions which cost me £140 per year as the ones I was buying are on there. This saves me 40 plus quid annually and I get full access to loads of other titles. I thought I would miss the hard copies but not at all. It is so slick, sophisticated software, no downloading problems, good search. I have just gone through my one month's free trial and carrying on with it. (My DH can also access it too via my subscription there is family access.) I have spent a lot of time reading magazines this month. Somebody upthread mentioned their Psychologies subscription- that title is on there.

The app Insight Timer - free guided meditations, affirmations etc. A bit woo but I find it helpful!

My pompom maker

Candles lit most evenings.

Kids waterproofs from H&M and £5 sleds!!!!! So glad we bought those in case we had snow! Yesterday would have been a bloody nightmare.

Watercolours - paper can be expensive but you can get cheaper ones. YouTube has taught me loads since covid!

Yes to Readly
I love magazines and as pp said this gives you all the big glossies , lots of different types cookery craft etc and even international copies , might be good reading for anyone learning a new language
Plus and this is massive for me , you can read back copies , without having a house full of magazines cluttering the place up .

@AngeloMysterioso

Really Good thread Post
Refreshing ideas 😊

Avocado cutter

Daffodils at this time of year. 99p and last well

Free audio books on Alexa, they change every month and there is usually a choice of 3.

Drinking out of a wine glass, even when it's water or juice.

Nice marmalade. I have a delicious pink grapefruit one at the moment.

My colour changing egg timer. I could never successfully boil an egg before!

I switched from Audible to Scribd which works on the Spotify model and I'm finding it much better value as I can listen to as much as I want. Scribd also has books, I haven't read novels on there because I prefer to use my Kindle but there are a lot of reference books which would be expensive to buy. I look at the quilting books for ideas and if I find one that I think I would actually make the quilt then I can buy the book.

For quilting patterns, all the fabric manufacturers have quilt patterns that use their fabric lines that you can download for free. I have hundreds of free patterns in a folder on my computer.

My husband bought me a little bird box and put it on the garage - think it cost about £8. last year we had a family of blue tits in it and we spent all of the first lockdown obsessed with watching them build their nest and fledge the babies - I hope we get another family this year.

Also my mini hot water bottle - a couple of quid from Amazon, fill it up and pop it on my lap when working - cosy!

A blue plastic lever that pops open jar lids.

A free measuring scoop for rice.

Free compost bins from the council (they charge for them now)

My education.

I’m another one who can’t resist a bunch of daffodils, saves me picking my garden ones.

TV streaming services . Netflix, I have the very basic subscription . I also get Amazon through Amazon prime. And at the moment I get Apple TV for free (though it’s rubbish) .I have been added to someone’s Disney channel as well. I don’t think there is enough time in the day for any of the others

For everyone mentioning bunches of daffodils can I suggest buying the little pots of narcissi bulbs? The price of two bunches I know, but last longer and come back every year. Love seeing the little green shoots peeping through, bringing them in the house and watching them come up.

Another vote for Kindle and Kindle Unlimited. I read at least five books a week.

I love my bird feeders too. We have one with seeds, one with fat balls. I'm looking forward to the Big Garden Birdwatch this weekend... As are DDs. (Technically they are their feeders)

Dot to Dot and colouring books. Just so relaxing.

Another vote for BBC sounds and podcasts in general. I can walk miles lost in podcasts or The Archers.

My little sink caddy which holds a sponge, brush, washing up liquid and a bar of hand soap. Keeps things nice and tidy and makes me feel like a grown up. About £4 on Amazon.

My eye mask for sleeping. I work nights and need to sleep in the day. Black out curtains were too expensive so I bought a pure silk padded eye mask for about a tenner and it’s perfect, also it makes me feel like a 1950s Hollywood starlet!

@Whatwouldnanado

For everyone mentioning bunches of daffodils can I suggest buying the little pots of narcissi bulbs? The price of two bunches I know, but last longer and come back every year. Love seeing the little green shoots peeping through, bringing them in the house and watching them come up.

I like the little pots, and grow a lot of daffodils/ narcissi in my garden where I like them to stay. I quite often buy the little pots if they are reduced and plant them out. For the house I prefer cut bunches. (I have a blue vase which is only used for daffodils as they look so beautiful in it.) I also think it is important to support UK farms which grow most of the worlds cut daffodils .

@SpudsandGravy

Paprika - free iPad app for collecting recipes :)

Well you have just made my day

Bunch of supermarket daffodils.
Yoga With Adriene on YouTube.

The free NHS Couch 2 5k app, started in December and am finally starting to feel strong again!

Also on the fitness front, we discovered GoNoodle (the website is better than the YouTube channel) and the kids age 2-8 love the different dance routines, singalongs and exercises and I join in too, I forgot how much I enjoyed even simple.dances and it's good to get your heart rate up a bit.

Meal planning - I always thought of it as joyless but started when I lost my job due to covid, and not only am I saving money, the kids are helping to plan and cook and I'm not stressed out and scrambling for plans every night.

Such a good thread!

C25k podcast transformed my life

A little carabinier clip for my keys- we have lots of different gates/entrances to our building, at different times of day, different ones are open. Having a clip like this means I can just take the keys I actually need instead of dozens. I can remove my car keys too if walking.

Growing sunflowers and own produce

A small bunch of flowers

The library app for free books and magazines

My bird feeder

Scented candles

Borrowbox - the app that lets me borrow books from my local library online.
Rbdigital - the app that lets me download and read lots of magazines.
Both are free.

Using a much under used cafetière to froth hot milk. Makes even instant coffee special. If you don't have one, you can buy a small one for £4 or £5 in supermarkets. No more than Half full with hot milk and pump!

Moving the houseplants around in my house. I feel it makes such a difference, I get so much enjoyment after I have changed them from room to room.

@SophieJo

Borrowbox - the app that lets me borrow books from my local library online. Rbdigital - the app that lets me download and read lots of magazines. Both are free.

Could you possibly tell me how you go about joining both?

I've downloaded the app; but I'm not that tech savvy ....

Wonder I joined both through my local library.

I wonder if it can be done just now, suspect not as I think they're closed,.,,

Hey ho! I'll explore lol