Purchase under £100 that's changed your life

[Zakky1]

Tell me about something you've bought that you dont think you can live without now. Something that isn't essential to your everyday life, doesn't have to be luxury but just something that's made a difference to your life.

I recently got a small handheld vaccum as my main wasn't working so I got a cheap one till I could research on a good one anyway its really helped with back problems as I'm not having to lug it up the stairs.
Also I had a bit extra this month so wanted to get something practical to make life that little bit easier, any suggestions?

@RubySlippers123 Eye mask with headphones- google it. There's loads. I liked the idea but they're all bluetooth - which I haven't got

Great thread! My contributions:
Snags chub rub shorts - transformed my summer dressing. Now I can wear skirts and dresses and be comfortable!

Modibodi period pants. I only have them for light days, but I love them so much I'm considering investing in some heavy duty ones too.

Estrid razor. Feels luxurious to use and works so well

Scotch tape dispenser. Don't know how I wrapped stuff up without it.

Stamptastic name stamp/Stikins name stickers. So much quicker and easier than sewing or ironing in name labels, and both work brilliantly. The Stikins even stick on hard plastic and stay on in the dishwasher, so you can use them for things like water bottles. So good.

I'm sure there are more! Will post again when it occurs to me.

@OooPourUsACupLove
What is the adaptor/connector you have for connecting old ipod to blue tooth?
Apologies if you have said somewhere in this now long thread.

I have an old speaker that only has an old ipod connector (big and long) and have bought about 10 adaptors that promised to either adapt it to a new ipod socket or connect it to bluetooth - not a single one of which has actually worked.

My 2 cats!
Electric blanket
Fluffy Xmas throw from next
Joseph Joseph rice maker
Flowers for the garden
Mini dustpan & brush
Lights for the garden
FatFace bunny slippers for winter
Dyson air wrap-was a bit more than £100!
Dried flowers in a vase
Dr Sam’s beauty regime
Milkshake hair mousse leave in conditioner
Korean scrub cloths

@user78231 it's this one www.amazon.co.uk/DockLinQ-Bluetooth-Adapter-Receiver-Sounddock/dp/B07G3653DF?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I seem to remember that some dock connector wiring just isn't compatible with adapters and needs an actual ipod/phone to work...looks for a voltage on a specific pin that's only there with a device, something like that.

The listing has info about what is and is not compatible, hopefully yours is listed.

That said, if your dock also has an aux input there are plenty of aux adapters that should work.

Bluetooth to aux I mean, not just run a cable!

A mooncup made my periods so much easier to deal with.
My slow cooker no faffing around with dinner
When I had just had a my younges a windup lantern and travel mug

Pod Coffee machine - eldest dc likes to make coffees for me.
Label printer
Small thermal printer

my filter coffee maker. Its a no frills one - cost about £15 10 years ago. We use it every day and it makes enough lovely coffee for us both to have one at home and take one with us - we must save £££'s by not buying coffee out. Also Contogo travel mugs are brilliant and NEVER spill:
www.amazon.co.uk/Contigo-Autoseal-Stainless-Leakproof-Easy-Clean/dp/B07TRG2RGH/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?hvlocphy=1006972&psc=1&hvnetw=g&keywords=contigo+travel+mug&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyUE5WQlpSSkpYTEtTJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUExMDQ3MzM0T0gyVk8yQjdQUkxGJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA2MjEyNDUyWUlJTldJN1Y4REJFJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==&hvadid=259039525560&qid=1630947689&dchild=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-NaJBhDsARIsAAja6dPAEKf8p88klXu4enFM45FJUCabQwwRkvabfEz_cFk0u6iLOBgdKOsaAh-CEALw_wcB&hydadcr=28153_1724856&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=kwd-295916531449&adgrpid=56034183831&hvrand=6970943870934258445&sr=8-2-spons

@Guineapigbridge

Joseph Joseph microwave rice cooker

I cook rice and quinoa properly now, without an overflowing pot or sticky rice muck everywhere.

Totally this. DH was very sniffy as he does elaborate things with teatowels under steaming saucepan lids. He reluctantly used this once to demonstrate how crap it was, and now we don't have rice any other way. It's brilliant.

Pressure King Pro electric pressure cooker about 7 years ago approx £100. I had to replace it 2yrs ago but only £70.

I live alone with disability and arthritis, so it's great for batch cooking, especially between September and March when I just buy bags of frozen veg and casserole meats, throw them into the pot and within 40mins I've got an amazing, hearty, filling meal available.

It cooks the meat just as tender as it would be in a slow cooker for 8-10hrs - I couldn't be without one of these now!

Love this post and I’ve got so many ideas here for more things I may or may not need!!

Here are some of my top buys:

Nail lamp and gel nail kit. Small investment about 8 years ago has paid for itself many times over as I do my nails every two weeks
Nespresso machine
Cheap but lovely silk eyemasks from Amazon (less than £10)
Ceramic knives from Aldi a few years ago - still going strong
Kindle
Laser hair removal - admittedly not £100 or less for the full body but good deals mean you can get 6 sessions on a single area eg underarms for less than £100 so that makes the cut! I think this will probably end up one of my best ever investments actually.
Uniqlo light merino wool jumpers -£25 each

Oooh.... almost forgot....

I've got a hot water boiler that replaced my kettle. Cost about £69 around 6yrs ago.

It looks like a coffee machine but just did water. It holds 4 litres of water as opposed to a kettle which only holds 1.7 litres. It's great for the arthritis as I never have to pick it up to pour the water and the tank is filled via a flap on the top so I can add a cupful or as much as I can manage in a jug.

So much safer and easier than picking up a kettle.

@OooPourUsACupLove
Thank you!
I will try and decipher the technical details.
I had given up after so many dud adapters, which is a shame since the speaker is a good one.

@windysocks

I'm right there with you on the Contigo travel mugs (£12 Tesco), because of my difficulties I only drink out of these regardless whether I'm at home or out and about because if I drop the mug it doesn't break or spill and I've had more than my fair share of scalded feet and shattered mugs to last me a lifetime.

It's amazing how many things you can find that aren't particularly expensive that will make life soo much easier for you these days, especially if you have disabilities.

Halogen oven for 30 quid and air fryer for 55 quid. Never put the oven on now. They are fantastic

Rice cooker (£15 Asda)
Slow cooker
Ambiano espresso/cappuccino make with milk steamer - best £50 I've spent in years
Mango pitter
Costco membership

A Lakeland electric airer it’s brilliant especially in winter, and I use it after I’ve done the ironing (don’t have an airing cupboard)

Years ago when I bought my ghd straighteners. My hair was a disaster until then and the cheaper ones just made it look dry and crap.

amazon echo dot, just love it, listening to my audio books in bed

@VaguelyInteresting what kind of style do you get? I’d love a bit of body and had toyed with the idea of a perm but I don’t want to end up poodle like like I had it in the 80’s!

@Teaandcakeordeath83 where is your shower rack from please?

My nicer dicer, I love it and use it nearly everyday!

Soup maker! So good for winter. No need to keep an eye on it just 20 minutes and it's all done