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?

Am wide awake due to toothache, and am also now the owner of a Joseph Joseph rice cooker and a Salter omelette maker 🙈 probably need to stop reading now!

My Amazon prime membership hassle free shopping and great films.
My slow cooker for batch cooking
My eye mask for sleeping.
Bedside lamps with usb ports brilliant for phone, kindle, laptop and anything else that needs charged, my portable air purifier for instance.

A few years ago I bought a Large Squishmellow Pug teddy from Aldi £9.99. At first I use to sleep with him. Then he became my armpit pillow after experiencing a frozen shoulder, it gave me such comfort and support when I was in pain. Months later after starting to recover from that he then became my pregnancy pillow. I even took him to hospital when I had my baby. I still used him for cuddles but also he doubled as an extra pillow for my head and also was something to support my arm while feeding baby in the hospital. At home after the C section again in bed cuddles and also he was something to support in between my legs and my big belly. Breastfeeding baby I'd use to prop him behind baby on his side when I was laying down to feed, it was a perfect help. Hes still my bedtime companion but now I have competition of the small human variety. I've bought him several of his own smaller versions which he likes but he loves mummy's big Swishmellow who he cuddles and sleeps on him most nights lol

@Donnaslayer

A few years ago I bought a Large Squishmellow Pug teddy from Aldi £9.99. At first I use to sleep with him. Then he became my armpit pillow after experiencing a frozen shoulder, it gave me such comfort and support when I was in pain. Months later after starting to recover from that he then became my pregnancy pillow. I even took him to hospital when I had my baby. I still used him for cuddles but also he doubled as an extra pillow for my head and also was something to support my arm while feeding baby in the hospital. At home after the C section again in bed cuddles and also he was something to support in between my legs and my big belly. Breastfeeding baby I'd use to prop him behind baby on his side when I was laying down to feed, it was a perfect help. Hes still my bedtime companion but now I have competition of the small human variety. I've bought him several of his own smaller versions which he likes but he loves mummy's big Swishmellow who he cuddles and sleeps on him most nights lol

My bank account HATES you I went to browse the Aldi website and they have a talking Dobby toy. And a load of Harry Potter soft toys

No idea how to do links, I got the heated throw from qvc the cozzee home range, its amazing, I love it x

@LemonyPickle

🤣🤣

[quote wavesandwaves]@isthismylifenow oooh would love a link to the Swan water machine please![/quote]
@wavesandwaves

here it is

I am not in the UK, but afaik Swan is a British brand, so I hope you can find one similar. I searched for ages for this type of machine. Usually the ice makers are separate and I didn't want two different appliances. And the water machine needed to be the right size as I needed it to be on a countertop, as I don't have space in my kitchen for the floor standing ones. The ice goes into the black tray at the bottom.

We use a 20l bottle in a week, I get them filled up with the ozone wotsit water, can definitely tell the difference from the tap water taste wise.

@Zakky1

Lots of slow cookers mentioned. I have one but have only used it a handful of times. I find that the flavour doesn't go in to the meat.

What are your winning slow cooker recipes?

I agree, I have had one for years and I do think there are better products available now, like the Instant Pot. I think the problem with the old type of slow cooker is that you have to brown the meat on the stove first. Every thing seemed a little insipid when I made it.

I have a stove top pressure cooker (we have quite a lot of electricity cuts) so that I can use it on my gas cooker, and I have used that quite a lot, more than I did the slow cooker. Although I use my Le Creuset pot the most.

@poshme it's this armband from Amazon. Really helped hayfever symptoms and wasn't expensive. Was amazingly effective and we have tried pretty much everything - air purifiers, Ionisers, every antihistamines including strong prescription ones

www.amazon.co.uk/Qu-Chi-Hayfever-Acupressure-Band-Black/dp/B07DQS1LMM/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=hayfever+band&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1630995228&sr=8-3

[quote canyon2000]@PegasusReturns Thank you!! I ordered the springy thing hair remover this morning from Amazon and it has just arrived - 2 minutes later, no moustache (slightly teary eyes but hey!). It is indeed brilliant![/quote]
@canyon2000

I have been looking at these (I asked further up the thread as I haven't seen one of these yet), can you use it on eyebrows, underarms, bikini etc, or are they only for the tash type fuzz?

So many good ideas... for myself or presents. Thank you !

@isthismylifenow it says it is for neck, chin, cheeks and upper lip.

@LemonyPickle

Am wide awake due to toothache, and am also now the owner of a Joseph Joseph rice cooker and a Salter omelette maker 🙈 probably need to stop reading now!

🤣🤣 love a midnight purchase.

[quote canyon2000]@isthismylifenow it says it is for neck, chin, cheeks and upper lip.[/quote]
Ah thanks Canyon. Think I will order one from Shein. I will try to leave the chin hairs as long as delivery time takes

Clever Chef, cost about £50 in Aldi, so life changing. I can cook all sorts in it without burning it. Best rice I have ever had, perfect pasta without a bubbling mess everywhere, slow cooks, roasts, even cakes. I can get on with other things while the dinner cooks and the pan is non stick so super easy to clean. I am hopeless at cooking so it has been amazing. So good my dad bought my mum one too.

This shower caddy. It is the tidiest, most secure, space-tidy, a doddle to stick on, easy to clean shower caddy in the history of the human race. Ordered it in a whim, it turned out to be fantastic.

My (under bottom sheet) electric blanket.

Both bring me joy

@Teaandcakeordeath83 pleeees share the hooded tape link I shall be forever grateful

@OooPourUsACupLove

When people have game changer food prep items like rice cookers, omelette makers and soup makers, it makes me worry that my cooking is actually dreadful but I've never known the true potential of rice, omelette and soup to realise what I'm missing!

I don't think so.

I have never used a rice cooker, I lived in a rice eating countyr and learned to cook it. Very easy and can't imagine why I would use a rice cooker. I can cook a perfectly delicious omlette in my ordinary frying pan. I make soup in a pan (well, I'm not a big soup eater, so doesn't happen very often)

If any gadget works for you, that's brilliant. We are all different. But it doesn't mean it is essential.

(and I have a slow cooker and rarely if ever use it. I have tried many recipes form slow cooker officianados and they all taste watery. They only ones that don't are the ones where you have to fry the stuff before you put it in. Which is really not 'chucking it all in' in the morning. I make casseroles that sit in the over for 3 hours, wonderful rich and delicious. Slow cookers don't even come close)

Has anyone bought any good ear plugs for chronic snoring partners! 😳

I mean the industrial ones! I'm such a light sleeper and he's so loud even through walls we
Haven't been able to sleep
Properly for months 😭
Thanks xx

So so basic, but toast tongs. They really are life changing.

A dunlopillow - latex pillow around £70.
I got one for year before last Christmas from MIL and admittedly thought what a ridiculous price for a pillow. I was wrong.
It’s a game changer. Your head sinks in to it, but is also suspended - it it doesn’t ever wear flat. It pings back to shape instantly and is also great for propping up behind you.
Basically imagine a cartoon drawing of a pillow, it’s like that!

I bought my mum one last Christmas, and she asked me the other day for the brand because she now needs to recommend it to her friends.

@pureofmind Bio Ear ear plugs you can get them on Amazon or in boots and they're life changing

Ooh @Longhairmightcare I love my dunlopillo! Totally agree, more than worth the price. But I have one of the older latex ones and I don’t think they’re making them anymore. Can you link your one??

@pureofmind

Has anyone bought any good ear plugs for chronic snoring partners! 😳

I mean the industrial ones! I'm such a light sleeper and he's so loud even through walls we
Haven't been able to sleep
Properly for months 😭
Thanks xx

Specsavers make custom moulded earplugs. Pricey but worth it. You go in to get moulds cast and choose the type you want. They have soft squashy ones for sleeping in. I've had mine about ten years now.

@caspersmagicaljourney do you mind me asking which handheld you bought? I looked at some but they said their run time was 10 minutes which seems ridiculously short!