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?

@Teaandcakeordeath83 thanks, shower caddy will be on order, just debating if I should add the eyelid tape too

@Teaandcakeordeath83 thank you so much for the link u have no idea how excited I am to try these out .

I got ID'd before buying a can of g&t (classy) so they must work. 🤣

The cat. £50 from a rescue centre. 16 years of stately, podgy ginger gorgeousness. He's wrapped around my left arm purring as I type.

In addition to the dehumidifier I already mentioned, my rechargeable strimmer and hedge clippers, each well under £100, bought in subsequent years. They’ve already paid for themselves in that I don’t have to pay someone else to do the work, it’s great exercise for me and the feeling of satisfaction looking at nicely strimmed paths and tidy hedge is very rewarding.
My knife sharpener is handheld and cost about £7.50. I can also use it to sharpen my scythe, though that’s nearly redundant because of the strimmer.

Has anyone found anything to sharpen scissors? I buy decent ones but the men in this house use them to try cut crazy things and they go blunt quite quickly.

@Ourlady

Has anyone found anything to sharpen scissors? I buy decent ones but the men in this house use them to try cut crazy things and they go blunt quite quickly.

I use the knife sharpener mentioned above, not unlike this one

seasonalhomeonline.co.uk/products/multi-sharp®-shear-scissor-sharpener

@SpamThief - good luck, hope you’re able to track one down.

While I think about it, another great buy I got was a Wooster Pelican paint kettle, plus some clear hard plastic liners that fit inside it. The cheapest I found it was from Screwfix - they deliver if you don’t have one near you.

Now, it seems expensive for a paint kettle, but it’s worth it. It is SO comfortable as you’re not using any effort to grip it (your hand slides inside the thick rubber grip). It’s got a magnetic patch that your paintbrush sits on out of the paint. And the large lip side of it is a roller tray for a 4” roller. Plus, the liners mean that you can switch over paint colours without having to clean the kettle first.

I’ll happily take anything that makes the chore of decorating a little bit easier!

@borntobequiet thank you, do you find it works well?

Prescription swimming goggles... I bloody love them!! Blind as a bat and this got me swimming again.

@MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously thanks for the Blossom app recommendation! I've killed a few succulents by overwatering, hopefully this will help! I see it's linked to The Spruce blog - love that that blog, so helpful.

@MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously

For those of you who struggle to keep plants alive, there's a free app called Blossom, where you list what kind of plant you have and it sends you a reminder when it needs watering.

I've just downloaded this, but it isn't free? Is there another?

I'll ask my daughter when she gets home from school. She has an iPhone and I don't so I can't check if it's different depending on the phone you have. She told me she uses Blossom. Bloody better be free cos I pay her bill

Thank you. I tend to over love (water to death) my plants and have resorted to buying faux ones.

I have an Android phone, and on the Play Store it costs £16.99 per year.

Love this thread. Am going to try those hooded eye stickers!

@Chronicallymothering

A second laundry basket.

This, and ones with carry handles like supermarket hand baskets. Lidl sell them occasionally.

peaceanddove DD says on iPhone you can press the X button to reject premium and keep the free version.

[quote Ourlady]@borntobequiet thank you, do you find it works well?[/quote]
The one I have - which is a little different, but same principle - sharpens everything from scissors to scythe.

A neck fan, kindle, portable charger.

@ProfileInsteadOf

A moisture meter for my houseplants. Cost me a fiver so I've bought two more - one for upstairs and one for work. In have recently got into houseplants but killed a few at the start by over- watering. This takes the guesswork out by telling me Dry/Moist/Wet. Feel more confident now and more plants are thriving.

Me too! This is such a game changer!

@MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously

peaceanddove DD says on iPhone you can press the X button to reject premium and keep the free version.

Thank you, but I don't have an iPhone unfortunately.

@Halfaham

Waffle maker. I can make gluten free low carb cakes!

Do you make the cakes in the waffle maker? Can you share the recipe please?

Lakeland heated drier - constantly on in this house! £80

Babyliss heated brush - sorts my messy long hair out mist days. £50

Period pants. Never buying sanitary products again! Sooo comfy. £20/£30

Standing desk attachment for my laptop - less backache now! £45

Roger & Gallet fragrance - LOVE the fig & the orange blossom £35

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.

Oooo! @GromblesofGrimbledon do they really truly block out snoring?? I need these immediately!