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?

@BobISMyUncle oh love. Wrong thread I think...

@RubySlippers123

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!

Difficult one to answer as everyone has different sensitivity to sound. For me, my partner doesn't snore and I use them when I'm out and about in noisy environments. Especially if I'm tired and I find I just cannot deal with too much noise. I opted for the soft ones for comfort rather than for sleeping in but I'm considering going back to get moulds done again for one of their industrial pairs that have filters. These block out noise but not speech frequencies - ideal for when my nerves are jangling in a noisy café or restaurant. The current pair I own just deaden all sound. I have had them for ten years now though and wouldn't be without them.

Specsavers can advise on the different earplugs they have and what frequencies they block out. So you might find that a more robust pair are better if you sleep on your back or stomach. The soft ones designed for sleeping on your side might not cut it.

I have worn them now and again in bed and they do me just fine. But by and large I use them out and about when the world is just too noisy.

Mine look somewhat like this except they're yellow and have a little tab to pull them out easily. They are squishy like silicone.

@joinedduetodunkthread

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

Yes! My prescription goggles are now over a decade old and a good few prescriptions out of date but they still do the job for an hour's swim. Probably a bad idea if your prescription changes dramatically but mine has only changed incrementally in recent years.

@MyPatronusIsACat
Thanks for the recommendation of the white noise pod, it sounds great. Is there a noticeable break in sound when the white noise repeats? We had a different one before, when the children were little, but the sound stopped briefly every 20s or so for the clip to repeat, which was quite distracting, so just wondering if that’s true of all white noise generators? Thanks

@fuckyoucovid : yes! the cat.
Also:
Audible
Judge pans and baking trays
Slow cooker
Electric blanket
Decent knitting needles
Skinny latte coffee sachets (much nicer to take a flask of hot water to the beach and mix a lovely coffee once there!)

@joinedduetodunkthread

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

On the same topic, a Sony waterproof MP3 player. Loaded it with AC/DC, Guns n Roses, Metallica...... and I switch it up nice and high and swim up and down in my own little happy place.

This one - www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-NW-WS413-Waterproof-All-Player/dp/B01BBWU834

I wanted something to replace the ugly floor to ceiling shower thing
Got these and used the stickers that come with them. "They'll be crap" says my dad
Well it's been a week, and they are absolutely solid! I'm so pleased with them

[quote HalfShrunkMoreToGo]This one - www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-NW-WS413-Waterproof-All-Player/dp/B01BBWU834[/quote]

I've anyways debated buying something like this. Swimming is my preferred exercise and I like to go for an hour and swim a mile each time but my God some days the motivation is lacking. I know if I could listen to my own music I'd go more often/swim longer.

How do you find these? Are they loud enough? Do they stay on ok?

Springy things? My God, just NOOOO.. I have seven children & childbirth was a doddle at the side of those things..
OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

@GromblesofGrimbledon they were a bit fiddly to put on so they were properly secured the first couple of times but once I got used to how to hook them over my ears and found the right size of ear bud they stay in really well.

Sound is good, and definitely loud enough, it just took a few tries to remember where all the controls are as you can't see any of the buttons because they're on the actual earpieces so just have to remember that play is on the right earpiece, volume on the back of the left earpiece......

You do need to have a computer as they plug in via USB and then you load the songs through a dashboard or just copy and paste them into the folder.

I actually preferred my old speedo aquabeat that I had years ago which was cheaper and clipped onto my swimsuit strap then had wired headphones rather than just being a headband all in one job, but Speedo discontinued them and I haven't seen anything else like that.

Ah, I thought of another one: elastic laces! I've switched over to them on most of my trainers and they are just wonderful.

@Dadvdtret

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

I agree! Especially when toasting hot cross buns.

If this was "purchases under a fiver that have changed your life" then wooden magnetic toast tongs would be top of the list.

Things to do today: cash in ONS testing voucher and spend it on a Joseph Joseph rice cooker.

I bought that tweezerman facial hair remover thing recommended - LIFE CHANGING! I actually like the pain, it's satisfying. And it's addictive, I watched a one hour and 52 minute film and did my face at the same time, I couldn't put it down.

Thanks @HalfShrunkMoreToGo

Going to put these on my Christmas list!

@IjustbelieveinMe I never thought of watching a film at the same time.. it would have to be the best, most gripping film EVER though.. definitely no pun intended.. yee OWWW..

Family passes to local attractions improve our family life.

@NotMyCat

I wanted something to replace the ugly floor to ceiling shower thing Got these and used the stickers that come with them. "They'll be crap" says my dad Well it's been a week, and they are absolutely solid! I'm so pleased with them

Could you post a link to it please? I am wading through them all on amazon..

@PegasusReturns, please let me know know where you bought this springy thing. I am in my fifties and finding body hair is diminishing in every area except my face. I am constantly using tweezers but would like something more effective and permanent as l live in dread of becoming the old bearded lady.

@Violinist64 They are on ebay for less than a couple of quid, have to say I prefer the tweezers, but here goes!

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133051766803?chn=ps&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1sBR11XVwQW-wCoWm1nXTYg51&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=133051766803&targetid=1394813963700&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9046356&poi=&campaignid=14475941483&mkgroupid=129148085960&rlsatarget=pla-1394813963700&abcId=9300649&merchantid=101449491&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyoC6_YP48gIVEYBQBh28mgA7EAQYCSABEgJQDPD_BwE

My sewing machine.

@Farfalle88 here you go (they're still firmly stuck!) I have mosaic tiles so wasn't sure they would work

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B08CZTD2VK?psc=1&ref=ppxpopmobbasin_image

Kiehl's hand salve