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What items did you buy in 2023 that you will now never want to live without?

936 replies

Elephanttrunk · 09/12/2023 23:38

Interested to know about everything be it luxury or mundane
I was late to the game but now use my air fryer daily. I also love my earbuds.

OP posts:
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27
Trixiefirecracker · 12/12/2023 08:18

determinedtomakethiswork · 11/12/2023 22:32

Those things are not that expensive though, and they save a lot of electricity. It doesn't mean someone's middle class, just because they have an air fryer!

Erm, they are unnecessary gadgets to waste money on. You can make soup and rice in a pan as it’s been done for hundreds of years and the robot hoover thing was £400!!! 😳 It’s peak Mumsnet.

Anselma · 12/12/2023 08:32

Yogachick · 11/12/2023 21:28

@wherestheweightlosspill its not just you with the airfryer. I have a fancy arse dual thingy Ninja. It’s OK, can be handy,like a slow cooker is handy. But friends rave how it’s changed their life and obviously it’s not just them, so many folk on Mumsnet, so I too am assuming it’s me and I must be doing something wrong.

You're probably not doing anything wrong. People's circumstances are different, my Ninja AF has been brilliant for me and I use it every day. My oven takes ages to warm up and never gets hot enough and the grill is useless, both are at below counter level and lifting and bending carrying hot pans can be difficult.

In contrast my sister's kitchen is much more convenient and an AF wouldn't make much difference to her.

verylongday · 12/12/2023 08:34

Claricethecat45 · 11/12/2023 03:48

These Ear Plugs
Nothing better and I have tried them all.
Snore proof - in fact, everything proof!

I have these, they are indeed fantastic. Completely blocked out my husband's horrendous snoring and the noise of the air conditioner unit on holiday. Highly recommend

MumzillaT · 12/12/2023 09:05

Packing cubes. After a recent holiday where we stayed in multiple places they were an absolute game changer. Like having a set of drawers. So easy to grab an item quickly without having to repack a case and kept ironed linen items like shirts pristine until needed. I was inspired when DD went travelling with them in her back pack. I wouldn’t travel without them now.

What items did you buy in 2023 that you will now never want to live without?
TheGhostOfTheOpera · 12/12/2023 09:07

Trixiefirecracker · 12/12/2023 08:18

Erm, they are unnecessary gadgets to waste money on. You can make soup and rice in a pan as it’s been done for hundreds of years and the robot hoover thing was £400!!! 😳 It’s peak Mumsnet.

And then the convenience of those products can be life changing.

A robot hoover? Amazing when you have mobility issues like me.
An air fryer? Easier to clean, quicker so you are more likely to ‘cook from scratch’ after work. Same with a soup maker, buying vegetables already cut up etc….

Yes you CAN do Wo any of them. Until life takes over and you are struggling to keep all those plates spinning (whatever the reason) and they become closer to a life saver.

Tbf, It took me getting disabled myself to realise that. And stop judging.

AccidentallyWesAnderson · 12/12/2023 09:17

Erm, they are unnecessary gadgets to waste money on.

If people can't live without them they are hardly unnecessary are they? And if people use them every day, like those with air fryers which are cheap to run it's hardly wasting money is it. Do you not understand the thread? That's peak MN more like.

I'll add to the airfryer gang. Love my Ninja dual, use it every day nearly.

Blueink · 12/12/2023 09:17

Trixiefirecracker · 12/12/2023 08:18

Erm, they are unnecessary gadgets to waste money on. You can make soup and rice in a pan as it’s been done for hundreds of years and the robot hoover thing was £400!!! 😳 It’s peak Mumsnet.

I don’t have cooking gadgets, but the robovac was necessary for me or someone else would have to vacuum! It was £180 on sale.

BigBundleOfFluff · 12/12/2023 09:25

Smart plugs. I use them everywhere now. No more getting out of bed to check that you've switched the lights off. No more bending into ridiculous angles to switch the Xmas tree lights off! But best of all, used with my electric blanket so I can switch it on by my phone before going upstairs so I get into a pre warmed bed. (Also useful for making sure it's switched off too)
I buy the Tapo ones.

DejaVoodoo · 12/12/2023 09:27

Trixiefirecracker · 12/12/2023 08:18

Erm, they are unnecessary gadgets to waste money on. You can make soup and rice in a pan as it’s been done for hundreds of years and the robot hoover thing was £400!!! 😳 It’s peak Mumsnet.

Air fryers are small and cheap and save money, energy and time by heating a small area very quickly. Better than a big oven for a small portion.
Robot vacs are very helpful for people with limited mobility, limited time, lots of pets, dust allergies.... they keep things constantly clear; there's no build up of grot followed by a big vacuuming session.

Similar with my robot lawn mowers. I have 2 huge seperate lawns.

I had a rice cooker that was a gift. No idea if it was more economical than the ring on my cooker, but it made fabulous rice.

Don't buy gadgets if you don't want, but it's a nonsense to say that they - or some of them, at least, are no better or are unnecessary.

Lolalady · 12/12/2023 09:29

Yes all that - it’s brilliant

Trixiefirecracker · 12/12/2023 10:00

I seem to have hit a nerve! 😂

pastypirate · 12/12/2023 10:22

MumzillaT · 12/12/2023 09:05

Packing cubes. After a recent holiday where we stayed in multiple places they were an absolute game changer. Like having a set of drawers. So easy to grab an item quickly without having to repack a case and kept ironed linen items like shirts pristine until needed. I was inspired when DD went travelling with them in her back pack. I wouldn’t travel without them now.

Tell me more about the packing cubes.....I hovered over them for the last holiday but wasn't convinced but they are very cheap!!!!

Cloverforever · 12/12/2023 10:22

Trixiefirecracker · 12/12/2023 10:00

I seem to have hit a nerve! 😂

Lots of people sharing what they've been happy they bought this year, and you came and tried pissing on their parade? Yeah, well done you. Hooray for you.

pastypirate · 12/12/2023 10:23

BigBundleOfFluff · 12/12/2023 09:25

Smart plugs. I use them everywhere now. No more getting out of bed to check that you've switched the lights off. No more bending into ridiculous angles to switch the Xmas tree lights off! But best of all, used with my electric blanket so I can switch it on by my phone before going upstairs so I get into a pre warmed bed. (Also useful for making sure it's switched off too)
I buy the Tapo ones.

Can you link please? How much are they?

DejaVoodoo · 12/12/2023 10:24

Trixiefirecracker · 12/12/2023 10:00

I seem to have hit a nerve! 😂

No, it's more that you're wrong.

Bearwithbee · 12/12/2023 10:25

I have damaged my beautiful lashes by having a false one. After the false ones were removed I ended up having a few bold patches.

I did my research and I have bought Rapid Lash serum. The result did not have to wait. In about 9 days I could see such a big difference. My lashes were 11 mm before the damage, now it’s 15 mm. I know it’s crazy, still hard to believe, but I would not live without Rapid Lash any more😁

pastypirate · 12/12/2023 10:26

Itham · 12/12/2023 08:01

Another vote for Elbow Grease spray, it's a brilliant pre wash stain remover. If you have a jacket with that unshiftable hair product and make up mark inside the neckband, it works when nothing else does.

It's amazing for the £1.50 or whatever it is. I spray it in the (bit ropey) dishwasher and use it to clean the filters.

Also you can use it to remove permanent marker from plastic tubs (not tried it on fabric). Dp has an annoying habit of writing on plastic tubs to go in the freezer instead on using the fecking label maker. Though he hasn't risked this on the bamboo and glass tubs from ikea he he.

I digress. Elbow grease just spray it on the marker pen and come back later and it will wipe straight off.

pastypirate · 12/12/2023 10:29

Erm, they are unnecessary gadgets to waste money on. You can make soup and rice in a pan as it’s been done for hundreds of years and the robot hoover thing was £400!!! 😳 It’s peak Mumsnet.

Have a day off love.

Icantthinkof12024 · 12/12/2023 10:35

I will be getting a robo vac in the January sales I have asthma and find hoovering difficult.
I know there are a few recommendations already here but just wondering if anyone could recommend one that mops as well
My 2023 item that I love are the fleece lined leggings from Primark I wear them under my jeans so warm and toasty

Mrshawshouse · 12/12/2023 10:45

A one cup boiling water dispenser. No more faffing around with the kettle, and forgetting I boiled it and having to boil again and missing what someone said on the radio because of the noise.

Didley · 12/12/2023 10:48

S

MumzillaT · 12/12/2023 10:56

pastypirate · 12/12/2023 10:22

Tell me more about the packing cubes.....I hovered over them for the last holiday but wasn't convinced but they are very cheap!!!!

They are cheap as chips. I bought coloured ones. Blue for undies, pink for T’s, yellow for trousers and shorts etc.
So I’m dragging my case along and I get chilly. Open the case and go for the orange cube knowing it’s long sleeved tops and grab one out. Easy to repack without disturbing everything else. Takes seconds without the horror of dirty laundry all over the pavement. Some of mine have a secondary zip to compress clothing enabling more space for more stuff. I like to unpack at a hotel but it’s not worth it for a night or two so in effect my cubes are my drawers.
DH also converted. I got mine from Amazon.
best buy of the year for me.

superplumb · 12/12/2023 11:01

Electric potato masher from lakeland is great my cheap oodie amazon knockoff is good but I'd like a longer one
So tempted by the robot vacuum but my carpet needs replacing really. Doubt a robot can get the fluff up from my husbands black socks!!
Ninja 15 in 1 is great. Meant I sold off my pressure cooker and slow cooker as this does it all. I batch cook about 4lt of yogurt at a time too in it. My oven is old and takes an hour to heat up! This saves so much time and energy.

TheOnlyMrsW · 12/12/2023 11:02

Another who has an airfryer and not using it...........so far only for wedges, goujons etc but would love to use it more for "proper" food! Ninja dual people - tell me your secrest!!!!

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