Most useful thing you've bought under £30

[KenAdams]

We do a game at Christmas where instead of presents, we do useful gifts in bags for people to win. Things like mango slicers, those cards that double up as ice scrapers, that sort of thing.

Have you bought anything surprisingly useful that you use more than you thought you would that cost under £30 please? I really need some ideas this year!

Do you have a mini rice cooker recommendation, @adcde123?

I will second anything OXO good grips. I would browse brands like OXO, Tala, Ikea, Tiger, Sostrene Grene, Muji and any good local kitchen stores for inspiration. Those are my go tos for keeping an eye out for useful stocking fillers. Or do you need to spend the whole budget on one thing?

I thought of a few more things

A rubber thing for picking up pet hair and long hair
The Muji or Ikea cleaning system (a handle with different attachments for mopping, sweeping, lint removal, window cleaning, dusting etc)
Fancy laundry liquids or cleaning products that are dupes of perfumes from somewhere like Tallow & Ash
A housekeeping or laundry caddy
Pop up/foldaway ironing basket

Definitely second a jar key , ( along with the Toast tongs as above) Also a Zyliss 5 way bottle opener ( great for wine screw top bottles !🤣)

Did you buy this year? @66babe

Yes this month ! Have a look on Lidls special buys see if it's still there , they are brilliant

Here it is

I am not sure is this counts as useful exactly but Iwas looking for a way to stop using lots of plastic for hand soap (as in dispensers) but really didn't like bar soap as in my opinion it always gets soggy or you are always having to clean the soap dish, even if it drains. So I got two of these:

I have one in the bathroom upstairs and one above the kitech sink. They work really well and have stuck to the tile even in a damp bathroom environment with no problem. They have metal ones if you prefer them to wood

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Navaris-Magnetic-Soap-Holders-Stick/dp/B08HYX35Q6/ref=sr_1_8?crid=22QTZXZZSTTT&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.aZ8htoQwMoUfM4xDae-thQcCOCR_AHNkaAacSlrC-wvIqJliYXwkCTTb4GO5pg7iNh52F4g2BASMBPv0ewcqoZdS_VlEDa8XOXmA4kBtWSDf0G5dJuioA-uQ3jOEd959m1IGjrAH03DqnGgzE0a4Oq1d42vawavogEmgjvlx5TtMor92K6Ym9dVjlHYQMUJe2XJDDYO1g-ca3AXGmL0iZSEWoYdNE9wXePbuecCSYJVtCGUhwW54kGYZdbHZPmtDpsQDcavU1fNhk5os3aG5tCXk7zy8CuXcOgEI6iu3W70.dvvVYpgnS8dIg_gUhNylGdHB5onnYpv5pqhI-DepDro&dib_tag=se&keywords=soap%2Bholder%2Bmagnet&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1732378228&sprefix=soap%2Bholder%2Bmagn%2Caps%2C114&sr=8-8&th=1

I love them and they work really well

Le Creuset spatula and pie bird.

amzn.eu/d/j0fMBLU

These are brilliant for inside cupboards or nighttime visits to the loo without waking others up.

Ice ball moulds (great for whiskey drinkers)
Back scratcher, I bought it as a joke present and my dh loved it. It broke after a few years and he requested a new one.

A stick blender. I love it. You just blend soup or sauces in the pan or milkshakes in the jug. Not more fighting with all the bits if the big blender that are such a faff to clean.

Also, a good quality milk frother if you live fresh coffee. I use mine every day.

@Frieda2024
Please can you tell me more about the glasses cleaner? TiA

Have you watched the Motherland Xmas ep, where they do evil Santa? If you haven’t watch it lol x

No, why, was this on there? I hope so!

Rechargeable book light - I don't sleep well and if I'm reading a proper book rather than my kindle it means i can read in the middle of the night without waking DH.

Aldi's milk frother - just as good as the Lavazza one but only £20.

Stackable metal mixing bowls.

Smart plugs.

amzn.eu/d/dkyAdOH
This is the one we have. We use it all the time. It doesn't spit at all. Honestly, perfect every time 👌🏻



Judge Small Electric Rice Cooker - Fully Automatic, for 2 Servings, Removable Non-Stick Rice Pot, Measuring Cup & Ladle, PFOA Free, Keep Warm Function, JEA63
4.5 out of 5 starss^
(2.8K)
700+ bought in past month
Black Friday Deall*
£[[https://www.amazon.co.uk/Judge-Mini-Rice-Cooker-White/dp/B00HRJ3680/ref=sr_1_4?crid=6P36UVGA1NII&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.TT73wnpeWFMZ5LtAyzX50iVPMwd5zKrZkWKFiw3Apq0uK8UXpVnb8W9kXX61q4JAJfzDVUY30aN30eRIA6LzIZIsCtaHkANvmNLn79QZ4rVYYRksmxXzK-DRQdJjOCYdesADief6rQ7YIGebsrMj8ZBI-3_Cd0JohwA1Fa5OE85RcyyDHTcyNleOF5jG4OHScF9npvpbEf3l_95p2YerOA.esVruUmshRacHQPs_1g5rKV6YYBgdrhz8mFUWssr92g&dib_tag=se&keywords=mini+rice+cooker&ni=1&ni_pt=GW&qid=1732378497&sprefix=mini+rice+cooker%2Caps%2C120&sr=8-4 21
.]]
21RRP: £24.95[[https://www.amazon.co.uk/Judge-Mini-Rice-Cooker-White/dp/B00HRJ3680/ref=sr_1_4?crid=6P36UVGA1NII&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.TT73wnpeWFMZ5LtAyzX50iVPMwd5zKrZkWKFiw3Apq0uK8UXpVnb8W9kXX61q4JAJfzDVUY30aN30eRIA6LzIZIsCtaHkANvmNLn79QZ4rVYYRksmxXzK-DRQdJjOCYdesADief6rQ7YIGebsrMj8ZBI-3_Cd0JohwA1Fa5OE85RcyyDHTcyNleOF5jG4OHScF9npvpbEf3l_95p2YerOA.esVruUmshRacHQPs_1g5rKV6YYBgdrhz8mFUWssr92g&dib_tag=se&keywords=mini+rice+cooker&ni=1&ni_pt=GW&qid=1732378497&sprefix=mini+rice+cooker%2Caps%2C120&sr=8-4
]]
Save 5% on any 4 qualifying items[[https://www.amazon.co.uk/Judge-Mini-Rice-Cooker-White/dp/B00HRJ3680/ref=sr_1_4?crid=6P36UVGA1NII&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.TT73wnpeWFMZ5LtAyzX50iVPMwd5zKrZkWKFiw3Apq0uK8UXpVnb8W9kXX61q4JAJfzDVUY30aN30eRIA6LzIZIsCtaHkANvmNLn79QZ4rVYYRksmxXzK-DRQdJjOCYdesADief6rQ7YIGebsrMj8ZBI-3_Cd0JohwA1Fa5OE85RcyyDHTcyNleOF5jG4OHScF9npvpbEf3l_95p2YerOA.esVruUmshRacHQPs_1g5rKV6YYBgdrhz8mFUWssr92g&dib_tag=se&keywords=mini+rice+cooker&ni=1&ni_pt=GW&qid=1732378497&sprefix=mini+rice+cooker%2Caps%2C120&sr=8-4
]] One-Day

Couldn’t scroll past without judging your taste in peelers.

You are wrong.

An electric debobbler for clothes.
A milk frother.
Magnify glasses set.
Beanie hat with built in LED light.

I bought a really expensive Toni and Guy hairbrush about 25 years ago. I had to give up on it as it was too heavy but my DS has used it every day for over 20 years! I bought a really cheap one and I've used it daily then same amount of time.

Like someone said up thread a portable step because I'm small. I use it most days.

Decent towels and face cloths.

A decent tin opener. Not that I open many tins but my old one snapped and I hunted around for this one.

My favourite body cream in a big tub.

https://www.topster.co.uk/

I’ve had some of these for years and they’re brilliant. x

Microplane graters: https://www.microplane.com/

They're so good for parmesan for the top of pasta and for zesting things.

Le creuset oven gloves are the best but they're over £30 but you might get lucky with them in a deal.

Stump teapots have an integrated strainer and never drip if you have any loose leaf tea drinkers.

A portable power pack for phones is always useful.

The morphy richards microwave toastie maker has been well used since I bought it.

I got DH a shave catcher (he has a beard) attaches to a mirror and goes around his neck. Best thing ever means I don't get annoyed at the mess in the sink and he doesn't spend ages trying and failing to clean up! I think it was £5!

Also agree re microplaner

I have a lovely microplane grater as well it’s fabulous.

My favourite thing is a portable tyre pump that I keep in the boot of my car that plugs into the cigarette lighter. I have a very very slow puncture and it’s save me lots of pounds at the garage, plus it’s handy to just do it at home