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!

When I was getting married in 2008 a neighbour gave me a wash up basins with loads of useful bits for the kitchen. I thought she was mad!! I was so wrong I use this and a good few of the rest on a daily basis still. Think of her very regularly. I have used this instead of big whisks electrics beaters for pancakes/ fairy cakes etc.

@LadyMonicaBaddingham love the name and Rivals😂

Hat torch. ReCharge via USB plug.

https://amzn.eu/d/2OsE0zV

My favourites follow a theme.
Silicone pet hair removers (look like cartoon paws) which work on dry fabrics and in the washing machine.
Silicone spatulas to completely empty bowls and saucepans.
Silicone lids to seal dishes in the microwave/fridge and mugs to prevent spillage when drinks are moved from the kitchen.

Sorry to be annoying - just place marking to read tomorrow.

I bought a small cylinder vacuum cleaner in Argos for £29.99 and it turned out to have more suction than any other vacuum cleaner that I have ever owned - including several of the top brands.

It was so powerful that it literally lifted carpets and vinyl off the floor with the suction.

The only reason I don't still have it is because I switched over to battery powered cordless.

Heated blanket.

2 brilliant things my Gran bought me:
A boiled egg timer that goes in the pan and changes colour as the egg cooks.
A slicey boiled egg topper - a cleaner topper than using a knife or a teaspoon!

Some luggage scales. I was actually fed up of them borrowing my weighing scales to weigh their luggage and not getting there back.🤣🤣🤣

Poundshoob sell luggage scales I've given to friends going backpacking so they can keep an eye on his heavy their bags are getting

You should get that tyre fixed anyway in case that slow puncture turns into a blowout.

just fyi @LindorDoubleChoc just above the thread title there's a little "watch thread" tab, click on that and it'll save it for you 🌻🙂

Joseph Joseph whisk and potato masher which both fold flat.

I also like the Joseph Joseph potato ricer though, it's a twist function rather than just pressing and it's a lot nicer on my wrists. They also do great stacking mixing bowls and measuring spoons/cups which are great space savers but not sure of the cost of those now as I've had mine a while.

Lantana can opener. No more sharp edges.

Silicone jar scraper. Mine was only a couple of quid from Morrisons a few years ago. Narrower than a silicone spatula but shaped so you can get all the bits in a jar that a spoon can't quite manage. Great for mayonnaise or peanut butter in my house.

Also car dehumidifier bags. Our car has a heated windscreen so it's easy to defrost, but it then steams up quickly and that sometimes takes longer to clear as we then have to turn on the fans or open a window, and wiping it always leaves smears. A dehumidifier bag near the windscreen seriously helps.

Another way to play it is like this:

Write numbers 1-however many people are there on pieces of paper eg. 6 people, write 1 on one paper, 2 on the next paper. Put in a box or hat. Everyone takes a paper.
Whoever has number 1 chooses a bag and opens it.
Whoever has number 2 has a choice to choose a new present or steal number 1s present.
Number 3 can steal 1 or 2s present or choose a new one.
And so on...
If someone's present is 'stolen', they get to choose a new present.
It's good to go near the end then you have the choice of all the already-open presents!

It's quite fun if several people like one present and it keeps getting 'stolen'. Also means someone might steal a present from you that you don't really want or already have - but they do actually want it and can make use of it.

Here is a link :)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Carbon-Klean-Peeps-Eyeglass-Cleaner/dp/B01LXTRTB2?tag=theevenstan-21&ascsubtag=ES|1101420|B01LXTRTB2&geniuslink=true

They're not currently available on Amazon but it will give you an idea of what they are and there are many other sites you can get them from. They have a carbon coating and much better than microfiber cloth etc... In my opinion. There are cheaper generic alternatives but not sure if they are as effective. No smudges! 😊

The tyre is fine. It just doesn’t fit around the rim properly. I keep having the rim redusted and sealed but it just carries on. I do check it regularly

Toast tongs
Huge bottle of almond oil for removing eye makeup
Muslin face cloths
Long shoe horn
Insulated lunch bag with ice blocks for packed lunch

I use all of these everyday.

Paint edger for cutting in. Can’t remember how much I paid but just looked on Amazon and there’s one for £5.99 including two pads. It gives really neat lines around the edge with no need to use tape.

Secondly, I bought one of the small plane cases from TikTok as I didn’t want to pay for a cabin bag. Including postage, it was £26 and fits under the seat in front, which means there’s no charge. With careful packing, I had enough room for everything I needed for a 5 day trip to Disneyland Paris. If anything, I’d taken too much 😝

These spatulas the skinny one is surprisingly useful! Great for scraping out jars of mayo etc.

@Tryonemoretime my optician says you're more likely to scratch you glasses using those pad things , because you don't keep them in your glasses case (!often keyring style) they pick up tiny bits that' you enthusiastically scratch against your lenses whilst trying to clean them.

Those of you who mentioned having a little step up stool for reaching not sitting, can I ask for recommendations please?

I'm not quite sure what having the rim redusted involves, but after a year of fannying about with mine like this (and using said helpful portable tyre inflater) I had the valve replaced and the alloy rims sandblasted. Sorted. (£40 for the sandblasting, £8 for the valve)

Second (or third?) the head torch. Mine gets used most days.
I really really love my Ikea cheese grater box. To an almost embarrassing extent. Here. £4 and it has 2 graters, the box to grate into, and a lid for if there's any leftover cheese. Plus you can make cheesy puns about how grate it is.
Stackable tupperware, all the same size, with several lids. I like the pyrex ones that go in the oven and freezer too because it reduces washing up.
I also quite like any reusable water bottle that you can get replacement lids for. Sho have multiple lid options for each bottle. Means you don't bin the lot when you can't find a spare lid.

IKEA bekvam step stool. Check the weight limits obviously!