Unexpectedly brilliant purchases

[Parata]

Last year there was a thread where people were recommending purchases they made or gifts they got that were unexpectedly brilliant. I got sleep headphones based off that thread for my birthday, and they have honestly been amazing - have helped me sleep better as I no longer turn to my phone and doom scroll when I wake up, but just put on a podcast or a meditation session and drift off to sleep. (Also got an acupressure mat that has been much less useful).

As my birthday and that of my kids, and as well Christmas approaches, I was hoping it is time to make a new similar thread maybe we could all find the next thing that changes our lives.

This looks great! Have you tried it with parmesan? (saw a reel on their Insta)

Thanks ! In my Amazon basket 🧺

Placemarking!

Just a minor one, but I'm a coffee addict and my husband got me one of these:

Foyscr 7-Inch Coffee Scoop with Bag Clip, Multifunctional Coffee Scoop for Measuring Ground Coffee and Coffee Beans, Stainless Steel Kitchen Tool (Silver) : Amazon.co.uk: Home & Kitchen

Brilliant, I use it daily and it saves rummaging around in the cutlery drawer every morning for the coffee scoop.

how does it zest your thumb? how are you using in anywhere near either thumb?

I must be doing it wrong.

I completely agree about the mince masher and the crevice brushes. Both really handy and cheap.

Unfortunately my water flosser took out a filling so I binned it. Those things are powerful!

I'm now off to buy a cardboard knife and am wondering if the Oxfam sari bags would be good to give as little gifts.

My contribution is a USB lighter. No faffing with matches and a charge lasts ages. It's also wind proof so brilliant for camping. https://amzn.eu/d/cQwIha0

My best buy in recent years is this phone power pack. It's small enough and light enough to store easily in my handbag and no messing around with leads. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Charmast-5000mAh-Battery-Portable-Compatible/dp/B0B176WFBN/ref=sxbs_pa_sp_search_thematic_btf_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.b3761e2a-9a9b-42e3-b078-5a7d6958b6b3%3Aamzn1.sym.b3761e2a-9a9b-42e3-b078-5a7d6958b6b3&crid=32UUS2I1F059D&cv_ct_cx=phone%2Bpower%2Bpack&keywords=phone%2Bpower%2Bpack&pd_rd_i=B0B176WFBN&pd_rd_r=df7011b9-c5de-4e4f-bf91-56714372f669&pd_rd_w=r7rzd&pd_rd_wg=elYI4&pf_rd_p=b3761e2a-9a9b-42e3-b078-5a7d6958b6b3&pf_rd_r=CEENE9PCPMV8568ES5SF&qid=1753095269&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=phone%2Bpower%2Bpack%2Caps%2C124&sr=1-1-086e3a46-5037-429b-b873-9a24580fbad8-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWNfYnRm&th=1

Those mini power banks are very good to have. I have a magnetic slim power bank that I use with a magnetic phone case (Iphone), so no cables needed.

It started when a young friend got her own flat - just odds and ends we have found useful and that someone setting up home for the first time might not think about. It gets added to when we find new useful things.

Tide pen, good paring knife and kitchen knife sharpener, carpet stain remover (for spills at parties) hangover first aid kit, vitamin D and C tablets (because they never get outside enough or eat enough fruit and veg when first away from home) multi charging cable, travel set of screwdrivers (one handle, swappable heads), Sharpie, blu tac (for putting up posters in rented accommodation where you can’t hand pictures) - that sort of stuff.

Mine is a coffee machine off Amazon. Bought it not expecting much as was at lower price point but am a bit of a coffee snob so wanted a nice expresso and flat white occasionally. Would not be with out it now. The steamer is not the best admittedly but does the job and the coffee coming out of it is really nice. Good crema and tastes fab, much better than a cafetière or stove pot. It’s delonghi and cost about £100

I am notoriously dangerous with a potato peeler and have taken huge chunks out of my fingers with those, but never damaged myself with a zester. I cup the fruit (lemon, usually, or orange) in the palm of one hand, and drag the zester down with the other. Because the fruit is in my palm, I can keep my fingers well out of the way. I've mimed doing this several times since reading your post and can't work out how you must be doing it to endanger your thumb!

I got a mini dustpan and brush which lives next to the bread bin / toaster. Surprisingly useful for quick cleanups of crumbs and other dry debris on counters

I don’t have this exact one but this is similar.

amzn.eu/d/b0pAuAh

Thank you , that's add that to my wish list , I will buy it when my wallet comes out of hiding behind the sofa while I'm on this thread 😁

I’ve now ended up ordering 4 things that I didn’t know I needed. Have told my son who has asked for a couple of them, and know that that I’ve peed off the Amazon driver as our road is closed and these items will be arriving in different parcels over three days. I need to stop reading RIGHT NOW.

Oh, and I followed the link to last year’s post but only read page one, so who knows what else I may need.

Can you link to where you got these please. They sound perfect

😂 (sorry) you're supposed to put the flosser in your mouth, close your mouth, then turn it on. Let it dribble out above a sink/bath. And @CherryRipe1 can you not breathe through your nose with a mouth full of water? I definitely don't hold my breath.

Start with the lowest setting, warm water, bit of mouth wash mixed in for an extra clean feeling. Aim it at your teeth, not the back of your mouth.

Aww that reminds me of the neighbour's parrot when I was little. He LOVED gnawing through phone books and the whole village (200 houses) would donate last year's phone book to him.

So my on-topic recommendation is a phone book, if you're a parrot.

Could you get them online and get some chocolate coated strawberries and miso soup and stationary and stuff while you’re at it?

This silicone supoon. Better than any other silicon spatula I’ve had. You can get every last bit out of a jar or pot and it’s very satisfying to use. I have the larger one which I also like but the mini really is an essential

www.amazon.co.uk/Dreamfarm-Non-Stick-Silicone-Multifunctional-Measuring/dp/B00Q267BTY?ref_=ast_sto_dp

Oh ya think? 😃

sorry, feeling sympathy too

They're doing a deal on TikTok at the .moment for the Lubluelu 2 in 1 mop/vacuum. It's £132

My son bought me one for Christmas two years ago (nor from TikTok, but the same manufacturer), and I really love it.

It doesn't mop up dried on stains, so I still use my steamer for that, but in vacuums like a dream.

I can remember when you put in change for the gas meter and the phone box! oh and fuses and fuse wire!!

A triple slow cooker. Just makes batch cooking so easy. Also a meat slicer. I don't buy ham or chicken anymore just thinly slice and use a vacuum sealer to store.

Are they easy to dismantle for washing?