What's been your best purchase of the year?

[CactusRabbit]

I have 2. First is my coffee machine. It grinds the beans, so I can have a freshly brewed coffee each morning. I love it!
Second one is a prize from postcode lottery. It's a rechargeable hot water bottle, and it's been a game changer! Especially useful for when I'm cold watching DS play rugby....

I got solid wooden shutters for my windows last year. I can now sleep past dawn in the spring and summer, and they keep so much heat in, and (if you angle them) the glare out. I love them!

I also started laser treatment for rosacea and hair removal. It can be painful, but the swelling goes down quickly with a bag of peas in a tea towel! Even after one session, it made a huge difference to my rosacea. I have incredibly pale skin, so permanent pink stains were very obvious! As for the hair removal, it has shaved off so much time, so I feel much lower-maintenance!

For those of you who have discovered Blundstones... I give you Redbacks! They are ridiculously comfortable and I've never had blisters from them. Mine are like steel toe-capped slippers, but they do come without the toe-caps for those who don't need them.

I'm hoping to get a chest freezer this year, and extra storage space...

My cleaner uses the Henry pet at our house, two dogs here. She says nothing beats it

My new mattress from John Ryan by Design.
Mattress topper and duvet from The Wool Room
Dual pillow from Aeyla.
Brushed cotton bedding from The Secret Linen Store.

My bed is now the most soft, comfortable and cosy place to be. It brings me joy every night and morning, best money I've ever spent.

A lot of favourable ticks for my post about our lift. I anyone is interested, we used a firm called Stiltz. Visited on 2 October with pictures and general sales chat, we decided to go for it and were promised installation before Christmas. The ‘asbestos checker’ arrived on 10 Oct to make sure it was safe to create the hole. 13 Nov, 8am, the electrician, plumber, carpenter and builder all appeared and by 3pm on 14th all was ready for the ‘car’ which appeared on 18th and we were up (and down) running.
Stiltz were brilliant from start to finish, easy to communicate with, polite and tidy tradesmen, and we hope that we have ‘future proofed’ our house as old age creeps onwards. Worth every penny.

A SodaStream. It makes colossal amounts here, and we have the subscription for gas refills and syrups. No more juggling 2l bottles around little Tesco.

A dry robe. I'm a dog walker and have lived in it since November. Now my legs feel freezing in all my other coats.

I think I would probably say Mounjaro too, although I slightly begrudge paying so much money for something that makes me feel sick, but I appreciate the benefits! For the first time in our relationship I weigh less than DH! 😂

Otherwise - a premium subscription to Board Game Arena.com - hours of fun have been had and it's sparked a new hobby.

We went to that. It was excellent!

@ludders01 Maimix steamer is generous in size so easily big enough for 4.

Whereabouts is your static please? would you recommend? vaguely thinking...ta

This jump starter power pack. Saved me two AA call-outs and the associated waits so far.
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0DRD28TPH?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_image

@wavingfuriously we’re 30 mins from St Malo. Our site has been upgraded and is fabulous. We’ve had ours a number of years and because of where it is it’s very convenient for us to travel to from our home base. As we’re retired we also use it a lot between March and November.Would I recommend buying one to others? Probably not as it’s a big outlay and you could go to a lot of countries on other holidays. They are a depreciating asset and site rents increase year on year. If you are tempted then do your homework first. We’re fortunate that although our site has changed hands we’re happy with everything that’s been done and we haven’t been impacted too much. Others take a different view. If you want further info then please PM me.

A kettle where you can set the temperature - having a cup of tea at the perfect temperature is a game changer!

Thank you so much!😊 putting my thinking cap on 👍

@FeeLipa
Fellow dogwalker here.
I thought Dry robes were for swimmers?
Tell me more.
Are they warm and completely waterproof?
I bought a North Face coat a couple of years ago for dog walks. It’s completely waterproof but only goes to my knees.

I have a dry robe..I use it for dog walking and watching DS play rugby

It was a Probreeze 20l. Got it in a sale earlier this year. Pretty nifty, on wheels, can self drain unit tried that since never gets that full) and has a specific laundry setting. Plus a timer so can set for auto switch off too. Basic probably but fits the bill.
Think I paid about £130/140 but currently on Amazon for £151. Bought mine direct from probreeze but they’re currently £190 on their website. I must have had a bargain!!

@MonkeyTennis34 they are meant for open water swimming.....DD1 is at uni in Cornwall so sees them everywhere. She likes to quietly take the piss when she's home in London and spots them in the supermarket.

I only tried one on for a joke but ended up buying it.

Ridiculously warm and snug. Keeps you warm without getting sweaty. I have an absurdity expensive coat from Von Wolf and I end up damp from sweat.

I stay dry in torrential rain, I did have water running off the coat, down my calves and into my muck boots, but shoulders and arms completely dry.

🤣. Me too!

Just to let you Dryrobe lovers know - you can also buy Dryrobe insulated waterproof boots - I’m thinking of getting some after my feet feeling like blocks of ice today.

@TheeNotoriousPIG Please tell me more about your laser treatment for rosacea. Are you having it done by a dermatologist or in a salon? And if you don’t mind, how much is it costing?
Since becoming perimenopausal, I’ve developed fetching red stripes along my cheekbones that I’d love to see the back of.

A pack of M&S pants.

Paying to get my varicose veins removed!

My weekly Pilates classes
A dress from Me and Em that I’ve worn and loved and I know I’m going to get bags more wear out of it
My very regular hair appointments

My friend had hers done many years ago. Is it less painful now?

@Myfluffyblanket
I think it was you asking about replacement hips? I had mine done in the summer & was back home the same day! Brilliant, & hydrotherapy sessions in a lovely warm pool at the hospital for about a month afterwards. :-)