To ask for - Best low cost thing you’ve bought recently ?

[PollyCherry]

As a flip side to the expensive letdowns thread , has anyone bought anything low cost that’s been good ?
I got a mascara in b and m that’s great on my long blonde but thin eyelashes.
And an ineos hand wash that is actually really nice.

The dishwasher thing… this is really an issue for you? I open it and see if things are still dirty or if they’re clean personally. Also I’d just forget to switch the magnets.

A £1!!!
I always have my reading glasses on some sort of string or chain but I usually have to pay at least £5 from somewhere like Boots or Specsavers.

These paper blackout blinds. I usually go to the loo about 4am and these have worked brilliantly (under curtains) at keeping my room dark enough to get back to sleep

https://www.dunelm.com/product/blackout-temporary-pleated-blind-1000203268

A dinner service from someone at work. It was his mum's, and he's not someone who entertains much, so he wanted rid of it.
£10 was an absolute bargain. It's lovely 😊

@StrokeCity I've looked at the website as I could really do with these for one room over the summer
How do they attach at the top please?

Pack of 3 metal plug hole strainers for a quid.
2 small and one big one. I only got it for the big one for the bath to replace the rubber ones (hair sieve) as they go manky like bath sealer does.

Works well

@wwyd2021medicine They just stick on to the window frame at the top. It's the first summer I've used them so I've no idea how they'll be to remove, but they've been so useful for me that it wouldn't put me off getting them again anyway

We do rinse everything so it’s not always very obvious that the dishwasher is loading
DH tended to leave the door open to indicate it’s loading. Drives me mad. Also, I’ve no sense of smell and I worry an open dishwasher might be a bit whiffy

I bought some silicone toothpaste lids. They fit over the top of the toothpaste and voila! No more dried gunk from not putting on the lid.

A toothpaste dispenser. Sounds gimmicky but it hugely reduces the amount of toothpaste that the kids manage to get all over the sink.

Blatant placemarking to be notified when @Anotherparkingthread comes back with links to her flosser and butt puncher 😎

Waiting for the butt puncher too

A Solar Buddy! Its a sun cream applicator. I haven't actually used it yet but watched a family cover themselves in suncream using one at a theme park on Friday. I asked what it was and the lady said she gets asked all the time. It looked amazing.
Got mine on Amazon prime day (whilst still at theme park) for £7.50. Saving it for hols.

Very squishy stress balls. I am neurodivergent and my psychiatrist recommended getting some fiddle toys. I have tried varies toys in the past and they did nothing for me but these squishy balls are wonderful. They bring my anxiety down. Less than £10

Checking in for links !

Just come back from holiday and stayed in a villa with a pool. I got a lilo for E4 from a nearby Lidl and happily floated on it for most of the holiday and stayed cool

Just as an alternative to the solar buddy you can just use a plain sponge to quickly apply sun cream to everyone - great for children who fuss when getting creamed!

ivw just bought some msg & potato starch to make chow mein at home after watching some YouTubers.

Maybe not quite the point but I picked up a Rockit from a charity shop for £5 and it’s been a life saver with the newborn.

Paper/fabric fans for keeping in handbags - I’ve carried them for years and often pass them along to people struggling on public transport etc

Korean body mitt scrub - FAR better at sloughing off skin than a scrunchy puff

What is this genius item??? I need a link please

A Joseph Joseph salad spinner! Very retro but fabulous for all the summer salads we've been having. About £20 from Amazon.

I have one almost brand new if anyone wants to buy

takes up lots of space and all to drain lettuce!

£15 mini handheld turbo fan as requested by DD. I thought it would be rubbish but its great so I’ve ordered myself one.

@Dogaredabombi buy these ones but there are loads of varieties on Amazon. Just wet and wring out the towel, pop it in it's pouch and when you take it out it cools on hitting the air - even if the pouch feels warm. They still chilled for a couple of hours even in hot weather.
https://amzn.eu/d/cbKv6e1

I took them when I was touring Morocco in 45 degree hear last year and was do grateful for them when the rest of my group were sweating!

Nail wraps from lily and fox Australia. Saving myself a fortune instead of gel nails as £1.99 a set. I can change them weekly as I get bored, designs I couldn't do with gel and kuch kinder to nail. Use them with Sally Hanson hards as nails as top coat.