Cheap things you have bought that improve your life massively disproportionally to what they cost!

[wineoclockthanks]

I'll start!

12 ballpoint pens from the pound shop - this week has been a joy, no scrabbling about trying to find a writing implement (and not having to resort to a stubby pencil or purple crayon)

An eye mask (£2.99) - nearly 13 years of trying to contort body and duvet to shield eyes from hallway light (needs to be left on for nighttime trips to the loo), it's transformed my nights!

£1.99 for proper glasses cleaner cloth, as opposed to t-shirt or tea towel - I can see again!

Any more for any more?

Earplugs.
They cost peanuts and block out the sound of DH snoring and the local hoof rollicking home from the pub.

This.

www.amazon.co.uk/Apple-Fruit-Peeler-Slicer-Cutter/dp/B005ZZ2TCC/ref=sr_1_2?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1425153217&sr=1-2&keywords=apple+peeler+%26+corer

Earplugs for me. After years of feeling so tired I could barely function, I can now block out DH's snoring. I get sleep and he's not laying awake worrying about snoring.

I tell a lie. It's this one. Bloody brilliant

www.amazon.co.uk/OXO-Good-Grips-Apple-Divider/dp/B00004OCKT/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1425153438&sr=8-2&keywords=apple+cutter+and+corer

Sorry, I went shopping! These are the egg poaching bags for aldi, they're fab, no more trying to retrieve all the stringy egg from round the pan! I only do 4 mins not the 6 they say though for a lovely runny yolk.

Since I'm not the only one with egg related issues: £15 or so for an electric egg boiler. So easy. So reliable. Love it.

does anyone else have a bulging Amazon basket?

Ooh kent if I had a bigger kitchen that's a gadget I'd love!

Yy to Ikea Antilop and dyson handheld.
Also, small fold up (paperchase I think) shopping bag always in pushchair. I use this every other day for shopping, dirty clothes, library books etc.
And, the free boots change bag. Goes in pushchair basket and means I get to use a nice handbag.

Need to buy an apple corer as have just discovered peanut butter on apple slices and am a bit addicted.

IKEA bags (20p or 40p) are tremendously useful. Make splendid trolley liners at Aldi, then straight into the car boot.

Folding crates - usually £10 for three. Usd as washing baskets, for tidying up , and brilliant for transporting stuff when we go on s/c holidays.

Ikea bags are fantastic. We use them for holidays as they fit better in to the boot of the car than cases and fold down to store when we get where we're going.

They also make fantastic beach bags ( stylish I ain't! ;))

I was just thinking earlier how much I love my sauce whisk.
If it weren't for this thread, I'd have continued to feel a bit sad about having had this thought.

Toaster bags from Poundland.

Toasted cheese sandwiches and fish fingers done easily

Eye mask. Cost about a tenner but as dh works very early and ds goes to bed late I am no longer disturbed by various lights going on.

Boots orange 'disposable' earplugs (I wash and re-use). Shut out the birdies in the woodland opposite.

Muji foam pump bottle - water down Aveda or other expensive shampoo 3 water:1 shampoo, then a small amount froths nicely. You use barely any shampoo - better for the hair and costs far less, and easier than pouring out shampoo. Good for DC who would use masses of product otherwise:

www.muji.eu/pages/online.asp?Sec=17&Sub=72&PID=7132

Not that cheap, but little dehumidifiers to keep in the car - I don't have a long journey to the station, so it doesn't warm up and dry out. The dehumidifiers really help reduce the misted-up windows, when I get back to the car on a winter evening.

My £70 tumble dryer. I have no idea how I got by without one in my life before...

Folding crates and ikea bags are the catch all in this house too.

Gas filled firelighter thing is another, so many years of burning fingers on matches lighting the fire and candles and finally I can have instant fire. Such a simple pleasure!

Ooh also Now TV and Netflix. Too small children and having moved to a new area means we don't get to go out much in the evenings so we get a lot of use for the money.

don't know if this counts but frozen cubes of garlic, transformed my life, yes I know how tragic this sounds :)

How does now tv work I have been looking at it but don't understand it. Oh I am getting poaching bags tis bloody genius idea

My bunnies! I love watching them mooch about the garden and frolicking.

I love frozen garlic it is amazing last longer than the lazy garlic

Fluffy bed socks from Poundstretcher, my feet are always freezing and their socks are soft and toasty

The Words with Friends app (free).

Gullon gluten free chocolate chip cookies from certain pound shops. Affordable and scrummy.

And a big cheap blue spotty foldaway bag. It holds 8 boxes of aforementioned cookies
I wish I could remember where I bought it, a friend wants one as it also fits a cake box in perfectly.

Mrsjayy you need some way of getting internet on the TV. Maybe a games console, PC connected to TV or smart TV. We use an Apple TV box. Then it's a bit like Iplayer or 4od but with a bigger choice.