If there’s one sure thing in life, it’s that everyone would love to make their existence as simple as possible. Society and the job market taught us we should be hardworking, overperforming all the time, the best version of ourselves — but the reality is, we really need some weight lifted off our shoulders. Like, for real. We work so hard to achieve what society dictates as success and happiness that we forget about our basic needs as human beings.
We’re not saying you should quit your job and go live in a cave, but some things can make your life easier, more enjoyable, and even make you feel like you have more free time on your hands. But you’re probably wondering what these things are.
We recently came across this Reddit thread where people shared dozens of life-changing items they use in their everyday routines that improved their life’s quality in ways you might not expect. Sometimes we overlook how some common objects are underrated inventions that tiptoed their way into our existence and just... changed it for the better. If I had to personally answer the thread, I’d say one of these life-changing products — or services — is the Internet. This mysterious thing everyone uses daily literally gave me a job, taught me all the valuable stuff school and my parents didn’t, and works wonders as a source of entertainment, especially when I’m at my lowest.
We scrolled through the answers, and can I say we were stunned? We rarely think about how those cheap household items that silently observe our lives also make them much more bearable. But this thread was eye-opening (and made me buy a couple of things from Amazon, too). According to Redditors, these are the things everyone needs, and we’re pretty sure you’ll be able to relate to some of these interesting submissions.
This post may include affiliate links.
"A 10-foot charging cable."
This is such an issue for my partner. Like I ran wiring into my headboard at home and there's now a hidden outlet with USB ports in the center, but every cord she has is like some off length like 0.7 meters, and the outlet near her bed is like directly behind the headboard and picking you phone up unplugs it from the wall 🙄 I found a wireless charging pad with a massive range, it's several feet, and installed it so it's hidden, but now having the phone anywhere near the bed constantly charges it.
Not if you have a fast charge usb plug; best of both worlds :)
Load More Replies...And a power strip. My mom & l (or hubby & l) travel with phones, heating pads, flat iron, & night light. Whether hotel or someone's home, 10 ft charging cords & power strip make life soooo much easier on the road
"Blackout curtains for your bedroom."
The idea of tying my eyeballs shut sounds about as appealing as listening to Joe Rogan, which is also like having an incredibly simple inanimate object violate my body, ear rape, eyeball bondage 🤷
Load More Replies...I actually hate these. They really throw me off. My sister loves them though.
Personally as another graveyard shift worker, I have just gotten used to sleeping in a room that's at best is slightly dim.
Load More Replies...As much as l love the sunlight, l had to put up blackout drapes in our bedroom bc the Florida sun will heat the room up to 79 degrees in spite of the AC plus a ceiling fan
That’s the opposite of what you should have. Your body evolved to sleep and wake with the cycle of the sun. Having blackout curtains messes with your circadian rhythm. If you’re a graveyard worker then that’s a different story.
I can sleep with lights on, tv blaring, and any time of the day and night.
"Books. Knowledge is currency that only increases."
Reading, writing, and drawing will all improve your life. Don't worry if you're "bad" at it. That's perfectly fine. And no, you're not "too old" to start. There's no age limit on learning something new. Sure, there will be amazing 13 year old ingenues, but you should never compare yourself to others. Just have fun; that's what's important. 🤗💕
From a very young age, my mother insisted us kids read at least one book a week. I was hooked and have been an avid reader ever since, much to my husband's frustation because when I read a book, I get lost in it and everything and everyone else ceases to exist until I get to the end of the book.
I successfully bought 55 books this year. I'm really impressed how much I read and how well I was able to influence a lot of people to read, too.
It doesn't matter if you have books if you don't have curiousity. This is just snobbishnes. Not to mention how bad books are for the environment
Reading will expose you to all kinds of knowledge & teach you to be an excellent speller.You don't have to worry about having to "charge" your book or magazine-you just need light to see.
"A king-sized blanket for a queen-sized bed."
Bought the Queen size and it worked. Hubby bought a king size the next day & boy, the difference! Now we buy all our blankets & comforters one size up. Plenty cover for everybody!
Conversely- do the opposite. Keep one larger cover, like a full, on the bed with you and your partner for mutual use like cuddling or sex or whatever, place a smaller throw or she's using my twin? heated blanket rn for example. We're pretty little and large blankets are suffocating and washing them is a nightmare in most washers. But this keeps the bed uncluttered and there's no tugging or fighting for blankets ever. She doesn't like the bed made up daily, I don't like untangling blankets in bed, so these being smaller, I make the bed daily and center the blankets small to large, it's not military tight cuz they're too short, but not a tangle ball either, and we don't end up smothered like most people's beds we seem to find ourselves in.
I thought Queen was bigger than King; that's the case where I live, at least. Unless you want a blanket that's smaller than your bed, not here to judge.
At least in the USA it's single < twin < full < Queen < King < California King . More blanket is always better in my opinion.
Load More Replies..."A shelter dog. Holy crap my life has changed for the better."
Shelter cats. Please. Most cats in a given shelter will be euthanized. It's great that people are conscious of the importance of saving dogs, but they're not they're not the only animals there.
I gave up with trying to get a shelter cat; every single one refused me because I have dogs. They didn't even ask to see the dogs to verify that they can behave around cats, just immediate no. I once had a shelter cat (this was about ten years ago), because I found him and took him to the shelter. He got to be with me and my dogs for a day before I took him in there, so I knew he was fine with my dogs (he actually played with them a lot.) After the required-by-law 15 days had passed and no one had contacted them about him, I went back to take him home. Only thing was that I had to argue with them before I got them to agree that my dogs wouldn't be a problem! They insisted that they can't give him to a dog home because they can't know if he will be fine with dogs - even though I had told them already that he got along with my dogs just fine when I originally took him to the shelter. So now I have a cat from a breeder.
Load More Replies...Or cats! Not that I’m against dogs, but I do have a shelter cat that is about as needy as a dog! Especially when they are abused and need extra love. The positivity I get from this animal is beyond what any human can do!!! And I love my kids and my family but my baby is my baby and she needs all the love she never got!
We've been doing rescues for a long time now and I feel the need to add that while most of the animals in shelters have been dropped off for various reasons, be very aware that some animals are there because of how they've been abused. Ask questions and meet up with them, and be alert around a week or so after the animal has been in your home. Shelter shock is a real thing, and the animals sometimes behave very differently (sometimes for the best!) after a few days. We've never returned dogs, but one had cancer and only lasted a few months, one had allergies to *everything* and was aggressive, and another one was so aggressive that after many years of difficult training and trying, we saw the poor boy was too mentally frightened to ever heal. The others were fine after training! I'm a stay at home dog mom and consider this my calling, but remember there is no shame in bringing a pet back if they're not a right fit for your family. There's another family/person out there for them!
Exactly! Our last greyhound had to be taken back because he was anxious around their existing hounds. He was fine with us as an only dog, but eventually settled with visiting dogs too.
Load More Replies...There is a couple from my area who adopted a shelter dog last week (a chihuahua/pug mix) and they are never going to regret doing so. Earlier this week, their new family member alerted them to a fire in their home. They all made it out just as the windows exploded. They completely lost their home, but they are alive. They were so grateful and in awe, they went back to the shelter to share their story with the shelter's employees.
Any pet can change your life for the better. It needn't be a dog or a cat...or from a shelter. I tried numerous times to adopt from rescues, but always was refused because of some petty reason, even though I am home all the time, could do multiple walks a day, have dog training experience, etc. The shelter dogs in that area were mostly all the same breed, which I wasn't interested in adopting for multiple reasons (nothing against the breed, just not the right one for my lifestyle). Ultimately I ended up buying a puppy from an ethical breeder, and have zero regrets, because she fits with my lifestyle, I know her medical and social background (which should be at the top of your pro/con list to consider if you're looking for a shelter dog), and the breeder had no problem with the petty little issues the rescues refused me for. I know lots of people with great shelter dogs...but you shouldn't feel shamed if you get a dog from an ethical breeder either.
Not everyone is the emotionally dependant type that needs affection and validation from others.
Humans are social animals, who need positive interaction with others by definition. Anyone who truly *never* "needs affection from others" is a sociopath.
Load More Replies..."May sound simple, but a good pillow. It is amazing the change in body aches, and sleep you see when you have a good pillow that fits you."
When I have a migraine I take an extra pillow to cover just the top of my head and rest my arm on the pillow over my eyes. It's the only way I can sleep
Load More Replies...I take mine with me when I'm visiting or on holiday
Load More Replies...Spent hundred to finally find one that allowed me to wake up without a head and neck ache. Coop brand if anyone wants to know.
Started taking our own pillows on trips (hotel & homes) & it is worth the little bit of trouble! I never liked hotel pillows anyway. Sleep much better on our own
"Good pair of shoes."
All the difference in the world by the end of the day. Your whole body will thank you
"Another monitor. Your productivity will increase dramatically."
Meh. I just use half of one screen for one document and the other glad for another. Alt+Tab is really helpful too.
I had 3 at one job. Our efficiency went through the roof. Also had 2 OCD women in that department. Lol
I have 6 monitors connected to my computer....love it love it love it ....super efficient now....I am a computer programmer btw, makes it much easier to get work done
I got so much done with two monitors. I like to make YouTube videos and stream on twitch. One monitor for using recording software and chat other for gaming or using editing software . I want to expand to three. I want to go crazy and have like 6 ...maybe that's excessive...maybe that's the future
"When I started dating my now wife I introduced to the concept of sharpening knives and she had no idea that it was supposed to be easy to cut veggies and fruit!"
My ex-father -in-law own his own butcher shop and I learned so much about butchering from him, especially the importance of having sharp knives to work with in the kitchen, as well as the proper way to use them.
Former caterer- cooking is so much more fun & easier with sharp knives. I have an artificial shoulder on my dominant side. If l have to struggle to cut up meats or veggies, my shoulder, neck & arm aches the rest of the day or evening.
Most things are "obvious" in hindsight after someone teaches you. I guarantee you are ignorant of countless facts that are "obvious" to others.
Load More Replies..."Any vaccination."
I got my fourth 'rona and yearly flu and pneumonia shots all at once early in October. Been the only not sick person in my house for weeks now. (I have a compromised immune system, that's why I keep up with the 'rona boosters, just FYI).
I get a pnemonia shot every two years, and just got my first shingles jab, since my Mother had Shingles and it was just as excruciating watching her deal with that as it was for her going through that ordeal.
I haven't had any vaccinations in years and I can't remember the last time I was ill
I'm too young for some of them, but I will get them when I'm old enough
5 rona shots, pneumonia, flu and tdap shots. Got RSV at Disneyland, then tested positive for COVID. COVID was short and mild because I had become a human pincushion.
Just not worth the risk of dying. Immuno-Comp here. People have forgotten diphtheria, polio, whooping cough, smallpox & TB. What didn't kill you could leave you horribly scarred or crippled. Come on people. Aren't we smarter than that?
The original post doesn't say if your doctor should advise you on them or not, but if you have online access to MyChart (or similar) it does say on there what shots you should be getting and when you're overdue. Either way, it's pretty common knowledge to get a flu shot in the fall, get a rona booster every couple months or when a new version comes out, follow guidelines for age and susceptibility for pneumonia, shingles, etc. Plus, do you ask your doctor every time you take ibuprofen for a headache? Guessing not, you just use your best judgement. Do the same for vaccinations; it's not difficult.
Load More Replies..."Bath sheet. Most people have bath towels and they are fine, but a bath sheet is a towel almost twice the normal size. It's a game changer to be able to comfortably wrap it around my chest and hips."
I do this for the colors. After recovering from an injury, my entire sense of self was lost and the new cheerful happy person that came out is polar opposite and adores color, so I only use beach towels now. They go awesome with my pink shorts with rainbow parrots all over 🤷
Load More Replies...I hate being wet & cold & uncovered. I'm so spoiled to a bath sheet that l got 15 years ago, l won't even use another towel (& the towels are big, fluffy & soft.) But they don't wrap me up like a bath sheet¡
"House plants. They will make you happy looking after them. I recently bought a venus fly trap, she caught her first fly today. So proud."
Every houseplant I have ever owned has died of natural causes. Like drought, for instance. They just don't seem to like me.
I cannot keep a house plant alive, so I've stopped trying. I'm fine with pets or children, who actually notify me when they need something, but I totally forget about plants because they don't say anything when they're hungry!
I am terrible with plants! Ashamed to admit it but, I killed an Air plant and a Cactus! Did not get my Mom's "green thumb"! She can actually grow anything from a seed!
I am proud when *I* catch a fly for my venus flytrap cutie, we're not the same.
I love house plants. Everyone in my family can grow plants but me. I talk to them, sing to them, love them, give them their hearts desire ... And they still die. Even my cacti died.
Just make sure they're safe for your pets, if you have pets!!! Making a call to pet poison control is both expensive and not fun...
"In my opinion definitely a weighted blanket if you have a hard time sleeping at night or have anxiety. They have some at target for $25 currently."
My weighted blanket is rather capricious and moves from night to night. Some nights I think it might even try to kill me by weighing heavily on my chest.
Oh no. You call Viola and I'll fight the blankie for you!
Load More Replies...I love my weighted blanket for when I'm having a panic episode. Wrapping it around my shoulders is great. I can't sleep with it though, I tried to and consistently during that week I woke up to pee at 2am and had to fix my hips and knees first. (I have EDS and things dislocate easily)
I still don't get this. I get gifted these things I guess cuz PTSD/night terrors? and it's like being smothered, plus they're a pain to wash and dry.
"One of the male-marketed products that is superior though is men's razors. I know women that swear by men's razors, both because they're higher quality and lower in price."
I keep saying we need a tax break or credit break or stimulus whatever. Do men. know how much money we have to spend everyday, not just once a month. And hello!, it doesn't end with menopause
Load More Replies...Women's products are always lower quality & cost more. Our pants don't even have real pockets. 😞
Years ago I switched to an old fashioned safety razor. It works just as well as those expensive a*s Gillette razors for a fraction of the cost.
Same, I enjoy paying $10 for 100 blades instead of $20 for four.
Load More Replies...I prefer women's ones down under 🤷 Might be cuz they're not as sharp though?
They have extra plastic around the blades to increase the surface contact and decrease the likelihood of a cut, and use more built-in lubrication strips to decrease the likelihood of razor-burn. With proper lathering and shaving technique you can get an excellent result with an old fashioned safety razor, but women's cartridge razors let you get that same result with awful technique for the tradeoff of being 50x as expensive.
Load More Replies...My son's razors are much more expensive than mine so when he buys a batch, l borrow one or two. 4-5 blades get it all on the first pass with no fear of being nicked. But I'm too cheap to pay like he does. He keeps a great look tho as a young Yul Brynner or Dwayne The Rock
"Carbon monoxide detector."
Make sure your Carbon monoxide and Smoke detectors are always in wirking order.
"I got a silk pillowcase because I have really really long hair and it keeps it from tangling as badly overnight."
Cases with silver are more affordable than they used to be, very good focomplexion on
Load More Replies...Love it for my hair. Hate that the darn thing slides all over the place
You may be confusing silk (a fibre, very breathable) with satin (a way to weave fabric, especially shiny, usually made of polyester ie. plastic i.e. slightly more breathable than a garbage bag).
Load More Replies..."First aid kit for car/home. Better the have it and not need it than need it and not have it."
After i cut of my fingertip I finally organized my first aid stuff. It helps a lot and I can grab the right stuff one handed since my SO kann not see blood.
After cutting my finger I always wonder if anyone has ever bled to death just trying to open a bandaid..
Went to the beach with my best friend - between us we had 12 kids or so. One of mine sliced open his ankle on some coral and neither of us had a kit. Luckily the water was ice cold so pain was not an issue to begin with. We ended up using a clean water bottle to wash the wound, a maxi pad from my purse and a sock to hold the pad in place. Poor kid but it worked until we all got back to civilization.
Had one on both floors & in the van- with two crazy kids & all the sports, etc. Saved the day many a time
But check expiration dates regularly and rotate products, especially if kept in a hot or cold place like a car. Bandaids lose stickiness, gloves can adhere to themselves, etc in extreme temps (which can be extreme in a car even if it is only 70⁰F outside). And add in any products that you personally (or a family member) need that aren't in a store bought one (due to med/adhesive allergies, health conditions, etc).
And make sure you have one for your pets as well! Vet wrap, gauze, spray on antibiotics, meds for hot spots, pet-safe NSAIDS and antihistamines, muzzle (yes, a muzzle, because a dog in pain isn't thinking straight and may bite due to distress, so muzzle train your dogs for everyone's safety), quick stop powder to stop bleeding if you cut a tad too far on a nail trim...
"A dash cam for your car can protect you from wrongful claims also vandalism and theft."
"A good showerhead. I can not stress enough how a high-quality showerhead can turn getting clean into utterly zen, 30-minute self-healing and relaxation session."
Can not stress this enough, even 10 minutes with a quality showerhead will make a difference on the way you feel!
"A menstrual cup. Seriously it saved me so much money and waste."
The other good option is good quality period underwear. There are even period thongs for light days. No money wasting, no waste and very practical. You only need to change twice a day so forget having to do any changing in a public/work/school bathroom.
"Rice cooker is a life changer (if you make a lot of rice like me.)
A rice cooker is one of the few appliances I'm happy to make shelf space for. MUCH better than trying to cook rice in a pan.
What kind of rice do you people all struggle so much with?!?
Load More Replies...Hey, if y'all live down South, three things are a MUST to own. a vehicle, since a trip to the convenience store is more times than not too far to walk, an Air Conditioner because in the Spring and Summer the temps and humidity are unbearable, and a Rice Cooker, since the majority of your meals will include Rice, instead of Potatoes.
Friend gave me one. I shrugged. Used it the first time & have never looked back. Then discovered Jasmine rice. We eat rice way more now. Easiest way to cook rice ever. Perfect every time
YES. I gave up trying to master cooking rice in a pan on the stove. I get a perfectly cooked serving everytime with a rice maker though, and so much less stress.
A rice cooker is nice, since it's set-it and forget-it and the nicer ones can keep rice fresh for days. However, I don't get why people think making rice on the stove is so hard. You just have to measure the rice (before you wash it), add the correct amount of water (the rice's bag will tell you how much), bring to a boil, then simmer covered for about 20 minutes. I can't think of a stovetop recipe that requires less skill.
Have you never cooked noodles?... Rice always overflows water, it's hard to time it perfectly so it's not half cooked in one section and over cooked in another section, etc. Rice cooker is set and forget and keeps it warm but not overcooked if you don't get to it the second it finishes cooking.
Load More Replies..."A Cook Book. Not like a fad celebrity book but a real old school family cookbook."
I have a lot of old school cookbooks that I love. I just pass by the recipes for jello molds and stuffed camel.
I've got one with a recipe for armadillo sausages.
Load More Replies...Look for a anniversary edition Betty Crocker. Almost everyone's "secret recipes" seem to come from labels or books from their grandparents, and they're NOTHING like modern ones. Apple crisp has 4 ingredients for example. Also, you don't have to scroll past some stupid essay for someone's intro to writing class to get to the recipe.
" A cookbook is only as good as its poorest recipe" " With enough butter, anything is good" "Ever woman should own a blowtorch" - Julia Child
One Christmas my parents gave all us kids a Family cook book with recipes of dishes our family have made from one generation to another and is one of my prize possessions, along with the quilt my Grandmother and Mother made each of us kids one Christmas.
Where you have to scroll through 20 pages of someone's life story and plugs for their other recipes to get to the recipe, there are a zillion options all of which use some weird ingredient to make it fancy or "better", and then you can never find the recipe again if you forget to print it or bookmark it? No thanks.
Load More Replies..."A bicycle helmet. Buy one, wear one."
Makes awesome sense if you also happen to own a bike. It's a pretty rare hobby.
Idk I mean I'm pretty accident prone. A bicycle helmet might make sense for daily wear even without a bicycle. 😂
Load More Replies...And replace it if you fall or get in an accident and there's even a chance your head got banged up, because that can damage the helmet and make it ineffective. $20 for a new helmet can save your life.
Great accessory. Buy one that matches your hair color so no one will notice when you're banging your head on your desk at work..
You would be surprised how this item can save your life in the event of a bike accident.
"A real Lava Lamp. Not that glitter lamp bullshit. It’s honestly such a stress reliever to have those balls of wax bouncing around as you try to fall asleep. Turn that thing on and my brain just knows it’s zen time."
My dad got me one for Christmas when I was a kid as he also loves them, had it for several years, a few lightbulb changes then it died, got sad cause we both loved it. Then one day at 22 my dad and I were loitering in a Salvation Army shop and my dad gets all excited ands points at the electronics shelf, low and behold it was the exact same lava lamp (just a different colour) I had as a kid. For $10 it now sits on my nightstand bubbling away 😊
Oh... Like doode.. the like 70's just called... they want their lamp back
I collect vintage ones. I have a few dozen & would have even more if I was single. My husband is very practical & doesn't understand the point of collecting objects just because you enjoy looking at them. We are very different 😉
"A bidet. Might be the only actually life-changing thing I’ve ever bought, and only $30."
To all SNL fans out there... a must see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQx-ZbSQSBM
https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ this ones comic gold too
Load More Replies...I bought a cheap a*s one right before the toilet paper drought, 4000psi cold water enemas are not fun. Read the reviews before you buy
Which is oddly the same amount as the fee for a business, handgun, or marriage license here 😬
"A good chef's knife and a cast iron skillet."
I arrange mine on my stove so that friends think I cook when in truth my dinner usually does the merry-go-round in the nooker...
Cast iron is gross cuz you can't wash it. You're literally eating old bacteria.
That is zero percent true do you know anything about how to use cast iron?
Load More Replies..."A kitchen scale. Completely changed my food consumption, since I could easily measure portions. I learned what they actually should be, not what we in the US act like they are. That + MyFitnessPal (the free version, even!) = Me losing 120lbs over 18 months and developing a much healthier relationship with food and eating. Very simple tools, but great for enacting real, lasting change."
A scale in the kitchen is a must. I step on mine holding my dinner so I will know how much more I going to weigh. 😂
I don't understand this one I guess. But the dramatic difference in the amount I eat now vs before weightloss was certainly an adjustment.
Or gain it safely, if you're properly exercising also. 💪
Load More Replies..."Electronic toothbrush. You think your teeth are clean? They aren't."
I can't use an electric Toothbrush anymore, it was ruining my teeth. It was brushing too hard and wearing out my enamel too much. The dentist and hygienist said to go back using a manual one. Apparently I brush too hard.
I have several crowded teeth and.my hygienist almost never has to scrape away plaque. That and Plackers flossers! I can floss anywhere, anytime. After discovering flossers I actually started flossing my teeth regularly. My family doesn't quite care for finding them in the wash, though.
"Daylight lamp for winter, to combat SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder."
I suffer from the "Winter blues", and having a daylight lamp has literally been a Godsend.
I have mine positioned up high and leave it on all day. Makes a huge difference for me and my kids.
It helps if you can to take a walk outside during daylight hours, if you can.
It would help even more if there were daylight hours in winter.
Load More Replies..."A decent light wake-up alarm clock. Completely changed my mornings. Don’t think I could ever go back to using my phone or a simple alarm clock."
(07:00) gotta get up now / (07:02) on three / (07:05) one / (07:12) two / (12:37) three!
My old Phone went from nearly silent to a soft chirping to a bird singing. I loved it because i woke up when it was still nearly unhearable so that I didn't even know, why i had woken up but it was a soft, smooth awakening (sorry for my english)
That sounds nice. I like that subtle sound for waking. Mine plays a little tune that starts soft, then slowly gets louder.
Load More Replies...I love how my phone does a soft gradually to loud tune, less cringe when waking up instead of BAMP! BAMP! BAMP! BAMP! MISSED THE SNOOZE F****R! BAMP! BAMP!
I did that for a while, but instead of hitting snooze, I would reset the alarm for 20 minutes later.
Load More Replies..."A set of drill brushes. I use them for car detailing but I have a set for everyday house cleaning. They attach to your drill and it sure beats the heck out of scrubbing."
Roto zip style, larger. Rigid used to make a battery version, it takes different heads too, like a ratchet for example.
Load More Replies..."National park annual pass."
State Park passes too. Whenever I get new partners I have to explain that. It's $8 a day or $10 annually when you renew your plate. It used to be a $60 window sticker, with it on the license plate now I can do my truck, RV, Jeep, car, motorcycles for the same price and there's never the stress of "oh we're in the wrong car" plus the moneys go to wildlife-positive programs here.
A lot of people don't seem to know that those park passes also include beaches! My family has a place down in Lewes, De, and we've always just gotten the annual park passes. Some years we may only be down there a few times, but it's ALWAYS worth it!
Load More Replies..."Motion sensor night lights. Can’t tell you how many stubbed toes or falls they have prevented. Also a cheap intruder alarm."
"I can't imagine my life without a pressure cooker. It makes rice, meat, lentils, pulses, beans almost everything in less time."
I wholeheartedly agree with this one. I use mine two or three times a week minimum.
"Meat thermometer. No more cutting open meat to see if it’s done, thus leaking juices."
Get a digital instant read one, as well as a probe one with a separate temp readout.
My smoker and grill have a probe I can read externally. I'd be amazed if there's not fancier ones too. But yeah, what this... thing... says, get a digital one. Unless you're doing like a brisket where you leave it in, the mechanical ones are more trouble than they're worth. There's a trick cooks use with their palm and feel, it works alright for steaks in a pinch if you don't mind a little trial and error.
Load More Replies..."An ergonomic office chair."
Or a job that keeps you on you feet! This has saved my aching back and keeps me much healthier.
"Squatty potty."
"Rain-X best stuff to re-fill the wiper reservoir. In one of those storms that you are pulling over under an overpass because you can't see."
Rain -x is pretty great, usually works well to defrost windows in winter too
I love the orange RainX and won't buy knock-offs now. It's especially great in the water
"A library membership."
I've had a library card for around 35 years and made really good use of it. During those 35 years, the council has gradually closed every satellite library down and now, there's only the central branch open. It's hard to get to if you don't drive, and there's nowhere to park if you do. It's possible that the council have employed that strategy so that when they close it, which they inevitably will, they can blame lack of users. It's a shame that kids nowadays won't be able to find a safe haven from bullies in the walls of fact and fiction like I did. Or even just a good book.
In the southeast US and we have an app called "Libby" where we add our library card and can "borrow" audiobooks and ebooks
Load More Replies...I gave up on mine... I asked at the desk one day for books on effective government and democracy and the head librarian said they were in Fiction
Plus, they're free and you get tons of extra services just for having a card and being a library member!
Not always free. If some lackwit set up your tax zoning, they can cost. I had to give up my card when I moved. It would be $85 a year for me to get a library card again.
Load More Replies...I feel very fortunate the library in my community is expanding! More community space for meetings/lectures/classes, and a huge parking structure with EV chargers to boost parking for our entire downtown!
"Upper back posture corrector."
Nawwww... Keeps me from slumping at my desk while I sob and wonder why I work here.. 😄
"I bought a $1 back scratcher from an Asian market in town. Best $1 I ever spent."
"Fast charge outlet for phones. Really worth it."
Phones just come with those, though. Unless you want to keep a spare one in another room, you mean?
Yeah but the manufacturer gives you like a 2 foot cable. Totally worthless! Fast charge 10 foot cable, totally worth it!
Load More Replies..."A fire extinguisher. I didn't buy one for the longest time because I thought they were like $100-200. Then I was in "Home Depot" one day turns out you can get a small one for your kitchen for like $20!"
A fire blanket my be more useful in th kitchen. You don't want to extinguish burning fluids with it, if you don't EXACTLY know how.
You could try buying an extinguisher that's rated for things like kitchen fires? I mean there's multiple classes, learn what they are and what kind of fires you're most likely to encounter, watch a how to video, etc. It's not like it's a skill you have to practice, but taking 5 min on Google would save a lot of people a lot of misery.
Load More Replies...One in the kitchen is very important... I consider it a cooking utensil... 😄
"Mesh laundry bags so you'll never lose a sock again."
The mesh bags are great (especially for protecting items that would otherwise get banged up) but they absolutely won't do anything about you losing socks. The myth of losing socks in the wash/dryer only exists because people never actually take account of what they put INTO the wash (they just assume everything is there) so when they take their laundry OUT of the dryer, our stupid human brains play the blame game on the most recent suspects.
I wash everything in them now it also helps prevent stretching if you use a top load washer and makes moving them from washer to dryer much easier. Though drying might take longer .
Not going to happen.... Astronomers are concerned that Black Holes might be full of missing socks....... And the Tupperware lid you need for your leftovers..
"A big cutting board is life-changing in the kitchen."
Naa, just set it across your sink while using, wipe down real well when done and then slide up to put away.
Load More Replies...I want the kind that goes over your sink. I haven't found them anywhere.
"Traction cleats for shoes. Better than slipping on ice and breaking your wrist!"
Of course people will think you are so stressed at work you forget to put on shoes in the morning
Load More Replies..."Blue light glasses."
"Waterproof winter jacket."
Unfortunately mine is only water resistant. Can't wear it out for hours in 34°F rain!
Waterproof boots & wool socks too. Cold, wet feet make you miserable. Also don't buy the cheap stuff because it is rarely as comfortable as something well made & almost always starts falling apart after a few uses.
"Fitted sheet straps. They keep cheap sheets from popping up at the corners. So now I can use soft sheets that don't cost a fortune and my sleep is undisturbed by them popping loose, greatly improving my quality of life."
As mattresses get deeper it makes it more difficult to use those super soft cotton sheets that are still around 30 years later from an era of shallow mattresses.
Is "sheets popping loose" a thing that happened to you? Maybe get deeper sheets, instead of adding a whole new thing?
Sheets popping loose is something that has happened to everyone. Deep sheets or not.
Load More Replies..."A glass breaker on a keychain. Push it against the glass of your car window and it shatters immediately, helping you get out of a car underwater, broken door, etc. Super cheap and life-saving."
Get a knife that has that on the end and store it in your console. Ability to break the window AND cut through the seatbelt if necessary.
Mine is attached to my seat belt. And has a pull out blade to cut the belt.
I have one that has a glassbreaker and a knife to cut thru the seat belt.
"Salad spinner. Having dry lettuce is criminally underrated."
I agree! I store my greens in one and it keeps them from getting slimy for much longer
"A foam roller! I see so many people entering their 30s complaining about back pain. Get a foam roller, a mini roller, and a roller ball and you're set. It can help so much."
My whole life I've had the worst knots by my shoulder blades. Started leaning on a lacrosse ball against the wall and it has CHANGED MY LIFE! It was the first time I wasn't yelling at someone to massage harder
Up the game by putting 3 tennis balls in a long tube sock. Tie it tight and now you can get to anywhere on your back!
Load More Replies..."Toaster oven. Nothing can replace having one when it's 95F outside. Not even an air fryer."
"If you have a large lawn or a property that requires a lot of yard work get some 3M Worktunes. About $50 and they're combination hearing protection and Bluetooth headphones so you can actually hear your music without destroying your eardrums."
I figured out pretty young that I needed music during a long drive but I'm not sure why it took me so long to realize that it makes housework & exercise more bearable too 😀
"A folding wagon. Getting groceries in the house, camping gear, etc. We always have it in the car and you can do 5 trips worth by hand effortlessly."
And after a night out can be useful for getting your SO into the house from the car.. 😁
"Honestly? A decent suit from a secondhand store. You can leave a good first impression at a job interview, family function, or social event for somewhere around thirty bucks if you're lucky."
I don't know why more people don't shop at thrift stores & consignment shops. Not only is it better for the environment but you can find some real treasures. I bought a high-end designer dress (for $5) that was still being sold in Nordstrom for nearly a grand.
The younger a person is, the more likely they are to view clothes as disposable. Culturally we're moving away from quality clothing that lasts and towards cheap clothing that falls apart. Because of this, more and more people believe there's no point in buying second hand clothes because they're probably already at the end of their useful life.
Load More Replies...My dad said all you need is one good suit for all occasions. He called his a "Marry 'em and Bury 'em " suit.
"Tongue scraper."
I thought these were the silliest thing until I bought one out of curiosity and started using it to see if it made a difference. It does. I cannot stand the way my mouth feels when it's not clean and a clean tongue raises the bar a million times over! Even after brushing my teeth, if I haven't used this, I can feel the difference.
"A wristwatch. "Casio F91-W" can be had for about $10. Not having to dig your phone out of your pocket or bag just to check the time seems inconsequential but it is a massive quality of life improvement."
Another perk is that your phone can get stolen if it's inside an inner pocket or the safety pocket of a bag.
"Shower mirror for shaving."
Or shampooing. I hate having to get back in the shower because I missed a spot!
I'm having trouble figuring out why you would need to see your hair to wash and rinse it. What am I missing?
Load More Replies..."A tourniquet. $20 to save someone’s life. Keep it in your car glove box. You can even get a whole kit for $50."
Make sure you know how and when to use one. First aid instructor here, tourniquets are great if you know what you're doing, but you can do a lot of harm if you don't. Very simple YouTube videos can teach you the difference in 10 minutes.
Just to clarify to people down votes are for reporting and banning people for hateful comments, they aren't dislikes
Load More Replies..."A hammock. Bought my a year ago and I have no idea what I did without it, you can literally post up anywhere and everywhere and it will encourage you to go outside a lot more."
"Checkbook register. Even if you don’t use checks or even have a bank account, a little booklet that you can carry around to mark down when and how much you spend and receive helps a ton."
This is extremely underrated. I think my generation was the last one to learn checkbook balancing in school (Home Economics was cooking, basic sewing, minimal financial planning, etc.) but I stopped using a checkbook register after switching to the first online bank (X.com in '99 lol) and only recently learned that it helps me more than tracking through my (entirely online) bank or even an app. Writing it down with a pen, by hand, makes it more real to me and makes me more aware of where money is going, what's available, and how I am progressing toward my financial goals.
"Lightweight thermos bottle. No more plastic, cool water in summer, and hot tea in winter. Never leave my home without 0.7l of clean cold water. Had been using them for 7 years."
Every member of our household has two. One for cold beverages, one for hot. It's amazing how often you will reach for it, knowing it's there, and you are only helping yourself out by staying hydrated. If you get one with a straw, be sure to pick up a straw cleaner which looks like a skinny bottle brush and is relatively inexpensive.
"Audible. 7.99 a month. Changed my life. My mindset and my whole attitude towards self-education."
Your local library offers a similar service- but with unlimited books for free. Try looking up your library on the Libby app.
Last time I tried it, audible only gives you one audio book a month I think? It may have changed since then, but I prefer scribd because I get literally unlimited books, audio books, podcasts, etc for less than $10/month
Yes. One book Was to less for me too. I need one every day at work. Got a deezer account
Load More Replies..."Youtube wants you to think the answer is Youtube Premium."
I am extremely happy with my Youtube premium. But I also have the old Google play Music deal price. So I am grandfathered for 7.49 a month. Of all the expensive streaming plans i have i consume more youtube then anything else tbf.
I don't know what the music service does on YouTube but at least ads are easy to get rid of with an adblocker browser. It also allows me to minimise the window while listening to something. And I can also turn the screen off but for some reason that's only if I'm listening to it on earphones.
Load More Replies...I have it but only cause it was part of my service through FI ...it's fine i get no ads on YouTube and the musical service too , eh
"AeroPress coffee maker. The thing broke my wife of her $200(?) monthly Starbucks habit. The unit costs maybe $25 or so."
"The right shampoo and conditioner. I use this super girly-looking stuff called love beauty and planet, and my hair is glorious and I love putting my hands into it. And other people like putting their hands in my hair too. Generally women."
Aveda Sap Moss conditioner is so good that people lost their minds when it was discontinued. People were paying hundreds of dollars for small containers of it. It is back now 😀 Also Pureology Nanoworks gold saved my hair after a stylist fried it. Unfortunately they are both quite expensive. I wish I had cheaper taste 😩
Just don't get too close to hair sniffing Joe.... Sorry I mean the President.. 😁
"Paprika" recipe app and the corresponding software for your PC. The thing is a miracle. Not only can you download recipes from websites - it pulls the recipe and instructions out and leaves all the chaff - but you can add ingredients to your grocery list right from the recipe, create meal plans and menus, and share access with another person (they have to buy the app too and use shared login). It's changed the way I meal plan, shop, and cook."
"Vertical mouse. $20. Saved my wrist using it at work all day."
They look a bit like little penguins. I've got a handshoe, which looks like a manta, and a trackball. Just a question of finding the right one for you
Load More Replies..."A phone case that fits your driver's license and a cc/bank card. Not carrying around a wallet has changed my life."
No. No, no, NO! I'm on my 5th(?) phone this year. I lost one last year...my favorite phone ever, and attached to the back of my case was a stick on wallet I bought on clearance for $1USD that held my driver's license, bank card, 3 credit cards and my S.S. card. Ever tried to get a credit card replaced when you can't verify your identity on the phone you just lost? How do you buy a new one? TERRIBLE IDEA!
"'Rich Dad, Poor Dad' by Robert Kiyosaki. Changed my whole mentality when it comes to money."
Yeah, my ex loved that book. I read it. I'm sure it's great for guys who have money to start with. For the rest of us, it's a glimpse into boomer philosophy.
Even a lot of 'boomers' miss out on the rich life.
Load More Replies..."Pepper spray! One of the best things I've ever spent money on!"
Lol, now I'm curious if you ever actually used it? Seems a super odd thing to someone who lives rural like I do.
Are you a guy or a gal? Because even rural girls have to worry. I've been assaulted, and I've worked some sketchy places, and I don't need an alarm clock because I have ten roosters, which probably counts as rural. I go armed with what is legal where I am. Pocket knife? Fine. OC? Great. Baton, perfume, knitting needles, HK47, grenade? Been times I have carried every one of them. Legally.
Load More Replies...I suppose even if you never use it, if it makes you feel safer then it's good. But it's illegal in UK, because it's a weapon. Your friend here is good old fashioned firm hold hairspray like your nana used
I absolutely agree! I live in the city of Harrisburg and the crime rate is relatively low compared to big cities though still exist and I carry my pepperspray everywhere I go since you never know.
"A pull-up bar. No excuses not to exercise anymore."
I'm sad this item is so far down just because it means less people will see this glorious comment
Load More Replies...A pull up bar is essential.these days.. It would be nice if mine had a drive through for late night beer runs.. 😄
"A piece of exercise equipment like a stationary bike."
And motivation... Otherwise Stationary Bike would be an appropriate name
Only home exercise equipment I ever regularly used was a trampoline because bouncing around like a kid is fun, not work 🙃
"Something else that really helped with sleeping for me is a bottle that keeps water cold ("Mizu" or whatever). Being able to drink ice cold water at any time during the night without leaving your bed changes everything."
I just use a Thermos. I have dry-mouth from medication as well as having salivating glands removed.
Depends on your local climate, but just crack the window and leave your water beside it instead of your nightstand. It's incredible.
"Gym membership."
I got a dog... Named him 5 Miles... I go around the block and later tell friends I walked 5 Miles today.
"Cut gloves for when you are chopping food."
Yes!! I use mine when peeling potatoes. Not only do I no longer nick my fingernails with the peeler, but the glove helps grip the potato so it doesn't fly out of my hand while I'm peeling it!
"LifeStraw. Get 3 for $45."
It filters out everything bigger than 2 microns. Including dirt and germs.
Load More Replies..."A used instrument."
Not used, but I still have my flute i started playing at age 11. Now 48.
"A good heavy garlic mincer."
There are tools that you basically just smoosh the garlic coffee with and you've got minced garlic in like 2 seconds.
Load More Replies..."Spotify Premium."
I honestly hate spotify without premium, but I'm not giving them my money because I don't use it enough to be worth it
"A "Ninja" bullet smoothie maker. Healthy, quick smoothies. I'd consider it a lifesaver because of the sheer number of benefits a healthy living can provide."
Except that a heavy duty smoothie user, like my roommate brother, will burn through a cheap blender in only a couple of months. He went thru both of mine before buying a ninja and I think he's still using that one quite a few years later
Load More Replies..."Heeleys."
Convenient for when you fall with those things and break something the EMTs can Wheeley to the ambulance
"Lottery ticket."
I always play the popular game called.. Not A Winner... at least the lottery scanner tells me
"The Bible. Whether or not you believe in the stuff that happens on it, it teaches you practical lessons about life. I don't think you have to be religious to be affected by the Bible, a person can still take its lessons to heart."
Huh. Don't agree on that one. Not much more or less to learn than from any other source of morale/knowledge/"wisdom". Between the Old and the New Testament there are so many lessons (occasionally contradicting, as in "an eye for an eye" vs "turn the other cheek") that you can support nearly any point of view (e.g. on the topic of capital punishment both sides like to quote holy scripture). The bible is a nice reference book on local customs, politics, propagana and (with a grain of salt) history from about 6000 B.C. to 2000 years ago in the eastern Mediterranean, though, and an interesting example of how stories passing the mill of Chinese whispers and multidirectional translations change/mutate.
You mean pillar of salt I suspect a lá Lot's wife.
Load More Replies...Ahh yes! All those practical lessons about dashing babies on rocks, being tortured for all of eternity for not believing, being told to murder your own child only to be stopped at the last moment because it was really just a test to see if you'd go through with it, and of course let's not forget original sin! No better life lesson than being told you're automatically guilty of something someone did a long time ago (the horrendous crime of eating fruit from the wrong tree). Yes, these and countless other heart-warming stories await.
Like how God kept his children in Egypt suffering longer because he wanted to have some fun and keep throwing plagues at them? The pharoh was ready to let them go and God "hardened" the pharohs heart because he wasn't done showing off? Yeah, great lesson. Let's let people hurt longer because you've got more powers to show off.
Read the oresteia instead. Much better, and with more practical lessons.
A Bible is integral to a supernatural Christian life. The Holy Spirit turns words into WORDS!
I prefer reading more current fiction. The bible is an interesting book of stories but they are so irrelevant these days.
I was hoping someone would mention clothing. Having a wardrobe with clothes that you like, that fit your body type, (instead of trendy or in style items) is comfortable, and makes you feel good will give you so much confidence and less stress fretting over what to wear or having "nothing" to wear.
I was hoping someone would mention clothing. Having a wardrobe with clothes that you like, that fit your body type, (instead of trendy or in style items) is comfortable, and makes you feel good will give you so much confidence and less stress fretting over what to wear or having "nothing" to wear.
