Ask HN: Life-changing purchases since 2020? (Under $100 and under $1000)

Under $100:

The heat gun mosquito things that some tech folks were mentioning on Twitter. Always get quarter sized terribly itchy bumps for each mosquito bites and using it makes them essentially itch-free immediately.

Under $1000:

Weekly house cleaning. Such reduced cognitive load/increased free time to not have to clean all the time, think about cleaning, etc especially with a toddler.

~$250: I hate kitchen appliances, but I got a Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy rice cooker and that is the best thing I've ever had. It works perfectly, if you set it to have rice ready by a clock, it will be ready at that time. It makes happy music. I use it multiple times a week.

It was clearly built by engineers with love and passion.

I’d like to be contrarian here and suggest that if you happen to be possessed of a sudden impulse to buy something, but you can’t identify any particular thing that you need, consider putting that amount of money into an investment or retirement account instead of searching for a trinket to buy. That way you are scratching the itch and you’ll be better off later on.

In other words, you can have your cake and eat it too.

Under $1000: an oscilloscope, 4 channel 100MHz for about 500 EUR. I've been wanting to learn more about electronics but I learn best by doing and getting a feedback loop. What didn't work was reading books, watching tutorials on Youtube etc. Seeing the actual voltage change on the screen helped me understand circuits much better than before. I've since debugged amplifiers, i2s protocols, IR transmitters. Every time I use it I have a lot of fun!

A bi-weekly house cleaner. Saved my marriage!

Under $1,000: a commercial-style toilet with a pressurized mechanism called Flush-mate, installed by a GC. I have a severely developmentally disabled adult child who… seriously clogged the toilet even without using toilet paper (see bidet recommendations elsewhere on this page) every week or so. I tried 6 different toilets, stationed a wet/dry vac in the living room, added a drain to the bathroom, added a water alarm, etc. etc.

The new toilet never gets clogged. No water alarms now. No cleaning up shitwater. Also while other toilet mechanisms die in a couple of years, this one is guaranteed for 10 years.

For under $100: earplugs, two kinds.

I got a pack of basic foam ones (supposedly 33dB reduction), and it meant that my wife and I could keep sleeping in the same bed without snoring getting in the way. Was only about $10 for 50.

And I got a pair of noise reducing Loop earplugs, which means that the one day a week RTO is no longer a sensory nightmare. They're visually subtle enough that my wife couldn't see them when I first tried them on (important if I was going to wear them in meetings), and recessed enough to wear underneath headphones. They're also great for large events (weddings and the like) to extend how long before my social battery gets wiped out. I imagine this is more tied to my autism than the office being particularly noisy though. I can still easily hold conversations with them in, with the only negative being that they kinda reduce spacial perception, so I can't as easily tell where sounds are coming from. These were about $50, though they've got cheaper options, they also come with extra mutes for more reduction, but the baseline is already plenty, so I'd probably recommend against the "Engage 2 Plus".

$28 bluelight glasses for the computer.

$18 ceramic pans.

$9 vertical monitor from thrift shop.

$30 chirp wheel for back cracking.

$180 theragun for muscles. Finds knots that you didn't know you had.

used dell server towers with 128GB RAM for linux

velcro cable ties + phone mount for bicycle + battery tester + usb controllers for emulators + sivga headphones (i think they are 5x more expensive now)

Under $1000 - my first guitar. Started as a pandemic experiment going into Minnesota Winter 2020, and has turned into my favorite hobby. I play almost every day for 4 years straight now, I've started attending local classical guitar concerts, and I do a little volunteering for them, too.

Under $100, several fruit trees that sparked a huge interest in gardening and feed my family every year.

Under $100: A second hand piano for $80. Learning an instrument is a deeply satisfying experience if you stick to it (as well as frustrating and confusing). Literally no end to how much you can learn. It has given me hours of “in the zone” moments, so well needed in a stressful world. I also see (hear?) music in a different light and can understand it better.

Plastic deli containers for food storage: https://a.co/d/0ne7FfI ($26)

Good for portioning leftovers. No more guessing which tupperware to grab - you either have a big one, a small one, or a combo. Only one type of lid. Stackable, freezable. Mildly disposable - easy to give food to friends or throw out forgotten fridge nasties. Good for holding ingredients during cooking, like a blend of spices or spare water. Not good for reheating, though.

Under $1000: A road bike. I live in LA (county) and the default is to drive everywhere, but here's the thing: driving sucks. We famously don't have great bike infra, but I thought, would I go more places if I didn't hate getting around? For trips up to a couple miles, biking is faster than driving, and I never have to worry about parking.

Ergo stuff. A kinesis keyboard, a logitech ergo mouse, a standing desk and mat. Between these, I've probably headed off carpal tunnel and back problems by years.

1, $100: Fenix LED headlamp, 1200 lum, with red light, made from lightweight magnesium alloy with magnet, waterproof. I use it almost daily, for bike, for work, for reading (red light), camping...

2, $1000 E-reader (Onyx Boox). I never read that much before. Ability to highligh text, make notes by pen and have it in readable, indexable format is something that I miss on paper books.

Under $1000 - samsung washing machine with included full drying. I live in a small home, so didn't have space for a separate dryer. This completely eliminated the "hang clothes out to dry, then collect them back" cycle for me.

Under $100 (actually just over - $106) - instant pot.

1. Eliminated the need to count whistles while cooking rice, and as a bonus, I can also reheat something while cooking.

2. I use it to slow cook overnight as well, which dramatically improves the taste of some dishes like Dal Makhni

Under 1000: Steamdeck I love it, as someone who is trying to cope with not having as much time to game it is the best. It is also Linux with a modular body, so I get to tinker with it like no other. Added clicky Dpad and replaced the shell

Under 100:

Guitar lessons. I've played guitar for nearly 30 years, but one year of focused lessons has seen me improve more than the past 15 years combined.

Under 1000:

Shark Hydrovac. We have hard floors throughout our house, this makes keeping them clean so much easier than the manual alternatives.

Whole home humidifier attached to our furnace duct work - huge increase in comfort in winter.

I got an Ember mug and use it every day and love it. It keeps my coffee at a set temperature (controllable via my phone over Bluetooth) so it doesn't get cold right away, and I can take my time drinking it. I've bought a couple more as gifts since, and the people I gave them to say they like them a lot. The impact on my life isn't anything to get excited about, but it's been positive nonetheless. I don't feel rushed when I drink my coffee anymore, and I'm able to concentrate on my work without that nagging "my coffee is getting cold" feeling.

Under $100:

A desktop heat mat. Cost about $20, it has 3 heat settings, size about 13x30 inches. It goes under my keyboard and keeps my hands and fingers wonderfully warm all day. I don't have good circulation sitting down and cranking up the heat in the room heats all the other parts of me first, so this was a great alternative.

Under $1000:

- Schlage Encode Plus: not the nicest looking smart lock, but the best battery life and most reliable (works with Apple Home Key so you can open your door with your watch). You can also program it to auto lock, so it solves multiple problems.

- Meta/Oculus 1/2(/3?): BeatSaber + other apps is a great way to get video game and exercise time in at the same time.

- I recently bought a $200 non-stick wok (the scanpan TechnIq) and it is way better than the ones we previously bought from the local Target/IKEA. Yes, no high heat, but it works for us and has changed the quality of our cooking.

I bought a used Apple Watch for sleep tracking for $230. It took a few days to get used to sleeping with a watch on but I have a 1.5 yr old daughter and it’s been a game changer to quantify how much I’m waking up for her and how my nightly routine impacts my productivity.

There are apps in the App Store that give you a sleep score.

Under $100:

1) Geox shoes: I love this Italian brand for their breathable shoes. I’m now refusing to wear anything else if I know I’ll be walking more than a few kilometers because my feet don’t get tired. I can easily walk 20km+ a day during trips. I just got my 8th pair recently.

2) MUJI T-shirts: I bought several in the same colors, and they’re made of great-quality material with a fit that I genuinely enjoy wearing. It’s surprising how much difference there can be in something as simple as a basic T-shirt.

Under $1000:

1) All-season car tires: I bought Michelin CrossClimate 2 tires for my car, and it’s such a relief. In my climate (EU), you have to change tires twice a year, but when that time comes, it’s hard to book an appointment because everyone does it at once. Now, I don’t have to think about it anymore, and as a bonus, I also save money on those appointments.

2) Bedroom A/C: I finally bought an A/C unit, and I’m sleeping so much better in the summer. We’re not as used to A/C here as in the US, but with global warming, my high-rise apartment becomes unbearable for weeks. Technically, I spent over $1000 since I bought two units, but the bedroom one alone fits this category.

3) Wiim Ultra: I upgraded my vintage receiver with this high-quality streaming media input. The noise level is much lower than any cheap inputs I’ve used before, allowing me to enjoy the quiet parts of familiar songs on a whole new level.

Under $100

First visit to a physical therapist for my back. I was in pain and for all intents and purposes, crippled; couldn't walk much, getting out of the chair hurt. I couldn't stand straight. I put it off for 3 years because I'm stupid and I got overweight. The first visit they showed me exercises that fixed it in a few days. Don't put these things off, I wish I had those 3 years back.

Under $1000

Apple Watch to help me lose weight and get my heart healthy. The gamification of it works for me, I've "closed my rings," every day since I got it.

Getting old sucks.

Under $100: Koss KPH40 Utility On-Ear Headphones. $40 on AMZN right now. Best, minimal headphones. Not my daily driver, but clutch when I just need to plug into my gaming PC or my turntable.

Under $1K: Helly Hansen Alpha Lifaloft Jacket. At ~$600 it's worth every cent in Colorado. No complex layering mechanisms, but works well from 35ºF to -10ºF. Wear it with a t-shirt or a thin down layer. It fits perfect and sits just below my belt. Great pocket layout. etc. etc. It's my go to for everything from snow shoveling to long ski days.

Under $100 - Ifixit's pro tech toolkit ($75)

Used it to assemble and repair my desktop computer, swap laptop SSDs, deep clean my mouse after my cat puked on it, and completely disassemble and reassemble an entire printer for a school project. It has easily paid for itself several times over, and is still in near perfect condition after 4 years of use. Invaluable for any computer, electronic, or right to repair hobbyists.

Barely Under $1000 - a Sebo E3 Premium canister vacuum ($950 after using resellers 10% off offer)

Our family's traditional standup vacuum (I forgot which brand but they're almost all identical) died after a few years of use and we were fed up with having to replace it. Most consumer vacuums available in the US suffer significantly from planned obsolescence, so I did some research and came across this German import Sebo e3 canister vacuum. Previously I had never heard of canister vacuums, they're literally never advertised in the US. Apparently Shark makes a few, but I had to specifically google "shark canister vacuum" to find them as there is no mention of them on their official website. It only took a couple raving reviews of canister vacuums to convince me of their potential, so I took the plunge with the Sebo.

I can safely say that this vacuum is a complete gamechanger. It is so much quieter, lighter, maneuverable, easy to use, and cleaner. No longer do floating dust particles cloud the windows' sun rays. No longer does my cat appear covered in dust because she found a spot I neglected to clean. No longer do I have to worry about breaking a weakening but crucial plastic clip or retainer when emptying the vacuum. Every part that experiences stress is metal and designed for longevity rather than aesthetics. Dare I say I even enjoy vacuuming now! It used to be a pain to lug around an entire upright vacuum over every square inch of the floor. Even the bags are better than emptying a canister. The bags are biodegradable and seal inside the vacuum, meaning dust never has a chance to escape. I used to have to empty the canister vacuum outside because of how much dust it released. Yes, the high price tag is rather intimidating for a vacuum purchase, but it's well worthwhile as it's been going for four years strong with absolutely zero issues. Also, most US resellers offer 10% off if you just call them to order it.

Under $100

Aeropress - quick coffee with easy cleanup. Waterproof and nonslip cat blanket to go over the couch. Surprisingly comfy. So far saved more spillage from humans than the cats.

Under $1000

Replaced all my Audio RaspberyPis with WiiM devices. They are like $150 - $400.

A bit over $1000

Apple 5K studio display. Can't begin to desribe the difference on my eyes compared to a regular 27" with 1/4 the number of pixels.

Bonus category, things that were shit:

Hand massager. Device you put your hand in and, in theory, it massages it. It tried to bend my finger joints back by pressing down in the middle.

Under $100 - an Aroma rice dispenser

We cook rice every night for dinner, and this saves me about 30 seconds per meal. It holds 25lb of rice and dispenses one cup at a time. I didn't expect to love it as much as I do.

Under $1000 - A Dyson V7 vacuum refurbished on ebay

I hate vacuuming and if you go on forums, they always say "stick vacuums just aren't as strong." I caved when I found a deal on slickdeals and WOW! It works better than my old plug-in, it's cordless (a big blocker to cleaning) and it's fun to use.

TSA pre-check. Best $85 spent to date.

An Apollo Automation MTR-1 Multi-Target Radar Multisensor. Starts at $36.99 without doodads. Finding and using it and other devices has sent me all the way down the smart home rabbit hole (Homebridge and Home Assistant running on a Beelink N100 system etc.) and it's been a hoot.

1: https://apolloautomation.com/products/mtr-1

AirPods Pro Max

I've had two Sonys (XM4 and XM5) and a bunch of Boses (QC 1x something, 25, 35II).

These are by far the best ones for me. The fabric on the ear cups doesn't get sweaty, I have tactile buttons for every function (unlike the Sonys), ANC works even when the mic is on (Bose can't do this).

And the best feature: I can charge them while I'm using them. Neither the Sony or Bose can do that, they just go offline.

Gym membership. Without changing my diet, I lost 30 lbs and became much stronger. With further diet changes and a little bit of walking, I am closing in on 50 lbs lost while continuing to gain strength in every major movement pattern. I.e., I am probably losing little or no muscle.

Waterpik. Flossing for people who don't like to floss.

5k retina monitor. It made me fall in love with using a computer all over again.

Tozo openreal headphones. $40 I use them 8 hours a day. They let you hear everything around you while also being decent headphones. In the office where I take phone calls they are much more ergonomic than my Bose QC45s which I used to wear the same amount.

Under $1000, my bambu labs printer. I've fixed things, made things you couldn't buy, it's a staple in my house now.

Free thing that changed my life: Run the kitchen sink until it gets to its max temperature right before you turn on the dishwasher.

Stop prewashing dishes in the sink. Put them straight into the dishwasher and you’re good.

Under $100 - almost every fiction book I've bought in the last few years. It's not hard to find books you'll like and enjoy, and they're inexpensive. Personal recommendations, reviews online, in papers or in specialist magazines, they'll all help. Some non-fiction is worth it, but rarely has the same impact as a fiction book, where you get to dive into another life, another World, another set of perspectives completely alien to your own.

Under $1000 - just - would either be a friend's Samsung G9 Odyssey monitor a push-button standing desk. My friend was emigrating so we did a deal and snagged both - and a walking treadmill still in the garage - for less than $1k. The monitor is superb because it's just a great setup, a real upgrade from 2x monitors. The desk gets me moving around a bit more and is great for my health. I'm sleeping a little better, losing a little weight from moving around more, just feeling a lot healthier.

Under $100:

- a non-stick pan (Tefal) - makes cooking much more enjoyable and likely, due to much less hassle while doing it and afterwards when cleaning up.

- a search engine subscription (Kagi). No more bullshit results. It's nice to feel that your search engine isn't working against you!

- a U-shaped pregnancy pillow - ideal for side sleepers

- a preconstructed deck for a trading card game (Magic the Gathering Commander). Bought and started playing it in the local game store. Now addicted.

Under $1000:

- a cordless, bagless vacuum with a light to see dust (Dyson) - it makes such a difference to effectivity and especially motivation if you are actually seeing what you are changing!

- noise canceling headphones (Bose) - invaluable, especially in the vicinity of uncontrollable noise, such as near worksites, in public transport or coworking spaces

- a telescope (Orion) - initiated a years-long and enduring fascination about and activity in astronomy and astrophotography

Under $100:

I bought a $2 rice cooker at a yard sale in 2020. Changed my life, yes really. Rice ALWAYS turns out well. I don't know why I bothered to make it on the stove before.

Under $100 - A wet shaving kit! You can buy a good double edge safety razor, a shaving brush, and excellent shaving blades for under $100. I made the switch after growing tired of my Gillette setup. I used to think shaving was a chore, and well, I still do, but it's a lot more pleasant now. As a bonus, my shaves are a lot closer.

Under $1000 - A good espresso setup! I bought Breville Bambino Plus, DF64 Gen 2 grinder and some auxiliary tools for under $1000 this year and it's been a game changer. I can make better-than-Starbucks coffee for a fraction of a price. I did the math, and making my own espresso/latte/cortado is 3x cheaper then buying it from Starbucks. Oh, and it's much tastier.

I bought led panel lights for my shop. 2ft x 2 ft. Bright, cheap, easy to wire.

Proper lighting changes everything. I think the last set I bought were $180 for 6

- portable Camera lighting (doubles as a general purpose floodlight) $30

- Literally any tool that improves productivity/quality (impact wrench, ifixit screwdriver set, also applies to software)

- high quality furniture/desk/tables. Not the cheap Walmart stuff that falls apart. Can be hundreds of $ but I've been lucky enough to find good stuff for free often.

- 4k display ($300)

Under $100:

- Air fryer / Countertop Convection Oven: Good for lots of cooking, fast, crisps well

- Collapsible wagon: Easiest way to transport things places. Previously would drive to target etc. for lots of stuff, now just wheel it.

- Global Entry: Gives you TSA PreCheck. Returning from International Travel is like returning from Domestic Travel.

- Electric Toothbrush: Automated pause means I brush longer than before

- Lyft/Baywheels e-bike membership: No need to worry about parking or keeping bike. Faster than cars in SF often. 2x as fast as trains usually.

- Command Strips: Easiest way to stick things on walls. Cheap from Costco

- Costco Membership: Higher quality of customer. Makes everything better

- Cast Iron / Carbon Steel pans: These are great, and a lot less trouble than people make them out to be. I do wash them myself (no dishwasher) which is primary annoyance, but the oiling is easy and they do stay non-stick!

- Carbon Steel knives: I picked up a couple in Japan, wife had some from SF. They're great.

Over $1000:

- Cleaners: $200/mo

- Google Home/Nest speakers and smart lights: Nice to talk to things to turn them off when tired, shows photos of friends etc. Will have to give up the screens when child is born but till then it's nice.

- Amex Platinum: $650/yr (or something) Centurion Lounges are great. Upgrades at hotels are nice.

- Cordless Waterpik w/ storage reservoir: I still don't use as often as I should, but I do use it

Things that didn't quite work out as I was hoping:

- straight edge razor: used it for 2 years, not worth the effort

- car rooftop storage: used it rarely, it was worth it for then, but not usually

- cheaper credit cards: just spent money, not worthwhile

- Oculus: I bought every one that came out and I played with them for a while and then gave them up. Primarily Beat Saber using sideloaded tracks (which is where a lot of the fun is for me).

Under $100: Pilot g-tec pens and an electric toothbrush.

Under $1k:

- HHKB hybrid type-s, I love this keyboard;

- Kobo libra colour, for the integration with Libby in Canada. I also like that Kobo gives me points with each purchase, which can be used to get more books.

Under $1000 (so far)

A ChatGPT subscription. It has certainly changed the way I work on projects.

Four things for me stick out in the under $100:

Like many people here, a no-name double edged metal safety razor: I think I got this for around $25 or so with a set of 100 blades and 3 soaps; compared with disposable razors, this has been amazing - a better shave, a nice experience to it and so cheap. it took me about 2 years just to get through the "free" box of blades for it.

Secondly a set of silicon coated spatulas for cooking. These have saved me so much food waste and have made cooking for 2 a lot easier.

Thirdly, few magnetic digital timers I've stuck to the fridge. I've found these brilliant when cooking, it makes it much easier to track when doing several dishes. I start one when I begin cooking as an "overall" time that gives me a reference and then I've two others that I'll use as needed when doing something specific during the overall meal cooking. It's made it much easier to keep everything on track.

And finally a VESA mount bracket for a cheap standing desk I have. I'm not sure what took me so long but having a mount for the monitor instead of it being on the desk completely changed the space available and made it so much more useful. I have a very small workspace so that was a driving factor.

Under $100: A carbon steel wok, along with a Youtube subscription to Chinese Cooking Demystified and to Souped-up Recipes. I always liked cooking, but this has increased my enjoyment 100x. My kids love stir fry, and they eat a lot more veggies this way.

Under $1000: A Kino hand grinder and a Cafelat Robot manual espresso maker. Bought this at the start of lockdowns as a gimmick, but I'm actually using this several times a day. Found an excellent roaster locally, but even store-bought beans taste pretty good this way.

I’ve mentioned it before in a similar thread, but if you shave your head, get a Pitbull Skullshaver that can be used in the shower or while walking around the house, etc. About $100 and adding it to a shower routine is great.

A wand for the vegetable garden hose. About $70 and much better than a normal gun/nozzle for watering plants at the base if not all of your gardens are raised.

$500ish: 12v car fridge. I use mine camping or on work trips but also at home on mains power as a drinks fridge near the outdoor seating when people are around.

Under $1000:

Air fryer, I use it for cooking sausages, tenders, salmon, mini pizzas for the kids. Quicker than the oven and doesn't make the kitchen hot.

Robot vacuum, I have a roborock, turns vacuuming into something thats done a couple of times a week, from once a month.

A good camera: a hobby of mine. I got a 10-year old Canon DSLR so it did get under 1000, but with extra lenses I've bought over time for different situations it's more than that.

Under 100:

Nasal rinse, I seem to constantly have sinus problems in the cooler months, this seems to help.

Under $100. A waterpik. My teeth feel so clean after using it.

Under $1000. A squat rack, bumper plates and a bench. Mine isn’t fancy but at anytime I can workout without having to leave my house.

Under $1,000

Kinesis Advantage 360 or ZSA Voyager (split ergonomic keyboards with ortholinear layout).

I ended up buying both. I had chronic wrist pain and weakness for a few years that I thought was caused by an acute injury. Turns out I think it was actually typing. I bought the Advantage 360, and after a few days, my wrist pain disappeared and never came back. When I switch back to a standard keyboard, I can't type for more than an hour before I start feeling discomfort.

Under $100

- A good old fashioned digital timer for $6. I set up the time and do something, like work, read, hobbies, etc. I don't get distracted by other things on phone. I don't have to keep the screen on and use apps like Forest or other pomodoro timers, and it saves battery. I waste way less time now getting distracted. So, it's like a pomodoro timer but my intervals are higher- 1 hr to 2 hr.

- A basic smartwatch for $20 that tracks my sleep and physical activity. I get 8000 steps of walking everyday now, and are more aware of stress. I can now use stress reduction and avoidance techniques before I get stressed, with heart rate monitoring. It really changed my life.

- Several entry level fountain pens in $20/$30 like Lamy Safari, Pilor Metropolitan, etc. You wouldn't believe how great the writing experience becomes when start using FPs.

- A Ukulele at $30, and it is so much easier than guitar for the easier things. Now I can sing and play an instrument. I tried guitar, piano, flute, but they didn't stick.

Under $1000

- At just over $100, a Kindle with background light for reading. I love paper books but Kindles are much more convenient. I read much more and in more situations.

1) Kindle - best ROI ever, for dollars spent per hour of entertainment

2) Proper Japanese Chef Knife - makes me love cooking again

Recently got some over-ear Bluetooth headphones with active noise cancelling for 150 euro.

I knew the audio quality would be worse than with my cabled studio headphones, but the ANC is just amazing in noisy environments - especially while on public transport. I used to hate taking the train for longer rides because it'd be hit or miss, but with the headphones I'm actually looking up to it. Also looking up to trying them on a flight.

Under $100 - A portable neck cooling fan with semiconductor cooling pads on it

They sell these all over Amazon and similar places, but the best ones have both the moving air components and at least one little metal strip that rests on the back of your neck. That metal strip gets very chilly, so it makes hot weather so much more tolerable! Only downside is it's not great for long hair due to the fans potentially catching strands.

Under $100: Reusable respirator masks + P100 replacement filters.

They were harder to get earlier in the pandemic, so I bought a less popular brand in addition to the popular brand one I already had from a repair project.

Reasonably comfortable, and I haven’t had a single respiratory illness since I started wearing them when going out. Also good for allergies, smoke, keeping my face from freezing in the winter, and looking like I’m in a SciFi movie.

Under $1000: Litter Robot 4. It actually works and our two new cats are fine with it (which was one of our concerns). I do need to fiddle with it now and again, mostly WiFi resets, but in comparison to emptying two litter boxes daily that's nothing.

Also, in the category of special interests, the Radiance Films 2024 Blu-Ray bundle was a significantly good purchase for me. They're an English boutique Blu-Ray company that releases 3-4 movies a month; for about $1000 I got 50-odd movies that I never would have purchased otherwise, most of which I enjoyed. In many cases it opened my eyes to whole categories of foreign genre cinema I would have missed otherwise -- say, modern Chinese neo-noirs. Life-changing is a stretch but I'm really happy with the purchase. https://www.radiancefilms.co.uk/products/radiance-2025-bundl... for the next year bundle.

Under $100: second the rice cooker and bidet recommendations, although we're considering upgrading to a heated bidet.

$20 - slanted ceramic soap bar holder.

No more flubbing with liquid refills and added expense/weight of buying water with some soap mixed in.

Have years worth of bars in a small space under my sink.

Buy fancy soaps on vacation.

No more soap dish soapy-watery goop.

Can clean in a dishwasher.

https://www.amazon.ca/Ceramic-Leaf-Shape-Draining-Bathroom-K...

This is a very good thread, I’ve already saved a few items on Amazon, a rice cooker being one!

Under £100

- Electric toothbrush - this isn’t new, I’ve used one for 15 years or so but I couldn’t even imagine not using one

- A decent water bottle

- Creatine supplements

I’m sure there’s more but can’t think right now.

Under £1000 - Garmin Fenix watch, I’m sure this would apply to any watch that tracks calories, steps, sleep etc but having one with all this info on my wrist is something I could never go without.

(< $500 category)

Legal doctor-prescribed pharmaceutical cannabis bud. Home cooked between 200-250F for an hour or so -- no smoking, only eating. Got highest grades (24-28% IIRC); eat only three fingertips pressed into very finely cut buds (pieces the size of a small peppercorn) -- so not very much. Dosage is not precise but close enough, and good for design and programming, for quite few hours, and can re-up after 4-5 hrs and have a good long day. And then a good night's sleep.

It's quite a difference not consuming whatever street cannabis is made with or packed into. It's far cleaner while active and gets flushed out gently and quickly.

I'm very grateful our (American) state finally legalized MM (medical marijuana), and allows telehealth evaluation and prescription, which was, itself, <$100. Then even 7g is <$100. That much lasts me months.

It'll prolly be a total of $400-500 for my first full year. Outstanding bargain and results, finally legally.

(Note: I suggest adding in some good fish oil for EFAs and such, for more optimal results -- <$50 a bottle.)

Under $100: Electric toothbrush: Always hated having to brush my teeth and this makes it so much less tedious, also supposedly better for your teeth, from 1-2 times per day to 3 times every day.

Under $1000: Nespresso machine, was using a mocha pot before but the coffee is much easier to make, no cleanup, and tastes better.

Both of mine are sleep related today. I've been on a quest to improve my sleep for years and these two things have given me the most success.

Under $100: A weighted blanket. Okay, many of these are just over $100 - in the $130-200 range - but under $100 exists too. So comfy and makes it so much easier to fall asleep. Also great for panic attacks or anxiety generally.

Under $1,000: A CPAP machine. Technically mine was free with insurance, but for many people the cost will be $500-$1,000. If you have sleep apnea, or even suspect you do, please please please get a sleep study and a machine. It has changed my life.

Also, bonus, under $100,000: An electric vehicle. I love my Chevy Bolt. It's the best car I've ever owned and I doubt I'll ever go back to gas for a daily driver.

Under 100; air fryer; always thought it was some useless fad but picked one up and will never go back.

Under 1000; xreal glasses and refurbisheb samsung flagship phone with dex. Finally have the portability I always craved.

I spent $0 and I did nothing for a month. Best time I ever spent and my mind was much clear.

Under $100:

Plug-in electric hair clippers. During the pandemic I got something cordless and it was serviceable, but seemed to take a long time, and as the batteries drained the performance dropped significantly. I picked up a set at the store while getting groceries that plugs into the wall and everything is so much faster and easier with full power all the time. I can’t believe I suffered with the little cordless one for 3 years.

I was about to start going back to the barber shop, but when I saw the prices were 2-3x what I remembered, the new clippers paid for themselves in 1 or 2 cuts.

I got an awesome rice cooker (Zojirushi NeuroFuzzy) for around $200, and started buying "sushi rice" in 5 or 10 pound bags from various Japanese food companies on Amazon.

Being able to make extremely good rice just like the rice from a good restaurant is incredible, and even fancy rice is cheap enough when purchased in bulk that you end up saving a decent amount of money over time. It takes just a few minutes to wash the rice in the sink and then under an hour to cook it, and you can leave it in there for a while and it will keep it nice and warm.

It's really great with chicken or beef and vegetables cooked in a Japanese BBQ sauce (I like Bachan's, which you can buy in bulk jugs on Amazon for around $40).

Under $100:

Roll of medical tape for mouth taping at night. I finally sleep well with no snoring/mouth breathing.

Under $1000:

Plex server I put together over Covid just out of a divorce. I love films and TV, and storytelling in general. It makes it easy for me to easily watch my media and catch up on stuff. This was a great time/money investment - and helped my mental health a lot.

Under 1000:

- robot vacuum. Now my house gets vacuumed (that should tell you how much I hate doing it.)

- the bidet seat is not tremendously life changing but it's very helpful.

Under 100:

- a quality probe thermometer. I use it for everything baked and most ways of cooking meat. Nothing is over~ or undercooked anymore. I do have another one with 2 probes for bbq/smoking -- you can use the two in the point and flat of a brisket, which tend to cook to different temperatures, or use one to monitor temperature of the grill and the other for the meat. It's also bluetooth so I can monitor temps from the comfort of my computer desk.

- a good rice cooker. Frees up a burner, rice is done when you tell it to be done and it's always perfect.

As someone that likes to cook, two things

1) Kitchen dish towels. The white with blue herringbone kind you see in restaurants or cooking content creators. I bought two dozen of them (~$1.65/each) and keep them all around the kitchen and use them with reckless abandon (some for drying, some for wiping spills, etc.). Having plenty of them means I can use one per day for general use and not run out by the time laundry day comes.

2) Deli containers. Picked up 48 in 8 oz, 16 oz, 32 oz sizes with airtight lids. Completely changed how I prep food and save leftovers. Almost entirely I've switched to using these over what hodgepodge of tupperware I have accumulated over the years.

Under $100: Breathe Right nasal strips.

You can get off-brand ones for about 10ct a strip. For 3 bucks a month I get much improved sleep.

Under $100: A cooking scale ~$30. It turns every bowl into a measuring cup, so recipes become fairly universal and easier to memorize.

Under $1000: Braun S9 Sport electric shaver ~$200. I can take it in the shower, streamlining my morning routine.

Under $100:

- Head lamp

- Blinking led lamp for running.

I started running again. I have time after the kids are put to bed. I run outside of a small town where it's really dark (no street lights) so I need lots of lights on me. There are occasional cars and I don't want to be run over.

This is during the cold months. During summer it gets dark at 22ish at best.

Under $1000?

The automatic vacuum cleaner was more than this. I bought the most expensive one I could find that had good reviews. It washes the floor as well and cleans the pods used in hot water and soap.

Under $1000: A MIG welder with gasless wire (decent quality). It's like being in control of actual magic.

Under $100: cheating a bit, a Corsair K95 RGB keyboard from the local tip shop. Amazing to type on.

Under $100 - Ember mug. No more reheating coffee a few times/day or trying to drink cold coffee. I was surprised at how much I enjoy it. A nice napkin holder that is easy to pull napkins from. Vertical magazine/tablet organizer. Whiteboard next to my desk. Anything simple that makes a frequent chore or task 50% easier.

Under $1000 - Twice/week 'house helper' who does dishes and laundry. My wife travels a few weeks/month and we have 2 kids. Having someone do all the dishes and laundry saves me at least 5hrs/week.

1. Air fryer. I no longer do oil fry at all at home. Oil/fat has so many calories in it, depending on your cooking style this switch can help you a lot. I do still use a bit for flavor, but thats it.

2. Zwift and a bluetooth bike trainer. I swear my fitness improves over winter and decreases over summer... inverse from what I was previously doing. Also, I live in Iowa (very flat and the only resistance comes from the everpresent wind) so it's a different style of riding.

Under $100 > Earfun Air Pro 3 - I wanted an affordable wireless earbud with great sound and decent ANC as an alternative to my Airpods Pro 1. This has pleasantly surprised me, and I use it more now than my aging Airpod Pro 1.

Under $1000 > Mackage down winter jacket my partner bought me 10 years ago. Investing in a great winter jacket makes winters much, much, much more bearable!

Under $100 – a Bluetooth receiver so I can use any studio-quality wired headphones or my car stereo with any Bluetooth transmitter (smartphone, computer, etc.). I use this thing every day!

Under $1000 - an e-scooter. It has completely transformed my relationship with my city. I rarely drive a car anywhere anymore. If, god forbid, my e-scooter were to break or get stolen tomorrow, I would immediately purchase a replacement.

Under $1000 - a power cage, a bench, an olympic weightlifting bar and a few hundred pounds of weight plates.

I never liked to go to the gym and having the essential tools at home have been the first time I've stuck with it. I've increased my strength substantially, lowered my body fat, and I generally have a better mental state with regular exercise incorporated into my weekly routine. It does require a good bit of space though.

Under $1000: Phillips Hue bulbs with color temperature.

Under $100: Not really a purchase, but a habit that involved several purchases. Making L. Reuteri "Yogurt" using half & half, biogaia tablets, mason jars, and a sous vide. Helped with gut issues.

Under $1000: An Ooni pizza oven. It's a relatively low-stakes investment and you can produce some pretty phenomenal pizzas after you get over your first few "catastrophe calzones". Just a nice weekend dad hobby.

Under $100: “PureSleep” a mouth device to treat sleep apnea. I tried CPAP but drooled in the face-mask and had congestion with a nose-mask. PureSleep isn’t perfect, but I’m much healthier and productive with it. (I may spend more for a proper dentist-made device.)

A good stainless steel pan. I cook eggs there. It needs a certain technique to pull off, but once you learn it, the food tastes a lot better.

I bought a table saw during the pandemic. Best purchase ever.

I always wanted to get into woodworking, but I always felt I had to take courses.

Endless hours of YouTube videos and convinced me I could just do it, and the pandemic presented the opportunity and the time.

And voila, I now have tables, desks, a fire pit, bookshelves, all done with the help of that table saw.

If I recall, it was like $450 on Amazon.

Under $100: Some cable management boxes for my desk. No more unsightly power strips and tangles of cables. They go great with velcro cable ties.

Under $1000: A warm water bidet. I had a cold water one for years, but on winter mornings it was...challenging. When it broke I replaced it with an electronic alternative. Uranus is no longer an ice planet.

High end noise cancelling headphones (we have the Bose). Literal game changer if you have a snoring partner and sleeping is difficult.

Under $100: a shoes dryer - a real life saver when you have a kid with favorite pair of shoes and unexplained love for puddles

Under $100: Voice Dream Reader app. I'm not using it as much lately but I must have listened to thousands of articles and hundreds of books with it. I used to drop all sorts of articles and epubs on it.

Under $1000: noise cancelling headphones (qc35 was the first). Living in a busy city with a lot of noise ANC gives me peace.

Under $100:

A sleep blindfold with Bluetooth headphones built in. It's helped me become a deep sleeper.

An iPad Mini. It’s disconnected from all of my accounts and has none of my apps. It gets zero notifications. I strictly use it to sketch and read. It got me to do both a lot more.

AirPods Pro. They are truly wondrous little things. The new ones are even better. It’s crazy just how much use I get out of them.

I got a sound system for TV watching that supports Dolby Atmos to watch movies and TV shows at home. It's been great. I rarely go to the movies any more and this makes watching movies great.

It also made me realize how bad certain streaming services are - Youtube, which don't support Atmos and multi-channel audio.

Under $100: lightweight battery operated LED headlamp

See and be seen in the dark, while keeping your hands free. Great for taking out the garbage or checking the mail at night, especially because we don’t have much lighting outside (unless it’s a full moon) due to light pollution regulations.

About $100: dynamo-powered light setup for my bicycle. Never forget lights, and they’re always bright.

Now that the weather is nice I got a helinox chair and a small goal zero yeti and with my a wifi hotspot I can go work in the park outdoors or on a patio all day.

It's heavenly.

I also love my bluetooth headphones with Noise Cancellation. I can be in my own world at the gym, at work, at the coffeeshop.

Under $1000:

- Pellet ice machine. I use the GE Opal. It’s life changing! - Dyson battery stick vacuum. Worth the premium

Under $100:

- Capresso milk frother - Moka classic coffee machine. These two together are both fun and you make better Starbucks style lattes at home.

Quies ear plugs. I sleep much much better at night. I haven't slept this well in decades.

Daily multi-focal contact lenses

Cardboard bed frame - they are very quiet and stable and costs 5-10x less than wood.

Ear loops. They're a cheap, portable solution for dampening noise. I live in a big city and I also like to go out to bars and noisy places. I can walk around with noisy traffic and it doesn't really bother me anymore.

Yo Yo Desk Bike - bought it second hand as a bit of fun. Figured if it was rubbish id sell it again

But its really good - I spend my first hour or two at work pedalling away while working

I dont class it as real exercise but its good fun

I had Copilot summarize for me - Under $100

Household and Kitchen Tools:

        ◦ Aeropress: Quick coffee with easy cleanup.

        ◦ Electric Toothbrush: Makes brushing teeth more effective and enjoyable.

        ◦ Reusable Respirator Masks: Useful for preventing respiratory illnesses and allergies.

        ◦ Cable Management Boxes: Keep your desk tidy and organized.

        ◦ Command Strips: Easy and damage-free way to hang items on walls.

        ◦ Lamy Safari Fountain Pen: Great for writing, providing a better experience than plastic pens.

        ◦ Pentel Pocket Brushpen: Encourages drawing and creativity.

        ◦ Aeropress: Quick and easy coffee making with minimal cleanup.

        ◦ Deli Containers: Great for food prep and storage, replacing the need for various types of Tupperware.

        ◦ Moving Dolly: A simple tool that makes moving heavy items much easier.

        ◦ Bug-A-Salt: A fun and effective tool for dealing with insects.

        ◦ Waterpik: A great alternative for those who don't like to floss.

        ◦ Weighted Blanket: Helps with sleep and anxiety.
        ◦ Earplugs: Improve sleep quality by blocking out noise.

        ◦ Air Fryer: A healthier alternative to oil frying.
        ◦ Instant Pot: A versatile kitchen appliance for quick and easy meals.

        ◦ Spotify Subscription: Offers convenience for music streaming.

        ◦ MagSafe Charger: Convenient for keeping your iPhone charged at your desk.

        ◦ Heavy Curtains and Wedge Pillow: Improve sleep quality by blocking noise and reducing snoring.

        ◦ Black Socks: Simplifies laundry and reduces the hassle of matching socks.

        ◦ Portable Neck Cooling Fan: Helps make hot weather more tolerable.

        ◦ LED Headlamp: Useful for seeing and being seen in the dark, keeping your hands free.

        ◦ Quies Ear Plugs: Improve sleep quality by blocking out noise.

        ◦ Ear Loops: Portable and effective for dampening noise in noisy environments.

        ◦ Cupping Set: Helps relieve neck and back pain.
        ◦ Shoe Dryer: A lifesaver for drying kids' shoes quickly.

        ◦ Gym Membership: Can lead to significant weight loss and strength gains.

        ◦ Physical Therapy: Can provide immediate relief and long-term benefits for back pain.