What small purchase has made your life better?

28 comments

1. An ebook I think. Got a Kobo for £35 about a decade ago. Still works perfectly, allows me to carry 50 books at a time around with me in something smaller than a paperbook, has a backlight so I can read in the dark, and I can increase the text size to ease eye strain.

   Oh and only needs charging once a week via usb

2. A bath robe! No more towelling myself off in a freezing bathroom.

3. Walking trousers. Breathable but warm, extremely comfortable, can knock the bottoms off and turn them into shorts, plenty of pockets, very easy to dry.

4. electric blanket… cant believe I got to 37 without one

5. Oil radiator. Cost £35 and works brilliantly for heating the room I’m in

6. Bought some tea bags on Monday. I’d run out.

7. Keyring multitool. Use it almost everyday

8. Feather pillow.

   It’s made such a positive difference that I almost feel fucked over for having lived without it for so long lol.

9. A decent penknife. Comes in handy several times every day.

10. Fast iPhone charger. Go from flat to full battery in around 30 mins. Arguably not as good for the battery in the long run, but a lifesaver if you forget to charge your phone and need it for the day.

11. Thermal sleeping bag

12. A rear-view mirror that clips on my spectacles for when I’m riding my bike.

    I’d never even heard of them before I did the End-to-End thirty-odd years ago: there were several Yanks on the tour who were using them. I immediately made a point of getting hold of one and I really wouldn’t go anywhere on my bike without; it makes it *so* much easier to keep aware of what’s coming up behind me.

13. Portable oil-filled radiator, it’s been my absolute best purchase for years.

14. An eye mask cost me less than £10, and improved my sleep like nothing else really has

15. Food dehydrator, from Lakeland. I grow veg in my allotment and it’s saved me so much freezer and cupboard space, it’s amazing and the best thing I’ve ever bought.

16. A small plastic steamer costing 4 quid, vegetables are much better when not drowned and can steam nuts for exotic soups they don’t cook properly otherwise.

17. Wireless ear buds. Got them about 2 years ago for less than a tenner, they’ve lasted longer than wired ear buds that are twice the price. They keep charged for longer than you’d think, and they charge very quickly!

18. Blind spot mirrors for my car, make parking an absolute doddle as you can instantly see if you’re in the lines/close to the curb etc. I always see people park up, open their door to check, adjust, and so on…for I think £6 from Halfords its worth it

19. A shoehorn.

20. electric can opener

21. Elastic laces turned my slob out to the corner shop shoes into slip on and slob out shoes.

22. Good quality shoelaces/bootlaces to replace the often not-great laces that come with shoes/boots. I tend to buy the “Fabmania” brand ones (despite the cheesy name!)

23. Electric heatpad. So much easier than hot water bottles for aches and pains and time of the month

24. My washing-up-sponge-handle. It’s such a brilliant invention.

25. I bought some very cheap boots on eBay purely for gardening because I tend to trash them; they are actually “synthetic leather” which I assumed would be great. They’ve turned out to be one of the best pair of boots I’ve ever had, damn near indestructible they are.

26. Buying prescription sunglasses last year changed my life!

27. An extension lead with a foot switch, got sick of turning my two lights on by hand. Im old, lazy, and enjoying the convenience

28. My daughter bought me this giant hoodie substitute dressing gown. It’s the nuts. I hang it on the door hook with the face hole facing the door and just wake up and dive upwards into it. The most comfortable garment in the world. I bought one for my old man and he has a scary druid silhouette and I’m there for it.