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

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

#141

Post by Kiro »

miloignis wrote: post #29

Under $100: 1) A bidet! Got one in the pandemic when toilet paper was scarce and I wanted to be more efficient, but now I'll never go back. The Tushy ones are good. 2) A safety razor & accessories. I get a cheaper, closer, less irritating shave, and I get to customize every part of it. This can certainly be a rabbithole you spend a lot of money on, but you can get a solid customized starter kit for under $100 that wi…

All bidets I've looked at including Tushy seem really complicated to install (basically having to redo the plumbing) and I don't understand how so many people can just buy and install one like it's nothing. Am I imagining things?

Edit: Not in the US and the plumbing looks a bit like this, but without the nuts so you can't easily disconnect a part of it: https://static.byggahus.se/attachments/images/large/341/3416...

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

#142

Post by hairywalt »

m4tthumphrey wrote: post #121
hairywalt wrote: post #61

Under $100 - an ear bulb syringe I get blocked ears due to wax and it's really negatively impactful to conversation etc. Plus they would block when flying/swimming which ruined a few holidays. I used to go to my local (UK) GP which was very inconvenient due to appointment timings etc. Then somebody recommended buying a bulb syringe for self-treatment. Mine cost about £4 and has been totally game changing. I can sort…

Hey, I have just started to develop this problem and have been putting off going to the clinic. Can you link to the one you have please?

Mine is very similar to this one: https://www.simplymedsonline.co.uk/cold-and-flu/portia-ear-s...

Unlike a trip to the doctor, when two to three flushes sorts it out, at home it is a case of maybe 10-20 repetitions depending how bad. But each one is really quick and I find there is no pain as the pressure is very low, unlike the doctor which did quite often hurt.

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

#143

Post by Cyph0n »

alumic wrote: post #4

Finally bought a rice cooker 6 months ago. No idea why I hadn’t done it sooner. Perfect rice every single time. I believe that qualifies. Edit: I also bought an emergency jumpstart battery for my car. Saved me twice when my battery suddenly started having issues. Went from feeling “stuck” to back on the road in under 2 minutes.

+1 to both. If you want more consistent rice, invest in a fuzzy logic rice cooker ($150-$300).

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

#144

Post by threeio »

post_break wrote: post #102

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.

I've sworn by Plantronics headphones for years for work but started getting ear infections and my open air/bone conducting headphones are a huge improvement... I've got a pair of Aftershockz but these look great as well.

Audio quality suffers a little when it comes to music, but being able to hear conversations around me at the office is worth it.

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

#145

Post by supahfly_remix »

manmal wrote: post #75

Under $100: A used Instantpot, ideally the Duo Crisp if you can get one. The normal one can also make yogurt though, which might also be interesting. The great thing about these is that you don’t need to babysit them. Have a call or wanna go for a walk, and then eat? Just turn it on and come back anytime after it’s done. It will keep food warm until you turn it off. Bonus tip: Buy two and/or an air fryer to get more…

> Get a CGM for two weeks and find out what foods spike your blood sugar the most

Are you in the US, and is it possible to obtain a CGM without a prescription?

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

#146

Post by prawn »

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.

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

#147

Post by nothercastle »

qup wrote: post #95
fallinghawks wrote: post #74

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 o…

> - a quality probe thermometer. Can you recommend one you like? This is a hard thing to research without hitting fake reviews and blogspam. Not like there's an established brand a normal consumer would know about. I guess that applies to a lot of things now.

https://www.thermoworks.com/ Makes excellent thermometer. Even at the low end

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

#148

Post by Scoundreller »

$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...

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

#149

Post by Albatross9237 »

MrMcCall wrote: post #124

( Living in American public housing, we used our pandemic stimulus money to buy two RabbitAir MinusA2 HEPA air purifiers. At $600 each plus $95/yr (for filter change) they're utterly fantastic and the pre-HEPA stages are easily cleanable with a cheap air compressor and wet paper towels. The multi-stage filter system is quite quiet on level 3 (of 5) but will really blow at 5 and be nearly silent at 2. You can tell how…

"Buy once, cry once"

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

#150

Post by foobarian »

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.

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