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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)

#201

Post by Kiro »

infecto wrote: post #157
Kiro wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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...

US based plumbing. You are imagining things. Most/all resi toilets in the US use a flex hose to connect the toilet to your water supply. Its usually a threaded connection. All these style of bidets simply have a T off of this connection.

Not in the US. The pipe just goes straight into the toilet. When googling around seeing articles about installing Tushy when you have rigid pipes they are still much more flexible than mine, with separate parts you can disconnect and replace.

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

#202

Post by SentientOctopus »

Dansvidania wrote: post #191
SentientOctopus wrote: post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Never heard of them, temperature control sounds amazing. How is this product from a privacy perspective? Is the data kept local or is it some cloud service that tracks all metrics?

Not sure about the privacy but afaik you can’t use the thing without the app and being connected to the internet. That was a dealbreaker for me

Thanks, that's exactly what I wanted to know!

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

#203

Post by DarmokJalad1701 »

Under 1000:

- Robot vacuum (with mapping+LIDAR): Major game changer. I should have bought this years ago! The tech is now good enough that it basically never gets stuck unless you leave cables lying on the floor. It costs about as much as it would to hire a cleaning crew for a day. And this will do clean your house every single day!

- Bidet Seat (Heated)

- Chest freezer: Unlike the anti-car people on Reddit, I don't consider grocery shopping to be something I want to do every day. I can now get by with 1-2 trips for a whole month for two people. It also helps reduce food wastage once you figure out how to freeze your commonly used perishables that take too long to use up (e.g. heavy cream "ice cubes", frozen bread loaves etc.)

- Noise cancelling headphones (Sony XMs): I use them everyday and love the distraction free environment it creates (combine with MyNoise.net at work).

Under 100:

- Immersion blender: surprisingly versatile. The "barrier to entry" is smaller especially since it is super easy to clean compared to a blender (chuck it in the dish-washer).

- Electric toothbrush (granted it could be slightly over 100 for the one I got)

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

#204

Post by threeio »

vineyardmike wrote: post #39
morkalork wrote: post #17

I used to be utilitarian and had the minimal amount of everything around the house but I caved in and started buying duplicates. 1/2 cup measuring cup for pet food? I no longer use the same one as baking, I just bought another and now it lives in the container/bag of food. Measuring spoon for supplement powder? Same thing, it lives in the jar now. For under $100 you could buy every duplicate you'll need around your h…

This is also helpful if you travel a lot. I keep a bag of chargers/socks/toiletries/etc packed and ready. Don’t worry about losing a charger or unplugging the one you use daily. For $30, just get a second dedicated to traveling. If it’s something you struggle with packing or being ready, buy two. I know people who do this with clothes/suits, but that personally doesn’t fit my travel style.

This was a huge win for my family, we all have travel chargers that cover our needs and run off of common USBC.

I grabbed a Anker charging station/extention cable (https://www.anker.com/products/a9129-charging-station-67w) and can plug in one device and charge most of my families needs, including laptops in a pinch.

Also, 3 prong splitters for travel -- great for airports, bad ac plugs on planes, hotels with one AC plug, etc. (https://www.amazon.com/GE-Polarized-Three-Outlet-Power-Ivory...)

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

#205

Post by ohnoitsahuman »

cameronh90 wrote: post #93
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…

For anyone in the UK interested in getting a bidet: most normal bidets are illegal due to our water safety backflow prevention regulations. As a minimum you need a break tank - a double check valve isn’t sufficient.

Secret bidet is secret.

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

#206

Post by Digory »

Kiro wrote: post #141
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...

If you can handle putting the nozzle on your garden hose, you should be able to handle it.

In the US, the water pipe almost always connects to the toilet through a small shutoff valve. After the valve, it connects to the toilet through a "supply." The supply is basically a short garden hose, with screw-on connections at both ends.

Shut off the water at the wall. Flush to empty the toilet tank. Unscrew the hose at the toilet, and screw that end into what amounts to a y, or splitter that comes with the bidet. From the splitter, screw one side back into the toilet connection; the other goes to the bidet itself. Turn back on the water at the wall.

(This is for a simple cold-water bidet. If you need heated water or electricity, it can be more complex.)

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

#208

Post by Retr0id »

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…

This is adjacent to what I was going to comment, which is a camera for looking inside my own ears. My ears frequently got blocked and/or itchy, and I was almost addicted to sticking qtips in to try to relieve things. There are good reasons they say not to do that! I always felt like there was wax I wasn't quite able to reach, and in trying to do so I only made things worse, often causing inflammation.

The camera cost about £10 and came with a few plastic "scraper" tools (feel kinda gross to say it, heh). It allowed me to remove the wax, and importantly, visually confirm the results. Thinking about it now, it's been over a year since I last had to use it, so I think my ears might've reached a new "equilibrium" point (they are supposed to be self-cleaning, after all).

There is, presumably, a risk of damaging your ears any time you stick something in there, so I was just very careful to not do that.

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

#209

Post by topkai22 »

wenc wrote: post #193

Under $100: - NEXUS ($50 for 5 years). Comes with TSA Pre and Global Entry. - ChatGPT $20/mth and Claude $20/mth. Completely changed how I ideate and work. - Cosori Air Fryer $70 + a stack of wax paper. Changes my food bill and health. I can buy a bunch of healthy stuff from Costco, and make delicious meals daily in under 20 mins. - AirTags ($28/piece). I tag my car, my luggage, my wallet, my keys, etc. And I never g…

+1 on a large number of matching socks. My only problem is my wife and kids keep taking them because they can’t match their own socks

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

#210

Post by MrMcCall »

(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, 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.)

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