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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)

#321

Post by 7373737373 »

andrewstuart wrote: post #313
7373737373 wrote: post #272

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 Com…

>> - a non-stick pan (Tefal) - I threw out all my non stick surface pots and pans and all plastic kitchen implements because I don’t want chemicals or plastics in my food. Replaces everything with stainless steel.

I've encountered many conflicting opinions about this topic (of course sellers will say it's perfectly safe and health advisors/bloggers the opposite), so i'd really like to see some well-sourced neutral information on this

Polymer fumes do seem to be a thing at high temperatures apparently https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/nonstick-cookware-safet... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymer_fume_fever

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

#322

Post by prewett »

quard8 wrote: post #276
richardjs wrote: post #196

Under $1000: Voice lessons at the local community school of music. I'm a lifelong musician, but was an almost entirely solitary one. I taught myself different instruments, but I never felt like I could get to basic competency teaching myself to sing. I decided to spend ~$200 for a semester of weekly 30 minute lessons. (The community school cooperates with the local university to offer lessons taught by university stu…

If I have a horrible voice for singing, do you recommend voice lessons? Just for karaoke and fun.

Not the parent, but I would definitely recommend it. A lot of voice quality has to how you pronounce vowels and where you place the resonance in your mouth. Also, avoiding singing through your nose (hold your nose closed and if there's pressure, then don't sing that way). There are vocal exercises for all of those, as well as exercises for breath support, singing in tune, phrasing, etc.

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

#324

Post by anotherevan »

ekkeke wrote: post #18

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.

An Aeropress and a decent grinder will make a very good coffee with minimal cleanup. Been doing it that way for years.

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

#325

Post by taftster »

Digory wrote: post #206
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...

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…

I mean, but don't you need warm water and/or electricity? I can't see liking a bidet if it's basically just cold tap water shooting up my bum. Not sure that's going to do it for me.

I've always thought that both hot water and electricity would be a minimal barrier to entry for a bidet. And that neither of these exist in a typical toilet closet. Am I fundamentally wrong about this??

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

#326

Post by wonger_ »

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.

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

#327

Post by secstate »

leononame wrote: post #251
keiferski wrote: post #221

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dentists pretty much universally recommend electronic toothbrushes, in my experience.

Interesting, the dentists I have asked (4) all said it doesn't matter (Spain and Germany, maybe it's relevant) at all and it's up to personal preference.

I was traveling in the EU a year ago and was in need of a toothbrush. The one I picked up at an arbitrary pharmacy in Antony, FR has nothing special about it but has lasted (I mean the bristles are not wearing hard or splaying, getting soft, whatever the usual failure mode for a toothbrush is) in 12 months of use. And I'm usually pretty hard on my brushes.

Why can't we in the US just have nice cheap things. Why is everything an electronic life-hack with a fun take on how to be eco-concious, that involves buying something I don't already own?

For what it's worth, the toothbrush was also not the cheapest I could find (that would have been Lidl or somesuch), and was made in France, so maybe that makes a difference.

Also, dentists recommend X-rays A LOT, too.

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

#328

Post by eps »

noddingham wrote: post #274

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 d…

+1 for towels, IKEA sells them by a dozen.

Along the same vein - a good high-carbon knife, an end-grain cutting board and a Thermapen.

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

#329

Post by archagon »

creature_x wrote: post #300

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…

For me, under $500 for a great pour-over setup. (Manual 1Zpresso grinder, gram scale, V60 and filters, glass carafe.) The coffee is delicious with fresh-roasted beans and I personally appreciate the ritual and skill check every morning.

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

#330

Post by klipt »

michael_michael wrote: post #82

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.

Trader Joe's kefir also has L. Reuteri.
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