Strap wrenches as jar openers, got a two-pack years ago (large and small) for less than $20 and end up using one every couple of weeks
this post was submitted on 17 Jan 2025
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I use a small sheet of that no-slip shelf liner stuff for jars.
Oestrogen (joking but also serious)
On a more serious note, a raspberry pi to run pihole and gobble up all the ads for all devices on my home network
$20 total or per day? If total, then a dumb stylus for my phone. If per day, then junk food. As an American my retirement plan is to die from heart disease.
I'm surprised I did not think of mentioning it next to the Preppy fountain pen I already mentioned but a reading lamp! This one is 15-18€ clip-on. It's USB-C (I would prefer standard batteries if there was a model so it doesn't got to waste one the battery is dead). It's lightweight and the brightness (as well as its temp) can be adjusted.
Worth every single cent, imho. I find it so useful that I have purchased two, just in case I need to recharge one.
1L water bottle, especially if it’s insulated. Keeps your drink cool, but also makes it so I don’t have to get up to get more drinks when I run out.
We had some in a car during a trip to Wonderland during the summer. A Gatorade bottle was disgustingly hot while the insulated bottles still had ice in them.
5/7 would recommend
A 10-foot USB cable. Most people use whatever's packed in with their electronics, and it's pretty rare to get anything longer than 6 feet. Having the extra length is really nice in many situations.
It's also one of my go-to inexpensive gifts or part of a care package for someone in the hospital. The extra length there is often the difference between being able to use a device while it's charging or not.
Especially if it's braided and has extra large and durable connector thingies so it won't hard bend.
They're rare because 10 feet is too long for a reliable USB data transmission. But yes good for charging.
Eh, I have audio interfaces and MIDI controllers on 10ft cables cause shorter just don’t reach my PC, works perfectly fine. Longer than that is a gamble but as far as I know 10ft is the upper bound of the USB 3.0 spec, so should be totally fine unless you have especially shitty cables.
I have long ones too that run my old Oculus Rift sensors. Those can ocassionally be flaky but I think it's the controller rather than the device. I'm not saying they don't work, I'm saying they are less reliable and/or more expensive to make reliable. Hence companies not bundling them.
Converting $20 to local currency, I'd probably go with this:
This is so-called "Liubao Tea", a kissing cousin to pu'er tea. I did a review of my first batch(es) and it has rapidly (literally with one round of brews) reached the top of my circulation in teas.
The depicted tea is one aged from 1991 (the one I reviewed was tea stems from 2003) and is of one of the higher grades. A 100g package will set you back about $15 or so at today's exchange rate. 100g is about 15-20 servings, and each serving can be brewed multiple times (even my tea stems can be brewed four times without loss of flavour), so it's quite the bargain.
Save it for a time when you really need something warm, rich, and comforting. It will last forever as long as you store it in a cool, dry, dark space. And personally I think it's a bargain at 15 bucks.
Where do you get it?
I get it straight from a collective representing the farmers in Liubao. There are some Internet vendors who sell it, though, so you don't have to move to China. I can't vouch for any of them though since, well, I don't use their services.
Ah yes, the most convenient of currencies - dried leaf.
What methods do you use to dry the tea leaves and stems after each brew?
You don't. You finish your cup, you put the leaves back in, you pour hot water over top.
I see, so it's only possible if you drink it consecutively. Do you use a strainer or put the leaves in the cup?
Yes. At work, for example, I make a cup in the morning about 10AM and then keep refilling and drinking until about an hour before quitting time.
Wool socks if it's winter and/or you live in a cold climate.
Fluffy stuffed animal. If I didn't have a couple stuffed kitties to hug I probably would have killed myself already. Nice to have something to pretend loves you
I know few pleasures greater than snuggling up to a pile of plushies in a cold winter night.
Though they do NOT help in getting up at morning in the slightest.
As someone who has no less than two dozen stuffies on the bed right now I can tell you they do love you because you love them.
If you use your phone a lot (or if your battery is old and you haven't replaced it), a power bank is very useful.
A reputable powerbank (such as those from Anker) cost just under $20 USD for 10,000 MAH
It's worth it for other people too, the fun putting a "W" sticker in front of the logo is endlessly entertaining.
Found the brit
#busted
What wanking does to a mf smh
Silk pillow case. Good for skin and hair.
2kg of cookies
Mini Swiss army knife. I don't know how to live life without this on my keychain
Gin.
A beard trimmer. Shaving sucks and irritates my skin, plus I look like a baby without facial hair. But that's only one benefit.
I have been using a beard trimmer to cut my own hair for the last 10 years which has saved me probably $2000 worth of haircuts (estimating a $25 haircut + tip every 2 months). Not to mention saving about 1 hour waiting at the barber every time. I only messed up once and had to do a buzz cut.
Agreed with almost every single part of your post. I have done the same thing for last few years. BUT I'm growing my hair out now that I'm retired and I am gonna be a hippie. Still use the beard trimmer daily tho!
So you just buzz cut your entire hair essentially? I did that once and looked like a serial rapist
Only of you do it wrong, or you want to look like a serial rapist.
If you have a simple cut/style all it takes is a little practice to DIY.
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I'm sure it's preferable to looking like a baby with facial hair
Not luxury, but I keep a small AAA flashlight with me nearly all the time.
Easier to handle and faster to use than a phone light. Also doesn't use phone battery. I clip it on my hat if I need both hands like taking out the trash.
I have an Olight i3T but I would try out the i3T 2. More lumens and better battery efficency.
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Platinum Preppy fountain pen. Often, it's less than 10$
No one needs a fountain pen to write, but writing with a fountain pen is a unique experience. Alas, many fountain pens will cost a little fortune and other will cost a large fortune (what about a 40k$ one?). The Preppy is an exception. It's not the best fountain pen but it's very decent, it's even incredibly good considering its price. For slightly more 25-30$, I would also suggest the Lamy Safari.
Beside that, I can't think of many luxury items under 20. I mean, I can think of a few useful luxury things but they cost more than 20.
Love Platinum, they’re the only fountain pens I can even consider using, as they’re the only ones I found that can handle my low writing volume without drying out between uses.
Love Platinum, they’re the only fountain pens I can even consider using, as they’re the only ones I found that can handle my low writing volume without drying out between uses.
Yep. As long as you cap it (like with any fountain pen for that matter), they won't dry. In that regard, they're among the best at any price range not kidding. But the plastic of the cap is a on the brittle side... which may ends up hindering the tightness of the capping as it won't sit as tight. Not hate here, that's only a maybe could happen (happened to me ;), they're great.
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Freshly roasted coffee beans. A bag sets me back maybe $13 or so and gets me approximately 10 cups. Not what I would call outrageously expensive but I enjoy it a whole lot
A bamboo back scratching stick. I bought dozens back when Pier 1 existed and sold them for 75¢. Most are still around.
An electric 'coffee grinder' just for grinding up spices / seeds. Don't use the regular coffee grinder, or your coffee drinking housemates will get super annoyed. The flavor, and nutrition is so much better when you cook with freshly ground spices.
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