Asklemmy

One I didn't see mentioned yet: a rice cooker.

Put in rice, add water, push start button, and you get perfect rice every time. I'm usually against single-purpose kitchen tools but a rice cooker is soo worth it.

If you have a car get a dashcam. It’s more valuable than any insurance because it will definitively prove what happened when something goes wrong. Bonus: you can post videos of bad drivers doing stupid things on the internet for imaginary points.

A pair of high fidelity earplugs (aka concert earplugs or filtering earplugs). You can get a good non-custom pair for $15–$40, and that’ll work well for the average person for a long time.

They’re excellent for live music, airplanes, and anytime you want the world to be quieter but still need to be able to understand speech. And for music specifically, they can bring the volume level down just enough to be safe without muffling the sound like traditional foam earplugs do. Protect your hearing, kids!

A bike. Poor people in underdeveloped countries can use it to get access to education and markets, while people from developed countries can ise it to keep healthy and reduce their environmental footprint

3 dozen pairs of identical socks. Mine are black crew cut. I'll wear them until the last few pairs are worn through and I'll never have a sock without a mate.

A water kettle. Doesn't have to be any fancy one, but it really fucking rocks for anything you might think of : want hot water for tea? No problem. Need hot water to steep something? No problem.

Most mid-range ones are insanely power efficient too, often being alot better than just boiling water on a stovetop, or using a microwave. And, depending on insulation, heat can be stored for over 6! hours.

A fire extinguisher can be found for less than 100 USD and is a must-have. A smoke detector is also a bare minimum in my opinion.

A towel

A rice cooker making rice in a saucepan will yield different results almost every time, a $20-50 rice cooker is just a set it and forget it kitchen tool that yields the same results every time. Very nice and easy

99 bucks

Water sensor alarms.

If you have any doubts about the pipes in your house or have a feeling that water might enter your basement, sensors will help you sleep at night.

Water damage to your home is no joke. I know two separate homeowners who have had leaks from their refrigerator's plumbing (water and ice dispenser). The damage for each homeowner was quite extensive given how small the leak was.

Since someone already mentioned dashcams and cast iron, my vote is: a bidet toilet seat attachment.

Fancy ones can roll $200+ but a super simple one with just a cold water hookup and no electricity will knock you back $50-60. I bought one right as covid was beginning to hit the west coast, and instantly realized I could never - ever - go back.

Huge bonus of the toilet seat style bidets is that, since you aren't actually replacing the toilet, they take like 5 mins to install and can be done in a home, condo, apartment, wherever.

A dildo.

Jumper cables. For like 10-20$ it can save you or someone else a lot of trouble.

A good quality fire extinguisher, multiple if you live in a large house or apartment.

To that note, a good quality, working carbon monoxide detector should be on the list...

A portable car tire inflator (with build in battery).

My dad would say a cast iron pan. That would outlive you and your kids.

I would say maybe an air fryer, I think you could get a decent one for less than $100USD. I use mine every day.

Otherwise, maybe good waterproof boots. I got some decent ones at an outlet store. They are kind of dressy so nice enough for work, but also warm AF and during the winter they are so good.

A sun hoodie. Sun hoodies are meant to be worn on their own, cover your entire upper body, be very light, and have a high UPF (clothing equivalent of SPF). Instead of dealing with globs of sunscreen that wears out as you sweat, you can slip on a sun hoodie in an instant and get lasting protection. I got the REI store brand, which is around $50. Unfortunately, it looks like they're almost sold out of the nice visible orange color that I bought. It's only available in XXXL.

Pocket knife/multitool.

Ergonomic Mouse/keyboard

Admittedly for $100 you might have to choose one or the other (though I used a $12 ergonomic mouse from Amazon for years until I switched to a trackball, and I loved it) - but if your job is computer based, you really should consider switching to ergonomic equipment.

Your average keyboard and mouse setup is absolute murder on the wrists in the long run - if you spend more than a couple hours at the computer every day without ergonomic equipment and your wrists don't hurt, then it's only a matter of time.

Granted, it's not just about buying a cool new keyboard and mouse - you also need to cut out bad habits like wresting your wrist on the table while typing and so on, but a good KBM will help you build those habits naturall

Honestly, I would recommend a good pair of Bluetooth headphones because it is amazing how simply being able to shut out the world can relax a person.

• The Casio F-91W. Timeless classic, with seven years of battery life.
• A dutch bicycle. Made from steel, with a kickstand, a chainguard a dynamo and internal gear. Built to last.
• A cordless screwdriver from Bosch. Fast charging and very good built quality.
• A water heater for the kitchen.

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Sync Ultra lifetime subscription /s

too early? lol

A "Bullet" style Fisher Space Pen.

People need pens more often than you'd think and you can be their hero. They're nigh indestructible in a bag or pocket and the thick ink will write on many things a normal ballpoint pen can't. I've written on ceramic, glass, wet cardboard, and one time (in the 90's) high school cafeteria roast beef.

The only downside is that if you damage the tiny ball in the ballpoint pentip and then don't use the pen again for a while, the sticky ink can ooze out and make a mess inside the lid.

Meat thermometer.

If you already have a good pedestrian vehicle: a good bike lock.

I (and lockpicking lawyer) recommend the kryptonite evolution. Good balance of price and protection.

For a step up I recommend the kryptonite fahgettaboutit.

Either way, bolt cutters aren't getting in, and portable angle grinders will take a little while because the chain is annoying to grind.

I see too many expensive bikes chained up with thin little locks.

As this commenter (https://lemmy.ml/comment/2274766) also said, an LTT Screwdriver from lttstore.com it is literally the best screwdriver on the market imo. I am a glazier. I work on glass, frames, screens, doors, security doors, patio doors... You name it, I'm all up in it. This screwdriver has been tortured for about 10 months I think, and it is solid as a rock. Nothing but great things to say about it.

Other things you should have. A good portable tool bag. I highly recommend a veto bag. They are amazing. They are not cheap by any means, but it's the last one you'll ever buy.

• Fastcap measuring tape

• A small rubber mallet

• Painters tool

• Putty knife

These two are very versatile and help in a ton of situations. I have never once used either of them for painting applications or drywall. But they work nicely for that stuff too.

• A small 9 inch crowbar

• Needle nose pliers with crimping, stripping, cutting, and paper thin holding accuracy

• Lineman pliars

• 6" blade utility knife (DeWalt and Milwaukee ones are really good). You can snap off the sections when you dull the edge and point.

• Cobalt drill bit set

• Cobalt countersink set

Cobalt stuff will go through hardened steel

• Speed square
• Small level (torpedo levels are a decent idea)
• Hardened steel chisel set
• spring punch tool set
• Metal file set

There is a bunch more I could list off, but yeah, these are good things to have.

A well stocked toolbox. Not just a random assortment of things but a well considered, well stocked toolbox with everything you need to tackle basic home repair.

To all those saying that tools are too expensive, they are not. Everything you need to tackle most home repair scenarios can be had under $100. Will you be turning screws by hand and adjusting wrenches? Yes. Will it be enjoyable work? Probably not, but you absolutely can have a good set of very basic tools for under $100 then add to it over time.

Get a hammer, adjustable wrench, angled pliers, razor utility knife, and 11-in-1 screwdriver. Buy additional tools as needed.

A shoe horn

A set of spectacle screwdrivers

A backscratcher

An ice cream scoop