Anti-frivolous purchases, stuff you really do need..

[illmonkey]

I love the other thread, it helps keep me sane and thinking I'm not actually wasting as much money as everyone else. But, every so often I come across an item that revolutionises my life. Champagne would fall from the heavens, doors would open, velvet ropes would part type thing.

These items could be a few ££, in fact the cheaper the better over here in the ol' anti-frivolous camp, but changes how you do something for the better.

I'll kick off with some

Meat thermometer - Never have a over cooked slab of meat again!
Metal flat kebab skewers - No more meat staying the same side down when you rotate the skewer
Heat resistant gloves - to turn the skewers above and other warm based activities. It doesn't get more manly that turning them directly on the bbq
5m iPhone charge cable - Honestly, you sit and read st all the time, so your battery is low. Charging with that pathetic 1m cable they provide is useless. With a good length you'll be satisfied for hours at a time. Even your friends will enjoy your length, time and time again

[hotchy]

Rice cooker.

For £20 I get the freshest fluffiest non microwave rice that requires absolute zero effort at all and since it's tough times, saves a fortune if you currently use microwave rice and bonus, you end up with so much more rice your not worried about filling your plate right up. One gadget that will never ever gather dust in the back of a cuboard.

[rjg48]

Haircut.

New Jeans as mostly have holes in the knees.

[illmonkey]

Surely this has legs, if the "Totally crap products that just don't work" does.

I need useful items in my life!

[louiebaby]

hotchy said:

Rice cooker.

For £20 I get the freshest fluffiest non microwave rice that requires absolute zero effort at all and since it's tough times, saves a fortune if you currently use microwave rice and bonus, you end up with so much more rice your not worried about filling your plate right up. One gadget that will never ever gather dust in the back of a cuboard.

My Mum bought us a rice cooker that you use in the Microwave. The whole thing is dishwasher safe. It takes about 20 mins, but the rice is good.

Skewers for holding corn on the cob are worth every penny. I just wrap the corn in tinfoil and chuck them in the BBQ whilst it warms up. Great stuff!

[underwhelmist]

Dial gauge and adapter for finding TDC when doing a cambelt change. I have finally learned the lesson that it’s just not worth half-assing a job, get the right tools and do it properly!

Edit: also in this category are JIS screwdrivers, torque wrenches, TORX and RIBE bits etc etc etc. Love buying tools!

Edited by underwhelmist on Thursday 13th August 12:55

[Adenauer]

hotchy said:

Rice cooker.

For £20 I get the freshest fluffiest non microwave rice that requires absolute zero effort at all and since it's tough times, saves a fortune if you currently use microwave rice and bonus, you end up with so much more rice your not worried about filling your plate right up. One gadget that will never ever gather dust in the back of a cuboard.

I think that belongs in the frivolous thread, anyone that can't boil rice perfectly should not be anywhere near a kitchen.

[Truckosaurus]

My most useful gizmo is having a small bottle opener key ring on my house keys. No looking for openers when you're round someone's house or at a BBQ etc.

A bit more niche, a left-handed ruler makes measuring things much easier for those of us who are cack handed.

For work, the Pilot G2 pen. They are about a quid each but they are the only pens I've ever had that you use enough that they run out of ink before they break or you lose them and are nice enough that people don't just 'borrow' them from your desk and never return them. They are 'gel pens' so write more nicely than cheapo biros as well.

[nealeh1875]

Recently got back into music and forgot how much space it all takes up

so after buying lots of USB's with music on i realised ahh i don't have enough usb ports on my machine

so i purchased 1 of these with a 2tb external Samsung SSD.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anker-PowerIQ-Charging-Ma...

Now i didn't need SSD , i could of got a much cheaper Seagate external HDD but Mrs thinks they're the same and costs the same so that''s all that matters !

[Allanv]

Truckosaurus said:

My most useful gizmo is having a small bottle opener key ring on my house keys. No looking for openers when you're round someone's house or at a BBQ etc.

A bit more niche, a left-handed ruler makes measuring things much easier for those of us who are cack handed.

For work, the Pilot G2 pen. They are about a quid each but they are the only pens I've ever had that you use enough that they run out of ink before they break or you lose them and are nice enough that people don't just 'borrow' them from your desk and never return them. They are 'gel pens' so write more nicely than cheapo biros as well.

Never heard of those before as I thought every lefty myself included measure from left to right?

Same thing as people changing mouse buttons around, why not left click with your left middle finger and index finger for the right click?

To work out what the ruler looked like I popped onto Youtube and a few of the videos after were dealing with writing and I can see why you call it cack handed but for me I hold a pen in my left but below the line or sentence I am writing as normal for me anyway, no hook.

Anyway think I have derailed the thread enough, sorry.

[dillenger]

action shot





also

[Truckosaurus]

Allanv said:

Never heard of those before as I thought every lefty myself included measure from left to right?...:

I would hold the right handed ruler in my left hand and measured using the right end of the ruler and count backwards to work out the length.

I'm sure you could turn it upside down or something but that seems more of a faff if you ok at mental arithmetic.

[Randy Winkman]

Running socks. Even if you never run. They might cost £12 a pair but they are really comfy and last 10 x as long as cheaper socks

[Allanv]

Truckosaurus said:

Allanv said:

Never heard of those before as I thought every lefty myself included measure from left to right?...:

I would hold the right handed ruler in my left hand and measured using the right end of the ruler and count backwards to work out the length.

I'm sure you could turn it upside down or something but that seems more of a faff if you ok at mental arithmetic.

I just hold the ruler in my right hand and use my left to measure from left to right. Which is why I thought it odd.

[h0b0]

Adenauer said:

hotchy said:

Rice cooker.

For £20 I get the freshest fluffiest non microwave rice that requires absolute zero effort at all and since it's tough times, saves a fortune if you currently use microwave rice and bonus, you end up with so much more rice your not worried about filling your plate right up. One gadget that will never ever gather dust in the back of a cuboard.

I think that belongs in the frivolous thread, anyone that can't boil rice perfectly should not be anywhere near a kitchen.

Billions of Indian, Chinese and Japanese people must be wrong. If you have not used a rice cooker at home then it is something I would highly recommend. I was a none believer until I spoke to multiple Indian and Chinese families who laughed when I asked if they had them.

[andyxxx]

Expanding foam

Masonry fix screws (in various lengths) – no need for rawl plugs and fix just about anything to stone/block/brick/concrete.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/easydrive-countersunk-c...

[p4cks]

andyxxx said:

Expanding foam

Masonry fix screws (in various lengths) – no need for rawl plugs and fix just about anything to stone/block/brick/concrete.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/easydrive-countersunk-c...

All you needed was 'silicone sealant' for the council-worker holy trinity.

[KrazyIvan]

Adenauer said:

hotchy said:

Rice cooker.

For £20 I get the freshest fluffiest non microwave rice that requires absolute zero effort at all and since it's tough times, saves a fortune if you currently use microwave rice and bonus, you end up with so much more rice your not worried about filling your plate right up. One gadget that will never ever gather dust in the back of a cuboard.

I think that belongs in the frivolous thread, anyone that can't boil rice perfectly should not be anywhere near a kitchen.

Gotta agree, rice is about as easy as cooking gets. Never could see the point in a rice cooker.

[h0b0]

I have never had home cooked rice that is as good as a rice cooker. Even if you think your rice is perfect (that may be) a rice cooker also provides convenience like a slow cooker. Stick it on and forget about it. Perfect rice every time.

[normalbloke]

As per many other threads. Impact driver and multi tool( not the leatherman variety).