Truly useful things
Author
Discussion

Davie_GLA

Original Poster:

6,876 posts

228 months

Tuesday 28th December 2021
quotequote all
First world problem, guess but having a small amount of cash laying around (£300) - I can't genuinely think of anything I need

So I turn to you lot for inspiration - what is that one thing that you simply can't do without?

Budget is flexible but for the sake of being reasonable let's cap it at £400.

Over to you!

ben_h100

1,550 posts

208 months

Tuesday 28th December 2021
quotequote all
Having recently put together a tonne of flat packed furniture, fixed countless shelves and the like to walls, and moved some light fittings in ceilings, I’d have to say a decent cordless drill.

RobbieTheTruth

2,817 posts

148 months

Tuesday 28th December 2021
quotequote all
Controversially, a boiling water tap.

It's incredibly useful. Gets used several times a day. Great for tea and coffee - even better for pans of boiling water for pasta, veg, poached egs etc.

Can be had for £400 if you install yourself.

Bizarrely, all the Company Directors here with their Krups teaspoons, Puegeot Salt Grinders and Tweezerman tweezers don't see the benefit, and probably boil water electrically like a caveman with their £150 Duallit kellles and drink Assam tea out of their bone china

DoctorX

8,221 posts

196 months

Tuesday 28th December 2021
quotequote all
My Leatherman gets almost daily usage for something or other. My iPad would get replaced immediately too if it broke.

hyphen

26,262 posts

119 months

Tuesday 28th December 2021
quotequote all
Deep fat fryer.

Forget all the modern fake diet mantras - calories are calories and having fried food once a week or fortnight as part of a balanced diet is absolutely fine.

Oven chips and air fryers are for losers biggrin

Davie_GLA

Original Poster:

6,876 posts

228 months

Tuesday 28th December 2021
quotequote all
Thanks. Good suggestions however I have a few
Cordless Drills, laptops, MacBooks, iPads etc.

I don’t think I want a gadget or electronic but with that said I am interested in home automation. I have 7 smart cameras covering the property too.

I have a raspberry pi 4 that I have never powered on and an external 1tb drive so I could build a media server but between the various legal streaming services there isn’t much that I can’t watch.

Also sorted for decent camera equipment

I am going to end up buying some clothes at this rate. biggrin


Davie_GLA

Original Poster:

6,876 posts

228 months

Tuesday 28th December 2021
quotequote all
hyphen said:
Deep fat fryer.

Forget all the modern fake diet mantras - calories are calories and having fried food once a week or fortnight is absolutely fine.
I thought about that but we never deep fry anything and anything we do is bought from the chippy smile. I did get an air frier from work this year so am looking into inspiration for that too.

anonymous-user

83 months

Tuesday 28th December 2021
quotequote all
Get a DJI Mavic Mini drone and learn to fly it, take pics and videos of the countryside that you wouldn't normally see.
I know it's both gadget and electronic but they are great bits of kit and a lot of fun and as the mini is less than 250gms, you don't need a licence to fly it

Davie_GLA

Original Poster:

6,876 posts

228 months

Tuesday 28th December 2021
quotequote all
slopes said:
Get a DJI Mavic Mini drone and learn to fly it, take pics and videos of the countryside that you wouldn't normally see.
I know it's both gadget and electronic but they are great bits of kit and a lot of fun and as the mini is less than 250gms, you don't need a licence to fly it
This is actually where I’m thinking however I have owned 3 phantom drones and the first Mavic. While they are fun and I know how to fly them I found I never did anything with the footage. Maybe this is the dimension I was missing when I sold all of them.




anonymous-user

83 months

Tuesday 28th December 2021
quotequote all
Davie_GLA said:
slopes said:
Get a DJI Mavic Mini drone and learn to fly it, take pics and videos of the countryside that you wouldn't normally see.
I know it's both gadget and electronic but they are great bits of kit and a lot of fun and as the mini is less than 250gms, you don't need a licence to fly it
This is actually where I’m thinking however I have owned 3 phantom drones and the first Mavic. While they are fun and I know how to fly them I found I never did anything with the footage. Maybe this is the dimension I was missing when I sold all of them.
Good thread for pics in the Photo section, you can always post them in there yes

joshcowin

7,590 posts

205 months

Tuesday 28th December 2021
quotequote all
How much is a kitten? They are quite cool!

A decent pair of walking boots, some decent trousers and a coat, get out and about walking, if you don't already, I find exercising outdoors for about 1 hour a day makes a massive difference to me! (Running shoes and gear if you are fit enough)

Buy something for someone who it will make a massive difference to or who deserve something nice, this could be anonymous? Or just buy something for someone you know they would love, I like giving people wine, beers or spirits from a place or company they like but might not buy themselves.

What about your local food bank do they need food? £300 there goes a massive way and you get to help people who need it.


rfisher

5,063 posts

312 months

Tuesday 28th December 2021
quotequote all
Robot mower.

You won't know why you ever didn't have one once you have one.

IYKWIM.

normalbloke

8,855 posts

248 months

Tuesday 28th December 2021
quotequote all

55palfers

6,366 posts

193 months

Tuesday 28th December 2021
quotequote all
RobbieTheTruth said:
Bizarrely, all the Company Directors here with their Krupps teaspoons.......
I think you find the teaspoon cognoscenti on here eschew any flatware made by Krupp.

shtu

4,514 posts

175 months

Tuesday 28th December 2021
quotequote all
DoctorX said:
My Leatherman gets almost daily usage for something or other.
Very much agree here. My near 30 year old "PST" one is in constant use.



Davie_GLA

Original Poster:

6,876 posts

228 months

Tuesday 28th December 2021
quotequote all
normalbloke said:
What’s that?

Davie_GLA

Original Poster:

6,876 posts

228 months

Tuesday 28th December 2021
quotequote all
rfisher said:
Robot mower.

You won't know why you ever didn't have one once you have one.

IYKWIM.
Hmm. Might be a shout. I’ve just spent a fortune on landscaping the garden and have about 15sq. m left.

I’m leaning towards Something for the garden now. Fire pit or something.

Bill

58,611 posts

284 months

Tuesday 28th December 2021
quotequote all
If you're into BBQing... Weber Smokey Mountainyes

Turn7

25,696 posts

250 months

Tuesday 28th December 2021
quotequote all
Davie_GLA said:
normalbloke said:
What’s that?
test lamp....
Great for checking when the points open....... biggrin

TwigtheWonderkid

48,990 posts

179 months

Tuesday 28th December 2021
quotequote all
Audio Technica LP120 turntable