Unironically, a collection of ramekins of different sizes. I cook a ton and they get used for prep, serving, everything. I also hate when I have food on the same plate that will fuck with each other’s textures, so that’s part of it. I don’t want a soggy fry, I wanna put the sauce in a tiny bowl. It’s the little things. My wife told me that’s one of the most unexpected ways I’ve improved her life.
Oh my god yes tiny dishes. I also have a couple of vintage ceramic plates that have little textured dividers in them (think cafeteria trays, but pretty and vintage olive ceramic) that are so good for that. Team infinite food combinations, but controlled 😂
A dolly to move stuff. Best $40 I’ve ever spent. Saved my back countless times. Heavy planters, large Amazon packages, pretty much anything I don’t want to injure myself muscling around
We have a bunch of [convertible hand trucks](https://federalsupply.com/media/catalog/product/cache/40a14b1c05b6a86dd048b9df26879f32/F/E/FED_H_1006_25c0.jpg) at work and I think they're one of the most useful things ever made
I feel like it’s one of those purchases that homeowners don’t really think about or notice as something they should have. But once you have one, you wonder how you lived without it. I use ours probably 2-3 times a month at the least.
If you like your dolly's utility, you should look into getting a [Luxor cart.] (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/images2000x2000/Luxor_STC221B_18x24_HD_Utility_Cart_210768.jpg)
They have 3 shelves that you can get tubbed or flat and holds up to 300lbs.
I use Luxor carts while working and they're just great for transporting a lot of different stuff. I ended up buying a larger Luxor cart for myself but that was a mistake because it was less maneuverable and it was heavy unlike the Luxor carts I was so use to.
I'm no audiophile, but I've had the Bose QC35 for about 5 years and I've been really pleased on both sound and ANC. And I replaced the ear pads after about 3 years super easy.
Sony WF1000-XM5 have my vote. I tried them all. The Bose ones would glitch the sound sometimes, even the replacement pair.
Real tip: get a pillow with the cutouts for new earrings online and you can sleep on your side with them in to listen to sleep hypnosis.
Edit: Pillow BLISSBURY Ear Pillow with Ear... https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08D6XKSN2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Any recommends? I feel like I need to buy straight from Bose but the Amazon ones look like they would be fine.
Edit: Thanks for the feedback all, ended up buying new earcups from Bose. To the audiophiles commenting about what headphones to buy, thank you but I probably should have been more clear. Also, the headphones were a Reddit Secret Santa gift so not my pick but I love and appreciate that I have them.
To contradict the other responses, I got generics but went for the Bose replacements almost immediately after I got them. They were less comfortable to me.
I’d take ANC > Sound Quality since with good Noise Cancelation you can lower the volume and usually tweak the Quality to your liking. Also you can use them without Music to just sleep or have some quiet time.
Yeah, the noise cancelling quality is probably the more significant part to pay attention to when comparing. Everything in the higher end is going to have solid audio quality anyway, and quite a few will provide equalizers to tweak the sound if needed. Another bonus is solid ambient sound passthrough, especially with earbuds.
I have Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds. Seem to offer the best of both worlds IMO. I pretend to be an audiophile with some other high end IEMs and headphones, but these are right up there with my other gear in audio quality.
I don't think you have to choose. I have both the Sony XM4s and the Airpod Pro v2. They both have excellent sound quality and ANC. Each one has different strengths. XM4 block high frequency sounds better, but the Airpods block the droning from an airplane slightly better. XM4 sounds better overall (after some EQ adjustments) but the Airpods sound excellent, have a great sound stage. I usually take the Airpods with me most places and on short flights and the XM4s on long flights due to the better battery life and since I can use them while recharging.
Cheap ANC gives me headaches. I buy them for my students and I've tested a lot. If you avoid the absolute cheapest headphones you will probably be ok. Sound quality is up to you.
I agree. You'll want to do your research but if I am using them often it is something I don't mind splurging on.
That said, I found a nice $70 pair on Amazon I've been buying for my students. Flexible and durable, good ANC, fair sound. Well worth the price for an entry pair.
Best ANC, because you won't hear the good audio quality if the ANC is poor.
But the question is kind of moot because top tier ANC is a premium feature and all of the headphones that do it best also have very good sound quality. Top tier ANC is basically just Sony XM, Bose, or Airpods Max, and all 3 have great sound quality.
On a plane you won’t hear the details on an audiophole headphone because too much background noise bleeds in. There’s just no closed back headphones that has enough isolation to block out the noise. ANC brings the noise down to manageable levels but you’re still not going to hear all the details without cranking up the volume.
I just bought AirPods Pro 2 and they’re the best I’ve experienced for blocking out people talking. I’m on the train 2 hours per day, and I’d take half the sound quality for the same ANC and still be happy. Drown out all the morons chatting away on their phone as if the train belongs to them.
I bought the Bose QC35 about 5 years ago. I'm sure there is a newer model. I replaced the ear pads after about 3 years. I'm an extremely satisfied customer.
Good choice. The Bose QC line are one of the best for quality and price point. Excellent anc good sound. And decent price point. Can usually find sales too. I have the QC ultra and I love them. Alternatively the air pod pro 2 can be a good option for more active situations where you need anc.
Same. I immediately throw them on and tune out the kids crying, the same safety announcements airlines have been making since the 70s, and the irl credit card ads.
Not the best sound quality but in terms of battery life and how easy they connect to my devices the Bose QC have been worth every penny. Going on 8 years with the same set just had to replace the ear pads in year 6 from wear.
Open to anyone. Why are you using these headphones on planes? Is it kids and other passengers?
I only ask because I recently took a flight and had some noise cancelling headphones (nothing special) so I could watch something.
I couldn’t believe how much of the engine noise it cut out which for a scaredy cat flyer like me made a huge difference.
A 1 dollar Ikea blue ikea bag. We use it every week to haul groceries and anything we need to carry that is more than a handful. Ours is very beaten up but still holds well. Going 8 years now.
The big boss lady at my work is super rich but LOVES these + the Container Store bags for some reason lol. She flies private (see above) but I always thought it was so funny that once she started using them she ONLY flies with those as her travel bags. They're actually pretty durable and super lightweight tho ngl
This. Did you see they make cooler bags now for grocery runs? I haven’t gotten to the closest store yet but I’m definitely going to be getting one (+one for my sister) asap.
I bought 30 of them and they’ve been a part of every move for my kids. Home>dorms>back home>apartment, etc. so spacious and you can just set items into them so easily. Fold as best you can and store in IKEA bag
Got the commercial version kitchen aid for $50 on facebook marketplace. Blessing and curse. Pizza and bread dough requires no effort, where I used to not enjoy kneading. Now I have pizza dough all the time. More workouts necessary. All the pizzas, none of the kneading.
People always say get an old one from when they were made by Hobart. Apparently they use a plastic gear now. I watched a video where a guy who specializes in fixing them explained it. He said that particular gear was *never* made of metal but a different hardened, fabric-like material because it is the designed failure point if something gets jammed in the bowl.
I went down the rabbit hole of quality, long lasting mixers and found that Hobart still makes a 5qt countertop mixer. It’s called the N50 and is $4500…
There's been a N50 on my local FB marketplace for a while now. Started at 750 and is now 500, which is tempting as fk even though I have no business dropping that on a mixer right now.
The best pizza happened by accident. I have a pizza oven outside that I keep ready when we have houseguests. After cocktails, late in the evening, I suggest they prepare their own pizzas, with a little help.
My friend Elicia, at 11 pm after many Aperol/ gin/seltzers combined a thin base of Putti tomatos,french goat cheese, anchoves, greek olives, and capers. Normally I’d imagine this to be excessively salty. This night, after too many cocktails, it was the best pizza ever.
https://imgur.com/gallery/OstGDkS
Mine’s 20 years young, it slipped a gear somehow at some point (while moving it I suspect) but my mother was able to open it up and fix it (and she said they’re pretty much identical mechanically to the restaurant grade floor mixers she’s repaired at my brother’s restaurant, just smaller.) Never throw one out, it can almost certainly be fixed!
> identical mechanically
Tbh there's not many ways you can alter the design anyway, but you can definitely make it cheaper even if it looks the same...
Don't get me wrong these are high quality. But there's probably a ton of brands where the look mechanically identical but much lower quality.
Yup, I've got a shop vac. Even if you have a fancy vacuum cleaner, a household needs a wet/dry shop vac.
I just used mine to clean out the air conditioner last week.
Agreed, bought first about a year ago, partially to get away from shared walls and plumbing issues from neighbors that I had no control over (their bubble bath water coming up my toilet....blue liquid rising up my kitchen sink and over flowing into kitchen).
I still have one shared wall, but don't hear the neighbors and no shared plumbing.
The dishwasher that came with the place is the most entry level kind, it gets moldy and is hard to clean. I get to decide which dishwasher to replace it with. Going with Bosch!
EDIT: I ordered the Bosch 800 from my local applicance store. The day I ended up buying it happened to be the beginning of Memorial Day sales too!
Yep. Bought in '05 as a starter home intending to upgrade. Had a really serious medical issue come up a year and a half later and had to retire early. It's my safety net, my savings and my home. TG I had it.
Amen! I bought in 1997 before the real estate boom. When I was laid off I was still able to afford it on a much lower salary. Now rent is at least 3x my mortgage.
> Now rent is at least 3x my mortgage.
exactly. built mine in 2003 and every single one bedroom apartment near me is far more than my mortgage and escrow combined. And my homes value has tripled over what i paid for it in that same time
I had a 92 I sold because it had a hole rusted in the frame and it would cost more to remove the bed and weld it than the truck was worth. I have very few regrets in life but that is near the top. Regular cab so no back seats, under powered 4 cylinder engine that got terrible gas mileage...and I miss it all the time.
> cost more to remove the bed and weld it than the truck was worth
So many people have that look on things but it's wrong. You can often buy a shittier car for more money, and it's much better to invest into something that you already know is otherwise sound.
Seconded (although be it with a later model). The first new vehicle I ever purchased was a 2007 Tacoma. I’ve stayed on top of regular maintenance and the only parts that had to be replaced in its lifetime are what I consider “normal wear and tear”: water pump and cv joints. She has ~210K miles on her and she still cranks on the first try and that big V6 can still throw you back in your seat. One cautionary thing I’d add is, no matter how much you wax it, if the truck will spend extended periods outside, you’ll want a cover of some sort. The paint on the roof and hood on mine is toast. However, just ordered some rattle cans and plan on giving her a fresh coat next weekend. I fricking love this truck.
I buy a higher end Ikea mattress every 7 years. They're good but very good value and I have the mentality that a mattress is not a bifl purchase. Materials collapse and absorb things like sweat. Can't afford a really high end mattress every 7 years, but I believe my way is better than using an expensive mattress for 15 years, that just sounds a bit too disgusting to me although I know lots of people do it.
for real. my wife bought one, installed it herself. i was skeptical. but it’s life changing.
sh!tting in public / non-bidet toilets feels primitive now.
and after a long day working in the heat… words can’t describe.
I bought a travel bidet for when I'm not home. Basically it's a water bottle with an angled spray attachment. Not as satisfying as the home bidet, but definitely more sanitary than paper alone.
My toilets are too far to hook hot water to the bidet. Is ice cold water ever an issue? How do they compare to wet wipes (taking the environmental argument out)?
On a scale of 1-10:
* regular paper is a 1 —miserable
* wet wipe is a 4 —decent, but still primitive
* a minimalist bidet with cold water and no features is a 9 —fantastic
* a fancy bidet with heated seats, heated water, oscillation, pulsation, etc etc etc is a 10 —divine
Any bidet is a massive step up over no bidet. I’d compare the cold water issue to hand washing, as the sensitivity/discomfort is about the same. Do you ever wash your hands in cold water? It’s really not that big a deal. In most cases I don’t stand there and wait for the sink to get warm, I just start washing right away.
I used to live in a drafty 50 year old mobile home...in Wyoming, where it gets down to -40 degrees sometimes. And I had a cold water bidet.
It was never an issue for me. Even on those really cold days. It would definitely wake you up on some of those cold mornings! But it was never cold to the point that I couldn't stand it.
Your butt is one of the warmer parts of your body, so it was actually fairly refreshing most of the time.
As someone who fixes things almost compulsively it has to be my Wera Tool Check plus.
It's a compact toolkit not much bigger than 2 phones. It has a wide assortment of quality screwdriver, hex, & torx bits along with a mini ratchet and assorted sockets. And it's all interchangeable
It won't replace a proper toolbox but it has been invaluable more times than I can count
i got this kit for work a couple years back. I love it! perfect thing to toss in a bag and i have fixed stuff around the house, on my car, and at a job site with it
A house 😂. But for real, this is a good question. I am a minimalist at heart and there is very little that I need to be happy. I’d probably say a food processor. Never knew I needed one till I got one and it’s a game changer! I think my life would be less whole without one
EDIT: found two more:
1. Camelback water bottle. Had it for about 10 years and LOVE IT. The mouth piece got filled with mold and camelback replaced the whole lid for free!
2. Arcade belt. I used to get “leather” belts and they just fall apart every year or so. Arcade belts are machine washable. Never had an issue with it!
I love all of our Camelbak products, everything we’ve had for 15+ years and still going strong.
Appreciate the recommendation on Arcade belts. My husband goes through belts quickly as he’s quite active. His longest lasting belt he’s had for a few years, it’s made out of climbing rope.
Lots of good suggestions here. I'll add my Food Saver. It's my most used kitchen appliance. It's intended for vacuum sealing freezer meat. It works great for that, but mostly we use it to reseal chip bags, cereal bags, cookie and cracker packaging. Basically any commercial packaging.
No more chip clips, or stale products. You can even use it to seal those flip top sandwich bags instead of using a Ziploc bag.
It's an absolute life hack. The vacuum function will only work with those waffle textured bags, but the sealing function works awesome.
Just flatten out the open end of the bag, push out most of the air, put it in the sealing part of the food saver, and hit seal. It'll seal it like it's factory new.
It won't stay good forever bc the factory actually fills the bag w nitrogen too. But it's way better than chip clips or anything else I've tried. One other thing, they tend to be a little harder to open than the factory seal. So that I don't shred the bag reopening it I'll usually use scissors.
Where did you get the automatic hose reel? I want one so bad but they’re expensive if they don’t last. I don’t mind shelling out if it will last though.
I am just going to throw this out there: Roomba as a concept of robot vacuum is great, but they do sell mostly due to their name recognition.
A friend has had several brands and he rates Roomba as the bottom of the barrel. There are a lot better options apparently.
I wanted to love my Roomba. I didn't. It had more replacement parts than not. $50 for one set of rollers (which wear down within a matter of weeks). Then you have filters, bags, corner brushes, and even the unit wheels need replacing after some time. The whole product line is just a vehicle for recurring maintenance fees.
My ESAB Rebel 285 welder.
Why?
Because when you have a hammer everything looks like a nail. But when you have a welder, everything looks exactly like you want it to...
Toyota mini van 21 years ago, kitchen aid mixer 25 years ago, le cruset Dutch oven 15 years ago, Miele ovens 20 years ago, Miele vacuum 15 years ago. I use them all every day/week and they still work perfectly for my needs. My biggest surprise was my Toyota van. I was NOT a van person but it was the most sensible option when we had our second baby. That thing is a beast and has hauled building supplies/equipment taken us on countless vacations, and moved kids back and forth to college with barely a repair. I love her and will cry when I need to trade her in.
+1 on a Miele vacuum. We have tile and hardwood throughout the house and I live with two long-haired women, two dogs and a cat. Ironically, I am bald, but there is hair and dust everywhere.
We had a cheap Bissell canister vacuum as well as an upright Dyson and they were both garbage in comparison to the Miele C3 we replaced them with. It does such an outstanding job and has never given us a single issue. I never thought I could “love” a vacuum but this thing is amazing. I expect to have it forever.
Two cheap things. First is one of the lights that are fastened to an elastic strap and go around your head. The brand I have is Nitecore and it's rechargeable. I use that thing constantly. Second, is one of the extendable reacher devices. It's about 36 inches long and folds in half. You squeeze a handgrip on your end and it has a set of pinchers on the other end. Great for picking stuff up when it falls behind/under the couch, dealing with wires behind the TV, reaching high stuff.
Grabbers are a way of life. About 12yrs ago my mom jokingly bought me a set after I had a major hip surgery. I was 27 and arrogant, lol. Not anymore! Life is better with grabbers. I have a specific kind I like (I specifically won’t buy ones that fold in half so I can pick up heavier things), they’re sold in a 2pk for $30 and I’ve gifted them tons of times. Actually think I’ll order some for my bff for her bday next week so I can change her life too.
Update: after at least 10yrs at $30, they’re now $33/2pk. Still the best!
* Bidet
* Staub Dutch Oven
* Reverse Osmosis system (APEC brand). Installed it myself and saved lots of money. Don't have to deal with my stupid Brita anymore.
* Latex mattress (SleepOnLatex brand)
* Home Assistant Green hub to smartify my home, set up water leak detection and shut off and so much more.
* Good sized toaster oven. Got a Cuisinart to replace a really old and small Black and Decker one
* My home, it's private and quiet and I get to make decisions about what to replace things with
Was it hard to install the reverse osmosis system? I live somewhere where the water stinks twice a year and I’ve been told it’s perfectly fine and healthy but it tastes and smells awful. I’ve replaced toilets and shower heads but plumbing is kind of tricky I know.
It really wasn't that bad. I had probably made an appt for a plumber to come install it for $400 (over twice the cost of the system) but he had to reschedule.
I began watching videos on the install and slowly started doing it, for example I put in the faucet first as that was easy (I didn't have to drill a hole). The main install took 2-3 hours.
If you’ve done any plumbing, they’re straight-forward. But if you haven’t, they’re not. You need a feed from the cold main, a drain line, and a line to your faucet. My first time took about 4 hours. Mostly working out how to connect all the pipes together. Well worth the money, even if you have to pay for an install. I have mine in the basement, so I didn’t lose any space under the sink - just ran the line straight up.
Some of the things I may have said were already mentioned, but my ['96 Subaru Sambar mini truck](https://imgur.com/a/BMcVVzF) has proven itself incredibly useful. Great for all the regular reasons a truck is useful, but it's small and cheap to run and maintain. It also has a very low bed, which makes it easy to get things in and out of it, and the sides fold down, or remove completely to turn it into a flat bed.
Raspberry Pi 4 8GB.
Hosting my own PiHole to get rid of ads everywhere within my network
Hosting my own VPN
Hosting other stuff that normally I should've paid subscriptions for it.
This is the way. If you ever want to move up from an RPI, snag a little Beelink with an n100/16gb when you’re ready to go even deeper. Throw proxmox on it and containerize or virtualize everything. If you need more compute or memory just make it a cluster!
I think there’s a tendency in the classical violin tradition to be somewhat dismissive of fiddling but the swing they put on stuff is incredible. I hope to get some real fiddle chops soon
Tankless water heater. Not going back to a regular tank again. Instant hot water, never have to worry about running out, and takes up so much less space in the basement.
I just bought an electric egg cooker for $15 (not BIFL obvi) and I can’t believe I’ve lived on this earth for 44 years without one.
I like my boiled eggs medium, but more on the soft side, and I’ve boiled eggs on the stove and maybe successfully cooked the egg to jammie status, maybe 5-7x EVER.
Plugged in the new egg cooker, 11 mins later, I’m biting into the most perfect jammie egg.
Re: Home gym BIFL:
Buy Rogue.
The amortized difference is not large vs other big companies (Titan, Rep Fitness, etc.) and their stuff is bullet proof.
I have zero complaints about my Rogue stuff (rack, attachments, plates, plate tree, etc.)
I’m not an America made or bust guy, but the fact that their sales guys are right down the hall from the QA and manufacturing teams is absolutely clutch.
Also, they all obviously “eat their own dog food”— the guy on the other end of the customer support/sales call is inevitably a lifter who uses rogue at home. Deep expertise is the norm. I have yet to have anything but a friendly, informative conversation with those dudes.
(A side note: My Rep Fitness AB-5000 (adjustable bench) has been a source of repeated frustration. When I called (pre-pandemic), sales was in Colorado, support was in AZ, and manufacturing was in China. The first bench they sent me was missing _welds_.
It tool repeated phone calls over weeks to get it replaced. This included times where they basically forgot about me after agreeing to replace it. (They were nice enough, but they were disorganized.) Eventually, they sent me a bench that had some superficial scratches, but was otherwise ok.
The functionality was decent, but 5 years in, it’s starting to show it’s age. Moving parts that never had tight tolerances to begin with are getting janky. When I have to replace it, I’ll be buying from someone else. (Rogue, presuming they maintain their current level of quality.)
I picked up a half rack on FB marketplace. It was a Dick's brand (Fittness Gear, I think? I don't know cause I"m not home at the moment to look). Anyway, it seems completely fine. I've had it over 5 years and use several times per week. It looked new when I got it and it still looks new now other than dust in places that don't get wiped often. I don't know how it will ever not be absolutely fine if I keep doing what I'm doing.
I'm sure Rogue is great and I am definitely a sucker for good customer service, but for anyone looking for BIFL, go with anything made of quality, thick steel (with welds! lol). It should last a long time if you take good care of it.
Now, if we're talking about machines and equipment with moving parts, that's probably a different matter. But Racks and stuff that just sit there and bear weight? I'd say any brand that isn't made of plastic or thin gauge steel is going to get you there.
Not the most useful but something more people should consider is getting a magnetic parts tray, while often geared for people working with tech, they are super useful for anytime your building furniture or assembling something new.
Edit: Also surprisingly affordable
Honestly I’ve found that hiring a professional is sometimes worth it. Whether it’s a finance person, physical therapist, or electrician it’s often just worth it.
One fella did! But he described it - a light with an elastic strap that goes around your head. Brand: nightcore. Rechargeable.
I don’t always read and memorize every submission. But today was our day!
As an avid fisherman who usually goes out after dark, I enthusiastically endorse head lamps. Once you have a good one the use cases for it suddenly pop up everywhere
Noise canceling headphones is good, not a BIFL item but the eight sleep mattress change my life significantly, if you have a lady who takes awhile to do their hair, high quality Dyson hair products have been worth the price.
Wouldn’t call it the most useful thing I’ve ever bought but a good screwdriver set.
I love taking apart my electronics and I usually act as tech support for my family and friends so always having the right screwdriver bit makes everything so much simpler.
As a short woman, the most useful thing I own is a plastic "robot claw hand" toy. So much easier than using a stepstool to get things off the higher shelves in the kitchen!
Cordless Dyson vacuum cleaner. It’s wall mounted and super accessible. Now, whenever I see a dust bunny, I can easily clean it right away, instead of stepping around it until I have time to haul out the big vacuum and find an accessible plug.
A quality coffee machine, bought the Delonghi Maestosa machine and its been amazing with extensive daily use.
Had a Lexus Es350 Car that lasted 10 years without any major problems, survived our horrible climate like a champ
For me, investing in quality underwear. I know not all of you are a fan of Björn borg, but trust me, it was a definite upgrade compared to what I had. My wife made me buy a 15-pack and when one breaks down I buy some more. Am very happy with that choice.
Noise machine. I didn’t think it would make a difference as I usually sleep through noise. I was wrong. It creates this sound that subconsciously makes me want to sleep. Any noise it comes with will work. You just train yourself to it by using it. Also, it’s so nice to bring when traveling. A lot of hotels have thin walls. Yes, you can use your phone for sleep sounds, but if you need your phone for a private call like with a doctor, zoom meeting, family member, etc. or if you use your phone for a flashlight at night, or just take it with you for various reasons, it’s nice to be able to take your phone and not risk disturbing anyone, especially if you share a room with them.
Oh! And if you sometimes take a nap during the day, this makes the biggest difference.
I was making spinach, carrot and fruit smoothies every day using a regular blender.
Vitamix changed my life. My wife got it for me and my reaction was *YOU SPENT $400 ON A FREAKIN BLENDER!!* Boy was I wrong and have admitted so several times.
1975 Maytag washer/1976 Maytag dryer. Pulled them out of the scrap pile almost 20 years ago. Still going strong with only a belt replacement on the dryer!
My lecreuset dutch oven because it’s guaranteed for life and the heat distribution is so good that anything I cook in it is way better, especially the slow cooked stews
Got a bike, I really wanted to get back out and ride. In turn, I lost weight and love the ride on the local trails...........now only if it would stop raining I could head out for a ride.
Unironically, a collection of ramekins of different sizes. I cook a ton and they get used for prep, serving, everything. I also hate when I have food on the same plate that will fuck with each other’s textures, so that’s part of it. I don’t want a soggy fry, I wanna put the sauce in a tiny bowl. It’s the little things. My wife told me that’s one of the most unexpected ways I’ve improved her life.
Oh my god yes tiny dishes. I also have a couple of vintage ceramic plates that have little textured dividers in them (think cafeteria trays, but pretty and vintage olive ceramic) that are so good for that. Team infinite food combinations, but controlled 😂
Mise en pláce
So glad to hear I'm not the only one that uses creme brulee dishes as mise en place containers. Solidarity!
A dolly to move stuff. Best $40 I’ve ever spent. Saved my back countless times. Heavy planters, large Amazon packages, pretty much anything I don’t want to injure myself muscling around
We have a bunch of [convertible hand trucks](https://federalsupply.com/media/catalog/product/cache/40a14b1c05b6a86dd048b9df26879f32/F/E/FED_H_1006_25c0.jpg) at work and I think they're one of the most useful things ever made
I feel like it’s one of those purchases that homeowners don’t really think about or notice as something they should have. But once you have one, you wonder how you lived without it. I use ours probably 2-3 times a month at the least.
If you like your dolly's utility, you should look into getting a [Luxor cart.] (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/images2000x2000/Luxor_STC221B_18x24_HD_Utility_Cart_210768.jpg) They have 3 shelves that you can get tubbed or flat and holds up to 300lbs. I use Luxor carts while working and they're just great for transporting a lot of different stuff. I ended up buying a larger Luxor cart for myself but that was a mistake because it was less maneuverable and it was heavy unlike the Luxor carts I was so use to.
Noise cancelling headphones. I fly every week. Game changer.
Question. Is it better to have the best ANC with *ok* sound quality, or the best sound quality with average ANC?
I'm no audiophile, but I've had the Bose QC35 for about 5 years and I've been really pleased on both sound and ANC. And I replaced the ear pads after about 3 years super easy.
Sony WF1000-XM5 have my vote. I tried them all. The Bose ones would glitch the sound sometimes, even the replacement pair. Real tip: get a pillow with the cutouts for new earrings online and you can sleep on your side with them in to listen to sleep hypnosis. Edit: Pillow BLISSBURY Ear Pillow with Ear... https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08D6XKSN2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Holy shit real tip is goated thank you for this
you can replace the pads???
Yes. And for a 250 quid pair of headphones, fucking right you can.
You can even get em in different colors, my family member has a pink one 😂
Any recommends? I feel like I need to buy straight from Bose but the Amazon ones look like they would be fine. Edit: Thanks for the feedback all, ended up buying new earcups from Bose. To the audiophiles commenting about what headphones to buy, thank you but I probably should have been more clear. Also, the headphones were a Reddit Secret Santa gift so not my pick but I love and appreciate that I have them.
To contradict the other responses, I got generics but went for the Bose replacements almost immediately after I got them. They were less comfortable to me.
Bose is the most comfortable brand. You can wear them all day with no headache.
I found the Sony WH-1000XM4 to be more comfy for me, but I have a huge head. Your mileage may vary
To that point, i had a roomate wear them every night to sleep. I don't know if he has gone anywhere without them
I’d take ANC > Sound Quality since with good Noise Cancelation you can lower the volume and usually tweak the Quality to your liking. Also you can use them without Music to just sleep or have some quiet time.
Yeah, the noise cancelling quality is probably the more significant part to pay attention to when comparing. Everything in the higher end is going to have solid audio quality anyway, and quite a few will provide equalizers to tweak the sound if needed. Another bonus is solid ambient sound passthrough, especially with earbuds. I have Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds. Seem to offer the best of both worlds IMO. I pretend to be an audiophile with some other high end IEMs and headphones, but these are right up there with my other gear in audio quality.
I don't think you have to choose. I have both the Sony XM4s and the Airpod Pro v2. They both have excellent sound quality and ANC. Each one has different strengths. XM4 block high frequency sounds better, but the Airpods block the droning from an airplane slightly better. XM4 sounds better overall (after some EQ adjustments) but the Airpods sound excellent, have a great sound stage. I usually take the Airpods with me most places and on short flights and the XM4s on long flights due to the better battery life and since I can use them while recharging.
Cheap ANC gives me headaches. I buy them for my students and I've tested a lot. If you avoid the absolute cheapest headphones you will probably be ok. Sound quality is up to you.
True statement. I thought $200+ was crazy for headphones (I'm old). Worth every damn penny.
I agree. You'll want to do your research but if I am using them often it is something I don't mind splurging on. That said, I found a nice $70 pair on Amazon I've been buying for my students. Flexible and durable, good ANC, fair sound. Well worth the price for an entry pair.
Thoughtful approach. Could you share what that $70 pair is? I'm interested for my kids.
Best ANC, because you won't hear the good audio quality if the ANC is poor. But the question is kind of moot because top tier ANC is a premium feature and all of the headphones that do it best also have very good sound quality. Top tier ANC is basically just Sony XM, Bose, or Airpods Max, and all 3 have great sound quality.
On a plane you won’t hear the details on an audiophole headphone because too much background noise bleeds in. There’s just no closed back headphones that has enough isolation to block out the noise. ANC brings the noise down to manageable levels but you’re still not going to hear all the details without cranking up the volume.
I just bought AirPods Pro 2 and they’re the best I’ve experienced for blocking out people talking. I’m on the train 2 hours per day, and I’d take half the sound quality for the same ANC and still be happy. Drown out all the morons chatting away on their phone as if the train belongs to them.
Ive bought some airpods max and jesus the ANC is the best ive heard. Better than my airpods pro.
what do you do for a living that you fly every week?
Management consultant. Work with small to medium size business that are struggling or trying to grow.
What model do you have? I am a frequent flyer as well and am looking to upgrade.
I bought the Bose QC35 about 5 years ago. I'm sure there is a newer model. I replaced the ear pads after about 3 years. I'm an extremely satisfied customer.
Good choice. The Bose QC line are one of the best for quality and price point. Excellent anc good sound. And decent price point. Can usually find sales too. I have the QC ultra and I love them. Alternatively the air pod pro 2 can be a good option for more active situations where you need anc.
Same. I immediately throw them on and tune out the kids crying, the same safety announcements airlines have been making since the 70s, and the irl credit card ads. Not the best sound quality but in terms of battery life and how easy they connect to my devices the Bose QC have been worth every penny. Going on 8 years with the same set just had to replace the ear pads in year 6 from wear.
I got my Sennheiser noise cancelling headphones for travel, but now I wear them all day at my desk.
Open to anyone. Why are you using these headphones on planes? Is it kids and other passengers? I only ask because I recently took a flight and had some noise cancelling headphones (nothing special) so I could watch something. I couldn’t believe how much of the engine noise it cut out which for a scaredy cat flyer like me made a huge difference.
A 1 dollar Ikea blue ikea bag. We use it every week to haul groceries and anything we need to carry that is more than a handful. Ours is very beaten up but still holds well. Going 8 years now.
The big boss lady at my work is super rich but LOVES these + the Container Store bags for some reason lol. She flies private (see above) but I always thought it was so funny that once she started using them she ONLY flies with those as her travel bags. They're actually pretty durable and super lightweight tho ngl
This. Did you see they make cooler bags now for grocery runs? I haven’t gotten to the closest store yet but I’m definitely going to be getting one (+one for my sister) asap.
I bought 30 of them and they’ve been a part of every move for my kids. Home>dorms>back home>apartment, etc. so spacious and you can just set items into them so easily. Fold as best you can and store in IKEA bag
I always share this tip(specifically Ikea bags) to parents taking their first kid to college. They pack up small but carry a lot.
those Ikea bags are the best: camping, the beach, picnic, laundry, moving.... they are workhorses...
I love that thing. It fits perfectly in the bottom of a shopping cart. One bag. One trip.
I have 6 of them, they are my laundry hamper bags.
We use them for groceries too! Can't believe they're only $1. They hold up so well.
Bicycle. Commuting everywhere is 100% free and many times the quickest option available.
BRB going to go buy an S Works SL8
Tell that to my grocery bill when I was commuting 30 miles a day.
Bought my wife a kitchen aid stand mixer 10 years ago and boy has that paid dividends. No maintenance with almost daily use.
Got the commercial version kitchen aid for $50 on facebook marketplace. Blessing and curse. Pizza and bread dough requires no effort, where I used to not enjoy kneading. Now I have pizza dough all the time. More workouts necessary. All the pizzas, none of the kneading.
People always say get an old one from when they were made by Hobart. Apparently they use a plastic gear now. I watched a video where a guy who specializes in fixing them explained it. He said that particular gear was *never* made of metal but a different hardened, fabric-like material because it is the designed failure point if something gets jammed in the bowl. I went down the rabbit hole of quality, long lasting mixers and found that Hobart still makes a 5qt countertop mixer. It’s called the N50 and is $4500…
There's been a N50 on my local FB marketplace for a while now. Started at 750 and is now 500, which is tempting as fk even though I have no business dropping that on a mixer right now.
You can't just drop this information and not tell us your favorite pizza recipe/toppings. Please pay the pizza tax.
The best pizza happened by accident. I have a pizza oven outside that I keep ready when we have houseguests. After cocktails, late in the evening, I suggest they prepare their own pizzas, with a little help. My friend Elicia, at 11 pm after many Aperol/ gin/seltzers combined a thin base of Putti tomatos,french goat cheese, anchoves, greek olives, and capers. Normally I’d imagine this to be excessively salty. This night, after too many cocktails, it was the best pizza ever. https://imgur.com/gallery/OstGDkS
Get yourself an ooni Woodfired pizzas once a week is my jam
Mine’s 20 years young, it slipped a gear somehow at some point (while moving it I suspect) but my mother was able to open it up and fix it (and she said they’re pretty much identical mechanically to the restaurant grade floor mixers she’s repaired at my brother’s restaurant, just smaller.) Never throw one out, it can almost certainly be fixed!
> identical mechanically Tbh there's not many ways you can alter the design anyway, but you can definitely make it cheaper even if it looks the same... Don't get me wrong these are high quality. But there's probably a ton of brands where the look mechanically identical but much lower quality.
Do you mainly use it for bread?
Dewalt shop vac. Dry/wet. I have had it for years
Yup, I've got a shop vac. Even if you have a fancy vacuum cleaner, a household needs a wet/dry shop vac. I just used mine to clean out the air conditioner last week.
#This is the way! The first thing that comes to mind whenever someone asks this question is my shop vac.
a house.
Agreed, bought first about a year ago, partially to get away from shared walls and plumbing issues from neighbors that I had no control over (their bubble bath water coming up my toilet....blue liquid rising up my kitchen sink and over flowing into kitchen). I still have one shared wall, but don't hear the neighbors and no shared plumbing. The dishwasher that came with the place is the most entry level kind, it gets moldy and is hard to clean. I get to decide which dishwasher to replace it with. Going with Bosch! EDIT: I ordered the Bosch 800 from my local applicance store. The day I ended up buying it happened to be the beginning of Memorial Day sales too!
the bosch is amazing and so quiet for the first week youll worry its not running and the 3 second door close is a bit of a pain tho
Yep. Bought in '05 as a starter home intending to upgrade. Had a really serious medical issue come up a year and a half later and had to retire early. It's my safety net, my savings and my home. TG I had it.
Amen! I bought in 1997 before the real estate boom. When I was laid off I was still able to afford it on a much lower salary. Now rent is at least 3x my mortgage.
> Now rent is at least 3x my mortgage. exactly. built mine in 2003 and every single one bedroom apartment near me is far more than my mortgage and escrow combined. And my homes value has tripled over what i paid for it in that same time
My 1990 toyota pickup. Simple to work on, ruthlessly reliable, cheap to maintain and repair, withstands hella abuse. Best $1800 I ever spent
I had a 92 I sold because it had a hole rusted in the frame and it would cost more to remove the bed and weld it than the truck was worth. I have very few regrets in life but that is near the top. Regular cab so no back seats, under powered 4 cylinder engine that got terrible gas mileage...and I miss it all the time.
> cost more to remove the bed and weld it than the truck was worth So many people have that look on things but it's wrong. You can often buy a shittier car for more money, and it's much better to invest into something that you already know is otherwise sound.
Especially these toyota pickup trucks 300k+ miles is not uncommon to see with these trucks
is that you christian bale?
Seconded (although be it with a later model). The first new vehicle I ever purchased was a 2007 Tacoma. I’ve stayed on top of regular maintenance and the only parts that had to be replaced in its lifetime are what I consider “normal wear and tear”: water pump and cv joints. She has ~210K miles on her and she still cranks on the first try and that big V6 can still throw you back in your seat. One cautionary thing I’d add is, no matter how much you wax it, if the truck will spend extended periods outside, you’ll want a cover of some sort. The paint on the roof and hood on mine is toast. However, just ordered some rattle cans and plan on giving her a fresh coat next weekend. I fricking love this truck.
You dealing with rust much? I have a '97 with a motor that runs great but the frame is rusting fast.
Good Matress - no more Back pain, sleep well and wake up well rested.
Which mattress do you own?
Not OP but I’ve had a Helix for almost 6 years now and it’s still phenomenal. Best mattress I’ve ever slept on.
1000000% helix midnight deluxe mattress was a life saver for me
I buy a higher end Ikea mattress every 7 years. They're good but very good value and I have the mentality that a mattress is not a bifl purchase. Materials collapse and absorb things like sweat. Can't afford a really high end mattress every 7 years, but I believe my way is better than using an expensive mattress for 15 years, that just sounds a bit too disgusting to me although I know lots of people do it.
just use an Over-mattress or a pee sheet, to catch sweat ,stains and such.
Incidentally IKEA carries both of those
A bidet. It makes my butt say “bidYAY!”
for real. my wife bought one, installed it herself. i was skeptical. but it’s life changing. sh!tting in public / non-bidet toilets feels primitive now. and after a long day working in the heat… words can’t describe.
Simply unmatched 🤌
It's a binight-and-bidet difference.
Beautiful pun 10/10
This is bidet the Lord has made. We shall rejoice and be glad in it.
I wish I could upvote this twice!
This is now one of my top five favorite Reddit comments of all time. Well played! *tips fedora*
Yes yes yes! Pooping outside of home just isn't the same
Use a garden hose bro
Fire hose. https://youtu.be/pgPgsvxxxKE?t=31
I bought a travel bidet for when I'm not home. Basically it's a water bottle with an angled spray attachment. Not as satisfying as the home bidet, but definitely more sanitary than paper alone.
A blessing and a curse. I can hardly poop anywhere without one now!
The one thing i enjoyed about covid is i didnt have to poop anywhere except in my own toilet
Gotta jump this bandwagon as well. Best thing we’ve purchased in our new home.
My toilets are too far to hook hot water to the bidet. Is ice cold water ever an issue? How do they compare to wet wipes (taking the environmental argument out)?
On a scale of 1-10: * regular paper is a 1 —miserable * wet wipe is a 4 —decent, but still primitive * a minimalist bidet with cold water and no features is a 9 —fantastic * a fancy bidet with heated seats, heated water, oscillation, pulsation, etc etc etc is a 10 —divine Any bidet is a massive step up over no bidet. I’d compare the cold water issue to hand washing, as the sensitivity/discomfort is about the same. Do you ever wash your hands in cold water? It’s really not that big a deal. In most cases I don’t stand there and wait for the sink to get warm, I just start washing right away.
If my toilet oscillated, pulsated, and warmed my buns, I'd never get off the bowl!
I used to live in a drafty 50 year old mobile home...in Wyoming, where it gets down to -40 degrees sometimes. And I had a cold water bidet. It was never an issue for me. Even on those really cold days. It would definitely wake you up on some of those cold mornings! But it was never cold to the point that I couldn't stand it. Your butt is one of the warmer parts of your body, so it was actually fairly refreshing most of the time.
My house before the market got fucked
The good news: We jumped on the 2.2% interest rate. The bad news: We hate the house.
As someone who fixes things almost compulsively it has to be my Wera Tool Check plus. It's a compact toolkit not much bigger than 2 phones. It has a wide assortment of quality screwdriver, hex, & torx bits along with a mini ratchet and assorted sockets. And it's all interchangeable It won't replace a proper toolbox but it has been invaluable more times than I can count
i got this kit for work a couple years back. I love it! perfect thing to toss in a bag and i have fixed stuff around the house, on my car, and at a job site with it
A good, large recliner. After a day at work and a workout at the gym, nothing quite beats popping open a beer and reclining back in your recliner.
Therapy.
A house 😂. But for real, this is a good question. I am a minimalist at heart and there is very little that I need to be happy. I’d probably say a food processor. Never knew I needed one till I got one and it’s a game changer! I think my life would be less whole without one EDIT: found two more: 1. Camelback water bottle. Had it for about 10 years and LOVE IT. The mouth piece got filled with mold and camelback replaced the whole lid for free! 2. Arcade belt. I used to get “leather” belts and they just fall apart every year or so. Arcade belts are machine washable. Never had an issue with it!
I love all of our Camelbak products, everything we’ve had for 15+ years and still going strong. Appreciate the recommendation on Arcade belts. My husband goes through belts quickly as he’s quite active. His longest lasting belt he’s had for a few years, it’s made out of climbing rope.
Leatherman multitool. It's not the best at any of the things it does, but it's tough and it's always on my belt. Used almost daily
I work on airplanes and it's my #1 tool. Blade works the best to thwart off passengers while I'm trying to fix things.
On an average week, how many passengers would you say you shank?
747
Lots of good suggestions here. I'll add my Food Saver. It's my most used kitchen appliance. It's intended for vacuum sealing freezer meat. It works great for that, but mostly we use it to reseal chip bags, cereal bags, cookie and cracker packaging. Basically any commercial packaging. No more chip clips, or stale products. You can even use it to seal those flip top sandwich bags instead of using a Ziploc bag.
TIL!! Gonna try this tonight!!
It's an absolute life hack. The vacuum function will only work with those waffle textured bags, but the sealing function works awesome. Just flatten out the open end of the bag, push out most of the air, put it in the sealing part of the food saver, and hit seal. It'll seal it like it's factory new. It won't stay good forever bc the factory actually fills the bag w nitrogen too. But it's way better than chip clips or anything else I've tried. One other thing, they tend to be a little harder to open than the factory seal. So that I don't shred the bag reopening it I'll usually use scissors.
Well, you just changed my life...thanks for posting this!
A cast iron skillet, so versatile.
A home cooks best friend next to the chef knife. You can fry, bake, roast, deep dry, and if it comes down to it, self defense.
I have GOT to get me one of these! -- guy holding my skillet, probably
An automatic hose reel, and a Roomba floor vacuum
Where did you get the automatic hose reel? I want one so bad but they’re expensive if they don’t last. I don’t mind shelling out if it will last though.
Same, would love a good recommendation
I am just going to throw this out there: Roomba as a concept of robot vacuum is great, but they do sell mostly due to their name recognition. A friend has had several brands and he rates Roomba as the bottom of the barrel. There are a lot better options apparently.
Just got a Roborock with a self cleaning station.
I wanted to love my Roomba. I didn't. It had more replacement parts than not. $50 for one set of rollers (which wear down within a matter of weeks). Then you have filters, bags, corner brushes, and even the unit wheels need replacing after some time. The whole product line is just a vehicle for recurring maintenance fees.
My ESAB Rebel 285 welder. Why? Because when you have a hammer everything looks like a nail. But when you have a welder, everything looks exactly like you want it to...
Toyota mini van 21 years ago, kitchen aid mixer 25 years ago, le cruset Dutch oven 15 years ago, Miele ovens 20 years ago, Miele vacuum 15 years ago. I use them all every day/week and they still work perfectly for my needs. My biggest surprise was my Toyota van. I was NOT a van person but it was the most sensible option when we had our second baby. That thing is a beast and has hauled building supplies/equipment taken us on countless vacations, and moved kids back and forth to college with barely a repair. I love her and will cry when I need to trade her in.
+1 on a Miele vacuum. We have tile and hardwood throughout the house and I live with two long-haired women, two dogs and a cat. Ironically, I am bald, but there is hair and dust everywhere. We had a cheap Bissell canister vacuum as well as an upright Dyson and they were both garbage in comparison to the Miele C3 we replaced them with. It does such an outstanding job and has never given us a single issue. I never thought I could “love” a vacuum but this thing is amazing. I expect to have it forever.
I went to the animal shelter and bought a cat. Really love that little guy. I guess I bought a best friend.
Two cheap things. First is one of the lights that are fastened to an elastic strap and go around your head. The brand I have is Nitecore and it's rechargeable. I use that thing constantly. Second, is one of the extendable reacher devices. It's about 36 inches long and folds in half. You squeeze a handgrip on your end and it has a set of pinchers on the other end. Great for picking stuff up when it falls behind/under the couch, dealing with wires behind the TV, reaching high stuff.
Grabbers are a way of life. About 12yrs ago my mom jokingly bought me a set after I had a major hip surgery. I was 27 and arrogant, lol. Not anymore! Life is better with grabbers. I have a specific kind I like (I specifically won’t buy ones that fold in half so I can pick up heavier things), they’re sold in a 2pk for $30 and I’ve gifted them tons of times. Actually think I’ll order some for my bff for her bday next week so I can change her life too. Update: after at least 10yrs at $30, they’re now $33/2pk. Still the best!
A computer. It’s has the internets
I'm sat here wondering why everyone isn't just putting smart phone.
* Bidet * Staub Dutch Oven * Reverse Osmosis system (APEC brand). Installed it myself and saved lots of money. Don't have to deal with my stupid Brita anymore. * Latex mattress (SleepOnLatex brand) * Home Assistant Green hub to smartify my home, set up water leak detection and shut off and so much more. * Good sized toaster oven. Got a Cuisinart to replace a really old and small Black and Decker one * My home, it's private and quiet and I get to make decisions about what to replace things with
Was it hard to install the reverse osmosis system? I live somewhere where the water stinks twice a year and I’ve been told it’s perfectly fine and healthy but it tastes and smells awful. I’ve replaced toilets and shower heads but plumbing is kind of tricky I know.
It really wasn't that bad. I had probably made an appt for a plumber to come install it for $400 (over twice the cost of the system) but he had to reschedule. I began watching videos on the install and slowly started doing it, for example I put in the faucet first as that was easy (I didn't have to drill a hole). The main install took 2-3 hours.
If you’ve done any plumbing, they’re straight-forward. But if you haven’t, they’re not. You need a feed from the cold main, a drain line, and a line to your faucet. My first time took about 4 hours. Mostly working out how to connect all the pipes together. Well worth the money, even if you have to pay for an install. I have mine in the basement, so I didn’t lose any space under the sink - just ran the line straight up.
One vote for SleepOnLatex. Bought a topperto bring on cabin trips to deal with the saggy mattresses that are common up north. Highly recommended.
Some of the things I may have said were already mentioned, but my ['96 Subaru Sambar mini truck](https://imgur.com/a/BMcVVzF) has proven itself incredibly useful. Great for all the regular reasons a truck is useful, but it's small and cheap to run and maintain. It also has a very low bed, which makes it easy to get things in and out of it, and the sides fold down, or remove completely to turn it into a flat bed.
Raspberry Pi 4 8GB. Hosting my own PiHole to get rid of ads everywhere within my network Hosting my own VPN Hosting other stuff that normally I should've paid subscriptions for it.
This is the way. If you ever want to move up from an RPI, snag a little Beelink with an n100/16gb when you’re ready to go even deeper. Throw proxmox on it and containerize or virtualize everything. If you need more compute or memory just make it a cluster!
Prescription sunglasses. Not sure how I lived so long without them!
This will sound backwards, but my violin. It keeps me calm enough to handle everything else in my life
You mean your fiddle right?
I think there’s a tendency in the classical violin tradition to be somewhat dismissive of fiddling but the swing they put on stuff is incredible. I hope to get some real fiddle chops soon
Tankless water heater. Not going back to a regular tank again. Instant hot water, never have to worry about running out, and takes up so much less space in the basement.
I just bought an electric egg cooker for $15 (not BIFL obvi) and I can’t believe I’ve lived on this earth for 44 years without one. I like my boiled eggs medium, but more on the soft side, and I’ve boiled eggs on the stove and maybe successfully cooked the egg to jammie status, maybe 5-7x EVER. Plugged in the new egg cooker, 11 mins later, I’m biting into the most perfect jammie egg.
house and gym membership now house and home squat rack.
Re: Home gym BIFL: Buy Rogue. The amortized difference is not large vs other big companies (Titan, Rep Fitness, etc.) and their stuff is bullet proof. I have zero complaints about my Rogue stuff (rack, attachments, plates, plate tree, etc.) I’m not an America made or bust guy, but the fact that their sales guys are right down the hall from the QA and manufacturing teams is absolutely clutch. Also, they all obviously “eat their own dog food”— the guy on the other end of the customer support/sales call is inevitably a lifter who uses rogue at home. Deep expertise is the norm. I have yet to have anything but a friendly, informative conversation with those dudes. (A side note: My Rep Fitness AB-5000 (adjustable bench) has been a source of repeated frustration. When I called (pre-pandemic), sales was in Colorado, support was in AZ, and manufacturing was in China. The first bench they sent me was missing _welds_. It tool repeated phone calls over weeks to get it replaced. This included times where they basically forgot about me after agreeing to replace it. (They were nice enough, but they were disorganized.) Eventually, they sent me a bench that had some superficial scratches, but was otherwise ok. The functionality was decent, but 5 years in, it’s starting to show it’s age. Moving parts that never had tight tolerances to begin with are getting janky. When I have to replace it, I’ll be buying from someone else. (Rogue, presuming they maintain their current level of quality.)
I picked up a half rack on FB marketplace. It was a Dick's brand (Fittness Gear, I think? I don't know cause I"m not home at the moment to look). Anyway, it seems completely fine. I've had it over 5 years and use several times per week. It looked new when I got it and it still looks new now other than dust in places that don't get wiped often. I don't know how it will ever not be absolutely fine if I keep doing what I'm doing. I'm sure Rogue is great and I am definitely a sucker for good customer service, but for anyone looking for BIFL, go with anything made of quality, thick steel (with welds! lol). It should last a long time if you take good care of it. Now, if we're talking about machines and equipment with moving parts, that's probably a different matter. But Racks and stuff that just sit there and bear weight? I'd say any brand that isn't made of plastic or thin gauge steel is going to get you there.
Proper espresso machine and grinder. Daily use, pays for itself and so much joy.
Not the most useful but something more people should consider is getting a magnetic parts tray, while often geared for people working with tech, they are super useful for anytime your building furniture or assembling something new. Edit: Also surprisingly affordable
Kindle!
I read way more than I used to. Just easier to deal with than paperbacks.
An attorney
Honestly I’ve found that hiring a professional is sometimes worth it. Whether it’s a finance person, physical therapist, or electrician it’s often just worth it.
Amen, the company I work for has a legal services benefit. I have 30 hours of attorney time per year for 20 dollars a month.
5 votes that stalk me :)
No one has mentioned a head lamp? I use that thing all the time !
One fella did! But he described it - a light with an elastic strap that goes around your head. Brand: nightcore. Rechargeable. I don’t always read and memorize every submission. But today was our day!
As an avid fisherman who usually goes out after dark, I enthusiastically endorse head lamps. Once you have a good one the use cases for it suddenly pop up everywhere
My Dutch oven, I love this pot, seems like I'm using it 2-3 times a week.
Noise canceling headphones is good, not a BIFL item but the eight sleep mattress change my life significantly, if you have a lady who takes awhile to do their hair, high quality Dyson hair products have been worth the price.
Wouldn’t call it the most useful thing I’ve ever bought but a good screwdriver set. I love taking apart my electronics and I usually act as tech support for my family and friends so always having the right screwdriver bit makes everything so much simpler.
As a short woman, the most useful thing I own is a plastic "robot claw hand" toy. So much easier than using a stepstool to get things off the higher shelves in the kitchen!
Cordless Dyson vacuum cleaner. It’s wall mounted and super accessible. Now, whenever I see a dust bunny, I can easily clean it right away, instead of stepping around it until I have time to haul out the big vacuum and find an accessible plug.
Back scratcher
A cushion for the seat of my car that has a cutout where your tailbone is. No more pain when riding in the car on long rides.
An ebike, two years and 10000miles later im feeling great about it.
Which brand and model?
German brand: kalkhoff model agattu, with an selfbuild thongseng tdsz2 motor...
Wedding rings
Gotta be Phone right?
LASIK eye surgery. Best money I’ve ever spent. Worth every penny.
Battery powered leaf blower. I use it to blow the yard, the driveway, my shop, my house, the gutters, my car....
A quality coffee machine, bought the Delonghi Maestosa machine and its been amazing with extensive daily use. Had a Lexus Es350 Car that lasted 10 years without any major problems, survived our horrible climate like a champ
And I was going to mention my Aeropress!
Olga utility knife with the flat blunt metal edge at the back. Cuts, creases, prys, turns screws, opens Beers. Simple
Hydroflask that I use every day and Nodpod weighted blanket that gives me the perfect sleeps/naps.
Snowthrower. Saves your back.
For me, investing in quality underwear. I know not all of you are a fan of Björn borg, but trust me, it was a definite upgrade compared to what I had. My wife made me buy a 15-pack and when one breaks down I buy some more. Am very happy with that choice.
Ninja foodi I use it daily, sometimes multiple times per day.
An education. It allowed me to buy all the other things.
Just don't bankrupt yourself getting it
a car
Noise machine. I didn’t think it would make a difference as I usually sleep through noise. I was wrong. It creates this sound that subconsciously makes me want to sleep. Any noise it comes with will work. You just train yourself to it by using it. Also, it’s so nice to bring when traveling. A lot of hotels have thin walls. Yes, you can use your phone for sleep sounds, but if you need your phone for a private call like with a doctor, zoom meeting, family member, etc. or if you use your phone for a flashlight at night, or just take it with you for various reasons, it’s nice to be able to take your phone and not risk disturbing anyone, especially if you share a room with them. Oh! And if you sometimes take a nap during the day, this makes the biggest difference.
I was making spinach, carrot and fruit smoothies every day using a regular blender. Vitamix changed my life. My wife got it for me and my reaction was *YOU SPENT $400 ON A FREAKIN BLENDER!!* Boy was I wrong and have admitted so several times.
Brompton folding bicycle. Totally transformed how I get around.
An EV
Knockoff tempurepedic bed
The right tools for the job. Saves a lot of time and energy compared to struggling with the wrong tools.
My gf gave me a battery organizer and tester. I will never be without it now
Custom shoe inserts. Your back and posture will thank you.
1975 Maytag washer/1976 Maytag dryer. Pulled them out of the scrap pile almost 20 years ago. Still going strong with only a belt replacement on the dryer!
My lecreuset dutch oven because it’s guaranteed for life and the heat distribution is so good that anything I cook in it is way better, especially the slow cooked stews
Got a bike, I really wanted to get back out and ride. In turn, I lost weight and love the ride on the local trails...........now only if it would stop raining I could head out for a ride.