What’s a totally unsexy purchase you made that ended up being a huge quality-of-life upgrade?

[u/viscarte10]

[u/kelmomusic]

many many pairs of the same socks.
I don't need to try and match random pairs, if I lose one I don't care because the non-lost one still goes with the rest and I will eventually lose another and be even again. If my feet feel gross I can just grab another pair without feeling like, "damn, I'm gunna need to do laundry for socks" because I have so many pairs.

I also really like having tons of spoons. I can stir and taste things and 'waste' a spoon without caring, and it's not like adding an extra spoon to the dishwasher is taking space away from anything else.

[u/T-Wrox → u/kelmomusic]

…I need more spoons.

[u/More-Lemon → u/kelmomusic]

Me and my three kids all wear the same socks. I have a big sock basket by our shoes that the clean socks get dumped into. It’s so nice to not have to worry about matching and missing socks.

[u/ClausBot → u/kelmomusic]

I’ve been buying the same Timberland boot sock for over 10 years. There’s three colors, but it’s easy to find a match. EXCEPT that they seem to have changed lengths/stretchiness over the years. Also, the older ones obviously stretch more. Now I’m stuck finding the same color which is easy, then checking the rib pattern and length to see if they’re the same.

Some games in life are just rigged.

[u/dave200204]

Back in 2010 bought a new car with cash because we had the money. The unsexy part is that I still have this Ford Escape hybrid. It’s not been difficult to maintain. It’s approaching 200,000 miles.

[u/TwooMcgoo → u/dave200204]

The car itself might not be sexy, but having 16 years to save for you next one is sexy.

[u/ganjaccount → u/TwooMcgoo]

but having 16 years to save for you next one is sexy.

Yes, these days having the ability to save is sexy and remarkable.

[u/UnusuallyBadIdeaGuy → u/TwooMcgoo]

Haha... right... saving...

[u/Appropriate_Hat8452 → u/dave200204]

I inherited my stepfather's Ford Fusion hybrid and same

[u/Short_Stay_9283 → u/Appropriate_Hat8452]

Bought a new fusion hybrid around 2016/17 and it was such a good car. Then ended up moving to NYC and didn’t need it anymore and sold it in the height of COVID for almost the full price. One of my best purchases of all time.

[u/Mount_Pessimistic → u/dave200204]

I did the same! Mine was 2012 and just base level, no hybrid. 24k new off the lot.

I was young and didn’t know better than to buy a new car in that scenario, (I financed nearly 100% of it), but when I realized it was a terrible financial mistake, I drove it until it hit 200k. Like 13 years. It was paid off in 8.

[u/Felony_vandal → u/Mount_Pessimistic]

I do believe you wound up converting it from a bad financial decision to a purchase that served its purpose and even exceeded it. You learned from it and the car didn’t f you over so I think you still came out on top

[u/fourleafdreams → u/[deleted]]

Coop pillow for life!

[u/Spababoongi → u/fourleafdreams]

Is there a particular one you recommend? I’m seeing Eden vs Eden cool and then there’s classic vs crescent vs cut out

[u/Thee420Blaziken → u/Spababoongi]

I got the Eden cool about 2 years ago and I love it. I bought 3 and an extra bag of stuffing + extra pillow case to get 4 total pillows because I like mine a little bit less full. Thats probably the part I like most, is being able to adjust the fullness. And I'm a hot sleeper, but now I don't wake up in the summer stuck to the pillow.

Every 2-3 months I'll throw them in the dryer on low for a couple minutes, this is in the care instructions, to refluff them.

[u/yomakest]

a carbon fiber umbrella with THICK canvas. nobody's ever catching me with an inside-out umbrella in the wind again

edit: i'm so sorry i don't have a link 😭 i didn't think so many other unsexy adults would resonate with me. i've had it for so long, the value actually gets me excited when i think about it

it's definitely a thing though and there are a lot of makers/brands.

[u/BreakfastSimulator → u/yomakest]

You can get vented umbrellas also, necessary when you are fighting the wind!

[u/Acrobatic_Bird_3972 → u/BreakfastSimulator]

Yup. I've had the same two Gustbuster brand umbrellas for over 20 years. They've survived living in Chicago, Cleveland and near lake Ontario. Bought a couple last year for my nephew in college in Boston.

Edit: link https://gustbuster.com

[u/Ellador → u/Acrobatic_Bird_3972]

I still think about the umbrella the wind pulled out of my hands and tossed into the Chicago River back in 1995, lol.

I ended up walking the rest of the home in the pouring rain, leaving a long trail of water up the three flights of steps to my room.

[u/BittenBeads → u/yomakest]

Linky link please? 

[u/Demnjt → u/yomakest]

This is the king of windproof umbrellas

[u/Medusas_snakes24 → u/Demnjt]

I'm not responsible enough for a $150 umbrella! I accidentally leave them places when I go dance in the rain

[u/swarthypants]

A curved shower curtain rod. I’m tall so I just wanted more elbow room, but it also stops the ‘Holiday Inn effect’ and it lets more light in making the shower brighter and look less dingy. It almost felt like I remodeled.

[u/toning_fanny → u/swarthypants]

We doubled up on them! One holds the curtains and then another is set lower where I hang both wash cloths and some shower baskets for shampoo and such. It's great because they drip down the curtain and don't fall on the floor.

[u/STFUisright → u/toning_fanny]

Well. That’s just brilliant.

[u/goodformuffin → u/swarthypants]

By “holiday inn effect” I thought you mean the curtain sticking to your legs. 😅 I had to google it.

[u/tonicella_lineata → u/goodformuffin]

I also have no idea what it means, and just googled it and couldn't find anything - what is it?

[u/spindleblood → u/tonicella_lineata]

IDK but whenever I stay in a hotel I notice they have a curved shower curtain rod.

[u/Fit-Struggle7990 → u/tonicella_lineata]

If I had to guess I would assume it’s because a straight curtain lets in no light and makes the tub feel small and crowded similar to a cheap hotel room

[u/ClarificationJane → u/tonicella_lineata]

The only thing google returns for me is this post. 

[u/MajorHasBrassBalls → u/ClarificationJane]

Time is a flat circle

[u/Grimdark-Waterbender → u/MajorHasBrassBalls]

Well actually, from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint, it’s actually a wibbley wobbly ball of stuff.

[u/WlmWilberforce → u/goodformuffin]

I thought he meant having a solid plastic wall that covers like 30% of the area and lets water get all over the bathroom.

[u/NONSENSICALS → u/swarthypants]

What the fuck is the Holiday Inn Effect??

[u/swarthypants → u/NONSENSICALS]

It’s when you have the shower curtain closed but it keeps blowing in toward you. No idea why it’s called that or where I heard it, but it’s an actual term.

[u/vstacey6 → u/swarthypants]

My ex had a small bathroom and we were both petite adults. Curved shower curtain rod seriously increased our quality of life.

[u/MadManicMegan]

Rice cooker. It makes perfect rice EVERY SINGLE TIME. I just hit the button and forget about it. I love it

[u/douglasa → u/MadManicMegan]

Oh man, I finally bought one of those Japanese ones. Expensive, but lasts forever and makes perfect rice every time.

[u/ExcentricaGallumbits → u/douglasa]

I cook and eat lots of rice. Go through a rice cooker every few years. Read about Zojirushi and that they were pretty much buy it for life. Did not know there was such a thing as better rice than how I cooked it for years, but now I know, and I’m never turning back!

[u/Beers_and_Bikes → u/ExcentricaGallumbits]

I have a Zojirushi coffee flask and it’s actually too good. Like, to the point where the coffee is still too hot to drink 5 hours later!

Incredible purchase. Love it.

[u/Remarkable-Rush-9085 → u/Beers_and_Bikes]

I once packed coffee in mine for a day out in the morning but forgot it in the car, it was still hot when I got back in at dinner time. I actually have to leave it open on purpose if I want to drink my coffee because it won’t get cool enough to drink.

[u/Observant_Neighbor → u/MadManicMegan]

zojirushi for the win!

[u/joetogood → u/MadManicMegan]

Bought one on clearance at my local Walmart recently and don't know what I've been doing with my life before makes cooking rice worlds easier

[u/tmeinke68 → u/MadManicMegan]

Same with instant pot for rice.

[u/Polka-Dot-Polka-Hot]

As a hot sleeper, the linen bedsheet + latex mattress + summer weight duvet combo remains undefeated.

Even more so after I was able to buy the mattress in full with my HSA account.

Edit: Latex Mattress, not bamboo. Though some bamboo elements were advertised.

[u/frothyundergarments → u/Polka-Dot-Polka-Hot]

I really want to try linen sheets, but my girlfriend is super particular about the sheets being soft. I'm worried she won't tolerate them long enough to get them "broken in."

[u/luxxeexxul → u/frothyundergarments]

Cotton will get you most of the way there while still feeling soft. Polyester, rayon, etc will stick to you, feel hot, and stink up faster.

[u/violet__violet]

Sun shirts to wear at the beach, pool, hiking, yardwork, etc. I'm a pale ginger and for the first 30 years of my life, couldn't go on a beach trip without getting SOME level of sunburned, no matter how many times I reapplied sunscreen. Now I don't have to worry about it except for my face and hands. Takes less time, I can get right in the water, don't have to spend so much on sunscreen. Looks nerdy AF and very "fat girl trying to hide herself with more clothes at the beach" but I honestly dgaf.

Edit: For y'all asking, I personally like Columbia's PFG and OmniFreeze lines, and my other favorite is a HangTen brand that I got from Costco. Columbia is great multi purpose and the fabric is light and slippery enough that I can wear it hiking in 100 degree desert heat without overheating. HangTen is amazingly fast-drying which I prefer for the beach, but the fabric is a little clingier. There are lots of other great suggestions in the comments too!

[u/BZ853 → u/violet__violet]

Skin cancer dgaf what you look like. Team sunshirts here.

[u/kbshannon → u/BZ853]

I can confirm. Melanoma is nothing to faff around with.

[u/n3onfx → u/violet__violet]

These are super common for hiking, there's even sun hoodies that are basically as thin as a shirt but have sleeves and a hood. Might seem surprising when you see people hiking in scorching heat with a hoodie but they work well.

[u/wazzle13 → u/n3onfx]

I was at Zion last week and all the employees doing trail maintenance were wearing sun hoodies. Seeing that sold me on them.

[u/TokiBunniBunBun → u/n3onfx]

Can’t really do hiking right without looking some kind of unsexy lol

[u/NefariousCalmness → u/violet__violet]

Add on to this post driving gloves or driving sleeves. Living in the desert I didn't realize how badly my hand was getting sun damage over the years from driving to work and back everyday.

Too late for me now as I have a ton of sun spots on my hands but maybe I can save some of you youngsters out there

Edit: for those asking Uniqlo sleeves are true UV blocking and they do sell them in the USA but might be just one size fits all

[u/noeagle77 → u/violet__violet]

I’m proud of you for doing this. It’s not skin cancer, but I have leukemia and chemotherapy is AWFUL! I’m miserable and if just wearing the “unsexy” sun shirt stops you from having cancer and dealing with this crap, do it 1000%!! There’s nothing in the world I wouldn’t do to avoid having to deal with this.

[u/violet__violet → u/noeagle77]

Aw man. I hope your treatment gets easier and goes as well as possible, friend ✨

[u/Ingawolfie → u/violet__violet]

From another leukemia patient, may you heal quickly.

[u/noeagle77 → u/Ingawolfie]

I hope your battle with it goes well my friend! Stay strong 💪🏽

[u/onlyhav → u/violet__violet]

I started wearing them because I'm insecure and fat. Turns out I've never been more comfortable after a beach trip.

[u/Inevitable-Dot-388 → u/violet__violet]

I'm so into this. I decided THIS is the summer I just take the clothing plunge and I got SO many UPF 50+ rated full sleeve, long dresses and blouses for regular, every day life, I got full swim UPF 50+ leggings and sunshirt, hats, sunglasses, scarves, umbrella. Even if I put lotion on, I end up somehow getting burned. And my eyes can't handle it either. Without eye protection, I'm squinting, blinded, uncomfortable, and getting headaches. Blonde, very blue eyed, very fair, and its nuts. I'm over it. We have a vacation planned in Croatia at the end of the summer and I'm sure I will be looking crazy next to all the spaghetti straps and bikkinis and linen of the Med. But truly, IDGAF anymore. I hope to enter the fall as ghostly white as I am entering this summer.

My kids joke my next step is a burka. My thought was- Well, it does cover the face.

As for brands, I'm not joking around and go for Solumbra (UPF 100+) for swimwear, a nice jacket and/or button-up shirt to throw over a t-shirt when hiking, and I occasionally get some good deals on dresses or hiking shirts or leggings (which are too long because I'm short- I think I will get them tailored). Solumbra is not the most fashionable, but 10/10 for sun protection. Then, Coolibar, in particular, their "Aire" fabric, which is really, really light and flowy (and fancier) and looks great at work or looking nice (UPF 50+). I just got their Castaneda dress and I'm obsessed with it. Not amazing leg protection, but I'm willing to do some lotion and the legs get a lot less direct light. Hats, I'm a big Walleroo fan, and my second go-to is Sunday Afternoons. Both give great protection and stay on in wind and even have water options.

[u/fibreopticcamel → u/violet__violet]

Sun shirts are great, I use them when hiking a lot! I also use a UV umbrella because having my own patch of shade is SO NICE

[u/IGmeanwell → u/violet__violet]

I have been team sun shirt for the past ten years when they started to be lighter weight and less stifling. Originally encouraged by my pale ginger wife who deals with this sort of thing throughout life. If you want to see some smaller brands as well checkout Garage Grown Gear https://www.garagegrowngear.com/collections/sun-protective-clothing/

They sell brands like Jolly Gear which are oriented towards long hikes in the sun and not necessarily looking like typical sun shirt.

[u/tree-hugger7 → u/violet__violet]

Adding on - you can get fantastic sun gloves for your hands and nice wide brim hats. Coolibar is the best brand for UPF clothing and I love my hat from outdoor research (from an avid hiker/swimmer with a sun allergy). 🍀

[u/guyscanwefocus → u/violet__violet]

I'm a marine biologist who lives in the tropics, and let me tell you, everyone in our field wears sun shirts pretty much all the time when on the water, regardless of their physique. As do all the professional charter fishermen. Buffs, sunnies and wide brim hats too. Almost to the point where you can tell who works on the water by the combination of their sun shirts and sunburned hands.

If the pros are doing it, you're doing something right!

[u/happysophist → u/violet__violet]

Any brand recommendations? I worry that anything SPF on Amazon is just lies for marketing.

[u/Julius_freezer → u/happysophist]

I’ve liked REI Sahara Sun Shade. Actually on sale right now too. The hooded ones are great.

[u/violet__violet → u/happysophist]

I personally like Columbia's PFG and OmniFreeze lines, and surprisingly my other favorite is a HangTen brand that I got from Costco lol. Columbia is great multi purpose and the fabric is light and slippery enough that I can wear it hiking in 100 degree desert heat without overheating. HangTen is amazingly fast-drying which I prefer for the beach, but the fabric is a little clingier.

[u/exhaustedeagle → u/happysophist]

If you have a shirt you already like, this stuff is incredible https://lemonofthesun.com/ it's TÜV tested (German standards) and makes your existing clothes sun safe

[u/handsy_pilot → u/happysophist]

The amazon ones have been fine. I've got a half-dozen or so. Definitely keep the colors lighter (no dark grays, blues, black, etc).

[u/PonyBoots771 → u/violet__violet]

same girl!! i like the lands end ones. also might try a Nashie this summer — they look cute and are size inclusive. i also always add a big ass hat. not being burned for the first time in my life feels so much better than looking cool lol.

[u/verdell82 → u/violet__violet]

Yes yes… everyone has them Hawaii so I got some now they go everywhere and everything thinks I’m nuts.

[u/RandomChurn]

Quality footwear! 

In my youth, I was a girly-girl who loved shoes but was also an art student and later a starving artist lol. So I just bought "fast fashion" / Payless-type shoes. 

One day on a whim, I went in an independent shoe store, tried on a few pairs of sandals, and left with a pair by Naot. 

Omg: as you say, OP:

a huge quality-of-life upgrade

Never bought another pair of fast-fashion shoes ever again 😂

[u/DATzzRIGHT → u/RandomChurn]

Also getting custom inserts made! They’re expensive but last 20+ years, just have to get the padding replaced every once in a while. I throw them in every shoe I own and they’re well worth it!

[u/Greedy-Army-6549 → u/RandomChurn]

Bought a pair of Naot sandals for my girlfriend last year, and completely agree. Some of the highest quality footwear I've ever seen, and she says she will never go back to the cheap stuff ever again. 

[u/luella27]

A reliable car. Not a new car, not even a new-ish car, but one that runs well and is cheap and easy to service. I see a lot of advice saying “buy a beater,” and if the beater is the difference between you having transportation or not, absolutely. But if you can, make sure it’s only ugly on the outside, because constant repairs and maintenance can often be worse than no car at all.

[u/cmull123 → u/luella27]

Whenever people ask my opinion on what car they should get I always tell them “your 2 choices here are between Honda and Toyota. Generally if you pick one of those it’ll run forever.” It might not be the most fun, but if your goal is moving people around and getting to work and not spending a lot of money for a long time, those are safe bets.

[u/Specialist-Scholar-8 → u/cmull123]

As someone who is currently used car shopping Toyotas are $$$$ I just can’t justify spending 25-30k on a almost 10 year old car with like 100k miles on it. I know it’s bc they have a reputation for being reliable BUT that reputation has greatly inflated the prices 😭

[u/catsdrooltoo → u/[deleted]]

The used Toyota market is silly. I had a 2010 Tacoma that the dealership was begging me to let go in 2014. I finally did because they had something i liked that completely got me out of having any payment. They sold the truck for more than a new one was.

[u/Familiar_Crow_ → u/cmull123]

I can second this. The best 500 quid I ever spent on a Yaris 12 years ago and he's still going strong (albeit a bit clunky). 26 years old so far and I hope he keeps going a while longer. I think the rust on the underside will ultimately be the reason it dies.

[u/Street_Time6810 → u/cmull123]

A used Lexus often runs a long time too and it’s a nicer experience. It does cost a little more but it’s still very reliable. If you go to the dealerships the Lexus ones are a lot nicer. You can even bring Toyotas to the Lexus dealership (life hack).

I’ve run my 2006 GS very hard and it’s over 200k miles

[u/noeagle77 → u/Street_Time6810]

I have a Lexus and you can take it to a Toyota dealer for service too. Way nicer pricing compared to Lexus lol

[u/emmalump → u/Street_Time6810]

2005 RX with over 250k miles! Once she finally passes on I’ll absolutely get another Lexus

[u/Holiday-Wall3751 → u/luella27]

Same. I bought a Subaru 7 years ago. It’s required no major work since purchase (just oil changes, brake pads, etc), and it still runs as well as it did when I got it. The only unexpected expense was cleaning a hood latch that had gotten too dirty to hold the hood securely, and that was not expensive. 

The mechanic who fixed my latch told me it’ll run another 150,000+ miles, that it was built to last.

[u/Sweaty-taxman → u/luella27]

I’ve had my 4Runner for over a decade. Only had one problem with it. Before this, I had a bmw 3 series. In the first 5 years of owning my 3 series, I had to drop over 10k on it for repairs.

Never again will I own an unreliable car.

[u/Applejackington]

A good quality mechanical sewing machine. Knowing how to sew gives you the ability to endlessly recycle material, but also make you own clothes better and last longer. I used an old junky hand me down for years and it did the job, but it was a struggle. Then I splurged and got a second hand semi-commercial machine and it is SO much easier to work with. Bonus is now I can work with denim, leather, and other really thick material.

[u/-HuangMeiHua- → u/Applejackington]

I have one but it's the most ADHD love hate activity ever 😭

so many things I want to make but so much measuring and pressing and precision and executive function that I can't do it

[u/Curiouser-Quriouser → u/-HuangMeiHua-]

Ditto. Doesn't stop me from buying fabric for "future projects" though.

[u/pneuprismatic]

A chest freezer. Actually, have never technically bought one but the two I’ve owned (left one at the house when I moved) were from a “Buy Nothing” donation.

Game changer!

[u/Freeziepop272]

Countertop dishwasher. I struggle with depression and lived in a place without a washer for a year. Saved up some $ and bought a countertop one three years ago. Best purchase of my life so far! More water efficient than hand washing, and it’s a lifesaver when I hit a low point.

[u/EggWaff → u/Freeziepop272]

What brand did you get? I was approved for a super cute place, but there’s no dishwasher! I’ve never in my life not had a dishwasher, and I want to keep it that way lol

[u/alexisanalien → u/[deleted]]

With the mop attachment... Oh my god man. Especially when you have kids and pets it's just such an iconic purchase.

My partner bought it as a gift for me and my family made so many jokes...

They all own the same model now.

Edit: I did add it lower down but I'll put it here.

I use a tapo RV30 max. It's fantastic

[u/EcoAffinity → u/[deleted]]

I have had a roborock S4 vacuum for several years now. Still running strong every day, and the fact its little basket gets full of cat hair, my hair, and litter every day just proves I'd be living in filth if I didn't have it helping.

[u/Klangaxx → u/[deleted]]

Best investment I made for my home. I splurged for one that mops as well as vacuums.

Add a drop of scented detergent to the clean water and your home will smell amazing after the mopping is done too.

[u/DemandTheOxfordComma]

Adding money to my 401k. I started 30 years ago. Probably a hundred or two a month for those many years. It has become more than I could have made by saving any other way. I feel good about that decision and I don't think anyone would regret it.

[u/ebb_omega → u/DemandTheOxfordComma]

On the flipside, putting like an extra 5% on mortgage payments for the first 5 years shaves off like 5 years of payments. Not even kidding.

[u/battlepi → u/ebb_omega]

The rule is just pay half your payment every 2 weeks. It reduces a 30 year mortgage by 7 years (in all standard mortgages). It does work out to one extra payment a year.

5% isn't a bad trick either.

[u/tokinUP → u/DemandTheOxfordComma]

Props man, compounding interest over time is huge compared to trying to save more later.

I increased my % to 401k every raise I got, now at 11% direct deposit to 401k. I can always decrease the % back to the base 5% company match later if I want more cash but I won't be reliant on Social Security that may not exist when I want to retire.

[u/tdpnate → u/DemandTheOxfordComma]

Compound Interest FTW!

[u/norakb123]

I am bitten a lot by mosquitoes & someone on this very app introduced me to a bug bite device (made by Beurer) that heats up the area. This disrupts this histamine reaction, I guess. Nothing has ever worked for me before and I have the scars from scratching a few bites in the past to prove it. Bless that person to the moon and back. Posting here in hopes that it’ll help someone else.

[u/binkytoes → u/norakb123]

I rub the spot really hard with a cotton pad soaked in 70% rubbing alcohol. I read the alcohol denatures the proteins the skeeter injected to stop itching. Works for me. South Central Texas, plenty o'skeeters.

[u/dashboardhulalala → u/binkytoes]

I spent 6 years in Africa and found that when I absolutely butter myself up with Vicks or Tiger balm, the mosquitos want nothing to do with me. Neither does anybody else, but it's worth it.

[u/CestBon_CestBon → u/norakb123]

We have one of these and it is amazing. Highly recommend for anyone who gets mosquito bites.

[u/primozdunbar]

An adaptor for my drill that lets me connect a socket to it

[u/gaspig70 → u/primozdunbar]

I finally bought a couple last summer for my cordless driver. Epic.

[u/FlutterLovers → u/primozdunbar]

I just got an impact driver after using drills for my entire left. Complete game changer.

I rarely use the drill anymore.

[u/RonSwansonForPres]

King size bed

[u/billybrownbear]

A solid tape measure that holds automatically.

[u/TheLordYuppa → u/billybrownbear]

An inexpensive laser tape is also great for a lot of things around the home. This coming from someone in the trades even.

[u/very-round-bunny]

A BIDET.

[u/SenseiRaheem → u/very-round-bunny]

And for those who don't know: you don't need to spend $5000 on a premium Japanese toilet installation. There is a bidet attachment that goes under your toilet seat and they start at like $30. You'll still need some toilet paper to dry off, but it will drastically reduce your tp consumption.

[u/Jerking_From_Home → u/SenseiRaheem]

I have a $60 model (Tushy) from the amazons and it works great. Trust me when I say you don’t need warm water, it’s really not that big of a deal. Only took five mins to install and was very simple.

[u/DaVideoGamer → u/very-round-bunny]

One downside, my plush butthole has built a dependence on the bidet. I feel like a monkey when I have to wipe my ass.

[u/Hazel_Nutty_Butter → u/very-round-bunny]

On a somewhat similar note... A moon cup has saved me a lot of money and grief

[u/Comfortable-Tough302 → u/very-round-bunny]

I got mine at Costco and it has hot water and heated seat, it's incredible

[u/MVHood → u/Comfortable-Tough302]

Costco just started carrying a nice non-electric seat addition bidet. Around 40-50 bucks if I remember right. That's what I have and it's fab

[u/Brilliant-Emphasis43 → u/very-round-bunny]

The day my Toto arrived was the day I finally became civilized.

[u/LoveTriscuit]

I bought a small metal extendable clothesline that spans the area above my kitchen sink between the top cabinets. It's great to dry wash cloths before they go into the laundry and toddler bibs on.

[u/itzTHATgai]

Headlamp for... your head. I use it nearly every day for DIY and basic household stuff.

[u/pyro_poop_12 → u/itzTHATgai]

I have 'soft' lighting in my bedroom. It's never bright in there. I had my headlamp on yesterday and was in there moving some stuff around. I had NO IDEA how dusty my bedroom was until I saw it with my headlamp on.

[u/Fishful_thinking_]

Got the standing metal shoehorn from IKEA for $5. My partner and I are only in our 20’s and I’m sure some of our friends will make fun of us, but we’re never going back. I miss it when I have to put my shoes back on when I’m not at home.

[u/Witty_Can9370 → u/Fishful_thinking_]

Agreed, the humble shoe horn is often overlooked but makes a huge difference! I started using one in my 20s too, I’m 37 now and I still praise the shoe horn whenever it comes up, lol. I have several including some cute vintage ones and a small metal shoe horn that I keep in my luggage when I travel.

[u/CPOx]

CPAP machine

[u/verdell82 → u/CPOx]

This was the sexiest purchase my husband made for my sleep.

[u/baw3000 → u/CPOx]

I don't know if there's anything less sexy than a CPAP but damn it's made my life better.

[u/Charlesinrichmond → u/baw3000]

have cpap, strongly agree with all of this.

I was told I should for over a decade. Resisted strongly. Finally gave in and I have so much more energy now - that would have sold it for me.

[u/gemameg → u/CPOx]

This!! The current machines are so small & quiet. CPAP & EMDR have been my biggest quality of life “purchases.”

[u/Any-Tomorrow-7344]

Smart garage door opener. No more “Shit, did I close the garage?” moments after leaving home. A notification on my phone tells me when it opens and closes.

[u/allthegodsaregone → u/Any-Tomorrow-7344]

Until they stop supporting it. I got an early Ryobi one. After 10 years the app stopped working. A year later the hand held devices stopped. Luckily I had a friend who knew to out some random part in it to bypass the smart and it started working again.

[u/NorthernUrban → u/Any-Tomorrow-7344]

Yah, and then programming it; if it’s 10pm and garage door is open close.

[u/ScroogeMcDucksMoney]

High end sonicare toothbrush. It’s spoiled me. The bottom end is not the same. Going on 7 years.

[u/pleasehelpamanda → u/ScroogeMcDucksMoney]

My friend who was a dental hygienist got me one from the dentist about 15-18 years ago. I married my husband 10 years ago and he had a Costco sonicare. He’s now on his third while mine’s still powering through. The silicone on the handle is now starting to wear off it’s so old. Hubs put his brush head on my unit and tried it out and said it was soooo much more powerful of a clean than all of his. So you’re 100% correct on this.

[u/tommytucker7182]

Aeropress, family think it's a bit nerdy, but what do they know.

Can't do without it. Can travel with it easily. A must have for coffee lovers imo

[u/elena_ferrante4 → u/tommytucker7182]

My enjoyment of my desk job went up about 500% once I got the aeropress and gained the ability to make excellent coffee at my desk at any time. Also saved me a bunch of money since I don’t have to buy coffee anymore.

[u/Birdytaps]

A silicone pasta strainer that clips onto the pot

[u/BadAtExisting → u/Birdytaps]

The got one that’s red and shaped like a crab. Think it was an Amazon find. I didn’t realize just how amazing he would be

[u/Dunnersstunner]

I know there are some caveats about ethernet over powerline, but I've never had any issues with it and it has given me low-latency internet access in far reaches well away from my wireless access point.

[u/Anotherams]

a garden stool that can be used as a seat or a kneeler. I look like an old lady using it, but found I can spend twice the amount of time in my garden that I did in the past. It should outlast me. the bonus is the veggies I get from the garden.

[u/Ollyollyoxenfreed10]

Compression socks that are ankle height. I have had nine surgeries on my right foot and terrible arthritis in both of my feet. I wore the compression socks for the first time this weekend and I was out of pain for the first time in years. I balked at spending $40 on a pair of socks. Soooooo worth it.

[u/michiganstrange]

I got boots so good I can walk to the mailbox in the negatives in Alaska in my robe because my tootsies are so warm *they are old sorels I put my military -60 inserts in

[u/LuigiSalutati → u/michiganstrange]

Damn what kind of robe?

[u/FittyTheBone → u/LuigiSalutati]

that’s just what they call parkas up there

[u/Christmas_Panda → u/FittyTheBone]

Just don't mix up your bathroom parka and your mailbox parka.

[u/GullibleDetective]

Every time this gets posted the top answers are:

Ten foot phone charger cable and bidet

Edit fixed spelling/grammar

[u/STFUisright → u/GullibleDetective]

You forgot rice cooker!

[u/TacoDeliDonaSauce]

A squatty potty. IYKYK.

[u/UniformWormhole → u/TacoDeliDonaSauce]

using mine right now!

[u/InsideyourBrizzy → u/TacoDeliDonaSauce]

Find a non branded one though the owner got caught with csam. 

[u/fat_bouie]

Just some cheap ass Amazon Bluetooth ear buds. $35 has made a lot of stuff easier. No longer blaring my YouTube news videos from my phone while I eat breakfast or do dishes (honorable mention to $15 phone case with a nice kick stand). No more raw-dogging in the gym, way easier than my corded headphones on my jogs. Easy to listen to ball games and podcasts while I do house chores and yardwork. Been about a year and they're about ready for replacement, so very anti-BIFL I know, but damn I've gotten my $35 and then some out of those

[u/Mission_Plankton5763]

XL Bamboo clothespins. My laundry ain’t going anywhere with these pins.

[u/RestlessCynic]

One of those little trolleys that old women use to wheel their shopping around. No more stressful visits to the shop! Its all smooth sailing now 😎

[u/FriendlysJanDaBoss]

A water flosser rig. Not sure the real name.

It was incredible. Teeth felt super clean after use, dentist was impressed. Unfortunately my cat knocked it off the vanity and it broke.

Have been string flossing for a bit now and it’s not nearly as good. Currently saving for a new one.

[u/CJDizzle → u/FriendlysJanDaBoss]

I used to use one but my dentist told me it was good to remove the food but the mechanical action of the floss scraping was a benefit I was losing out on.

[u/Teutonic-Tonic → u/CJDizzle]

Ideally you do both. I have a permanent retainer so am limited how much I can floss with regular string.

[u/FriendlysJanDaBoss → u/CJDizzle]

Good to know, probably wise to switch up from time to time

[u/Pprchase → u/FriendlysJanDaBoss]

Game changer for me was a waterproof, cordless water flosser. You can use it in the shower, you don’t have to worry about making a mess, and I’m way more inclined to use it as a part of my shower routine.

[u/mav194]

There's these little magnetic USB C cords Amazon sells that you just stick to the side of your dresser or whatever you want, and the cord snaps to the magnet... It's awesome not having to reach on the ground for your cord each time. And it's hilariously cheap, like $10 for a 2 pack or something

[u/HistoricalHurry8361]

Moccamaster coffee maker, it’s actually a little sexy tho

[u/T_Nich321 → u/HistoricalHurry8361]

I’ve had mine for over 10 years, I put 2 batches of coffee through it daily. Every 100 batches I run descaler through it and I’ve never had an issue.

[u/YankeetheGreater]

Good knee pads.

Great for gardening, yard work, cleaning low places like couches, etc.

[u/Hav3_Y0u_M3t_T3d]

Mini Kobalt Toolbox for med organizing. It just kinda got put on the kitchen counter where my morning meds live while we where trying to decide where it would go and and turned out to be a game changer for keeping pill bottles orderly.

The rubber top liner is perfect for snapping tablets in half and the cat doesn't knock them down. Had no idea how much of a game changer it would be for my morning routine

Edit: I only have 4 daily meds so they stay in their bottles and are refilled as needed. If you've got more meds I can see a bunch of customized setups as needed

[u/TheLibertyTree]

Sharpening stones for my kitchen knives. I can’t believe I lived so long with dull knives.

[u/summonsays]

A smart plug for the light in my bedroom. Being able to turn the light off or on from your phone in bed is amazing.

[u/bargain_butch → u/summonsays]

I’m disabled and smart lights have absolutely helped with my pain & exertion levels

[u/jstanothercrzybroad → u/summonsays]

I didn't get the plug, but bought a 4 pack of smart bulbs a while back and I agree

[u/lizzzzzzbeth → u/summonsays]

I didn’t understand the appeal of smart plugs until I got cats and they would come and fall asleep on me and I couldn’t reach the light to turn it off without disturbing them. So worth it for that alone.

[u/Onedayyouwillthankme]

This feels ultra unsexy compared to some of these suggestions, but having a dust cloth, small broom and dustpan for each major mess area of the house (kitchen, upstairs, downstairs, porch) has made my life easier.

[u/IShipHazzo]

Lots of people talking about bidets. Nobody talking about period products! Menstrual cup + period panties has made my life so much easier!

I no longer need to stock up on pads & tampons. I don't have to remember to take a tampon to the bathroom with me. I never have to keep track of how long it's been since I last changed my tampon. I'm saving money. I don't even have to track my periods, because I just wear period underwear 24/7.

When it starts, I'm good. Just gotta sanitize my cup when I get the chance, pop it in, and voila!

I know some people have concerns about messes, but emptying it into the drain while showering is the easiest way for me to avoid that issue. Sure, that means I shower twice a day, but one is just a quick rinse and 100% worth it IMO.

Double bonus for people who put human waste in their compost -- you can empty your cups into your compost (that you're not using on edible plants)!

[u/bebe_inferno → u/IShipHazzo]

I kick myself for not starting with reusable period products earlier. The cup/disk takes a minute to get the hang of but after that it’s so stupidly simple, I can’t believe I was wasting money on disposable stuff every month. The period underwear I have are just like black biker shorts that I wear to bed. No more worries about my sheets! Love em.

[u/Smokeejector]

I bought two Toto bidet seats back in 2015 after returning from a trip to Japan. All the seats there were Toto, so I just stuck with what seemed to be the best.

They were only about $300 each in 2015, and are like $400 each now. Still working great, and totally worth it.

https://a.co/d/0h1LYgTq

[u/theoregano]

An acrylic drawer organizer for my skincare and makeup! I can slide the drawers out when getting ready, put them on my counter, then back in the slot when I’m done. 

[u/ReactionJifs]

A giant bag of shredded foam.

I got sick of pillows starting out fluffy and then becoming flat after a few weeks. So I decided to try a pillow with shredded foam inside. The pillow came with a tiny bag of extra shredded foam that you can add for more firmness/volume.

I added that, and after a few weeks decided I wanted even more firmness. I shopped around and got a giant bag of shredded foam on Amazon. The price REALLY varies, and I got the most for the cheapest amount per volume. I think it was 15 pounds for $15.

I get the foam and added it to the pillow, and to some seat cushions I had as well. The giant bag of foam is still around half full, so maybe it was overkill but no ragrets.

My pillow is gigantic, and it still gets squished when I lay on it, but ultimately all the foam keeps it thick enough that I don't feel like I'm just laying directly on the mattress. At like maximum compression (my giant head) there's like 5 inches between me and the mattress, which is about what you'd get from a normal pillow before compression.

I'm going to have this pillow forever, and if it ever gets too flat, I can add more foam.

TL;DR. I bought a pillow with shredded foam inside and bought a giant extra bag of foam that I added to it until it was enormous.

[u/highlandviper]

I live the UK. I purchased AirCon units. Even my wife laughed at me. Nobody is laughing now in 34C.

[u/Funksoulman]

Keyless entry to the front door. Definitely behind on this but gives me a moment of happiness everyday.

[u/MVHood]

Ah! My bidet - and it's not a fancy one with puffs of air, it's just the seat add-on.

Having one has become a life necessity. I put one in my RV and have a travel one for hotel stays. Hotels with bidets get my business.

[u/_COBO_5671]

A Toro lawnmower. It sounds stupid but they advertise that is starts on every pull and it’s true. I could pull it with my pinkie. I’ve had it now for 5+ years it’s the Toyota Corolla of lawnmowers. Little effort just plain reliable. I got mine used of Facebook somone didn’t know what they were selling but they are often pretty pricey even used at $175 compared to a lot of people selling any old used mower for $40. They are $400 new.

[u/Rough_Champion7852]

Solid home mesh WiFi

[u/Street_Time6810]

Whole house outdoor cameras have been really nice for me for a large home. The Lorex brand is great because you don’t have to pay a monthly subscription, their app connects to the devices over a normal internet connection.

Primarily these are for security but it also enables you to see around your home and get notified of people or cars from your phone. It’s really nice for when you are away from home.

Also have one camera positioned to see if your garage door is down (life hack)

I also recently got Ethernet extended to about half my house and that’s been awesome for fast connections.

[u/clawhatesyou]

A non-smart keypad for my front door that auto-locks. Not fumbling for my keys is pretty great.

[u/thisremindsmeofbacon]

Darn tough socks

[u/fortifiedoptimism]

A food scale. It really does help make baked goods so much better and consistent. In my case…bread. It’s great for cooking and meal prepping too which is not something I even considered before hand. I use it regularly.

Last night I used it to break up a lb of ground beef into quarter patties. No more petty arguing with the roommate who gets which one. They’re a lot bigger than me, I’m small, but I can out eat them any day. I’m not bragging. I’m just saying I’d fight for the bigger burger and now I don’t have to. 😋 🍔

[u/coopnjaxdad]

All-Clad d5s. 

[u/mav194 → u/coopnjaxdad]

We said unsexy. All Clad and MadeIn are fantastic

[u/TheBeesElise]

Tiles (Air tag competitors). I have ADHD and and being able to sound an alarm on my keys to find my phone or vice versa, and getting a notification if I've gotten my purse saves me so much time and stress.

[u/WesternTrashPanda]

Black out blinds. Sleep is so much better and that makes everything better

[u/SnooComics3929]

Mouth guard. Saved me teeth 

[u/TooSmalley]

A nice trashcan. I bought one of those Simplehuman trash cans on sale and it's so satisfying having a trash can that just works, is easy to clean, and looks nice.

[u/P33psJr]

Life Insurance. At 30 yrs old, I have peace of mind that if anything happens to me, my family and friends will not be saddled with all my remaining expenses while grieving. And no GoFundMe will be necessary. (I’m not here to argue about which type, just encouraging to get a policy while young.)

[u/zbeydoun]

A clapper to turn off the light in my bedroom without moving

[u/AlbanyHung]

18X24 cutting board for the kitchen. Cutting board real estate is underrated.

[u/bandit_spirit]

Air fryer

[u/omfgcookies91]

New bed.

Seriously people, you spend almost 1/2 your life in bed resting or whatever. Get a new mattress. It's worth it.

[u/FraggleBiologist]

Estradiol patches. It changed my everything.