this post was submitted on 01 Jul 2025
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[–] nandeEbisu@lemmy.world 1 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

I got a cheap office chair when I moved out after college. It was like $15+20 and it's super comfortable and still use it daily over 10 years later.

It's just foam stapled to plywood but really good support.

[–] three@lemmy.zip 109 points 1 week ago (21 children)

One of these stainless steel bars of "soap". It's for getting onion and garlic smell off your hands. I was skeptical when my partner bought it, but it totally works. Rub on your hands under cold water and it's like you never even looked at the garlic.

[–] Venus_Ziegenfalle@feddit.org 34 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Fyi this also works with a steel faucet or sink in a pinch

[–] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world 38 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (8 children)

Okay so maybe I've grown to used to the smell of garlic but is it a common problem that people are worried about their hands smelling like garlic/onions? Maybe it's because I wash dishes as I cook, so whatever I chopped/prepared them on I would have washed in the sink while it started to heat up in the pan, but I guess I need to sniff my fingers more after doing so.

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[–] tetris11@lemmy.ml 87 points 1 week ago (13 children)

One way window heat shield. Reflects 85‰ of the UV back out. Sticks to the window using only water.

Noticeable difference in temperature for any sun-facing windows

[–] wiccan2@lemmy.world 22 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

I did this at my last House and it was fantastic.

Just need to remember that once it's dark outside the reflective side "switches" and everyone can see clearly into the house.

[–] SSUPII@sopuli.xyz 33 points 1 week ago (1 children)

That's just how a normal window works

[–] wiccan2@lemmy.world 32 points 1 week ago

Yes but the film has a one-way mirror effect and most people don't put 2 and 2 together and think the window is opaque when is not.

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[–] Vinny_93@lemmy.world 73 points 1 week ago (6 children)

Oh man, there's this German company Beurer that makes simple equipment for medical home application. They make this sort of zapper thing, which is battery oper and it just heats the shit out of a little ceramic plate. Put that on a bug bite, it heats away the irritation. No more itch, no more venom in your body, just gone.

I am no longer careful around biting bugs. Keep in mind it's not supposed to work for stingers.

I figured for 15 euros it'd be too bad if it doesn't work but I now can't imagine not having it.

I've since also bought a TENS/EMS machine of theirs and a laser hair removal tool is underway for my wife.

I completely trust this company based on just two products.

[–] Lemminary@lemmy.world 37 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

Oh wow, there's a product out there? I've been heating the back of a spoon on the stove and applying it directly to the skin for a minute all these years. You gotta do it carefully, but it works very well!

NerdageThe mechanism relies on denaturing the mosquito proteins injected with the bite. Meaning the heat causes the proteins to loosen up and deform so they no longer interact with the surrounding tissues in the same way.

[–] idiomaddict@lemmy.world 20 points 1 week ago

I’ve just run a spoon under the hottest possible tap water. It’s hot enough to work and it’s not hot enough to actually burn you

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[–] liyah27@lemmy.world 58 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Broke single mom here. My H&M usually offers a buy one get one discount on boys’ cotton boxers, so whenever I buy a pack for my 12 year old son, I grab myself one as well and they serve pretty well as pajama shorts which I pair with a cheap oversized cotton tee.

[–] misteloct@lemmy.dbzer0.com 42 points 1 week ago (9 children)

For some reason it makes me happy you're on here, I thought it was all tech neckbeards. Wish your family luck in bargain hunting!

[–] GrantUsEyes@lemmy.zip 38 points 1 week ago (2 children)

As a fellow non tech person... There are dozens of us!!

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[–] KoboldCoterie@pawb.social 47 points 1 week ago (15 children)

A roll of really heavy duty velcro. The kind that can, for example, stick a sledge hammer to a wall. It's about $12 for 5 feet or so, and about a 1" piece is sufficient for most tasks, so it lasts a very long time. I use it for all kinds of stuff; it's amazing how many uses for it you find when you have it.

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[–] TheFlopster@lemmy.world 37 points 1 week ago (17 children)

I bought a reusable tote for like $3 in the section at the front of Target where they stick all the cheap stuff. It looks like it's made of woven burlap. It says "Going to Market" on the sides. It's shorter than the standard reusable tote, but a reasonable width.

I bought it on a whim and thought it would sit in my trunk after I forgot about it. I use it all the time, and I've gotten a ton of compliments on it at checkouts of various stores.

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[–] hakase@lemmy.zip 35 points 1 week ago (5 children)

$20 bread maker I found at at a thrift store. There's no telling how many hundreds of loaves of healthy, fresh baked wheat bread I've churned out of that thing over the past two years, especially now that we're grinding our own wheat too.

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[–] r0ertel@lemmy.world 32 points 1 week ago (10 children)

An Aeropress. I bought it when work removed the free coffee and was super surprised at how good it tasted vs what they were serving. Later, I found a bean hand grinder that fits right inside the Aeropress plunger and now I take it on work trips, vacation and camping.

It's not fully inclusive for $20 because you need a cup, some way to procure and heat water and beans but still, it's served me well.

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[–] Zier@fedia.io 31 points 1 week ago (10 children)

Metal Chopsticks $9 https://www.amazon.com/BamLue-Stainless-Chopsticks-Dishwasher-Restaurant/dp/B07RTNWLM1 These are no longer for sale. They are not just for eating. Great for deseeding jalapenos, tomatos. Mixing small sauces. Too many uses to list. They are super durable. Very 'buy it for life' vibes. The tip texture is the most helpful. Not to be used as Ninja weapons.

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[–] vaionko@sopuli.xyz 30 points 1 week ago (5 children)

A Victorinox Swiss army knife. Bought it used for 10€, and it has everything from a very good blade to screwdrivers, a bottle opener, pen and tweezers. Always in my pocket in case I need it.

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[–] kayzeekayzee@lemmy.blahaj.zone 27 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Once found a whole functioning pc (minus ram and the hard drive) at a thrift store for $3. My guess is it came from an office, and when they plugged it in, and when it didn't work, they assumed it was junk. Actual value of the parts was like $300.

[–] pineapplelover@lemmy.dbzer0.com 24 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (3 children)

A swiss army knife sd classic. I have it on my keychain and use it a lot

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[–] nebulaone@lemmy.world 23 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)
  • knife sharpening steel
  • squeezing bidet (made me realize how gross using toilet paper is)
  • caffeine pills (extremely cheap [15€ for 180pcs. x 200mg] compared to coffee and great if you're in a hurry)
  • Raspberry Pi Zero (tiny single board computer, tbh not in use anymore, but I had fun tinkering for days)
  • remote controlled power outlets
  • easily cleanable drinking bottle and switching to drinking tap water
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[–] rouxdoo@lemmy.world 23 points 1 week ago (5 children)

A package of blue-tack - it is basically sticky play-dough that is completely opaque and you can use wads of it to blunt the pain of stupid LEDs on on your tech shit. I am currently sitting in my living room looking at my TV and various components including router and stuff...easily 20 gobs of blue-tack masking 20 blinking LEDs.

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[–] Nemo@slrpnk.net 22 points 1 week ago (4 children)

Wool poncho. I've used it to stay warm, stay cool, as a groundcloth under my sleeping bag, as a blanket, as a pillow, as a decorative throw, as a cat bed, as a picnic blanket, as a beach blanket. It's incredibly useful and versatile.

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[–] jinwk00@sh.itjust.works 21 points 1 week ago

A screwdriver kit with multiple head tips, can repair almost anything as long as I am given some schematics

[–] Venus_Ziegenfalle@feddit.org 20 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Opinel carbon steel pocket knife. They're awesome. Cheap, robust and easy to keep sharp. Just need to oil the blade every now and then for corrosion resistance and you're good to go.

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