What is a small, cheap purchase you’ve made recently that has significantly improved your quality of life in the UK?

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TomLondra@reddit

Sodium bicarbonate ear drops.

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Pyjama365@reddit

Strongly recommended*against* by my audiologist, unless you have significant build-up if *hard* wax. He said unless someone has actually confirmed that, you risk it damaging your ears, and oil-based drops should be enough for the vast majority of people.

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TomLondra@reddit

In fact I was prescribed it by medical practice. I wouldn't use it all the time.

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RhubarbImmediate7007@reddit

I have a nice pen. Not Mont Blanc nice, just a good fountain pen. Nice weight, looks smart, writes well. I buy grey ink rather than black, it’s just subtly lighter in shade. It brings me so much satisfaction that I enjoy writing. It slows me down and makes me concentrate on what I’m writing and as a result it helps me remember what I’ve written. I love it. I have a Parker flighter 45 GT, it cost me about £20 5 years ago and I use it every day.

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bellabanjsk@reddit

Antibiotics. Best £9.90 I’ve ever spent.

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RelationIcy7250@reddit (OP)

Wait, you can get those for £9.90? Is that a standard prescription price or a specific pharmacy deal? That's actually a lifesaver to know.

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Timely-Chemistry7449@reddit

In the UK all our prescriptions are £9.90. All of them. Because we have the NHS. I even have a widely available certificate where I pay £9.90 per month and no matter how many perscriptions I need and it just costs that.

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Difficult-Vacation-5@reddit

How does one get the certificate?

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Connie--Lingus@reddit

Google prepayment certificate for prescriptions and sign up, you dont need to pass anything to qualify, anyone can apply!

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Difficult-Vacation-5@reddit

Wow. Just checked the site. This is really good info. Thank you!

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Connie--Lingus@reddit

I've done it for years and it saves so much money! If you (or anyone) takes at least 1 regular medication, it's paid for itself already. I recommend the 12 month one, i have never had to think about it, renew it or prove it at a pharmacy.

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Timely-Chemistry7449@reddit

[https://www.gov.uk/get-a-ppc](https://www.gov.uk/get-a-ppc) (the Government website)

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oscarx-ray@reddit

In England and Wales they are. In Scotland they're £0. Not sure about Northern Ireland though.

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TubbyLittleTeaWitch@reddit

Not a UK thing, just an England thing. The rest of us get NHS prescriptions for free.

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SneezlesForNeezles@reddit

If you have recurring prescriptions, you can also fudge the timing. Put one in and buy the pre-payment as you collect it. Put the others in a week or so early so you end up with a bonus prescription. Four sets of prescriptions in three months, wait until you're about to run out to start again. I usually buy three of the three month cards a year, so get three months free.

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Creepy-Rule-4571@reddit

Standard prescription price in the UK if you're not exempt paying the prescription charge

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Flashy_Mortgage9093@reddit

Standard to England. Free in Wales.

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Creepy-Rule-4571@reddit

Oops you're right, I should have remembered that from when I lived in Edinburgh too!

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Alarmed_Cow_192@reddit

That’s the standard NHS prescription cost

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Bksudbjdua@reddit

I'm confused why you are paying for them?

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bellabanjsk@reddit

Everyone over 18 and not on benefits pays for them.

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Cheeko-chi@reddit

And in England, it’s free across the border.

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bellabanjsk@reddit

Ahh those Scots have all the fun. And rain.

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Odd_Explanation558@reddit

Spray mop. £10.

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Goats_Are_Funny@reddit

A big bottle of Swarfega Orange. Smells nice, I can use it as a scrub and a hand cleaner.

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SpunkSacks@reddit

What. For your body?

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Goats_Are_Funny@reddit

Yes, it's a commercial grade hand cleaner

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RelationIcy7250@reddit (OP)

How much was iit going for?

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Goats_Are_Funny@reddit

A 4 litre bottle is going for just under £20 on eBay. Screwfix and Toolstation sell it for a bit more. 450ml bottles are also available.

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KuromiFan95@reddit

Just a heads up, OP's account is AI and farming engagement. I'm aware I'm contributing to said engagement, but hopefully it discourages people from commenting.

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PracticeNo8733@reddit

I think it's hard to be sure as people have thought the same thing about me. But the fact OP is hiding their comment history makes it hugely suspicious to me, as checking history is the best way to know. I think hidden comment history is a terrible thing for Reddit and will likely lead to a much higher slop ratio.

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Lottiepop420@reddit

But it's an interesting thread and there's absolutely no loss to me in reading or commenting on it. If it wasn't interesting to people, it wouldn't have any traction, so why does it matter?

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KuromiFan95@reddit

It's asked every other day, and in giving an answer you're contributing to Reddit being overrun by AI shit rather than content written by humans. Think about the bigger picture. If you're okay with that, be my guest!

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ActionBirbie@reddit

Source?

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KuromiFan95@reddit

See my other comment answering the same question.

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811545b2-4ff7-4041@reddit

For a supposed AI, they seem to reply like a human

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KuromiFan95@reddit

They do, but their prompting is still shit to anyone with a keen eye for it.

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811545b2-4ff7-4041@reddit

The "specific dehumidifier brand" bit is rather suspect I guess, as anything good is certainly not under £20. It didn't quite trigger my personal 'AI slop' detector!

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etang77@reddit

How do you know?

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KuromiFan95@reddit

General cadence of speech, intentional typos, AI slop words - to name a few!

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JTC93@reddit

And also this question gets asked like almost everyday.

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Itchy-Book402@reddit

I like scents. So when I'm at M&S outlet, I buy these home scents at a discount. They cost £2.50, I apply them to the sink, and they make my bathroom smell amazing.

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TurbulentEffect99@reddit

In what form are these scents? Some sort of liquid?

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Itchy-Book402@reddit

They are sold as refills for the bamboo stick diffusers.

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TurbulentEffect99@reddit

You apply oils to the sink?

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Itchy-Book402@reddit

Yes, I just shake it over the sink, so a few drops land in the sink basin

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TurbulentEffect99@reddit

Cool, I'll have to give that a try.

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Timely_Cake_917@reddit

Usually solid, but some days it's just all liquid. Doesn't smell too good after a spicy kebab the night before though.

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RelationIcy7250@reddit (OP)

Ty for this...will try it for sure💯

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Itchy-Book402@reddit

You're welcome! I like that method, because they are oily, so applying them to the sink makes them easier to wash

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RelationIcy7250@reddit (OP)

Applying them to the sink is a genius hack. I usually just use those generic sprays that last five minutes. Do the M&S ones actually last a while or do you have to reapply every day

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Itchy-Book402@reddit

I apply them occasionally, and when I have guests :) I don't think they last more than a day.

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Esoteric_Prurience@reddit

I remember when I was in my first home, just me, and I remembered home scents exist. Since then my homes have consistently had the scent of sandalwood permeating every room. The day I hit 30 was also the day I realised Aesop was finally in my budget - it was simultaneously the death of my youth and my ascent into glorious scented rooms.

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Key_Hearing5146@reddit

A 10£ heated throw or electric blanket absolute game changer for UK winters without cranking the heating.

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RelationIcy7250@reddit (OP)

I’ve heard so much about these! Does it actually save that much on the heating bill? I’m always worried about the safety of leaving them on too long, but for £10 it sounds like a steal.

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Blue_wine_sloth@reddit

The one I got from Lidl automatically shuts off after 2 hours for safety!

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Blue_wine_sloth@reddit

I got one of those from Lidl a couple of months ago! Was sceptical but it’s so cosy. Now that it’s finally getting warmer I may not need it but it’s comforting to curl up under it on the sofa!

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TeikaDunmora@reddit

I bought a heated hoodie recently and it's wonderful. I think I'll be living in it when the winter comes.

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First_Recognition_91@reddit

This!!

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AutoModerator@reddit

It looks like you've written the pound sign (£) after the number 10, but it should be written before the number like this: `£10`. ^(I am an annoying bot, so please don't be offended.) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskUK) if you have any questions or concerns.*

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Poethegardencrow@reddit

Kärcher hoover, affordable and honestly amazing!

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Dead_Bones001@reddit

Under £20?

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811545b2-4ff7-4041@reddit

Not overly cheap, but just ordered a £75 screen to go in my car that adds Android Auto/Apple Carplay, and a 4K dashcam. I've just persuaded my GP to prescribe me some high-strength antihistamines that I hope will deal with allergy flair-ups I've been having beyond my regular hayfever. Milking my medication exception card to avoid buying them over the counter. Free! But otherwise about £7 on Amazon so cheaper than a prescription. Water flosser, but a compact travel one - (£19) [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cordless-Irrigator-Telescopic-Waterproof-Electric/dp/B0D25MB8W7?th=1](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cordless-Irrigator-Telescopic-Waterproof-Electric/dp/B0D25MB8W7?th=1) Compact hanging rubbish bin to go in the cars and avoid the mess the kids make - £5.99 - [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hanging-Washable-Waterproof-Detachable-Travelling/dp/B0FYP49NKF](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hanging-Washable-Waterproof-Detachable-Travelling/dp/B0FYP49NKF)

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SomeWankyUsername@reddit

A Brita water filter, about £13. I'm on a mission to achieve proper hydration after a urine test revealed I am chronically dehydrated (which I kinda suspected), so anything that can make our tapwater more bearable can only be a good thing.

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ShortFlamingo3409@reddit

Merino wool socks. Initially for winter warmth but now got some for summer as well. They just don't smell at all and keep my feet at a constant temperature whether it's hot or cold. I started with fairly expensive ones but now get Chinese ones from Amazon for around £10-15 a set.

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ShadoGear@reddit

Endoscope to finally clear out my ears.

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SuzyDean@reddit

Lidl rice cooker. Think it was £15 when we bought it, it's at least 7 years old and still going strong.

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One-Sea-4077@reddit

Wooden tongs for getting crumpets out of the toaster.

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RelationIcy7250@reddit (OP)

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve almost burned my fingers or considered using a fork (which I know is a bad idea). Wooden tongs are actually a shout. Where did you get yours?

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KuromiFan95@reddit

The fork thing is a misconception, it's fine.

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columnradiator@reddit

I once blew up a toaster with a spectacular spark arcing across the kitchen airspace when I used a knife in my youth. So I haven’t used cutlery again for the last 30 years. But go for it!

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KuromiFan95@reddit

...was it toasting something at the time?

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columnradiator@reddit

Hmm that’s an interesting point that’s got me thinking. I was somewhere around 12 I think so definitely dumb enough to be sticking the knife in when it was still going. That would explain the fireworks, as compared with touching toaster elements that aren’t on!

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KuromiFan95@reddit

Yup, hence the common misconception! Obviously better safe than sorry, but generally speaking there's no harm at all if the toaster's plugged in but not toasting anything.

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Total_Inflation_7898@reddit

Ours were from Lakeland

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One-Sea-4077@reddit

John Lewis for about a fiver!

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ImHereTooIGues@reddit

I have a pair but I've gotten lazy with using them. My current, free, method is to pull the handle down so it retracts but doesn't latch, before quickly pushing the handle up so the toasted item is launched out the slot. 9 times out of 10 it lands on its side on top of the toaster, the other time it falls back into the slot where the cycle repeats

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butterflyrattle@reddit

Mine have a little magnet on the end so I can stick them to the toaster!

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ShortFlamingo3409@reddit

I used to do that until mum tried cleaning my toaster (she had no idea a crumb tray exists in every toaster) and killed it. My new toaster has extra space to lift the handle up which raises the toast up out of the slot. It's great.

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RiskItForAChocHobnob@reddit

I bought a two pack when I was still living with my parents. Dad slagged them off when I bought them, saying they were unnecessary. He then had me leave one behind with him, when I moved out.

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Top-Mathematician261@reddit

Food freezer cubes. Meal preparation is easy now. I only cook once a week and i spend a lot less

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Old_Introduction_395@reddit

Cotton pillowcases.

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ShortFlamingo3409@reddit

Silk pillowcases. I got them to help manage adult acne and it's completely cleared up.

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bladefiddler@reddit

Gym membership. Nothing fancy, just my local puregym so within the £20. Having sat on my arse getting very fat for the last 7 or 8 years and now being in the wrong end of my 40s I really need to get myself in check before it's too late. It's humbling to start again from such a diminished point (I got very into it about a decade ago, and trained 4x/week for 3-4 years) but it feels great to be taking active control of my body again and beginning to see results, in my lift numbers if not yet my waistline!

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SpunkSacks@reddit

A tomato knife from Victorinox.

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NormasCherryPie@reddit

I LOVE MY VICTORINOX TOMATO KNIFE. HE IS MY CHILD. MY WONDERFUL MULTIPURPOSE CHILD.

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SpunkSacks@reddit

Exactly. You could use it for anything. And it doesn’t seem to blunt.

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RelationIcy7250@reddit (OP)

Thts a good one!

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Davidp243@reddit

A really long charging wire that has all the different chargers attached at the end. Looks a bit like a cat o nine tails but means I don’t have to faff around trying to find where the right charger is anymore!

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Difficult-Vacation-5@reddit

Link please? 🥺

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pmazdan9@reddit

Victorinox keyring multitool. I bought model called rambler which is £30, but you can get classic sd mini for under £20 which is the same minus philips screwdriver. I keep it on my keys so it's with me every time I'm out, it's incredibly good and useful. I often use tweezers to sort out any hangnails, knife to open this annoying plastic packaging, theres a nail file too and quality mini scissors, and a toothpick. I can't recommend it enough and as with any SAK it's basically a buy for life product!

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kodiakfilm@reddit

£5 usb-powered desk fan absolutely saved me from death last summer when the air con in my office was broken and we were all literally dying during the heatwaves. even not during a heatwave it was still nice to have

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AlternativeParfait13@reddit

Chimney starter for a bbq. Effortless lighting of charcoal without using chemicals.

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MFA_Nay@reddit

£9 Anker USB-C cable which is 1.8 meters long. God it makes things so much easier.

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AlternativeParfait13@reddit

Second hand Aeropress for coffee. Excellent coffee maker, and travels well.

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CoffeeIgnoramus@reddit

Soft close toilet seat (obviously the more expensive ones are even nicer but possible to find under £20)

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RelationIcy7250@reddit (OP)

Was it easy to install yourself?"

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Gloomy_Custard_3914@reddit

It's super easy, I got one too

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SuzyDean@reddit

We gotone from amazon for £15. Dead easy to fit (unless you have an unusual shaped loo)

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Spadders87@reddit

I just got a mcdonalds and won £50 (the other 3 cards i was gifted). Now i can buy 5 more mcdonaldses. That count?

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RelationIcy7250@reddit (OP)

That definitely counts! Turning a cheap meal into £50 is the ultimate quality of life improvement. What are you going to spend the winnings on (besides more nuggets)?

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Spadders87@reddit

Putting it in to a kitty with the office (donors of other cards) to buy more mcdonalds. MIght get 2 rounds out of it.

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Odd-Paramedic-3826@reddit

bike from facebook marketplace. £130 for a bike usually worth £400 because the guy was clearing out. I've been out on it every day

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andreibirsan92@reddit

A £16 air blower from aliexpress . Made cleaning my computer a lot easier and cooking barbeques twice as fast

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RelationIcy7250@reddit (OP)

I never thought about using one for a barbecue, that is actually brilliant. Does the battery last a while on those cheap ones or do you have to keep it plugged in?

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andreibirsan92@reddit

I think 15 minutes on the max speed . About 40 minutes on the lowest . More than enough for my use

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ThatLNGuy@reddit

A white noise machine. Was finding I couldnt sleep and or woke up early so picked up a machine for about £20. Has a few settings like rain, white brown and pink noise. Its on loud enough that it drowns out other noises but not too loud that its hard to sleep. Knocks me out faster than any other sleeping aid ive had and dont often get woken up early.

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GloomySwitch6297@reddit

IEMs (Zero 2) Some tools (saved me plenty of time around the car and bikes) Organic cotton high quality t-shirts

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Modwenna@reddit

Half price clothes steamer from Curry's, works great & no need to get the whole ironing shebang out.

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AudioLlama@reddit

Bench scraper. Great for moving ingredients about and for clean up and preparing food. Only cost a few quid.

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HamiltonC0rk@reddit

Digital kitchen scale, potato ricer, this little zip up pouch I keep my electronics in for commuting, and a tiny towel rail that clips over the top of a kitchen cabinet door next to the sink.

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barnshaw292@reddit

a £4 LED toilet light from Temu, it turns on at night when you walk in toilet but can see you quite far away so it lights my dark toilet at night so its easy to see, its great

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Neddlings55@reddit

Overnight eye drops. Menopause and getting older are expensive.

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Rubostars@reddit

Universal sockets. Bought a few of them, no more dealing with adaptors to plug all my Schuko and Chinese plug appliances and electronics

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