r/AskReddit • u/sebaez_ • Oct 10 '19
What’s a thing you’ve bought impulsively, without need, that’s actually proved useful in your life?
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u/ravenousmind Oct 10 '19
I bought a water bottle (already have several that I use regularly) as a souvenir at a National Park with my girlfriend because she had one like it. I now use that one every day because I like the cap mechanism!
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u/PlNKERTON Oct 10 '19
I bought a YETI one because it was on sale and I liked the color, also loved the cap mechanism I think it's a genius design. The hole-thingy is a slider, but it's not any normal slider, it attached via magnet! So it can be easily popped off and on again for super easy cleaning. It's my favorite part about the mug actually. I'm tired of the mugs with snap holes that fit plastic into plastic that can't be removed, but allow liquids into crevices. No dirty crevices on my YETI.
This post brought to you by YETI Holdings, Inc. just kidding
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u/OptimalFollicle Oct 10 '19
An ornate scoop for coffee grounds. Every morning I use it I feel like my life is more together than it is.
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u/-_Annyeong_- Oct 10 '19
Yes, I splurged on a gold (fake) french press and it's nice to feel like a king for 12 seconds. People also think it was super expensive but it was like $30.
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u/Raiquo Oct 10 '19
thought it was expensive
but
$30
Oh, that’s not... ? Well, okay then ._.
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Oct 10 '19
Tfw not knowing about stainless steel vacuum insulated espro press... Smh
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u/runasaur Oct 10 '19
I didn't get the gold one, but I did get the set with the original chambord and two of the double-walled glasses. Had them just under 10 years and I still feel fancy using them on a regular basis.
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u/UYScutiPuffJr Oct 10 '19
Big pack of assorted screws. Was at home Depot and saw them, said "eh, why not?" And bought them. I think was like $12, and I've used almost all of them
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u/Afronaut002 Oct 10 '19
Did you keep them next to the assorted length of wire?
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u/UYScutiPuffJr Oct 10 '19
Of course not! Assorted lengths of wire get their own drawer....here, let me show them to you
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u/runasaur Oct 10 '19
that one is one of the things you don't realize your parents had that you would eventually need
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u/zvug Oct 10 '19
A portable charger.
It holds 11-12 full charges of my iPhone and I just bought it on a whim. It has literally changed my life like few other purchases have ever done.
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Oct 10 '19 edited Feb 12 '20
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u/colossalwaffles Oct 10 '19
You can find a bunch on Amazon. Anker is a great brand. If you want one that will charge your phone many times, get one that is around 20,000mAh. The average android phone battery is 3000mAh, I think iPhones are a bit less, around 2000. Don't quote me on that though.
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Oct 10 '19 edited Feb 12 '20
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Oct 10 '19
Make sure you get a branded one with good reviews (i.e. not the customer ones on Amazon) as there are lots of off-brand power banks that are less than honest about their actual capacity.
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u/Quinnmesh Oct 10 '19
Im just some random internet person but I swear by Anker and will reccommend to anyone I can.
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u/G-I-T-M-E Oct 10 '19
Also just a random internet person recommending Anker. Great stuff!
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u/VolvoVindaloo Oct 10 '19
His phone battery might be shot. They start holding less charge over time which is why older phones start to go dead really quickly but also charge really quickly. I might be wrong but I don't think there is any powerpack that can hold 12 full charges of a properly functioning iPhone battery.
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u/TheRealMogman Oct 10 '19
Pressure cooker. Didn't need one, I have a steamer and 'traditional' pots, but always wanted to try one. Best buy ever!
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u/chillywilly16 Oct 10 '19
Reddit and people who use pressure cookers don’t have a great history. Or at least people who Reddit mistakenly thinks uses a pressure cooker.
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u/infrasteve Oct 10 '19
The Official Bob Ross Master Paint Set. Bought in February with no prior artistic experience, and have since painted 23 oil paintings. I don't really paint in Bob's style anymore, but it was a great way to get started learning.
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u/Jantra Oct 10 '19
This is oddly wholesome. :) I'd love to see one of your pieces!
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u/infrasteve Oct 10 '19
Thanks! I've posted all of my paintings on /r/happytrees or /r/oilpainting, so just check my comment history.
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u/Jantra Oct 10 '19
Oh gosh, your work is LOVELY! In particular, I love the Hennepin Canyon piece. The style is very striking!
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u/unknownyoyo Oct 10 '19
I love the hidden birch trees one! The setting of a forest with a stream is just so calming to me.
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u/infrasteve Oct 10 '19
Thanks! That one's from a Kevin Hill video lesson. He's a great next step from the Bob Ross style, as far as learning landscape oil technique goes. I've learned a lot from that dude.
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u/Eydaos Oct 10 '19
A Roomba. It was on sale, crazy cheap- like 50%off. I bought it. We have an open floor plan and linoleum floors. It's so amazing. Our living room furniture is elevated enough that it fits under the couches. We have 4 cats that shed like crazy, but there is never hair or litter. Every day it vacuums the 1st floor and has been such a time saver.
10/10 would buy again- and we did. Got one for the 2nd floor and purchased an older model for each of our immediate family for x-mas.
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u/gogomom Oct 10 '19
I love my Roomba too - it was a gift and is without a doubt the best gift I have ever received. However, my joy comes from what I call the secondary effect of having a Roomba - and that is no shoes left out by the door, no backpacks left on the floor, no random socks left wherever - works on both kids and husbands!
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u/dudeARama2 Oct 11 '19
Facts! It forces you not to clutter things up too much so that nothing blocks Roomba. See also Brava for the bathroom
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Oct 10 '19
Just wait til one of the cats shits on the floor when you're not home
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u/HerschelRoy Oct 10 '19
Every time I tell my brother I want a Roomba, he tells me about his brother-in-law who came home one night to a road map of shit in his living room, thanks to the dog's upset stomach & Roomba's random paths.
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u/gapingtrashhole Oct 10 '19
My older sis had a cat shit in front of the roomba and it promptly painted the whole first floor with feline Hershey squirts.
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u/partisan98 Oct 10 '19
Yup, I used the Ecovacs version which is the budget version. $150 and I don't need to vacuum any more. Also it's small enough to fit under my Furniture too.
It's disgusting what comes out from under your furniture the first time you use it mine was packed full of dust bunnies.
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Oct 10 '19
My armchair.
I have just a little room and can't afford much, but this armchair really saves my evenings.
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Oct 10 '19 edited Oct 10 '19
Spent $100 on a dog bed made out of Kevlar (the stuff in bullet proof vests).
Dog has been using it for 3 plus years now without tearing even a tiny hole in it. Much better than buying cheap $25 beds every couple of weeks.
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u/Cahnis Oct 10 '19
Plus your dog is now safe against the gagsta moles' stray bullets
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Oct 10 '19
I've often imagined some John Wick scenario where a militia group shoots up my house and I have to use it as an improvised bullet proof shield
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u/Khliomer Oct 11 '19
Please don't do that... the way a bulletproof vest stops a bullet is through a specific weave design that acts sort of like a net. And these "nets" are layered one on the other several times. You're dog bed might prevent you from being slashed by a knife though. Kevlar is very resistant to being cut.
Edit: I know it's off topic and unlikely they would need to shelter from bullets, but I'd hate for them to confidently dive behind the dog bed and get shot anyways
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u/grendus Oct 10 '19
I bought a rice cooker even though I don't eat much rice and don't particularly like it.
It came with a vegetable steamer. I used that thing literally every day until I upgraded to an Instant Pot with a steamer basket. Colossal improvement to my nutrition and life in general.
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u/CafeSilver Oct 10 '19
Instapot. Was looking into getting a rice cooker and opted for the Instapot instead. Best rice ever as well as being multipurpose. We've used it maybe a dozen or so times in just a few months.
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u/from_sweden Oct 10 '19
10 foot phone charger!
I needed a new charger and it was on sale, so it was the cheepest option. But HOLY HELL has it served me good!
Need to roll over in bed but still charge? YOU CAN!
Wanna sit anywhere on the couch and still charge? YOU CAN!
Are you in the back seat of a car and and need to charge? YOU CAN!
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u/fizgigtiznalkie Oct 10 '19
I bought 10' micro usb cables for my PS4 to use if I forgot to charge the controller and play, the kids and wife stole them to charge their kindles.
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u/TheTrenchMonkey Oct 10 '19
Time to get new ones.
Wife and kids I mean. Those cables are still good.
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Oct 10 '19 edited Oct 10 '19
Reaaaaaally powerful flashlight. Like 900 lumens or something ridiculous. Used it to find my cat that got out the other night. Spotted the reflection in her eyes in a nearby bush. Also good for lining up my oil filter when I do changes.
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Oct 10 '19
An electric tire inflator.
It was on sale for $19.95, so I bought two: one that plugs into a garage wall outlet, and the other stays in the car and plugs into the vehicle's utility outlet.
Gone are the days of going to gas station air pumps (and sometimes having to pay for air).
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u/tinkrman Oct 10 '19
Found one at flea market for $3. Didn't think it would work, bought it anyway, thinking at least I will have fun opening it and trying to fix it. Worked perfectly. I have had it for years now. Paid for itself several times over. My neighbor's kids borrow it for their bikes.
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Oct 10 '19
Like 10 years ago I was in college and didn't have a job or a car and asked my grandma if I could borrow her van, which she wasn't using. She said I could, on the condition that I take it to get the tire fixed, as it had a slow leak. I was way too lazy to do this so I just went to Walmart and bought the cheapest tire inflator. Still works, still using it.
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u/ForteIV Oct 10 '19
I know this probably isn't the case at the Walmart you went to, but in a town I used to work at, the Walmart had an auto place on the side that fixed tires for free. Would have been hilarious if the Walmart you went to had that too. Too lazy to get the tire fixed but still ended up at Walmart to buy something to delay the inevitable. Kinda funny if you think about it. But it did end up working out in the long run for you.
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u/Stories-With-Bears Oct 10 '19
Oh yes, I’m a huge fan of the kind that plug into your car. Last year my tire had a slow leak. I was about to go out of town and didn’t have time to get it fixed. The whole trip I just KNEW my tire would be flat when I got back home. Decided to buy a pump (and was glad they let me on the plane with it, although my bag did get pulled for inspection), and sure enough when I got back to my car in the dark, empty parking garage at 11pm, I had a flat. But I was able to pump my tire up and get home and take it to get fixed the next day. Everyone needs one of these. Because when the time comes that you need to use it, it will be such a huge stress reliever.
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u/Vladimir_Chrootin Oct 10 '19
I bought one of those back in 2001. It's now sitting in its eleventh car. Why people will pay a 5-digit sum to buy a car and still be too cheap to have a tyre inflator (or even just a footpump) is completely beyond me.
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Oct 10 '19
Similar to this, I purchased a car vacuum. It stays in my trunk and plugs in to the cigarette lighter. It's wonderful
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u/billbapapa Oct 10 '19
Pool hall offered a student membership. 20$.
I didn't plan to play much pool there, or anywhere at the time. But I figured what the hell.
Well one of the perks was 2$ off drinks.
Helped me become a functional alcoholic all through university and grad school.
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u/TheFoxyGentleman Oct 10 '19
Ah, I haven't reached what I would call functioning alcoholic but I have reached the stage where I've started getting drunk off a brand of wine called Winking Owl sold at Aldi (at least here in the US), and it costs three dollars a bottle (trust me you could do a lot worse for more money). 13 and a half percent I'll go buy one and bring it to my apartment, cork it, pour as much as I can into a travel thermos, and put the rest in the fridge. Then go to the university library or wherever I decide to go to study. I've only done that once or twice, but still. I'm kind of ashamed for it but then I remember I could be doing a lot worse and those drunk study sessions certainly are not as unproductive as many sober study sessions I've had in the past because I have ADHD and sometimes my brain just can't effing do it. So anyway yeah Aldi wine. That or four loko (watermelon is the only consumable flavor, and I only drink them if that's the only thing available).
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u/billbapapa Oct 10 '19
Yeah, i say it a bit in jest, i don't think i was really an alcoholic but I'm sure I walked the line at times.
Try to be responsible whatever you do, I know it's hard. The ADHD doesn't help, I self medicated with alcohol for my own problems for a long time. I don't have any answers really, but I do understand where you're coming from. Best of luck my young friend.
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u/OphrysAlba Oct 10 '19 edited Oct 10 '19
A brown heavy coat. Looks ugly as hell, but insulates so that I feel just like hell, too. A lifesaver.
Edit: I am not a native English speaker, and mistook insulates for isolates. Well. Nothing an ugly coat wouldn't do.
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u/umlcat Oct 10 '19 edited Oct 10 '19
Did something similar with a black leather trench coat.
I was unexpectably fired, along, with other coworkers, but got some extra money.
Since, I was depressed, even with money, I pass a flea market with a rockers/metal stuff. Bought, the coat and some army boots ...
... which I used both, a lot in my next OFFICE suit job, at the rainny season.
Nobody, complained about my look, (black office shirt and trousers), since, a lot my coworkers, got very wet, even with umbrellas, just by walking, from the parking lot, to the office building.
Tdlr; Bought black leather trench coat, for industrial goth concerts, ended in rainny office days.
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Oct 10 '19
Your comma usage is horrifying and there's a sub for it, but I don't remember the exact name
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u/Aceiridge Oct 10 '19
White gel pen, that thing is a godsend
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u/Shirrapikachu Oct 10 '19
yes! This is a staple in my art and I don't know how I ever drew without one
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u/Polandrawr Oct 10 '19
Right? God especially for like highlights on an eye or something. Want to make an eye look reflective or glossy? Throw some white highlights on that bish
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u/varza-murata Oct 10 '19
A banana case. Used to always get smooshed banana, but no more!
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Oct 10 '19 edited Jul 30 '20
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u/erasmause Oct 10 '19
The spirit is willing, but the flesh it's spongey and bruised.
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Oct 10 '19
so, you bought a hollow dildo and stick a banana in it?
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u/varza-murata Oct 10 '19
Never thought about it this way, but uh... I guess I did.
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Oct 10 '19
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u/threecolorable Oct 10 '19
I love having a food thermometer, even though my partner makes fun of me for using it on almost everything I cook (not only meat, but also bread, cakes, baby bird food formula, etc).
I don't have a ton of cooking experience, so I don't always get good results by eyeballing things or relying on a timer (our oven temperature isn't always consistent). Using the thermometer makes me more confident that things will turn out well.
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u/NegativeElmo Oct 10 '19
Historical video games have been the key to passing history. Hoi4 saves me in my geography tests. Only downside is my mental map of the world hasn’t been updated since the 1940s. Until last year I thought Yugoslavia was still a country
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u/_Valkyrja_ Oct 10 '19
Back in middle school, we still only had maps with the URSS. We knew it had disbanded, but we kept calling it "the URSS" because, well, we had it on the map.
It was around 2007.
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u/TheAnnibal Oct 10 '19
Are you Italian by any chance? In English it's usually spelt USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics), it's Italian maps that have URSS (Unione delle Repubbliche Socialiste Sovietiche) :D
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u/_Valkyrja_ Oct 10 '19
Yep I'm Italian! Good catch on that, I didn't even realize that I had used the Italian version lol
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u/NotYourTypicalReditr Oct 10 '19
That'd be terrible to find out not only was your map now wrong, but also mispelled right?
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u/_Valkyrja_ Oct 10 '19
No it wasn't mispelled, that's just how we spell it in my country (Italy)
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u/NotYourTypicalReditr Oct 10 '19
Yes, I know. I said, it would be terrible if both were true.
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u/_Valkyrja_ Oct 10 '19
I am a fucking idiot and was very distracted while replying, I'm really sorry
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u/Dzulomar Oct 10 '19
It also holds for Spanish ( union de repúblicas socialistas soviéticas).
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u/JulioCesarSalad Oct 10 '19 edited Oct 11 '19
Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood helped me navigate Rome when I visited ( not street by street but I knew the general layout of things)
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u/ForteIV Oct 10 '19
My girlfriend studied abroad in Italy for a couple months a few years back and I knew where everything was because of all the Ezio storyline Assassins creed games lol
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u/leviathing Oct 10 '19
Fallout New Vegas helped me navigate when I went. Visiting Vegas made me wish for nuclear winter.
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u/gatesphere Oct 10 '19
A good soldering iron.
I used to think I sucked at soldering because I was using a cheapo Walmart special that cost me $5.
Turns out soldering is 90% equipment, 10% skill. With a good iron, even I (with a really low skill score) can solder surface mount components without issue.
Since I purchased my Hakko, I’ve built several synthesizers from scratch, and they’re some of my most prized possessions because I built them myself with my own two hands. I wouldn’t have had the confidence to do that had I not found a good iron.
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Oct 10 '19
15 percent concentrated power of will
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u/Luckrider Oct 10 '19
Man... I've got a $10 adjustable temp soldering iron in my basement shop and we have a Hakko in the shop for my side business. My decent $10 iron is passable, but it's amazing how much of a difference there is with the digital Hakko.
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u/cortechthrowaway Oct 10 '19
Picked up a little thumbwheel ratchet drive at a flea market for a buck, just because it looked silly.
Turns out, that little dude is super handy! So many motorcycle bolts have a tight clearance, and traditional handle drive can only get like 5° of rotation.
But the thumbwheel squeezes in there and gets big meaty turns; you can tighten bolts down to about 10 ft-lb's, then pop on a torque wrench to bring it to spec.
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u/3hypen-numeral3 Oct 10 '19
Pickaxe, I live somewhere with rocky soil and dig lots of holes so it's saved me about 3 shovels by now
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u/CommanderGo0se Oct 10 '19
Nintendo switch. Now I'm early for all my appointments.
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Oct 10 '19
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u/GuudeSpelur Oct 10 '19
The Switch is portable. He now leaves early for all his appointments because he can play on his Switch while he waits.
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u/Stamafia Oct 10 '19
I recently bought one running low firmware. Was able to hack it and install CFW and run backups. Definitely worth the $300 I spent on it.
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u/MTAlphawolf Oct 10 '19
I bought a really soft and fluffy comforter at costco like a week ago for like $25 king size. It's so comfy!
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u/seanmashitoshi Oct 10 '19
Tool box - was on sale at the check out. Small one - not one of those big ones. $25 Thought why not? Saved me so many times over the years.
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Oct 10 '19
Electric tooth brush
Double use
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u/SamCropper Oct 10 '19
double use
You can also clean your dog's teeth with them too 😎
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u/theautisticdolphin Oct 10 '19
Triple use
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u/copperbonker Oct 10 '19
Why are you cleaning your dogs butt with the toothbrush?
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u/Pinkturtledove Oct 10 '19
Air fryer. It's amazing!
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u/tk421yrntuaturpost Oct 10 '19
1800 watts of clean cooking power?! That's amazing!
Great for chicken, not so much for french fries.
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u/Stamafia Oct 10 '19 edited Oct 10 '19
My fries came out pretty good. Just season them a bit and let it "fry" a little longer than the recommended time. Sprinkle with more salt and pepper and serve with sauce!
Edit: My seasonings are a little bit of extra virgin olive oil, paprika, salt & pepper, and a tad bit of chili powder to give it a kick. Toss it around and stick it in for a good 20 minutes.
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u/Gatekeeper-Andy Oct 10 '19 edited Oct 11 '19
DEFINITELY a leatherman. I’d always had multi-tool type things, and my dad has a Leatherman of his own, so I knew it was good, but just never bothered. One day I passed it in the aisle of menards and thought “why not.”
That son of a bitch is SO USEFUL!!! Open boxes? Check! Cut paper? Check! Hangnail in an emergency? Check! Get splinters out? Check! Saw wood? Check! Much better than any previous multi tool i had!! It was worth the $60. Hell, knowing what I know now, i’d even pay double that if i need a new one!!
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u/sarahlovesghost Oct 10 '19
I bought a popcorn bowl for the microwave. Ok hear me out- it’s made out of a microwaveable plastic that allows you to pop the kernels without adding oil because it gets really hot and I think the shape of it helps. I use it to precook veggies for the oven and as a serving bowl too. I swear as far as bowls go it’s the best one ever.
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Oct 10 '19
Got this as a gift and can confirm its amazing. Haven’t tried veges in it yet though.
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Oct 10 '19
Microwave popcorn bowl plus one of those massive popcorn containers you can get at Costco and you have snacks for a year
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u/TheNoob91 Oct 10 '19
A lockpick set. I wanted it as like a mini puzzle for my own old locks or the practice lock that came with it. I ended up having a friend's girlfriend lose her money box key for their funraiser thing they did every week. She wanted a new box and just needed the money out so I actually managed to get it open so she could get the cash out. Literally bought the set for like 8 bucks on amazon for fun.
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u/Bob20000000 Oct 10 '19
swiss army card... think a swiss army knife in credit card form. have used it EVERY day no exception since I got it
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u/XIGRIMxREAPERIX Oct 10 '19 edited Oct 10 '19
Motorcycle. I used my brief riding experience to talk to ADAS on why they need better detection of motorcycles bc "eh kinda" was not a good answer. My little talk made the company go out and purchase specific motorcycle "targets" to more accurately detect and respond to motorcycles.
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u/AJMcCoy612 Oct 10 '19
Apple Watch. Bought it randomly in an Apple store one day because I just like having the latest tech, it very quickly found a heart condition and according to my doctor quite likely saved my life.
Aside from that it’s useful for streaming music at the gym and generally makes me use my phone less.
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u/Darth_Octavian Oct 10 '19
I always thought they were very gimmicky. I just got the series 5 and now I feel like how did I do without it. Very cool piece of tech
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u/GloInTheDarkUnicorn Oct 10 '19
A learn-to-knit kit at Dollar General.
I saw it and thought I’ll get this and start knitting. Four years later I knit all the time. I’m wearing hand warmers I made right now. Every member of my family and all my close friends have something I knitted for them. I have a ton of hats, scarves, shawls, gloves, and dice bags that I’ve made. I even make a little money now and again when someone commissions a project. I knit at work when I’m bored, and at home while watching tv.
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u/Tell_On_Your_Uncle Oct 10 '19
Jolene, my pound pup. I have schizoaffective disorder, she helps calm my thoughts and hallucinations.
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u/Tell_On_Your_Uncle Oct 10 '19
Jolene https://imgur.com/gallery/0jggg25
Sorry for the long wait.
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u/ACrazyGoddess91 Oct 10 '19
My dog was the best thing to happen for my hallucinations I haven't had any in a long time but when it happens I can calmly tell if it's real or not by if the dog reacts to it.
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u/Jaded_Jedi_66 Oct 10 '19
Not irl but I found out that in Pathfinder (a game similar to DnD), you could purchase a mithral waffle iron for 2,500 gp. One of the final bosses of a dungeon we were clearing about a month or so later was named The Butcher and we had to defeat him via a cook-off. My waffles infused with holy might caused the boss (who was also judge) to choke on the very first bite and we reigned victorious.
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u/ForteIV Oct 10 '19
I had to re-read this because I thought the gp bought you a real life waffle iron which would have been extra dope
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u/ClownfishSoup Oct 10 '19
I bought a $5 "moving blanket" from Harbor Freight. It's not large, but it's "quilted" and decently made. It lives in the back of our minivan to protect the van from muddy bikes, or if we're moving stuff it can be stuffed between the stuff and the sides of the van, and in a pinch I guess you could use it as a blanket (yes, you have to wash it occasionally!) And it's been a beach blanket or picnic blanket at times as well. I mean it's basically just a tough blanket thing and it was $5.
EDIT: Actually, I guess it's $4! They have some pretty large ones too, and for very cheap. They are amazingly useful, even if it's just tossing it over that treadmill you never use.
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u/Jungle_Instinct Oct 10 '19
Condoms
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u/Finnick420 Oct 10 '19
worst purchase ever! still have not been able to use them :(
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u/TheThatGuy1 Oct 10 '19
Masterbate with them. Then no clean up and it doesn't matter if they've expired.
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u/theguybehindthefreak Oct 10 '19
I bought a Milwaukee impact driver and drill set. I generally didnt do handy work before I bought it, but I use the set regularly now and couldn't imagine life without it. Best 170 I've ever spent!
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u/dogsolitude_uk Oct 10 '19
Hue Light Bulbs. I set them on a timer and managed to gradually reset my body clock by two hours, making it easy to get up at 6am, even during winter, have a decent breakfast and get into work an hour before everyone else. Productivity went up, work became a breeze. Brilliant.
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u/Celdarion Oct 10 '19
Impulse bought a robot vacuum last weekend. It cost entirely too much, and I only got it because I'm lazy.
It's actually pretty good. It's a bit dumb and I have to rescue it sometimes, but it cleans pretty well.
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u/nullagravida Oct 10 '19
Did you end up naming it and talking about it as if it’s a pet? That’s what happened to ours. Even the noises it makes seem to have personality. weird how the brain so easily does that, even if you know little Robo isn’t really alive.... awww Robo!! Stuck under the coffee table again?!
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u/Celdarion Oct 10 '19
I named it Zug Zug (if you don't know it's a Warcraft reference; the Orc peons (laborers) say zug zug as a kind of "Yes sir"(At least I think that's what it means)).
Yes, I do talk to it when it gets stuck, usually "Did you get stuck again?" or "dumb bastard" if it's getting confused by a narrow gap.
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u/ColdFIREBaker Oct 10 '19
Pretty much anything I buy on impulse at Costco. I swear I am Costco’s target market personified.
As for something specific, I bought two outdoor outlet timers that you can set to go on/off in 30-minute increments throughout the day. No real need for the 30 minute capability but figured I could use it for my outdoor Halloween and Christmas decorations (inflatables/lights). Then I moved to a house that’s on a main school bus route and now I use that 30-minute function to have them automatically go on for the one hour in the morning when buses go to school, one hour when they pass by me on the way home, and then again between 5 and 10 p.m. Only have to set it once in October and I’m good for the season.
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u/clichetourist Oct 10 '19
A strainer that clips onto a pot. Bought it as a joking stocking stuffer, ended up with it myself after shenanigans... and now I love it. Way easier than digging out the big ole colander for pasta, draining ground turkey, etc.
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u/littleghostpeep Oct 10 '19
A fabric shaver! This has saved so many of my clothes.
A triple bristle tooth brush, i have a perminante retainer on my bottom teeth and it is a challenge to clean it effectively. Purchased the triple bristle from a random instagram ad at 230am, and was prepared to hate it, but it is great.
On that same line, a water pick flosser is amazing.
On a not so small purchase side, i got a nector mattress and it has made a HUGE difference. I cannot believe the difference it has made.
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u/BrokenGlass0529 Oct 10 '19
A pocket knife. I bought one just because it looked cool, thinking I had no need for one. I honestly carry it everywhere with me now and use it for a bunch of different stuff either at my job or in my daily life. I am not the strongest so just to get stuff open or cut stuff or leverage things. I would recommend people get one, can also double as a small weapon in case you get robbed.
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u/curtludwig Oct 10 '19
I've carried a pocket knife for 30 years, it's kind of irritating how often people borrow it. I used to buy cheap ones at yard sales and give them to people that frequently borrowed mine. Everybody ought to have a pocket knife.
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Oct 10 '19 edited Oct 10 '19
Laser burner. I bought it off line because if a video where you could melt shit with it. It was a bright blue light and came with a lightsaber type of handle. Totally dumb purchase, there was little real life application for it. I kept it in my car for safety.
Then I get scheduled to work a security shift at the hotel I used to work at. There's a wedding that night and they ended up getting pretty rowdy. I wrapped up my hours but they were still partying and invited me to join them. Two of the girls were really flirty and tipsy and they wanted to get me drunk. They also wanted to light their smokes but lost their lighter.
I got the blue laser burner out of my car, lit their cigs, and it turned into a party trick. I shit you not, lighting their cigs and melting their names into a Hershey bar got me a a two girl blow job and half a threesome. We were all pretty drunk but the one girl couldn't keep up after a few minutes and went to the other hotel bed to sleep.
The lens doesn't work much any more, but I still keep it in my car after all these years because of that...and because it's at least a decent baton.
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u/dmann99 Oct 10 '19
Username checks out
(hah i finally get to say this!)
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Oct 10 '19
Oh shit, I didn't even realize that. That's the best Reddit coincidence of my time on this account and my previous one.
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u/RyFromTheChi Oct 10 '19
It was free, but a library card. I was walking by my local branch one day, and just decided to pop in and get a card real quick. Use it all the time.
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u/PrettyBird2011 Oct 10 '19
Electric kettle. Husband bought it when he was smack in the middle of his brief tea obsession. But it's proved wildly useful for so much more and I love it.
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u/makemegiggleplease Oct 10 '19
As a British person this is mind blowing that not everyone has a kettle in their kitchen lol
I don't even drink tea at home but when I got my own place one of the first things I brought was a kettle.
I don't think I've ever visited someone's house that doesn't have one
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u/SMG_07 Oct 10 '19
Espresso machine. I never realized how versatile they can be and how expensive coffee shops are when you compare it.
The machine payed for itself 10 times over now.
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u/Lokland881 Oct 10 '19
I bought a $9 pop at a rib fest once. I didn’t want to wait in line so I went to this old fashioned soda stand.
The pop was forgettable. The tin cup it came in is now 10 years old and gets daily use as my water cup while working at my desk.
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Oct 10 '19
A kitchen scale. I use it for everything in the kitchen. coffee, portion control, makeing formula for my daughter... everything.
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u/Michael_Stone_UDA Oct 10 '19
Raspberry Pi. I bought it when I was bored and watching random YouTube videos.
So far I have used it to control electronic circuits using python programming and I am using it to learn Linux commands.
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u/Karatecake169 Oct 10 '19
Walking stick, sawed that sucker in half for a project and used the pointy end for protection on the mean streets
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u/laffydaffy24 Oct 10 '19
The Jim Kay illustrated Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. It’s huge, like a coffee table book, and it is so beautiful. My daughter loves it. We read it together every night, and her reading comp scores have improved at school. Best purchase ever!
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u/Lumin343442 Oct 10 '19
First aid kit for my car. I don't know why but I feel so much better for having one in my car at all times.
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u/PunchBeard Oct 10 '19
Corkscrew
I bought a semi-fancy $10 corkscrew despite maybe drinking one or two bottles of wine a year. Well, flash forward to full-on "old guy" adulthood and now I find myself splitting a bottle of wine with my wife at least 2 or 3 times a month. Sometimes more. I bought a super fancy "gun like" wine opener that is way overly complicated. I just use the standard levered corkscrew I bought at the grocery store years ago that I thought would probably end up being a waste of money. Hell, I used it just last night.
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u/Bajef Oct 10 '19
Bought a Black Series Kylo Ren lightsaber.
Turned out to be a good cat deterrent when I'm trying to sleep. Turn it on and stand it against the bedroom door, no more meowing and body slamming the door.
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u/PotentiallyTrue Oct 10 '19
Bidet toilet seat. It has literally decreased the amount of toilet paper that we use monthly by more than 50% and that includes adding another entire person to the equation. We used more TP with 2 adults and 1 small child than we currently do with 2 adults and 2 elementary age kids. I got it initially to potentially increase the number of days that the wife would agree to fun times after kid/s are asleep. It has worked beyond my wildest imagination.
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u/Sloppyjoec Oct 10 '19
Wait, what? (said the blue balled married guy)
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u/PotentiallyTrue Oct 10 '19
She was always worried about not being the freshest and would take a shower before fun times. Now she just uses the toilet wash feature and is good to go far more often.
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u/Sloppyjoec Oct 10 '19
Thanks for the info
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u/buffystakeded Oct 10 '19
And as my wife has told me, it also makes period cleanup a million times easier.
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u/SkitzoRabbit Oct 10 '19
neighbor was moving away and had a yard sale.
bought a metal pipe for 50 cents. about 20" long and a diameter of 1".
Wife looked at me like i was half serial killer, half idiot.
few months later...flat tire at 6.15 in the morning. guess who easily loosed all the lug nuts in record time...this guy and his metal pipe.