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  3. What's the most unexpectedly useful item you've ever bought under $20?

What's the most unexpectedly useful item you've ever bought under $20?

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  • E [email protected]
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    [email protected]
    wrote on last edited by
    #195

    A very thin piece of linen cloth for summer heat. Soak in water, press against body, when it becomes too warm, let it fly in the wind for a few seconds, then press again.

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    12
    • P [email protected]

      Anybody know if these work with oat milk or almond milk? Does it froth?

      B This user is from outside of this forum
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      wrote on last edited by
      #196

      Yep, should work fine, although the foam will have a slghtly different texture.

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      • L [email protected]

        I find a good pour over cone makes better tasting coffee with a little less fuss, but the aeropress is irreplaceable for iced coffee.

        T This user is from outside of this forum
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        wrote on last edited by
        #197

        The clever dripper is pretty nice pour over cone with a shut off valve.

        When I'm making just one cup of coffee I use an aero press, for 2+ cups I use the clever dripper.

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        • M [email protected]

          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!

          D This user is from outside of this forum
          D This user is from outside of this forum
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          wrote on last edited by
          #198

          I became a full-on programmer after joining Lemmy. Coincidence?

          P 1 Reply Last reply
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          • E [email protected]
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            [email protected]
            wrote on last edited by
            #199

            A pry bar. I use it to open cat food tins because my fingernails are not up to the task.

            https://camelcamelcamel.com/product/B0BRBTHK8Z

            S B 2 Replies Last reply
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            • 0 [email protected]

              A pry bar. I use it to open cat food tins because my fingernails are not up to the task.

              https://camelcamelcamel.com/product/B0BRBTHK8Z

              S This user is from outside of this forum
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              wrote on last edited by
              #200

              Or just use the handle of a metal spoon

              A 0 2 Replies Last reply
              8
              • S [email protected]

                Or just use the handle of a metal spoon

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                wrote on last edited by
                #201

                Not as effective

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                • S [email protected]

                  Or just use the handle of a metal spoon

                  0 This user is from outside of this forum
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                  wrote on last edited by
                  #202

                  Hard disagree. The pry bar is the superior tool. For one thing, it is indestructible, unlike my spoons which were getting scratched up. It is satisfying in a tactile way and because it is so ludicrously overpowered for the task.

                  L 1 Reply Last reply
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                  • L [email protected]

                    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.

                    C This user is from outside of this forum
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                    wrote on last edited by
                    #203

                    Very wholesome! How do you keep yours and his from getting mixed in the laundry?

                    L 1 Reply Last reply
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                    • C [email protected]

                      Very wholesome! How do you keep yours and his from getting mixed in the laundry?

                      L This user is from outside of this forum
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                      wrote on last edited by
                      #204

                      The packs come in different colors so I use the white ones and he uses the grey ones.

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                      • P [email protected]

                        Less syllables always wins.

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                        [email protected]
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #205

                        Kleenex, tissue.
                        Band aid, bandage.
                        Xerox, copy.
                        IPad, tablet (some people call their android tablets iPads)
                        Plucker, flosser.

                        It's not really that bad. Some are even shorter:

                        Google, search.
                        Invisalign, retainer.

                        Some are iffy:

                        Sharpie, permanent marker. (You could just say marker, depending on if you have any other markers in the house to disambiguate from.)

                        And some are definitely shorter as brand names:

                        Q-tip, cotton swab
                        Velcro, hook and loop
                        Sawzall, reciprocating saw

                        (And if there was a shorter name for "oscillating multi tool" I would be so happy.)

                        I can't think of any others.

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                        • C [email protected]

                          You can use mine.

                          R This user is from outside of this forum
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                          [email protected]
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #206

                          close enough.

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                          • R [email protected]

                            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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                            wrote on last edited by
                            #207

                            I've found that it tastes kinda plasticky compared to my glass French press. Am I aeropressing wrong?

                            R viking@infosec.pubV 2 Replies Last reply
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                            • K [email protected]

                              Only when I leave the house, which I don't most days, since I work from home. People who need to change more frequently (I can't imagine that e.g. roofers can wear the same pants even twice) could still leave things in their pockets and move them over either when they get undressed or when they get dressed (I imagine the former, leaving your wallet and keys in the fresh pair, would be especially important if you get very dirty).

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                              wrote on last edited by
                              #208

                              Huh. I work from home, but I dress in different clothes every day. Guess I’m a fancy boy.

                              K 1 Reply Last reply
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                              • E [email protected]
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                                wrote on last edited by
                                #209

                                balaclava. I wear it all the time. It’s a great way to keep my mouth and nose covered from the nasty germs when out in public.

                                aussiemandeus@aussie.zoneA slvrdrgn@lemmy.worldS A 3 Replies Last reply
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                                • S [email protected]

                                  Why would I want to remove that smell 😍.

                                  (half joking)

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                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #210

                                  It's my favorite part of cutting onions

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                                  • B [email protected]

                                    balaclava. I wear it all the time. It’s a great way to keep my mouth and nose covered from the nasty germs when out in public.

                                    aussiemandeus@aussie.zoneA This user is from outside of this forum
                                    aussiemandeus@aussie.zoneA This user is from outside of this forum
                                    [email protected]
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #211

                                    And the money you save is amazing

                                    B 1 Reply Last reply
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                                    • A [email protected]

                                      Not a comercial; But I bought on a whim a very cheap, usb midi pedal from temu, that I use for triggering hotkeys on many apps by using a midi to hotkey converter. It's awesome for streaming, it is sturdy as hell and the midi protocol allows me to do a lot of trickery under the hood. Like toggle buttons or different keys for press and release states. It makes me want to try out more midi equipment from that site.

                                      Also for about 3 dollars I bought a used ceramic crockpot back when I was in college and I am still using it to this day. It instantly became a staple of my home cooking it's stupid easy to use and the thing will probably keep working for decades.

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                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #212

                                      I've been thinking about getting foot pedals for my computer for a while. And my wife and I got a crockpot for Christmas when we first moved in together ~13 years ago. Still use it a bunch.

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                                      • aussiemandeus@aussie.zoneA [email protected]

                                        And the money you save is amazing

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                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #213

                                        No kidding. I saved enough for a big bag of zip ties.

                                        B 1 Reply Last reply
                                        16
                                        • B [email protected]

                                          Huh. I work from home, but I dress in different clothes every day. Guess I’m a fancy boy.

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                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #214

                                          I change my clothes regularly, but I wear basketball shorts as pajamas and don't put my wallet, keys, etc. in them.

                                          B 1 Reply Last reply
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