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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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    wrote on last edited by
    #229

    I have a little fold-out rack with (I think) 24 individual clips on that hold socks and other small items. It can then be attached to the washing line, taking up a lot less space than hanging things along the length of it.

    It was £3.99 and it makes putting the washing out so much easier. I much prefer to line dry things outside than using the dryer when I can.

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    • B [email protected]

      I see, maybe I'll get one as well then, got any recommendation

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      wrote on last edited by
      #230

      Victorinox 14 inch honing steel

      I am begging you not to get 12 in or smaller - too small to use efficiently.

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      • G [email protected]

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

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        wrote on last edited by
        #231

        Raises hand tentatively...

        Although I do feel I'm learning stuff from being on here.

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        • vetoftheseas@discuss.onlineV [email protected]

          I got a bread maker for free. I asked my coworkers and THREE different people said they had a bread maker that's just sitting there, unused as gifts that they don't want.

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          wrote on last edited by
          #232

          Bread makers & pasta makers...

          There's like three new in box every time I go thrifting

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          • P [email protected]

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

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            wrote on last edited by
            #233

            I have one always in my pocket, too, but I'd argue it's not "unexpectedly useful".

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            • G [email protected]

              And in the product details they list it has 3 features, also not mentioning what they are

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              wrote on last edited by
              #234

              You've never used the three sea shells?

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              • P [email protected]

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

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                wrote on last edited by
                #235

                A lot of brands have special barista oat milk, usually with pea protein I think or rapeseed oil to make the froth stable. Here in Germany they are often labeled "Barista oat milk".

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                • E [email protected]
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                  wrote on last edited by [email protected]
                  #236

                  [edit: I'm rambling about a lanyard!]

                  I don't know what it's called, but I chord you put around your neck, goes down to the belly with a metal hook at the end? Used to keep backstage/security passes visible, but I keep my keys on there instead.

                  Keys always end up at the bottom of my bag, and it can be frustrating and even painful to dig them out. I don't always have pockets suitable for keys. I have a place for them at home, but still misplace them constantly.

                  With this chord I can keep my keys around my neck when in use, like at work or going to the store, and even if I put them in my bag I can loop the keys around a handle and down through their own chord and they'll hang there to be pulled out when I need them.

                  The chord is long and colourful and way easier to find than just the keys, and often hang visible out of a bag when I haven't put the keys in their place.

                  It's great. I have different colours for different sets of keys, one colour is home+bicycle, other is work. Other keys I add only when I need them. It gets annoying having too many keys on at once.

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                  • U [email protected]

                    [edit: I'm rambling about a lanyard!]

                    I don't know what it's called, but I chord you put around your neck, goes down to the belly with a metal hook at the end? Used to keep backstage/security passes visible, but I keep my keys on there instead.

                    Keys always end up at the bottom of my bag, and it can be frustrating and even painful to dig them out. I don't always have pockets suitable for keys. I have a place for them at home, but still misplace them constantly.

                    With this chord I can keep my keys around my neck when in use, like at work or going to the store, and even if I put them in my bag I can loop the keys around a handle and down through their own chord and they'll hang there to be pulled out when I need them.

                    The chord is long and colourful and way easier to find than just the keys, and often hang visible out of a bag when I haven't put the keys in their place.

                    It's great. I have different colours for different sets of keys, one colour is home+bicycle, other is work. Other keys I add only when I need them. It gets annoying having too many keys on at once.

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                    wrote on last edited by
                    #237

                    Lanyard?

                    U 1 Reply Last reply
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                    • 0 [email protected]

                      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.

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                      wrote on last edited by
                      #238

                      Flat-bladed screwdriver works just as well and has a better handle.

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                      • H [email protected]

                        Lanyard?

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                        wrote on last edited by
                        #239

                        What an odd little word...So unspecific; could never have guessed it. But yes, that's it, thanks!

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                        • rouxdoo@lemmy.worldR [email protected]

                          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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                          wrote on last edited by [email protected]
                          #240

                          It's also great for holding electronic components in place while you solder them into circuit boards - even LEDs lol.

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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

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                            wrote on last edited by
                            #241

                            You could buy all of these for that price.
                            https://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-mini-pry-bar.html

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                            • E [email protected]
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                              wrote on last edited by
                              #242

                              Small drafting table I got at Goodwill for $4. I've used it for actual drawing, and it has an adjustable tilt so it can be flat to use as a plain table.

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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
                                #243

                                Same, I love the smell of garlic. Do they make bars of soap made of garlic so I can always smell that way?

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                                • E [email protected]
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                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #244

                                  An ezel. You know, the kind that artists use to put their cavvas on.

                                  I'm a digital artist, so I have a display drawing tablet. Eventually having the tablet completely horizontally flat got annoying to draw on. I ended up sitting cross-legged and awkwardly perching the table on the edge of my desk on my lap to get some sort of comfortable angle on it. However that was annoying too.

                                  I went and looked what a tablet stand costed for my tablet model and... It damn near costed the same as my tablet! The. I had an idea. There's this cheap ass hardware store called Harald Nyborg in Denmark, maybe they have cheap ezel?

                                  Lo and behold they do. Made from the crappiest cheap wood available, it serves its purpose perfectly! I've had it for a few years now and never needed to think about getting that dedicated stand for my tablet.

                                  sturgist@lemmy.caS R 2 Replies Last reply
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                                  • nebulaone@lemmy.worldN [email protected]
                                    • 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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                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #245

                                    +1 for caffeine pills, although 200mg is a bit too much for me. I prefer 100mg

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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!

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                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #246

                                      Excuse you. Some of us have a well kempt full beard thank you very much.

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                                      • tetris11@lemmy.mlT [email protected]

                                        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

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                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #247

                                        Are you using these on double glazed windows? I've read this film could get them to crack under the heat.

                                        tetris11@lemmy.mlT 1 Reply Last reply
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                                        • K [email protected]

                                          There is no way you got that for $20. I keep meaning to get one since I love my wool coat I got at a thrift store but they are never that cheap.

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                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #248

                                          I mean, this was in, like, 2003. That's probably $50 in today money.

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