What's the most unexpectedly useful item you've ever bought under $20?
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A dry erase notebook. $2. The marker that came with it is crap so that was another $12 for a pack of 4.
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Not a plastic swizzle stick, a bar spoon. They are stainless steel and have various ends. This is the teardrop, makes stirring ice easier. There's also a coin (flat disc on the end that op was talking about), that is used for muddling and can also be used to stir ice, and the trident used to get garnishes out of jars like cherries and olives. Source: I am a bartender
I bought a pack of dessert spoons at Walmart years ago. About 7.5 inch long or 19cm
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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.
I've had this shit in my cart for like 5 years. Lol I really should just buy it.
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Even though I don't regularly use it, I'm glad I have a p38 can opener on my keychain. Just in case I end up in a survival situation, it's good to have alongside a good keychain bottle opener. Obviously not as good as a leatherman, but for under $20, yeah, these two are worth it.
wrote on last edited by [email protected]a fred is a bit bigger but also good.
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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.
Just in case you havent seen it:
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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.
+1 top value.
semi-related are hori knives for gardening. Genuine japanese ones are probably over $20AU but not by much. -
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.
I don't have a device for this, but I do the same thing by running water as hot as I can stand over bites and it works.
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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
How easy are they to cut to size, or if you need to use multiple to cover a window how does the gap/seam look? Have been thinking of getting them, but we also want to replace our windows at some point. I assume you can't just reuse them?
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Really good nailclippers:
https://www.victorinox.com/en-US/Products/Swiss-Army-Knives/Personal-Care/Nail-Clipper/p/8.2050.B1
If you're willing to go over the $20 barrier, you get more functionality:
I liked it enough, I bought two more.
Smallest MagLite:
https://maglite.com/products/solitaire-led-key-chain-flashlight-with-gift-card-gift-box
It's hilarious that they say
Swiss made nail clipper with two functions
Followed by not mentioning what the other function is...
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Chopsticks are also nice to mix fluids in a bottle because for some they are long enough
I also started eating potato chips with them, can reach deeper in + clean handsOoh, I'll try to remember this next time I'm having chips!
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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.
Does this also work for jalapenos?
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got any recommedations?
Live life to the fullest and teach your mate’s cat to play the piano by carefully dripping tuna water between selected keys.
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How easy are they to cut to size, or if you need to use multiple to cover a window how does the gap/seam look? Have been thinking of getting them, but we also want to replace our windows at some point. I assume you can't just reuse them?
At least in home depot, some of them come with a specific blade tool, or one that's not too much more expensive. It's hard/sharp enough to seamlessly cut through the tints, but not scratch your window.
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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
Window film is so glorious. I have my bedroom windows blacked out with it, easier to sleep, and yes, always cool temperatures in there.
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My pocket stun gun was $19.99. Decided I needed a defense mechanism I could conceal after an encounter with a scary aggressive homeless man.
Also has a flashlight.
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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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How easy are they to cut to size, or if you need to use multiple to cover a window how does the gap/seam look? Have been thinking of getting them, but we also want to replace our windows at some point. I assume you can't just reuse them?
wrote on last edited by [email protected]Pretty easy to cut, but of course it'll never be perfect, and it's better to cut smaller than larger since it sticks to the window using water, and needs a complete seal, so any corners that overlap a frame will just slowly force the whole thing to peel off.
Very easy to re-use, it sticks using water and requires a flat piece of card (e.g. an old credit card) to spread it out over the window
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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.
wait really? and isn't that always the case with any window?
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Live life to the fullest and teach your mate’s cat to play the piano by carefully dripping tuna water between selected keys.
no, I mean, got any recommendations for drinking slowly
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A basket/bowl thing for keys, wallet, and whatever one carries around. No more hunting for them when walking out the door.
