Tech to make day to day chores easier have had the largest impact for us. The automated self cleaning liter box for the cats, the cordless vacuum, the cordless electric mop (such as Tineco), electric lawn mowers (no maintenance), smart outlets and automations via home assistant.
Another big one is the RO water filter at the kitchen sink. No more bottled water. Bonus points if you get one that tells you when fillters need to be changed. So nice.
I live in Finland and so the seasonal daylight varies from almost none in winter to always in summer. I got a smart socket connected to my grow lamps for all my plants. I used to have an analogue timer that I would have to keep changing the times on as the season progressed. The smart one now turns on when my alarm goes off in the morning and turns off an hour after sunrise, turns on again an hour before sunset and turns off at bedtime.
No messing about anymore, it’s one less thing to worry about.
If people are here to receive recommendations, I’m preaching to the choir. But responding the question directly, a computer of my own. Being able to go online or work on digital stuff whenever I want to has changed my life for the better.
Replaced all my mismatched socks with 24 pair of identical.
So great on laundry day
Yes, and at the same time I went with thin wool socks too. And I’m in Texas where it’s hot and humid too. Wool socks were a game changer, they don’t hold onto moisture like cotton and synthetics do.
Didn’t want to be a shill, but I got a bunch of medium thick wool socks from Darn Tough and sweaty wool socks are a lot nicer than sweaty cotton/poly socks.
I did this same thing and my life has been changed forever
Yes same, the darn touch T series have been my favorites with the best fit for my thin build. T4021 if I wear my boots, T4016 if I’m rocking tennies.
I tried smartwool and a few other Amazon and popular brands. Came back to darn tough each time.
I did recently get some Alpaca Wool socks and a sweater and they are a close second to the DT socks.
Then I discovered smartwool quarter zip long sleeve shirts, lightweight 150 weight wool, excellent t-shirt replacements
Not specifically mine but definitely that of my wife: a company called Beurer in Germany makes this little tool with a small ceramic plate that you can heat. Press the hot thing against a mosquito bite and not only does the itch go away, the actual inflammation is diminished. For 20 euros one of the best impulse buys I ever did.
We’ve also put in an order for an electric bicycle which I think will lead to us leaving the car now often.
Tabletop convection oven. It’s a game changer to cook and bake in, and it doesn’t heat the whole house like the oven does in hot weather.
Ultimately trivial cost-wise and to install, but game-changer:
butt game changer.
Boox Palma, a phone sized e-reader that runs Android. I read a lot more books and I think the e-ink display makes it easier to fall asleep.
This is the first I’ve heard of this device. How fully might it replace my smartphone? I see it does messaging, photos, and has access to the Google Play Store. Does it play music? Does it render Google Maps? I love e-readers, and though while I’ve been impressed by the Kindle, I do detest Amazon.
I was interested in the Lightphone when it came out, but it was too pricey and I’m still going strong on my Pixel 3a. I’ll need to move on someday though… Thanks for any info.
It’s full Android with the Play store but wifi only, no cell modem. You can install whatever you want just like on a phone, you just can’t do calls or SMS. I haven’t tried Google Maps on it but I’m sure it works, although you might need to adjust things to make it look better. I’ve used it to send audio to Bluetooth devices but haven’t tried the built in speaker, I wouldn’t expect it to sound good.
Electric wheelchair.
Pretty much been housebound since 2018. I can walk short distances, but large stores like a grocery store or a Home Depot were out of reach unless they had their own scooters available, which were often broken, or un-charged.
Malls were out entirely. City centers? Not a chance.
The wheelchair opened all that back up to me!
Shoehorn
Private therapy sessions. Get therapy.
OK but you need money.
because everything else people have listed are free
A lot of it is single time purchases, therapy is a subscription service.
Absolutely, but its well worth the cost. You improve your own life and the lives of all of the people you interact with since you’re not projecting your trauma or having them bear the weight of your mental ill health as much.
It isn’t a cost that everyone can afford and that’s okay, but it should be high on pretty much everybody’s list of “things to get”.
A bunch of stacking prep bowls for the kitchen. Previously, I had nesting sets of glass and metal bowls, each with three sizes. I still kept the glass set for microwaving, but I gave away the set of three metal bowls. In their place, I got 8 medium bowls and 12 mixing bowls. They are great when prepping ingredients for mise en place style cooking. The mixing bowls are a bit larger, so I also use them for making salads, soaking chickpeas, and so on. It’s nice to never need to scramble for bowls, but at the same time they stack perfectly so they don’t take up much space. I bought extra because I am assuming the bowls with get damaged over time, but the company will eventually stop making them.
Gymnastic rings, straps (includes anchor kit), and I paid people to set it up. Probably the best money I’ve ever spent.
Electric bike, 95 Ford Ranger, camping gear, garden cart, gardening supplies and plants, cat tree, ebook reader
Custom molded ear plugs. I can play for hours and still hear the full spectrum of frequencies and no ringing.
More please, what brand did you go with? Cost?
I’m also interested. My work provides moulded ear plugs, but they definitely don’t let the same range of frequencies through.
I have molded plugs, the filters are etymotics. Cost was about 200$ at an audiologist that did the molding. You can get filters with varying levels of attenuation, I think mine are 20db and they recommend 25 for drummers.
I had etymotic musicians earplugs before, but they never worked that well. I couldn’t understand lyrics with them in, for instance. But I can with these.
Thanks! $200 sounds expensive but probably very worth it to save you from tinnitus or from going deaf.
Too late on the tinnitus, but at least it doesn’t seem to be getting worse. Lost count of how many concerts and even movies I’ve used them in by now.
Gym membership. Previously I was doing some working out on my own, but it’s nice to get out, and easier to bring friends along.
I did the typical thing: first week of January signed up to the YMCA and committed to a couch-to-5k, and have to admit I’m feeling a lot lot lot better.
Oh look at Mr./Ms. Fancypants over here who has friends.
…up until now, I actually thought that we were friends. I guess all those deep meaningful convos we had whilst playing Burnout2 and drinking diet Dr Pepper meant nothing to you…
It’s not you; it’s me. We’ve just…drifted apart! turns around, crying
you just burnout2’d a hole on my chest!
I’m sorry. We’ve both said some N0Sty things lately…
I can’t BEAR to hear it anymore!
(Wait, where’s a bear come in pun-wise with regards to cars? Lol.)
I imagine this tension must be exhausting to you…
