A pair of high fidelity earplugs (aka concert earplugs or filtering earplugs). You can get a good non-custom pair for $15–$40, and that’ll work well for the average person for a long time.
They’re excellent for live music, airplanes, and anytime you want the world to be quieter but still need to be able to understand speech. And for music specifically, they can bring the volume level down just enough to be safe without muffling the sound like traditional foam earplugs do. Protect your hearing, kids!
The Haynes manual for your car. Even if you're not a mechanic they are so detailed they will walk you through fixing almost anything, they're made for the laymen. I'm a diesel mechanic and even i own one for my cars.
When friends buy a new car i buy them a Haynes manual.
They don't do them for ever single car in the world and the coverage isn't as great on later model stuff but if you own s car 5 years or more old they're great.
A water kettle. Doesn't have to be any fancy one, but it really fucking rocks for anything you might think of : want hot water for tea? No problem. Need hot water to steep something? No problem.
Most mid-range ones are insanely power efficient too, often being alot better than just boiling water on a stovetop, or using a microwave. And, depending on insulation, heat can be stored for over 6! hours.
Maybe specific, but if you do any DIY housework, get an endocscope. Baiscally, a 10 foot long flexible wire with a camera and light at the end. Uses your phone as a screen. Can be had for <$50. So many of my house projects would have been impossible without it. Also good for finding stuff under the couch.
Water sensor alarms.
If you have any doubts about the pipes in your house or have a feeling that water might enter your basement, sensors will help you sleep at night.
Water damage to your home is no joke. I know two separate homeowners who have had leaks from their refrigerator's plumbing (water and ice dispenser). The damage for each homeowner was quite extensive given how small the leak was.
My dad would say a cast iron pan. That would outlive you and your kids.
I would say maybe an air fryer, I think you could get a decent one for less than $100USD. I use mine every day.
Otherwise, maybe good waterproof boots. I got some decent ones at an outlet store. They are kind of dressy so nice enough for work, but also warm AF and during the winter they are so good.
A sun hoodie. Sun hoodies are meant to be worn on their own, cover your entire upper body, be very light, and have a high UPF (clothing equivalent of SPF). Instead of dealing with globs of sunscreen that wears out as you sweat, you can slip on a sun hoodie in an instant and get lasting protection. I got the REI store brand, which is around $50. Unfortunately, it looks like they're almost sold out of the nice visible orange color that I bought. It's only available in XXXL.
A pen and paper, for work.
You know those people who seem useless and forgetful all the time? They don't write anything down so they are lost when they try to do things and too embarrassed to ask for advice again because they forgot what you told them. You also end up repeating stuff to them over and over again when they just don't do a task or mess it up.
Don't be that person, write stuff down!
Since someone already mentioned dashcams and cast iron, my vote is: a bidet toilet seat attachment.
Fancy ones can roll $200+ but a super simple one with just a cold water hookup and no electricity will knock you back $50-60. I bought one right as covid was beginning to hit the west coast, and instantly realized I could never - ever - go back.
Huge bonus of the toilet seat style bidets is that, since you aren't actually replacing the toilet, they take like 5 mins to install and can be done in a home, condo, apartment, wherever.
They covered this in Hitchhiker's Guide. The answer is a towel. A towel is just about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can carry.
A well stocked toolbox. Not just a random assortment of things but a well considered, well stocked toolbox with everything you need to tackle basic home repair.
To all those saying that tools are too expensive, they are not. Everything you need to tackle most home repair scenarios can be had under $100. Will you be turning screws by hand and adjusting wrenches? Yes. Will it be enjoyable work? Probably not, but you absolutely can have a good set of very basic tools for under $100 then add to it over time.
Get a hammer, adjustable wrench, angled pliers, razor utility knife, and 11-in-1 screwdriver. Buy additional tools as needed.
If you have any interest in working on things, a ~$30 set of calipers is an awesome tool for figuring out hardware sizes and so much more. You can definitely spend much much more but as a hobbiest I'd recommend against it.
A few spare charging cables to keep plugged in around the house are always great too, I also recommend keeping one in your travel bag so you never need to think about packing one.
A good pocket knife or multi-tool like a Letherman or Gerber. I always have a pocket knife on me and a multi-tool in my car. Either one gets used pretty much daily.
Knife: https://www.amazon.com/CIVIVI-Praxis-Flipper-Stonewashed-9Cr18MoV/dp/B08PF6NHLJ (there is a mini version of this if you like/need a smaller knife)
Ergonomic Mouse/keyboard
Admittedly for $100 you might have to choose one or the other (though I used a $12 ergonomic mouse from Amazon for years until I switched to a trackball, and I loved it) - but if your job is computer based, you really should consider switching to ergonomic equipment.
Your average keyboard and mouse setup is absolute murder on the wrists in the long run - if you spend more than a couple hours at the computer every day without ergonomic equipment and your wrists don't hurt, then it's only a matter of time.
Granted, it's not just about buying a cool new keyboard and mouse - you also need to cut out bad habits like wresting your wrist on the table while typing and so on, but a good KBM will help you build those habits naturall
A "Bullet" style Fisher Space Pen.
People need pens more often than you'd think and you can be their hero. They're nigh indestructible in a bag or pocket and the thick ink will write on many things a normal ballpoint pen can't. I've written on ceramic, glass, wet cardboard, and one time (in the 90's) high school cafeteria roast beef.
The only downside is that if you damage the tiny ball in the ballpoint pentip and then don't use the pen again for a while, the sticky ink can ooze out and make a mess inside the lid.
a screwdriver set
It sounds crazy, but trust me: a corn cob backscratcher.
It’s essentially just a dried piece of corn on a wooden stick. But the texture is perfect, and because it’s rounded, it covers a much larger area than a regular backscratcher and is much more satisfying to use. My wife bought me one for $11 and I swear by it. You simply cannot go back to a regular backscratcher after trying one.
Oh, and they’re indestructible. My in-laws still use one from 1979!
A decent flashlight.
A streamlight stylus pro is $20, uses 2 AAA batteries, is barely bigger than a pen, and can be an absolute life saver. It produces way more light and throws it way further than your phone's light, and I've been carrying the same one every day for nearly 15 years now with no signs of it failing. I use it nearly daily in my personal and professional life, you will genuinely wonder how you manages without it if you make it a habit of carrying it.
Or go nuts and get yourself a something like a surefire G2. Bigger, heavier, but more durable and incredibly bright.
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Clothes.
LTT Screwdriver from lttstore.com
Cordless drill
Studfinder
256GB USB for your keychain
Tile for your keychain
Coloured key sleeves
At least one GMRS radio, along with the license to use it. In an emergency where cell lines are down, that's what people will be using for communication. In the US, there are also NOAA weather stations that are very resilient that many GMRS radios can pick up. Just be mindful of etiquette, since there are a limited number of channels.
If you already have a good pedestrian vehicle: a good bike lock.
I (and lockpicking lawyer) recommend the kryptonite evolution. Good balance of price and protection.
For a step up I recommend the kryptonite fahgettaboutit.
Either way, bolt cutters aren't getting in, and portable angle grinders will take a little while because the chain is annoying to grind.
I see too many expensive bikes chained up with thin little locks.
As this commenter (https://lemmy.ml/comment/2274766) also said, an LTT Screwdriver from lttstore.com it is literally the best screwdriver on the market imo. I am a glazier. I work on glass, frames, screens, doors, security doors, patio doors... You name it, I'm all up in it. This screwdriver has been tortured for about 10 months I think, and it is solid as a rock. Nothing but great things to say about it.
Other things you should have. A good portable tool bag. I highly recommend a veto bag. They are amazing. They are not cheap by any means, but it's the last one you'll ever buy.
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Fastcap measuring tape
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A small rubber mallet
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Painters tool
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Putty knife
These two are very versatile and help in a ton of situations. I have never once used either of them for painting applications or drywall. But they work nicely for that stuff too.
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A small 9 inch crowbar
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Needle nose pliers with crimping, stripping, cutting, and paper thin holding accuracy
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Lineman pliars
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6" blade utility knife (DeWalt and Milwaukee ones are really good). You can snap off the sections when you dull the edge and point.
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Cobalt drill bit set
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Cobalt countersink set
Cobalt stuff will go through hardened steel
- Speed square
- Small level (torpedo levels are a decent idea)
- Hardened steel chisel set
- spring punch tool set
- Metal file set
There is a bunch more I could list off, but yeah, these are good things to have.
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A water heater/dispenser, you can find some smaller capacity ones for under 100. I have one that was more than 100 but it's because I love it so much that I wanted a 5 liter one. I can make tea in an instant and always have plenty of near boiling water. They're extremely power efficient so they don't cost much too run.
Pocket reference. It's a tiny book with a ton of potentially useful info.
No more stinky boots. Best $40 I've ever spent.
Hand tools. Wool socks. Fire extinguisher.
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Tide to Go. Less than $10 for a 3-pack and saved my ass whenever my klutz self gets into minor accidents that lead to stained clothes.
I thought this was the dumbest thing until I had one. Now I have one in every toilet.
https://www.amazon.com/16-Color-Activated-Detection-Birthday-Gadgets/dp/B07L2Y84K3
Instructions unclear. Just spent my life savings on all of these great suggestions at once.
Sync Ultra lifetime subscription /s
too early? lol
A copy of Sapiens.
A door lock
This Baseus USB C 65 Watt 3-port charger. I recently bought one to carry in my laptop bag as a portable charger, and it has proven to be indispensable. I've already used it while out and about or on trips out of town to simultaneously charge 3 devices at once. Such as my phone, earbuds, and laptop. It's so small and lightweight, and you can bring a single charging brick to take care of all your devices. I'm never going back to having to carry multiple chargers with me.
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Three square meals a day?
Thank you!
Good hiking shoes and some hiking pants. Especially the pants, got a set from the Decathlon for 40 bucks or so, light, airy, but not cold, extra pockets with zippers, zip-off bottom parts, elastic bands at the bottom. Use them for hiking but almost any activity that just requires a comfortable and efficient pant (actually it would work everywhere except at the office now that I think about it).
Get a used electronic pressure cooker and high power blender. Both products generally run $100+ but you can get them used or refurbished much cheaper and these products hold up really well so you aren't losing anything. You'll eat healthier and cheaper, soon saving more money than you put down. The pressure cooker is amazing for beans which I rarely made from dry before having one, and the blender is great for smoothies, soups, and homemade sauces among other things. You can also probably pick up a rice cooker at a thrift store for $10 or less.
Wireless charging pad. Yes, it's less efficient than wired charging, but it's just so convenient.
Socks
Yep! I have one of those too, the kids don't really like fried eggs so being able to set and forget this whole making everything else is invaluable.
housing
A meat thermometer for cooking
a few grams of coke ❄️
A good Swiss Army kit
knockoff(Victorinox official 14 tool sells for $30) - $30Yincrow X6 with Mic earbuds - $12
A braided good USB-C data transfer cable (Xiaomi sells) - $7-10
A rubber cover for your laptop keyboard (saves from crumbs, hair strands, dust and spills) - $10
A good USB 3.0 SD card reader (Sony, Transcend) - $30
A nice power bank (Xiaomi makes good ones) - $10-12
Total ~ $100
I will add for $5 more a power hand gripper. Please go outside, get your sunshine and make your hand grip strong. You will thank me when you are 60 years old.
Single guys that are interested in women, things to buy for a potential female visitor:
- a variety of tampons and maxi pads
- two types of moisturizer that aren't for jackin
- lady's first razor, shaving cream, potentially a hand mirror
- an assortment of travel hygiene products: toothbrush in package, travel toothpaste, mouth and wash, travel size whatever
- decent towels, hand towels, bath mat, etc.
- a variety of otc drugs: acetaminophen, ibuprofen, excedrin, and first aid kit.
Make your home welcoming to a potential visitor, and stock it with things they may wish they had, or they need and may be shy to admit it.
I think that's about $100
