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“Hookless Shower Curtain”: 30 Items That Cost Less Than $500 But Brought Big Benefits For Folks
Considering how crazy expensive everything has become, it’s no wonder that frugal living has become a trend as folks prefer to buy beneficial products rather than just-for-show ones. Now, wouldn’t you also prefer to purchase a product that benefits you but doesn’t take a large chunk out of your pocket?
You are not the only one. When Reddit user DaJabroniz asked netizens about a purchase they made under $500 that changed their lives, people gushed with answers. You might even be able to relate to a few, while some will come as a surprise. Just scroll down to find out!
More info: Reddit
This post may include affiliate links.
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#2
A nice bathrobe to wear after a shower. Nicer bed sheets.
But honestly? My cat. Adoption fee was like $200-$300 and I love this cat more than I ever thought was possible to love an animal. My little buddy. ❤️.
DennyS (denzoren) 9 months ago
Yes to all of those. I can vouch for the sheets and the cat (mine was free though, someone just left a perfectly good kitten out on the road).
#3
I befriended a m****r of crows so now, I get all the benefits of pet ownership without the responsibility because they’ll follow me around and wait for me to come home. Even get excited but if I forget to feed them, they don’t die from starvation. :)
Its not for everyone, but crows were cheaper than therapy at $12/wk.
🇺🇦 PrincessPatton 🇺🇦 9 months ago (edited)
WHAT THE F*U*C*K, BP! Do you have to censor every F*u*C*K*i*N*G word? What the F*U*C*K was m****r originally? I*D*I*O*T panda!
As you scroll through the list, you will catch sight of some really ordinary products that you might not have even thought of before. The fact that they changed the lives of these netizens for good shows just how efficient they are. I mean, just take the example of something as simple as a Kindle and the positive impact it can have.
The first Amazon Kindle e-reader device was introduced in November 2007, and it was almost like heaven on a platter for bookworms. Of course, being an avid reader myself, I would definitely miss sniffing physical books while reading (that blissful fragrance!), but nothing compares to having a whole library in a single device. Its benefits are so numerous that readers all over highly recommend it to fellow bibliophiles.
#4
Glass bowl set with lids. We can eat out of them, store food, pack our work lunches/meal prep, use as mixing bowls, bake, and they’re so much easier to clean than plastic Tupperware. It literally could cut our kitchen supplies in half if I weren’t afraid to throw away the Tupperware. Baby steps 😂.
Robert Trebor 9 months ago
I like those container lids with the four clicks. So secure. Gotta look into glass ones.
#5
King bed.
I'm only one person, and I don't care. I'm a starfish at heart.
Robert Trebor 9 months ago
I'm 6 foot six (198cm) and was sleeping on an extended twin in a small bedroom (38"x75"-96.5cmx190cm). I ordered custom mattress at the widest I could get away with in the room and now sleep diagonally on a 48 inch -122cm) bed. New bedding, WOW. Slightly more than $500, all told, but worth every penny. No room anywhere for a bigger bed.
#6
My treadmill was also life changing, gave me an excellent place to hang clothes.
Another highly coveted and beneficial product is an air fryer. Roughly two-thirds of homes surveyed own an air fryer, indicating a significant rise in its popularity. In fact, two years ago, the appliance became the fourth most popular cooking device after the stove top, the microwave, and the oven, and more people have an air fryer today in their kitchen than a coffee maker.
Well, its popularity is not without numerous benefits, such as healthier cooking with less oil, faster cooking times, crispy results, and ease of cleanup. With people becoming more health-conscious in recent years, its no wonder that this product is in the limelight.
#7
A vasectomy.
DennyS (denzoren) 9 months ago
Much better than having your wife or partners constantly on birth control.
#8
A Kindle! I love to read but books are so expensive in the US and my local library doesn’t have enough copies of popular books. With my Kindle, I got access to an extensive ebook catalog. I’ve also heard these last a few years without needing to be replaced!
Tiffany 9 months ago (edited)
This is my thing also. I tend to walk to the thrift stores for books often as well. I do it for fresh air and exercise. Definitely more self help books and workbooks at the Goodwill. Stephen King novels too. I enjoy lending them out like The Body Keeps Score and Emotionally Unavailable Mothers. Books people can learn from to heal and grow their own lives. Kindle is great for romantic books and psychological thrillers. I like those. I like jumping around and reading more things I wouldn't such as Sci fi. Trying to expand my mind and get out of my comfort zone. I bought all 8 books of Anne of Green Gables for $1.99 on Kindle. I just read them. What a fantastic read. I loved seeing into the early 1900's. "Carrots!" ❤️
#9
Air purifier
Well, I'm not sure it *changed* my life, but the amount of dust I have to clean off the filter is staggering.
Edit- Winix C909 from Costco.
Tammy Kirks 9 months ago
We got one too and it's been terrific! My husband's allergies have decreased dramatically.
Speaking of being health-conscious, you will notice that there are other products as well that people have bought for their health, whether it be a treadmill or a kayak. It has been observed that younger generations are more health-conscious than previous generations.
Greater access to health information, a growing awareness of the importance of physical and mental well-being, and a desire to prevent chronic diseases might be a few key reasons why youngsters are taking this step. After all, with rising inflation, staying fit is probably a beneficial way to save and earn money.
#10
A kayak!
Excercise and relaxation . I’m a lake kayaker.
Sometimes I row for miles and get a great workout.
Sometimes I tie a cooler and lunch and music on and float a day away.
Often I combine the two and hit an island for a walk and lunch.
It’s perfect for me and has made three seasons of my year every bit more enjoyable and healthy.
Carole Martin 9 months ago
I'm 84 and still love to kayak. Out on the water with birds and other citters all around is the best!
#11
$60 electric blanket. Ever since I had surgery last year, I’m cold all the time, especially my feet. It seriously changed my life and everyday comfort.
Huddo's sister 9 months ago
I love that there are electric throw rugs now, not just the ones for a bed. I got my pregnant sister in law one for Christmas, even though it was summer here at the time, because she is having a winter baby.
#12
Portable car jump starter ($45) - since buying it, both my partner and my cars have failed to start in the last week and it’s been a lifesaver (thanks bad weather!).
DennyS (denzoren) 9 months ago
I bought it and literally the day after my cousin broke down lol it cost me around 30$ on black friday sale and it's paid for itself ten times over.
Someone also spoke about a CPAP machine, and it got me thinking that it was only a couple of years ago when loud snoring was considered normal—troublesome for the ones sleeping around the snorer, but yes, normal. Little did they know that sometimes, it can be pretty serious as the person might have sleep apnea.
The National Sleep Foundation reported that sleep apnea likely affects up to 20% of the population, and it’s been found that most individuals with sleep apnea don’t even know they have it. Well, a CPAP machine definitely sounds like an awesome purchase if it can help treat it.
#13
CPAP saved my life.
Huddo's sister 9 months ago
Bi-pap (pushes air in and out) saved my little brother's life. Well actually, prolonged it. He was on palliative care in the ICU and we were about to stop treatment when it was suggested by a young doctor. He decided to give it a try and lived another 6 years. We didn't have to pay anything, thanks to Australia's healthcare system. Backk then c-pap and bi-pap were fairly new treatments, so I'm glad they are so well known now and it can save more lives.
Well, folks, that's it from our end, so we hand over the platform to you. Don't forget to upvote the things you could relate to the most. Also, we would love to hear about the beneficial purchases under $500 that changed your lives. Feel free to jot them down in the comments!
#16
10ft chest freezer for $248 from Walmart during their “deal days”.
Huddo's sister 9 months ago
My brother and I bought a chest freezer when we were living together and the one we had gotten from our grandparents died. I think it cost about $300. When we moved out, he had it for a while because he was in a bigger place, then I bought him out when he moved to a one bedroom place and I moved to a bigger one. It's almost 10 years old now and still going strong. We have a smaller freezer inside, but I usually put at least 3 serves in individual containers when I cook a meal and freeze them so I have meals for when I don't have energy to cook. My mum liked the one I had and thought she was buying a similar one but hers is about 20L larger I think. She regretted how big it was, until she had to put two lambs into it...
#17
Air Fryer.
DennyS (denzoren) 9 months ago
Might just be a problem with mine but I can't fill it like that, it can only do thin layers.
#18
I spent $10 each on two laundry baskets to put bedding and towels in. They were just mixed in with my clothes and it caused so much clutter to my area of the bedroom.
I put the items in their baskets and put them in locations that were more appropriate - the bathroom for towels and laundry room for bed linens.
Y’all. I vacuumed our bedroom and put my clothes in the hamper. D**n! I got my life together now! 🙌 Look out!
#19
I bought nice bedding and made some adjustments to my bedroom that has greatly improved the quality of our sleep. It's like night and day.
#20
Delonghi oil-filled space heater. We have ancient baseboard heaters that don't work well, and have been able to use the space heaters this winter instead. We saved more than we would have spent by now on our electric bill.
Huddo's sister 9 months ago
Oil heaters use quite a bit of electricity too. I prefer ceramic plate heaters, especially when you can set them to a cut off temperature.
#21
Cordless vacuum. I use it a lot more than my corded ones.
Robert Trebor 9 months ago
My cordless lives on the post next to my refrigerator. Clean-up is a breeze.
#22
Generator.
Only occasional power outages here, but every time we have severe weather I stress. Now I have enough power and extension cords to maintain heat, freezer, internet, and our aquarium fishes.
Huddo's sister 9 months ago
My mum has 3 second hand generators. Every time we have extreme weather (we have had two major storms where they lost power for days last year, and the ever present bushfire risk) I ask whether she had fuel/had them serviced and the answer is still no. First it was because she was relying on my stepdad to do it and he rarely does anything these days. She decided she would do it, but she always has a million other things to do and doesn't get around to it. They can only blame themselves that they have had to cook on their bbq during those times I guess. At least they don't have an electric pump on their water so could still flush the toilets.
#23
I bought a large hydroponics unit used on Facebook Marketplace for $400 and I’m eating SO MANY MORE VEGGIES! They don’t go bad and I’m motivated to eat them because I grew them myself and I’m proud. It’s also just a fun lil hobby. Best purchase ever.
DennyS (denzoren) 9 months ago
If anyone needs help with hydroponics/aquaponics/aquaculture let me know. It's my field.
#24
3d printer.
I wouldnt say "it changed my life" but its an appliance that his very useful and paid for itself quite quickly.
Need a beer can holder for my canoe? A wall mount for a sword? A part for an appliance from a company that dont sell part? 3d printer can do it all.
#25
Picked up a $300 Amazon TV and and mounted it on my outside patio wall. Added a ceiling fan and outdoor carpet. It absolutely transformed that little square of concrete into the most relaxing areas of the home.
#26
Rice cooker. I’ve always been a big pasta guy (I blame the Italian family) but getting a proper rice cooker has changed my dinner game.
I don’t even have an expensive one - Black Decker rice cooker cost me <$30. Works like a charm.
Huddo's sister 9 months ago
I don't have a lot of bench space, so it's easier just to cook rice in the microwave.
#27
Reverse Osmosis water filter with a tap at the sink.
#28
Food vacuums sealer.
I like to BBQ and it is just my wife and I. I can do a brisket and a pork bit and potion it out.
I also use it when I sous vide. It makes a complete seal
If you buy bulk meat it is usually cheaper so I portion it out into meal size bags.
#29
$500 worth of salsa classes and socials
Life changing in terms of breaking out of the same social circles, getting exercise, learning something hella fun (and hard) and having a skill that I can bring when I travel to other countries.
#30
Hookless shower curtain. You don’t need shower rings and the liner snaps off for washing.
Donna Peluda 9 months ago
I read hookers shower curtain..why would you the shower curtain from a lady of the night.
What do you think ?
Peeka_Mimi 9 months ago
Have trouble regulating your body temperature or in active menopause? The Embr Wave 2. Trust.
Peeka_Mimi 9 months ago
Have trouble regulating your body temperature or in active menopause? The Embr Wave 2. Trust.
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