If there’s one sure thing in life, it’s that everyone would love to make their existence as simple as possible. Society and the job market taught us we should be hardworking, overperforming all the time, the best version of ourselves — but the reality is, we really need some weight lifted off our shoulders. Like, for real. We work so hard to achieve what society dictates as success and happiness that we forget about our basic needs as human beings.
We’re not saying you should quit your job and go live in a cave, but some things can make your life easier, more enjoyable, and even make you feel like you have more free time on your hands. But you’re probably wondering what these things are.
We recently came across this Reddit thread where people shared dozens of life-changing items they use in their everyday routines that improved their life’s quality in ways you might not expect. Sometimes we overlook how some common objects are underrated inventions that tiptoed their way into our existence and just... changed it for the better. If I had to personally answer the thread, I’d say one of these life-changing products — or services — is the Internet. This mysterious thing everyone uses daily literally gave me a job, taught me all the valuable stuff school and my parents didn’t, and works wonders as a source of entertainment, especially when I’m at my lowest.
We scrolled through the answers, and can I say we were stunned? We rarely think about how those cheap household items that silently observe our lives also make them much more bearable. But this thread was eye-opening (and made me buy a couple of things from Amazon, too). According to Redditors, these are the things everyone needs, and we’re pretty sure you’ll be able to relate to some of these interesting submissions.
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"Books. Knowledge is currency that only increases."
Reading, writing, and drawing will all improve your life. Don't worry if you're "bad" at it. That's perfectly fine. And no, you're not "too old" to start. There's no age limit on learning something new. Sure, there will be amazing 13 year old ingenues, but you should never compare yourself to others. Just have fun; that's what's important. 🤗💕
"A king-sized blanket for a queen-sized bed."
"A shelter dog. Holy crap my life has changed for the better."
"May sound simple, but a good pillow. It is amazing the change in body aches, and sleep you see when you have a good pillow that fits you."
"Good pair of shoes."
"When I started dating my now wife I introduced to the concept of sharpening knives and she had no idea that it was supposed to be easy to cut veggies and fruit!"
My ex-father -in-law own his own butcher shop and I learned so much about butchering from him, especially the importance of having sharp knives to work with in the kitchen, as well as the proper way to use them.
"Any vaccination."
I got my fourth 'rona and yearly flu and pneumonia shots all at once early in October. Been the only not sick person in my house for weeks now. (I have a compromised immune system, that's why I keep up with the 'rona boosters, just FYI).
"Bath sheet. Most people have bath towels and they are fine, but a bath sheet is a towel almost twice the normal size. It's a game changer to be able to comfortably wrap it around my chest and hips."
"House plants. They will make you happy looking after them. I recently bought a venus fly trap, she caught her first fly today. So proud."
"In my opinion definitely a weighted blanket if you have a hard time sleeping at night or have anxiety. They have some at target for $25 currently."
"One of the male-marketed products that is superior though is men's razors. I know women that swear by men's razors, both because they're higher quality and lower in price."
"Carbon monoxide detector."
"I got a silk pillowcase because I have really really long hair and it keeps it from tangling as badly overnight."
"First aid kit for car/home. Better the have it and not need it than need it and not have it."
After i cut of my fingertip I finally organized my first aid stuff. It helps a lot and I can grab the right stuff one handed since my SO kann not see blood.
"A dash cam for your car can protect you from wrongful claims also vandalism and theft."
"A good showerhead. I can not stress enough how a high-quality showerhead can turn getting clean into utterly zen, 30-minute self-healing and relaxation session."
Can not stress this enough, even 10 minutes with a quality showerhead will make a difference on the way you feel!
"A menstrual cup. Seriously it saved me so much money and waste."
"Rice cooker is a life changer (if you make a lot of rice like me.)
"A Cook Book. Not like a fad celebrity book but a real old school family cookbook."
I have a lot of old school cookbooks that I love. I just pass by the recipes for jello molds and stuffed camel.
"A bicycle helmet. Buy one, wear one."
Makes awesome sense if you also happen to own a bike. It's a pretty rare hobby.
"A real Lava Lamp. Not that glitter lamp bullshit. It’s honestly such a stress reliever to have those balls of wax bouncing around as you try to fall asleep. Turn that thing on and my brain just knows it’s zen time."
"A bidet. Might be the only actually life-changing thing I’ve ever bought, and only $30."
To all SNL fans out there... a must see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQx-ZbSQSBM
"A kitchen scale. Completely changed my food consumption, since I could easily measure portions. I learned what they actually should be, not what we in the US act like they are. That + MyFitnessPal (the free version, even!) = Me losing 120lbs over 18 months and developing a much healthier relationship with food and eating. Very simple tools, but great for enacting real, lasting change."
A scale in the kitchen is a must. I step on mine holding my dinner so I will know how much more I going to weigh. 😂
"Electronic toothbrush. You think your teeth are clean? They aren't."
"Daylight lamp for winter, to combat SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder."
"A decent light wake-up alarm clock. Completely changed my mornings. Don’t think I could ever go back to using my phone or a simple alarm clock."
(07:00) gotta get up now / (07:02) on three / (07:05) one / (07:12) two / (12:37) three!
"A set of drill brushes. I use them for car detailing but I have a set for everyday house cleaning. They attach to your drill and it sure beats the heck out of scrubbing."
"National park annual pass."
State Park passes too. Whenever I get new partners I have to explain that. It's $8 a day or $10 annually when you renew your plate. It used to be a $60 window sticker, with it on the license plate now I can do my truck, RV, Jeep, car, motorcycles for the same price and there's never the stress of "oh we're in the wrong car" plus the moneys go to wildlife-positive programs here.
"Motion sensor night lights. Can’t tell you how many stubbed toes or falls they have prevented. Also a cheap intruder alarm."
"I can't imagine my life without a pressure cooker. It makes rice, meat, lentils, pulses, beans almost everything in less time."
I wholeheartedly agree with this one. I use mine two or three times a week minimum.
"Meat thermometer. No more cutting open meat to see if it’s done, thus leaking juices."
"Rain-X best stuff to re-fill the wiper reservoir. In one of those storms that you are pulling over under an overpass because you can't see."
Rain -x is pretty great, usually works well to defrost windows in winter too
"A library membership."
I've had a library card for around 35 years and made really good use of it. During those 35 years, the council has gradually closed every satellite library down and now, there's only the central branch open. It's hard to get to if you don't drive, and there's nowhere to park if you do. It's possible that the council have employed that strategy so that when they close it, which they inevitably will, they can blame lack of users. It's a shame that kids nowadays won't be able to find a safe haven from bullies in the walls of fact and fiction like I did. Or even just a good book.
"Upper back posture corrector."
Nawwww... Keeps me from slumping at my desk while I sob and wonder why I work here.. 😄
"I bought a $1 back scratcher from an Asian market in town. Best $1 I ever spent."
"Fast charge outlet for phones. Really worth it."
Phones just come with those, though. Unless you want to keep a spare one in another room, you mean?
"A fire extinguisher. I didn't buy one for the longest time because I thought they were like $100-200. Then I was in "Home Depot" one day turns out you can get a small one for your kitchen for like $20!"
"Mesh laundry bags so you'll never lose a sock again."
"Traction cleats for shoes. Better than slipping on ice and breaking your wrist!"
"Fitted sheet straps. They keep cheap sheets from popping up at the corners. So now I can use soft sheets that don't cost a fortune and my sleep is undisturbed by them popping loose, greatly improving my quality of life."
As mattresses get deeper it makes it more difficult to use those super soft cotton sheets that are still around 30 years later from an era of shallow mattresses.
"A glass breaker on a keychain. Push it against the glass of your car window and it shatters immediately, helping you get out of a car underwater, broken door, etc. Super cheap and life-saving."
"Salad spinner. Having dry lettuce is criminally underrated."
I agree! I store my greens in one and it keeps them from getting slimy for much longer
"A foam roller! I see so many people entering their 30s complaining about back pain. Get a foam roller, a mini roller, and a roller ball and you're set. It can help so much."
My whole life I've had the worst knots by my shoulder blades. Started leaning on a lacrosse ball against the wall and it has CHANGED MY LIFE! It was the first time I wasn't yelling at someone to massage harder
"Toaster oven. Nothing can replace having one when it's 95F outside. Not even an air fryer."
"If you have a large lawn or a property that requires a lot of yard work get some 3M Worktunes. About $50 and they're combination hearing protection and Bluetooth headphones so you can actually hear your music without destroying your eardrums."
I figured out pretty young that I needed music during a long drive but I'm not sure why it took me so long to realize that it makes housework & exercise more bearable too 😀
"A folding wagon. Getting groceries in the house, camping gear, etc. We always have it in the car and you can do 5 trips worth by hand effortlessly."
"Honestly? A decent suit from a secondhand store. You can leave a good first impression at a job interview, family function, or social event for somewhere around thirty bucks if you're lucky."
I don't know why more people don't shop at thrift stores & consignment shops. Not only is it better for the environment but you can find some real treasures. I bought a high-end designer dress (for $5) that was still being sold in Nordstrom for nearly a grand.
"Tongue scraper."
I thought these were the silliest thing until I bought one out of curiosity and started using it to see if it made a difference. It does. I cannot stand the way my mouth feels when it's not clean and a clean tongue raises the bar a million times over! Even after brushing my teeth, if I haven't used this, I can feel the difference.
"A wristwatch. "Casio F91-W" can be had for about $10. Not having to dig your phone out of your pocket or bag just to check the time seems inconsequential but it is a massive quality of life improvement."
Another perk is that your phone can get stolen if it's inside an inner pocket or the safety pocket of a bag.
"Shower mirror for shaving."
Or shampooing. I hate having to get back in the shower because I missed a spot!
"A tourniquet. $20 to save someone’s life. Keep it in your car glove box. You can even get a whole kit for $50."
Make sure you know how and when to use one. First aid instructor here, tourniquets are great if you know what you're doing, but you can do a lot of harm if you don't. Very simple YouTube videos can teach you the difference in 10 minutes.
"A hammock. Bought my a year ago and I have no idea what I did without it, you can literally post up anywhere and everywhere and it will encourage you to go outside a lot more."
"Checkbook register. Even if you don’t use checks or even have a bank account, a little booklet that you can carry around to mark down when and how much you spend and receive helps a ton."
"Lightweight thermos bottle. No more plastic, cool water in summer, and hot tea in winter. Never leave my home without 0.7l of clean cold water. Had been using them for 7 years."
Every member of our household has two. One for cold beverages, one for hot. It's amazing how often you will reach for it, knowing it's there, and you are only helping yourself out by staying hydrated. If you get one with a straw, be sure to pick up a straw cleaner which looks like a skinny bottle brush and is relatively inexpensive.
"Audible. 7.99 a month. Changed my life. My mindset and my whole attitude towards self-education."
Your local library offers a similar service- but with unlimited books for free. Try looking up your library on the Libby app.
"Youtube wants you to think the answer is Youtube Premium."
"AeroPress coffee maker. The thing broke my wife of her $200(?) monthly Starbucks habit. The unit costs maybe $25 or so."
"The right shampoo and conditioner. I use this super girly-looking stuff called love beauty and planet, and my hair is glorious and I love putting my hands into it. And other people like putting their hands in my hair too. Generally women."
Aveda Sap Moss conditioner is so good that people lost their minds when it was discontinued. People were paying hundreds of dollars for small containers of it. It is back now 😀 Also Pureology Nanoworks gold saved my hair after a stylist fried it. Unfortunately they are both quite expensive. I wish I had cheaper taste 😩
"Paprika" recipe app and the corresponding software for your PC. The thing is a miracle. Not only can you download recipes from websites - it pulls the recipe and instructions out and leaves all the chaff - but you can add ingredients to your grocery list right from the recipe, create meal plans and menus, and share access with another person (they have to buy the app too and use shared login). It's changed the way I meal plan, shop, and cook."
"Vertical mouse. $20. Saved my wrist using it at work all day."
"A phone case that fits your driver's license and a cc/bank card. Not carrying around a wallet has changed my life."
"'Rich Dad, Poor Dad' by Robert Kiyosaki. Changed my whole mentality when it comes to money."
Yeah, my ex loved that book. I read it. I'm sure it's great for guys who have money to start with. For the rest of us, it's a glimpse into boomer philosophy.
"Pepper spray! One of the best things I've ever spent money on!"
Lol, now I'm curious if you ever actually used it? Seems a super odd thing to someone who lives rural like I do.
"A piece of exercise equipment like a stationary bike."
"Something else that really helped with sleeping for me is a bottle that keeps water cold ("Mizu" or whatever). Being able to drink ice cold water at any time during the night without leaving your bed changes everything."
"Gym membership."
I got a dog... Named him 5 Miles... I go around the block and later tell friends I walked 5 Miles today.
"Cut gloves for when you are chopping food."
"A used instrument."
"Spotify Premium."
"A "Ninja" bullet smoothie maker. Healthy, quick smoothies. I'd consider it a lifesaver because of the sheer number of benefits a healthy living can provide."
Except that a heavy duty smoothie user, like my roommate brother, will burn through a cheap blender in only a couple of months. He went thru both of mine before buying a ninja and I think he's still using that one quite a few years later
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"Heeleys."
Convenient for when you fall with those things and break something the EMTs can Wheeley to the ambulance
"Lottery ticket."
I always play the popular game called.. Not A Winner... at least the lottery scanner tells me
"The Bible. Whether or not you believe in the stuff that happens on it, it teaches you practical lessons about life. I don't think you have to be religious to be affected by the Bible, a person can still take its lessons to heart."
Huh. Don't agree on that one. Not much more or less to learn than from any other source of morale/knowledge/"wisdom". Between the Old and the New Testament there are so many lessons (occasionally contradicting, as in "an eye for an eye" vs "turn the other cheek") that you can support nearly any point of view (e.g. on the topic of capital punishment both sides like to quote holy scripture). The bible is a nice reference book on local customs, politics, propagana and (with a grain of salt) history from about 6000 B.C. to 2000 years ago in the eastern Mediterranean, though, and an interesting example of how stories passing the mill of Chinese whispers and multidirectional translations change/mutate.
I was hoping someone would mention clothing. Having a wardrobe with clothes that you like, that fit your body type, (instead of trendy or in style items) is comfortable, and makes you feel good will give you so much confidence and less stress fretting over what to wear or having "nothing" to wear.
I was hoping someone would mention clothing. Having a wardrobe with clothes that you like, that fit your body type, (instead of trendy or in style items) is comfortable, and makes you feel good will give you so much confidence and less stress fretting over what to wear or having "nothing" to wear.
