People's 29 Low-Expectation Purchases That Turned Out To Be Total Game Changers

If you're anything like me, you're definitely feeling just how expensive everything has gotten these days — and are desperately looking for things you can pick up for a reasonable price that are very, very worth your money. Over on Reddit, Monsuri_Lifestyle recently asked , "What's a comfort or routine-related item you bought expecting very little from, but it ended up lasting for years?" and these 29 answers have me SERIOUSLY reconsidering all of my future purchases:

1. "Mason jars of all sorts of sizes. We use them for everything. Glasses for drinks. Storage for things like leftover soup, broth, and tomato paste. With a vacuum sealer, they're a godsend for fruits and salads (without dressing). We also use them to decant laundry products into. I use them to store bulk oats and coffee beans, too."

2. "Bath sheets instead of bath towels. I have all different kinds, and they are all 10000% more cozy to pull around you after a shower than a tiny towel."

— u/tryptamid

3. "I got these Velcro sticker squares at the Dollar Tree. I stuck the soft, fuzzy side to my Fire TV Stick remote and the pokey side to the edge of my coffee table. Haven't lost the remote in three years. It's nice when everything has a place."

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4. "Gonna go extra old school here. A hot water bottle and/or rice bag 'heating pad.' Absolutely phenomenal for cramps, sore muscles, or sometimes just cuddling up with on a cold day. Sometimes the simplest things turn out to be the most effective. I actually just bought the hot water bottle, like, two years ago, but it gets heavy usage and works wonderfully. The rice bag was given to me as a Secret Santa gift in high school by another student, and I think she actually may have hand-sewn it. It's been going strong for over 20 years now!"

— u/Im_jennawesome

5. "Got a cheap linen pillowcase about six years ago, thinking it'd fall apart within months. It's been washed more times than I can count, and the fabric's only gotten softer, no fraying or thinning. Now I can't sleep on anything else."

6. "A good, comfortable backpack. Take it to work, gym, shops, beach, whatever. Got one that is comfortable with good pockets and doesn't look out of place in any of those areas."

— u/Personal-Process3321

7. "Weirdly, my two are from IKEA. One is for making pour-over coffee and is nothing but a stainless cone, a fine stainless filter, and a stainless disc that suspends the cone over a cup. It takes up no space. It doesn't break if you drop it. I don't have to buy filters. It can go in the dishwasher. It weighs nothing if I want to take it hiking. I love that darn thing. I think it cost, like, $10 when I bought it a few years ago. The other one is a super-long aluminum shoe horn, which I bought a couple of years ago. I don't have to bend over at all to get my boots on now, and neither do older family members when they come to visit. It has a hook on one end and hangs by my front door. I'm a huge fan and wound up buying several more as gifts. I think they were charging $3 for it."

8. "A good tongue scraper."

— u/LouGossetJr

9. "Wasn't a believer till I got one, but a toilet stool, aka Squatty Potty."

10. "Electric toothbrush. My teeth have never felt cleaner! And my dentist and hygienist always remark how clean my teeth are at my appointments."

— u/illuminati229

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11. "I got into hiking six years ago, and I bought an REI day hiking bag to replace the cheap drawstring bags I had been using. I use that bag all the time . It's perfect for flights, vacations, and overnights. When I'm planning for trips, my goal is to only pack enough to fit in that bag."

12. "Back scratcher. And a head lamp."

— u/BurntMatchstickRN

13. "Those long-handled grabbers you get at the same place where you buy mobility aids and accessibility things. They're fantastic for reaching into tight places or otherwise hard-to-reach areas. My late husband originally bought one because cancer was making it hard for him to get around and reach for things. He passed 11 years ago, and I'm still using that thing."

14. "A soft but very absorbent terrycloth bathrobe. It's the greatest and makes me feel warm and dry right after a shower."

— u/deepdeepocean

15. "I got 24 cotton rounds to replace my over-usage of cotton pads/balls/Q-tips. I wash a bag of them every other week. I'm on year four of twice-daily use. I have set some aside for my nails, even. The one or two that are pilling, I shave then wash."

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16. "A real natural sea sponge for the shower. I even take it with me when I travel. It's much better than a rag or synthetic sponge. They easily last many years, are all natural, totally biodegradable, and make you feel REALLY clean. The natural sponges really hold the soap well, so you even use less soap."

— u/phribzee

17. "The L.L.Bean moccasin slippers I bought secondhand off eBay. They looked like they were never even worn. I've had them for several years now, and they still look brand new."

18. "My blackout curtains that also help block out sound. Had them in my loft bed area for years before I added them to the living room below.
Closing them creates quiet and darkness. They are a great way to start my nightly routine."

— u/Garden_Espresso

19. "GHD flat iron. I bought it when I was still straightening my hair stick-straight in, like, 2009, and it's still as good as ever. Luckily, I learned to use it to style my hair in other ways since then."

20. "A set of flannel sheets my grandma gave me probably a decade ago. Figured they'd pill up and get scratchy like every cheap set does. Still soft, still warm, been through more washes than I can count. I keep meaning to 'upgrade,' but every winter I just put them right back on."

— u/Nasheuss

21. "A good thick leather jacket (real leather), one size up from your usual. I live in a place that sees a lot of cold, windy weather, and my cheap resale leather jacket, that cost about $65, I have worn more times than any other jacket in my house. It's black, and it can be dressed up or down. Highly recommend for the northeastern and midwestern US fall, winter, and spring. I've also brought it abroad to London, parts of Ireland, and Canada. I've had it now for nine years, and restored it only once. When I pair it with a thick wool sweater, it even keeps me warm down to below 0 windchill."

22. "I have a down-filled duvet I bought over 10 years ago, and it's still going strong with nightly use in the winter. I couldn't tell you the brand, but I got it from Amazon. I think it was super generic. But it's as fluffy and warm as the day I bought it."

— u/lentil5

23. "Wool socks. Darn tough."

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24. "A massage roller and massage ball. I roll my feet in the mornings, and my shoulders and legs at night after exercise. It's become routine."

— u/Anon_819

25. "Silicone muffin tin liners. They stand up straight on a baking sheet, so no bulky muffin tin gets tangled in with the baking sheets, clean in the dishwasher, and also work as cute lunchbox dividers or dip containers. Lasted eight years so far with no injury."

26. "My SMEG milk frother. I bought it at the beginning of the pandemic just to make my morning coffee routine a little more fun. It's still good as new, and I use it at least once per day!"

— u/Every-Note-9892

27. "A great quality eye mask for sleeping. I purchased a mask that has a convex area over your eyes and sculpted foam fittings over your nose. I find the consistency of darkness throughout the night while still being able to sleep in a room with natural light a real boon to my nightly recovery."

28. "Nightlights in each room to be able to walk through the house at night. Flashlights, batteries, extra lightbulbs, and so on and so forth. Sadly underestimated for young folks."

— u/mystical__sapphire

29. And finally, "Cast iron teapot. Bought it for aesthetic, ended up becoming part of my daily tea ritual."

Now I've gotta know: What's a purchase you made that completely exceeded your expectations? Let us know in the comments. And if you'd like to remain anonymous, you can use the form below.

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