Most useful thing you have recently brought

[markharry66]

I was in sports direct on Saturday only went in there as wife needed a new set of trainers where I live not much option expensive or sports direct .
Managed to pick up a cheap back pack with shoes compartment have to say having tried its fantastic lol no longer have leave shoes at the office and I can actually fit everything I need for a day at work in there.

What have your brought recently that was unexpectantly good and didnt cost the earth.

 

[Tenkaykev]

A laser distance measuring gubbins. After seeing the guy who came to measure up the kitchen using one. Picked up a cheapie from Screwfix, accurate to +/- 2mm. Now I know all my room sizes and have measured the loft space and rafter spacing so I have a more accurate idea of the amount of insulation I need.

 

[markharry66]

A laser distance measuring gubbins. After seeing the guy who came to measure up the kitchen using one. Picked up a cheapie from Screwfix, accurate to +/- 2mm. Now I know all my room sizes and have measured the loft space and rafter spacing so I have a more accurate idea of the amount of insulation I need.

Sounds decent lol will have to get one myself

 

[richardfm]

Sounds decent lol will have to get one myself

I got a very cheap laser level in Lidl sometime ago. I'm waiting for them to do a laser distance measure.

 

[EckyH]

A simple Casio digital wrist watch. Much more convenient than using a smart phone to read off the time and timing the tea.

E.

 

[Electric_Andy]

An electric whisk/milk frother. It's only supposed to froth milk in a mug which it does very well, but it's also proving very good for mixing up my slimfast shakes. Takes 2 AAA batteries and has lasted ages. Only a tenner

 

[ianrauk]

From Aldi.
Radiator heat reflecting foil, a roll for a tenner.
It does make a difference.

 

[Tenkaykev]

From Aldi.
Radiator heat reflecting foil, a roll for a tenner.
It does make a difference.

Having listened to a BBC Podcast on energy saving in the " Sliced Bread " series recently, I counted up our external rads ( 6 ) and decided on the reflecting foil. I'd had a go at the super budget route ( Kitchen foil wrapped around cardboard ) but it was a bit of a faff. I looked on Screwfix and found some stuff that is magnetic. It's a bit like fridge magnet material with foil on one face. Comes 6 sheets to the pack 500mm x 190 mm per sheet. I cleaned behind the first radiator and slid the first sheet into place using a plastic rule to keep it away from the back of the radiator until it was in about the right place. That worked well and was the work of a couple of minutes to do the rest of the rad. It can be cut with kitchen scissors too.

 

[Oldhippy]

Circular saw by Dewalt, so much easier than a jigsaw for straight cuts.

 

[ColinJ]

What have your brought recently that was unexpectantly good and didnt cost the earth.

A good question!

Most of the things that I bought recently were about as good as I expected. I'll post one which I wasn't sure about but I thought I would give it a go...

Replacement LED backlight strips for an old Samsung TV for £27.

The LEDs in the original strips were failing and creating a large (and growing) purple splodge in the lower half of the screen. This picture doesn't quite show how bad it was in real life...

This is mid-repair, before I removed the old strips...

And this is the splodge-free picture after I had finished...

£27 well-spent!

 

[Tenkaykev]

A good question!

Most of the things that I bought recently were about as good as I expected. I'll post one which I wasn't sure about but I thought I would give it a go...

Replacement LED backlight strips for an old Samsung TV for £27.

View attachment 758868

The LEDs in the original strips were failing and creating a large (and growing) purple splodge in the lower half of the screen. This picture doesn't quite show how bad it was in real life...

View attachment 758866

This is mid-repair, before I removed the old strips...

View attachment 758865

And this is the splodge-free picture after I had finished...

View attachment 758867

£27 well-spent!

That's a really impressive result. I suppose the backlighting has been gradually getting worse over a period of time, the difference is striking 👍

 

[Venod]

A TP usb wireless aerial/dongle for my desktop PC in the garage, it has been running on an ethernet connection via the electrical mains circuit, we have just had FTTP fitted, I was getting about 25 to 30mb download, now getting 130mb with wireless.
It was £15 with free delivery from eBay, ordered 17:00 yesterday, delivery 11:30 this morning.
Amazon wanted £18 with £5 delivery.

 

[Venod]

wife needed a new set of trainers

First time I have heard a pair of trainers described as a set, or did she buy several pairs ?

 

[ColinJ]

A TP usb wireless aerial/dongle for my desktop PC in the garage, it has been running on an ethernet connection via the electrical mains circuit, we have just had FTTP fitted, I was getting about 25 to 30gb download, now getting 130gb with wireless.
It was £15 with free delivery from eBay, ordered 17:00 yesterday, delivery 11:30 this morning.
Amazon wanted £18 with £5 delivery.

Mb, Shirley?

 

[Smokin Joe]

From Aldi.
Radiator heat reflecting foil, a roll for a tenner.
It does make a difference.

I tried that and I couldn't see any difference. I ended up removing it and using it as a frost shield on the windscreen where it done the job. Didn't cost me anything either as a neighbour had given me the roll.

Best buy lately was a pair of prescription glasses designed for playing snooker. I look like the front of a Land Rover but now I can see the balls at other the end of the table.

And no, I'm not posting a picture.