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.
Yubico Security Key, to secure your logins and more!
Meat thermometer.
Decent digital instant read cooking thermometer. Makes any meat dish on point.
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.
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.
Safety razor
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 $11 and I swear by it. You simply cannot go back to a regular backscratcher after trying one.
Oh, and they’re indestructible. My in-laws still use one from 1979!
A meat thermometer for cooking
If you are a dude and getting a bit older, then the Panasonic Nose and Ear hair trimmer. It’s like 13$ on Amazon.
I took a selfie for a car hire application recently and only looked at it closely after I sent it. Now I’m cursed with the knowledge that whoever processed the application saw me with a long white nose hair hanging.
Yes…. it is time …
This is the ONE
No, basically anyone is good enough. Your comment just feels like marketing.
That’s what I thought until I got that one. Then I realized what I had been missing all along. Marketing? Nope. Just sharing what I found to be good.
Does it do a good job on ear hair? I’ve tried multiple groomers that get the nose hair well enough but every one of them has been trash at getting the ear hair so I’ve resorted to plucking it.
The head is shaped like a mushroom, so it cuts on the side and right on top. Unlike the others which are tube shaped.
I just tried it. It does a pretty good job, but I don’t have really furry ears.
I got one of these when I was in my 20s and Id still recommend it. A little grooming goes a long way.
A fire extinguisher can be found for less than 100 USD and is a must-have. A smoke detector is also a bare minimum in my opinion.
A door lock
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.
A mug warmer for my coffee and tea cups. No more drinking cold coffee or having to rush through my cup before it gets too cold. It was less than 20 bucks and I use it basically every day. Wonderful purchase
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.
