Hi Ozbargainers,
Been thinking lately about all the increasing issues (physical health, mental health, stress, etc) as a result of dealing with the complexities of modern life.
What do you think are some cheap-ish purchases that can dramatically improve somebody's quality of life?
It's normally free
Should I post it as a bargain?
Only if there's Cashrewards.
This is OzBargain not OzRRP.
I was going to say Books.
If you buy them, you don't need to return them and can re-visit whenever you need to escape.
In that case, buy a Kindle (paperwhite, newest gen. It's literally night and day compared to my 2nd gen kindle).
Personal preferences; mine is for real paper.
@Kangal: Yes, Audible has been awesome (just started using recently actually), but partly also because I already take a lot with me to and from work (work stuff, gym stuff, etc) and an actual physical book (the ones I'm reading lately) would just weigh me down too much.
@GG57: I prefer stone tablets myself. Sure, they are a pain to carry, store and read but I just like the texture and feel of them over this digital media. They also look good in my house and I can impress people with what I have read. Sure, they deteriorate over time and are quite literally bacteria storage magnets but the smell of a newly chiseled tablet can't be beat. I don't care that modern devices can store more books than most libraries, are a lot more convenient and the books are free if you know where to look, I won't change!
I own more than 700 signed books. I think a Kindle screen would become too cluttered very quickly
@GaryQ: Considering my ebook collection is well in excess of 1 million books (closer to 1.5M), I can assure you this is not the case. You just move the books on and off the Kindle from your PC as you want to read them. What makes it really great is there is a fantastic free tool called Calibre that makes it stupidly simple.
Recently bought one. I like reading, but never carried a book with me places, and am always too tired to read for long in bed. Since buying the kindle I've been getting through about one book a week instead of about 2 per year.
If you borrow them you dont have to pay $30, you dont have to store them when not using them, and you can reborrow them.
Not for everyone, sure.
Lots of libraries offer audio books too now - so I’d add that (eg Borrow Box) and then Apple AirPods to listen to the books whilst doing mindless tasks
A plane ticket. To anywhere (apart from a place that's similar to where you're currently living).
Here's a deal to help you with the cost.
This - grab a cheap ticket, live cheap for a few weeks - get off the beaten track, meet people in places a lot worse off than you, volunteer to help out while you are there.
get off the beaten track, meet people in places a lot worse off than you, volunteer to help out while you are there.
I can see both sides of the arguement in the article about slums. I toured a slum in Manila and the impact was profound. The conditions were atrocious, but most interestingly everybody was smiling and looked very happy. There was a real sense of community. Walking around the streets in Sydney nobody smiles and everybody just looks miserable.
@unqualified89: I'm not saying avoid developing countries, but explicitly visiting places 'worse off than you' is exploitative. Voluntourism sounds appealing, but unless you're an aid worker, you are not giving back more than you're taking out, since you'll probably be wanting three meals, a hot shower, A/C, and WiFi in the middle of a jungle. And you definitely don't know more about building a hospital or church (many companies are religious) than locals.
If you want to show your Instagram followers how adventurous and compassionate you are (#blessed), then go nuts. If you actually want to help out, then stay home and donate half your next paycheque to a reputable charity. Sure, you won't have photos with local orphans or get to tell people how 'life-changing' it was, but they probably hired 10 laborers with that money. Or just drop the pretense and spend your $1000 on a regular vacation.
@SydStrand: Helping out doesn't have to be a bad thing, there is a lot more than helping orphans - look at the skills you have. Are you handy with tools, can you help on a building project? Can you teach, do you have other skills that can be utilised?
Skill-based volunteering is the best way to make a difference.
For instance - I have 20 years experience volunteering with the State Emergency Service - particularly in general rescue and road crash rescue. I have helped out with training volunteers in a number of countries to learn basic skills that help out in natural disasters and motor vehicle crashes. I am also a environmental scientist and have assisted in flood warning infrastructure in Thailand.
While I agree that voluntourism is bad and often drains organisations of resources with little real value there are legitimate ways to make a difference.
This is a good read. http://www.seattleglobalist.com/2012/06/19/how-to-volunteer-…
@singlemalt72: Sure, but most people aren't climate scientists or have SES experience. If you do, there are orgs that can absolutely use those skills. For 95% of everyone else, voluntourism should be discouraged.
@idonotknowwhy: 95% is a stretch, but yes, there are dodgy charities, so do your homework. A good charity will spend 70%+ on their budget on programs rather than 'fund-raising' (aka hiring backpackers to annoy people at train stations and shopping centres).
But flying Malaysian Airlines might end your life, not improve the quality of it. :p
Not sure why you're getting negged but I for one stay the F away from them. Enough was enough when they bumped me off a flight for what was probably the 7th time.
They offered a refund, yada yada, made some piss poor excuses which I used my smartphone in front of them to call out their lies. They offered compensation and tried to not pay. Had to take them to MAVCOM which is the Malaysian aviation watchdog. Got my compensation almost a year later.
Honestly, they make Tiger look good.
PS. The above isn't great for stress. No knowing if you'd arrive alive is also not great for life in general.
Meh, I don't care about negs. Maybe they find it "too soon"/distasteful?
So can be said for so many airlines in the world. They still exist and make people reach their places safely. Making fun of some unfortunate incidents isn't a great gesture. Most, if not all, airlines are pretty serious about safety. They are in 'safety first' business to say the lease.
I have travelled through Malaysian Airlines 3 times in last one year. Their service (except food) was no worse than Qantas. It didn't make slightest of the difference in my journey if it meant that I saved $800 in total, as a true OzBargainer. I don't think I risked my life. Air travel itself is all about risk, no matter which airlines you fly.. very tiny risk on average though.
Might.
Flying alone might end for life. You might end your life.
I bought a $400 computer chair a few months ago. It is the best purchase I have made under $1000 in a while for life improvement as I have arthritis in my hip and it used to hurt all day long, this chair provides so much comfort and support, I am much happier when working on my pc now. Its robust tilt back feature make it double as a soothing rocking chair too. I wasn't sure if I would regret the outlay when I bought it, but everytime I use it, I am glad I spent the money. For a chair it does take up a lot of real estate though.
Interested to know which chair you picked up?
The Thermaltake GT Fit - https://www.ttesports.com/productPage.aspx?p=247&g=ftr#.W7LA…
They retail at about $499, but as an ozbargainer i got mine for under $400. They also have a model with a fan in the seat to cool your butt!
You mean spread your farts around the room.
pleather…it will last 2 years max
Looks good. Does it have any Australian equivalent?
@virhlpool: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Thermaltake-eSPORTS-GT-Fit-Gamin…
This is where I purchased it from, they delivered to Sydney in 2 days. The price has gone down too, I used a code to get it under $400.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Thermaltake-eSPORTS-GT-Fit-Gamin…
This is link to the green one I bought for a friend from some reason more expensive.
@[Deactivated]: Thanks heaps for the links. I was asking more from the brand perspective if we have any similar Australian brand here as this seems to be an American brand. I was just curious.
@virhlpool: The only other chairs I have seen that compare for build strength, beauty and features are the Clutch chairs, but they are also US and endorsed by Pewdie Pie, which is why I searched til I found a decent competing product.
Link to the offenders: https://usa.clutchchairz.com
@virhlpool: Go to a furniture store with your laptop and sit on a few chairs for at the very least, 10 minutes. This isn't something you should just buy online based on reviews, everyone has different bodies, back strength, ass cushioning, height, width, hours per day spent in a chair, etc.
@idonotknowwhy: I don't know much about office chairs but I can tell you this chair from Ikea is by far the most comfortable I have ever sat on! Instant relaxation.
https://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/50261151/
The Ikea Markus is $229 with a 10 year guarantee
For a hundred extra you should have bought a proper ergonomic chair like the ergo human.
As gaming chairs tend to be like beats headphones. I would agree. I have the V2 and the support is good.
One thing I realised recently is how important having a lumbar cushion is if you get back pain. I used an ordinary pillow when driving now and it changed my back life.
Depends where you live, but I really enjoy jumping on my (very basic) bike and just riding around the streets.
I'm lucky in that there is limited other traffic, there are lots of trees and gardens, and just peddling along with some fresh air can make the world of difference. Doesn't have to be strenuous peddling either.
I love my bike also. It makes me feel like a kid again. Even 20 minutes can make a tough day seem a whole lot better.
Yeah I started riding my bike again a few months ago. Hopefully a habit for the rest of my life. Having a lot of fun and getting quite fit. Seeing lots of parts of town I normally don't see.
Assuming you actually use it reguarly - anything exercise related - running shoes, a bicycle, a gym membership etc. We are a nation of poorly fed lazy fatties.
xiaomi robot vacuum
THIS!!! Best thing ever.
Is it really that good? I had Roomba 890 and it wasn't that good, requires too many interventions.
I got a xiaomi robot vacuum, and haven't used it for months. It takes ages, loud and usually misses its run path and gets lost under the middle of the bed and cries for help.
The New Dyson v10. I have never looked back.
Cannot agree more!
My god they're the best! Have barely used the old school vacuum since purchase.
Was about to post when I saw its already covered!
Was going to say this too. Has anyone got the new one that mops?
It works if you're not obsessed with cleanliness. For someone who needs every corner super neat and clean (sometimes even with wipes/ mop and not just vacuum), then this won't do even though it's a great product.
You need a cleaner for that. Once a fortnight or monthly.
xiaomi is great for daily cleans between the 'big' weekly clean.
I concur
Is it any good for polished floor boards ?
Amazing :)
Pair of decent walking shoes, which will then lead to a decent pair of running shoes (hopefully)
Anything that feeds your hobbies. I hung around Headfi a while back and had a blast buying/selling used headphones to try them all out. They helped me ignore harsh realities at work.
Otherwise, spending some money to better your eating habits (cleaner eating), followed by some exercise (shoes, yoga mats, or even gym membership) can work wonders.
I do headphones and audio equipment for forgetting the harsh realities of life. The hobby made me a much calmer person. Browsing the internet and the forums to improve my knowledge chills me out.
Cutting your hair to Zero after winter.
I thought I was the only one.
A quality mattress bed.
A massage recliner chair
What's actually causing you stress?
If it's a mortgage, spending $1,000 will cause you more stress.
If it's a cluttered house, buying more stuff is going to cause you more stress.
If it's a long list of maintainance and to-do items, adding more things that need to be cleaned and service will cause you more stress.
Essentially, spending and buying usually causes more stress. Enter the vicious cycle.
To make a change, you must first do nothing … yes Sensei
To make a change, you must first
dobuy nothing …
FTFY
Kind regards
Sensei
That is NOT the OzBargain way.
To sort things out, you need to make a big mess first. ( Computer Sorting Algorithm classes )
Stress is unavoidable these days and can come from many places out of your control. eg falling in love with the wrong person, having a bad neighbour move in, a boss or colleague you cannot stand.
There's an unlimited amount of frivolous items you can spend your money on that will cause more stress as you mentioned, but there's been a few good answers so far like books or exercising equipment that can reduce stress!
booksreading (in a library, it is free) or exercisingequipmentthat can reduce stress
FTFY
A book has no value if not read. An exercise machine cannot make you exercise.
I can prop something up with an unread book…
Just because you haven't read a book doesn't make it's value zero, just something close to zero.
@NuffNuff: A wall of books would provide pretty good insulation - it just depends on how many you have.
A few strategically placed, but unread, books can also make someone appear better read and more intelligent to their guests than they really are.
@[Deactivated]: The problem is someone who is going to be impressed by you having books might just ask you some questions about them. You also need to make sure you've read the crib notes; just to be sure.
@try2bhelpful: OMG. You guys are exposing my all my tricks.
Ps. I can sorta summarize books based on authors.
All fiction authors - it's about adversity, perseverance, friendship, and the triumph of good over evil.
A library card