Posted on 11/21/2014 7:52:29 AM PST by SeekAndFind
I spend a lot of my time mulling over the large purchases in my life.
And for good reason.
Still, I tend to forget about the small, everyday things that matter most and have the power to make life a whole lot easier.
The following household items are extremely useful and — better yet — each costs less than $10.
1. Chip clips I don't know why it took me so long to purchase a set of inexpensive chip clips for our kitchen. We end up using them for far more than just sealing bags for freshness. Use magnetic clips to stick to-do lists and bills up on your refrigerator — you'll save the $10 you spent to buy them in avoided late fees.
2. Reusable coffee filter If you're a coffee-addict like my husband, you'll want to invest in a reusable coffee filter to make your morning brew. You can find one fit most coffee makers on the market for less than $5. In other words, it'll pay for itself in a couple months of use.
3. Compact fluorescents Haven't yet switched your bulbs to compact fluorescents? Now's the time. These bulbs use far less wattage than traditional lights, yet they give off the same amount of glow. They'll last longer, too (the ones in the link are guaranteed for nine years!).
4. Plastic jar lids I'm that person who uses Ball jars for absolutely everything. I can tomatoes in them, I drink from them, I store bulk foods in them, I organize bathroom items (like cotton balls) in them, and I even started freezing foods in them. These plastic jar lids are extremely useful for all these purposes and easy to clean.
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This is my main issue with many items on this list: reusable grocery bags should be machine washable (they shrink); Also fabric/soft lunch boxes and ice chests. We can put a probe on a comet but we can't make an insulated water bottle that can go in the dishwasher? Note to businesses: If it can't go in the dishwasher or the washing machine: TRY AGAIN.
This is what I use. They work great.
http://www.amazon.com/Office-Depot-Brand-Magnetic-Silver/dp/B00F63R0S6/ref=sr_1_17?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1416588076&sr=1-17&keywords=magnetic+clips
On that I will agree. But the supporting electronics I think are not as complicated as with CFLs.....ballasts (or their solid state equivalents of NRDs), etc.
With LEDs, you have rectification, voltage dropping and current limiters and the like.
Agreed. My best purchase is boxes and boxes and boxes of every type of incandescent lightbulb I have in my home.
I’ve been using clothes pins for 20+ years. They work great.
If they don’t last in new, fairly new and old lamps, they don’t last.
I’m not by myself. We take our burned bulbs to ACE and they constantly have bulbs brought in every day.
We’re using the LED lights now, I think. Who needs the worry of the mercury when a bulb breaks?
When I bought my current house, the former owner had installed CFLs everywhere. I didn't give it much thought until I had a problem with one and removed it. Its base was all scorched and blackened!!
Being a curious engineer, I checked *all* of the CFLs in the house - they all had the same problem. Swapped them all for Incandescents, immediately. Now, I'm moving to LED's, slowly.
I've no idea what brand the CFLs were because they were too badly damaged to read. They might have been some cheap Chinese knockoff. However, I won't take any chances with them again, ever.
CF light bulbs DO NOT last any longer then the old incandescent
When I had my insulation dne, they gave me a whole case of them as a promotion- I thought they would last me a lifetime
They are ALL gone
LED is the way to go. Maybe not less than 10 dollars, but more bang for the buck, instant on, and just nerdier.
LED flashlights are the only way to go anymore also (can be had for less than 10 dollars)
KYPD
# 17) DUCT TAPE
Never run out. EVER. I can save your life.
Instead of buying chip clips you can use the cut off portion of the hangers that come with pants. If you need a magnet on it you can always glue one on.
It isn’t the fixture, the socket, or the thing it’s plugged into. It is what drives the CFL as part of the CFL assembly. Cheap parts and low MTBFs
I have been slowly moving to LED in the high usage lamps for awhile now.
If diligent, you can find them on sale at Menards for 5-6 bucks a pop.
I have noticed a significant reduction in my power bill in the last few months, primarily due to LED usage vs incadescent.
that said....I have several cases of 60w incad in my basement, for those low usage spots...where ROI for LED would take years. not worth swapping those out.
I think the whole thing is a complete scam to make light bulbs expensive.
Maybe. But just think of the government subsidy program so that people can light their homes!!
That’s a really good idea. I hate those cheapy clip hangers my wife keeps and messes up the closet with. I’m tempted to get out some bolt cutters and snap that rod in two and see how they work.
Ha. That's what I use.
I was born in 1932.
Dumb list——that’s the way we’ve always lived (with the exception of the new light bulbs).
.
Is there a good brand of CFL’s.
We have tried every brand we can find and have the crummy results.
I try to stay away from big box store brands and look for sales on others that are more well known. But it is still a crap shoot, IMO. Many ‘store-brand’ items are made in the same factories as the name brands, so, bottom line, I really don’t know with any certainty. Sorry
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