[binand]

I bought a lot of things (gadgets, products) during these last two years and perhaps a bit more. The ones that I can say improved my life are these:

Health/fitness: During the pandemic my usually sedentary lifestyle became even worse. Decided to get a grip on it before it was too late, so bought these:

1. A smart weighing machine (https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B07N1CLF9M/)
2. A Fitbit Versa 3
3. A pair of decent in-ear buds (https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B083WXQSJZ/)

Still early days, but there is improvement. They integrate with Google Fit so there is a single app that shows me a health snapshot.

Work-life (im)balance: Since both my kids have online classes they each got their own laptops, monitors, keyboard/mouse combos etc., at times from my own home office. So I kitted out my home office / car office with these:

1. Monitor - Samsung 32" (https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B07TS8LRQQ/)
2. Keyboard/mouse - some Logitech model, can't say this is an improvement from the previous Dell one I had.
3. Car charger for laptop - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JJJ911R/

Entertainment:

1. Invested in an OLED TV - Sony Bravia XR series 55" - to replace our ageing (12 years old) Samsung LCD. The costliest among this list by far.

[Nikhil Beke]

Don't know to what extent would the team-BHP members approve of this 'low-tech' product- but this has really helped me put a stop to mosquito menace in the living room. It's a wire mesh that can be customised to the size of the door and has magnets sewn into its edges- it snaps shut once the passerby moves through it. Suitable for pets as well.
https://Lifekrafts Mosquito Screen M...VDR3ZGFB61H9C1

[PaddleShifter]

Originally Posted by GrandTourer

You can search for percussion massage gun on any large e-commerce site. I first came across this in a chiropractor's video and wanted to give it a go. Brilliant thing this is

The price of the gun was approx 2400 moments back and I got busy for 30mins or so only to find the price hike to 3000. I do need one for occasional use but there is no immediate need so will postpone getting it at higher price.

Thanks for sharing this item. I will definitely get one in the next sale.

[sgmuser]

Three of the many impulsive purchases (during the pandemic situation and in front of the PC always!) that actually changed my life and saves time!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.ae/gp/product/B07...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

KVM Switch: As I work from home from 2019 end onwards and I have to use both my own laptop and my office laptop. This KVM switch is a 2 in and 1 out. This means, I can connect two laptops and use one big 27 inch monitor/keyboard/wireless mouse for both the laptops, just by pressing one button! This is not a new tech or anything but this is one of those fine OLD' tech that really saves time and economical too.

Kensington wireless mouse/ergonomic keyboard to complement the the KVM Switch. Very solid build, industrial grey color combination and exudes quality. The best part is that the keyboard/mouse will auto switch off when inactive, saves battery, just pressing a key in the keyboard or a click on the mouse will bring them back to life. I use rechargeable Energiser batteries for both.

3rd most useful item that changed my whole work experience for ever, is the TP Link Wi-Fi Extender. Paid around 6000 rupees equivalent just for this extender as I went for a future proof one. I have a 400 mbps fiber net connection and the throughput in my floor is pathetic sub 100. This extender doubled the speed and it was a night and day in terms of experience with my turtle like office VPN connection.

[earthian]

Originally Posted by pradeep_mvpa

1. Bought this chair when WFH started. It costed me 9K, but definitely worth the investment. Not feeling tired even after spending long hours at work.

Can i ask where you bought that chair from? Thanks.

[mmxylorider]

Two recent buys, or rather an investment come to mind.

1. An air fryer : No longer need to wait for the oven to heat up. Frozen foods get prepared very fast and faster if thawed before.

2. Vitamix blender : Smoothies (and hence fruit intake) are so easy and fast to make. The entire family loves it and experiments are ongoing with different combinations. Bonus is that one does not have to cut the stuff up and it blends it so smooth that the typical tiny seeds from fruits are no longer a concern. Works for both hot and cold blending.

On a related note, have started seeing frozen food packages now include airfrying instructions as well.

[PaddleShifter]

I am adding a few items below that I consider my 15 most useful purchases since 2018. Some items are out of stock but I am sure there must be comparable items listed for sale.

1. IFB Neptune VX Dishwasher (wanted Bosch but parents did not agree): Bought for use at home, not for myself. The dishwasher cleans the stainless steel utensils that we use to our 100% satisfaction. It uses very little water compared to manual cleaning, saves a lot of effort and leaves no residue(s). We cook vegetarian food and all type of utensils including “Kadahi” and cookers are cleaned nicely.

2. 3M long USB cables to charge mobile phones. No need to sit besides a power socket anymore:

MOTOROLA SJC00ACB20ET1 2 meter 2 m USB Type C Cable.

boAt Micro USB cable 1.5M:
https://dl.flipkart.com/dl/boat-micr...WSCA&_appId=CL

3. Hindware 3L instant water geyser/heater- For hand washing to brushing when the overhead water tanks supply ice melted freezing water during winters. Its power input is 3kW so I make sure not to run other heavy items on my single phase electricity supply.

4. Credit card sized 5000mAh power bank by Flipkart. Very pocketable and is adequate for my usage:
https://dl.flipkart.com/s/ZsthVBuuuN

5. Seat belt alarm stopper: I use it responsibly inside parkings, crawling speeds in residential areas, or while keeping items on front passenger seats that trigger the weight sensor of seat belt alarm, etc. I have faced criticism for possessing this item by those friends who otherwise over speed and talk about driving at high speeds, sometimes even posting videos of their speedo consoles.
Set of 2 Black Color Car Safety Alarm Stopper Null Insert Seat Belt Buckle Clip for All Cars (Suzuki Design) by Generic Hub™ https://www.amazon.in/dp/B08M625C8Z/...ing=UTF8&psc=1

6. AmazonBasics leather hole punch for waist belts etc.
AmazonBasics Leather Hole Punch -... https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07W48JF15?...p_mob_ap_share

7. Car document holder: Very good item for storing all documents and COVID-19 vaccine certificate etc.
DAHSHA Two Wheeler/Car Document... https://www.amazon.in/dp/B082KHVMV2?...p_mob_ap_share

8. AmazonBasics umbrella: Auto open and close feature is convenient when getting in and out of car during rains, the fabric is quite water proof and dries quickly. The metal arms are strong to resist bending during moderate winds.
AmazonBasics Umbrella (Auto-Open... https://www.amazon.in/dp/B00WTHJ7HO?...p_mob_ap_share

9. Cloth dryer for indoor drying of clothes. The area I live in has monkeys and since I am not around to monitor their activities during day time, this item has become a must have for me.
VIMART Portable Drying Rack -... https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07YL917ZC?...p_mob_ap_share

10. Black and Decker drill:
BLACK+DECKER HD555KA50 550W 13mm Variable Speed Reversible Impact Drill Machine Kit with 50 Accessories Kitbox for Home and Professional use https://www.amazon.in/dp/B01N4OMFH8/...ing=UTF8&psc=1

11. AmazonBasics 4 gauge jumper cable for our idle old cars at home. My father totally depends upon these for his occasional car use.
AmazonBasics BC120725A Jumper... https://www.amazon.in/dp/B074DMN1XM?...p_mob_ap_share

12. Travel kit: I used it too much when I was frequently traveling by train in late 2019 and early 2020.
Swiss Military Green Toiletry Bag... https://www.amazon.in/dp/B00SWZDZP2?...p_mob_ap_share
Shoeshine Shoe Bag/Sleeves (Set... https://www.amazon.in/dp/B01CPB7AJ0?...p_mob_ap_share
AmazonBasics Packing Cubes/Travel... https://www.amazon.in/dp/B014VBI5MS?...p_mob_ap_share

13. For those like me who are living in rental/non self owned homes and can not or do not want to do modifications, these bathroom self adhesive shelves are an amazing thing.
https://dl.flipkart.com/s/i2l6VDNNNN

14. Mobile stand: Cheap and adjustable. Using since 2018.
https://dl.flipkart.com/s/i2KCiDNNNN
There used to be an alligator car mount as well but they are no longer on sale. I found them very useful but a bit cumbersome too so not recommending those here.

15. Bergmann Typhoon tyre inflator.

[cryptarchy]

I got a nutribullet, has been so useful in sorting out my morning meals.

[bj96]

Just after the first wave lockdown, around Aug 2020, when our housing society was still not allowing domestic helps, we bought a dishwasher. This has been the best investment so far in our daily lives. No worries of maid not showing up . Hygienic hot steam washed utensils everyday .

-BJ

[dsr001]

A lot of posts here have mentioned dishwasher. Are regular steel utensils ok for it, or does one need to buy utensils specifically for dishwasher usage?

[Madrasin_selvan]

After the second wave, I was itching to buy my first car. In the month of September while i was casually evaluating my options to buy a new or used car, by chance i entered the TeamBHP classifieds section. There it was !!! The ad was posted by @cephalix from our forum. Within hours i was on a call with him and finalised it within a few days.

Ever since then it has always made me happy and put a smile on my face.

And did i mention about the car?

[bj96]

Originally Posted by dsr001

...Are regular steel utensils ok for it, or does one need to buy utensils specifically for dishwasher usage?

Steel should not be a problem. However untreated aluminium like pressure cooker material might be etched by soda detergent used. We have a mix of steel and Corelle (dinner set) stuffs- no issues. Pressure cooker and big handis we hand wash separately because ours is a 8S desktop model (small dishwasher).

Hth,
-BJ

[Sach_511]

Originally Posted by Jaguar

I too ordered it after seeing the post. I had seen videos of these on Youtube but didn't know it was available in India at a very affordable price. Saved a couple of 100 thanks to the ongoing Amazon sale. @GrandTourer you should ask the manufacturer for a commission

Got one for me too, ordered yesterday and delivered in the morning itself.

[dicor]

It is a nice thread and I have picked up a lot of ideas from here. Though this topic is not new, and internet is already flooded with this.

What makes it more meaningful is that these lists come from like-minded folks.

I would like to add a few items in various categories which have really made my life convenient. Please bear with me as my list is quite long.

Household

• A powerful wet and dry vacuum cleaner
  It’s a boon if you live in a super dusty area. A broom or mop can’t compete with a vacuum cleaner. Cherry on the top is that I don’t have to take my car out to service station for interior cleaning.
  
  
• A pressure washer
  You can choose anyone, I have a StarQ 135 psi pressure washer and it’s damn good useful. Good for washing vehicles, pavements and occasional watering gardens.
  
  
• WD-40
  It’s an amazing product for squeaking doors (home / car), kitchen trolleys or opening jam bolts. My father was using the traditional method of lubrication and pouring kerosine on jammed nut bolts but when I introduced him to WD-40, he became fan of this. My entire district doesn’t know about WD-40, and you can’t get it in hardware shops. So, I have to order online.
  
  
• Inverter Bulb
  These bulbs have inbuilt inverters, and they can last up to 2-3 hours once electricity has gone.

Automotive

• Mahindra XUV 5OO
  Back then when I bought this there were no other cars available in the market which could be used as flatbed sleeping bunk. Due to our nature of business, I did spend many nights in remote areas and slept comfortably.
  
  
• Maruti EECO
  The nature of our business demands hauling people, jute bags, heavy diesel engines to remote villages with road / no road. Trust me, Maruti EECO never disappointed me on any front. You can stuff anything long, wide in its boot.
  
  
• A foldable tent
  Nature calls are unavoidable and it's difficult for ladies in our country to find a decent place. This is where it is extremely useful. I also used it for changing cloths when we had been to Prayagraj Sangam.
  
  
• DC to AC inverter
  It’s so amazing that I can’t live without it now. Most people just charge their cellphones in car, but have you ever imagined about working while travelling, the laptop never runs out of juice. It has happened multiple times when my wife’s wanted her to manage things during holidays and I kept driving and she kept working. Once electricity was cut for good 18 hours in my village and inverter died after 5 hours, then I charged my laptop with this.
  
  
• Dashcam
  Do I need to say more? There are a lot of threads available on these. I have ddpai mola n3 GPS variant.
  
• Car Tyre inflator
  It’s a boon again. As I live in village and nearest reputed Tyre shop is 150 KMs away, I keep topping up air with this one unless I visit town.
  
  
• Jumper cable
• We have plenty of vehicles in our garage, it is difficult to give similar pampering as personal vehicles to commercial vehicles, so they often keep creating troubles like dead batteries. Earlier we used to swap batteries but now we just use jumper cable.
  
  
• Tar / Bug remover
  It is common for some cars (XUV5OO is quite tar magnet) to attract tars on side profile. If you let them sit for long, they become quite permanent. I use this compound once a month to keep my car clean.
  
  
• Noodles mat
  They don’t excel in aesthetics like 3d/5d/7d/9d mats, but they don’t look bad either. The wonderful thing is that they can eat / swallow mud and water like magic and don’t let your AC blow it in entire car. I first used them in 2012 and eventually started using them in all vehicles. No need to clean mats every day.
  
  
• Polarized Glasses
  I love to wear polarized sunglasses while driving, however I do wear power spectacles. Last year Lenskart launched Air LA glasses which have detachable lenses. The USP is we can attach and detach polarized lenses over the powered lenses.

Gadgets

• Qi certified Power Bank
  This one is not an ordinary one, but it can charge devices wirelessly. This has been the best investment as I didn’t have to buy Apple charger for my iPhones. I don’t have to carry a charger for my smart watch.
  
  
• A cheap 3 in 1 charging cable
  This is amazing when we have a BT speaker, an iPhone and a type C port device. No need to buy 3 separate cables, one cable for all.
  
  
• Huion Writing pad
  If your nature of work requires a lot of training, presentation and creativity, trust me, this is the best thing you can buy in the market at dirt cheap prices. Everyone in my company used to think how I could write fast and draw with a mouse. The board of directors were so impressed that they raised a PO for every trainer in the company.
  
  
  
• 2 Screen setup
  If you are a programmer / technical writer / translator etc. , a dual screen setup will increase productivity 3-fold.
  Interestingly I tried 3 screen setups as well and it dropped my productivity.
  
  
• Any generic USB hub
  This has been highlighted above as well by a gentleman. If your job requires switching between laptops, then this is a boon. You don’t have to unplug and plug a lot of USBs into a new device. Just one USB.
  
  
• iPhone 12 Mini
  I was never an apple fan, but I wanted to have a more compact size and secure phone and there was no competition to this powerful gadget. So, I bought it very hesitantly, but now I love it.
  
  
• Mi Band or any decent fitness band.
  I love smart watches, but I hate the fact that we must charge them every day. I use watches only for fitness tracking and reading OTPs. Any decent band can do the job and the good point is that we just charge them only thrice a month.
  
  
• A video projector
  I bought this in 2008 but it’s still working. I have setup a dedicated room for this and now I have attached Firestick to it with the help of HDMI to VGA converter. We don’t use it every day, but it’s amazing when a new kid friendly movie is released, or my dad wants to demo something to fellow farmers.
  
  
• Wireless CCTV Camera
  I have installed CCTV cameras in the workshop, farmhouse and my all-remote houses. So, wherever I am I can keep a watch on my stuff.
  
• Alexa with home automation
  Initially it was just for fun and listening songs, later I formed a habbit of asking things to alexa like time, weather, meaning of word. It became most useful when I started pairing the smart bulbs, swicthes with it.

Software / Apps

• Quit smoking app
  Believe me or not, this app has helped me to quit smoking which was my habit of 18 years. Of course, willpower plays a key role.
  
  
• Microsoft SMS Organizer
  This is an amazing app to categorize your SMSs, track various accounts (Bank / Fasttag / Wallets) and it can do it by simple reading SMSs.
  Sadly, not available for iOS due to it's strict securrity norms.
  
  
• Samsung Pay
  Till the time I was using Samsung S10+, I never had to carry my wallet in the towns. Either I used to pay by UPI or with Credit card. Samsung Pay is a one stop solution for all these things.
  
  
• OK Credit / OK Staff
  This is an amazing app for light weight credit management and attendance. I always keep some cash with my driver so that for every small thing he doesn’t have to ask me for money. I give him INR 1000 and he can keep recording expenses, once I see he is low on cash, I again give him 1000.
  
  
• Fuelio
  One of the lightweight app for tracking your vehicle expenses but I use this for fuel expenses and FE tracking, and it does the job effectively.
  
• Password Manager
  In the connected world, it is nightmare to manage passwords, most of the people either use same password / reset password / save password on browser or write it down on pen paper and none of these techniques are safe. Thus, I strongly recommend using a password manager. It has made my life quite secure.
  
  
• Peak
  It’s an amazing app for brain development. It will ask you to play some games for a specific time span and will keep recording your mental agility, focus scores.

Things which I bought with considerable expectations but didn’t help me a lot

• OBD2 scanner
  I bought this with lofty expectations but unless you don’t know how to troubleshoot, it's of little use. Though it helps me to find the problem and mechanic can’t food me or I can put a local mechanic in the right direction.
  
  
• An Air fryer
  Bought with elevated expectations our taste buds didn’t let it do its job for more than 3-4 times.
  
  
• Riversoft water softener
  Lot of big promises, plenty of positive reviews, I bought this with huge expectations, but I simply did not find it remarkably effective.
  
  
• Trakbond Tracking device
  Another device, which I bought with huge expectations to track my little 2 years old baby (in case if he is lost in the crowd) but the device is so buggy and that 50% of times it gives location within radius of 100 metres. The we must take a monthly subscription of tracking services, recharge the sim for mobile data and charge the device every day. Simply not worth.
  
  
• Amazon Prime
  Subjective but I seriously think this is waste of money and now its Rs 1500 / year, so I am not going to renew it.
  
  
• Perimeter fencing
  It’s an IR and laser-based system which I had installed in my farmhouse with huge expectations to mitigate and alert on intrusions and stray cattle entering in my farm. But there are number of factors that can defeat the purpose. A flaying leaf, a dense fog can simply break the link between sender and receiver and alarm will start ringing. It started giving so many false alarms that my security guy stopped getting up from his place.
  
  
  
• Monitoring camera drones
  Again, I bought this for my farm so that my dad or I don’t have to walk across the fields to see something, but it didn’t serve the purpose well. 1st thing is that it’s me only who can operate that, despite lot of efforts, I couldn’t teach my dad. The second thing is that I can’t operate it remotely. I must be there.
  
  
• TATA 1mg subscription
  It’s known that not all local pharmacies offer discounts even if you are their regular visitor. This is where online pharmacy shops shine. I bought Tata 1mg subscription and it was very promising unless I took the subscription, but later despite confirming the order, they often started delaying my shipments saying that medicine is not available.

That's all folks for now. Thanks for reading it patiently.

[dsr001]

1) 3M Foaming Car Interior Cleaner:

Bought by dad for car, I used it a lot for almost all types of cleaning in the home (Fridge, washing machine, glass window, mirror, bathroom surfaces) Those times when you need something a bit wet and foamy on your cloth, but don't want to dip it in water and wring it dry before use

2) Ptron bassbuds/Jabra 15 :

The former for entertainment and the latter for long phone calls. Both use my existing phone charger so not much additional mess. Besides, they hold their charge for multiple use sessions.

3) Aopen 21" LED monitor:

Got it for about Rs.5k around mid 2020 (was used to having external display in office). Trust me, once you start working on a dual display setup, things will be different. Try using a cheaper model to get the feel and later spend on a better one

4) Clip on sunglasses:

Boon for a person like me who wears prescription glasses. Useful to show a mafia look on those highway rides, even if the sun is not bothering you