Household Helpers

Yesterday, I took my children out spontaneously for lunch to meet a friend. Because it was spontaneous, my friend was already at the restaurant so I asked her to order for us so the food would be ready when I arrived with my kids. I sent her our order, she ordered for us, I drove to the restaurant, and I Venmo-ed her the money after. I didn't even know how much the entrees were when I told her to order them. 

It wasn't absurdly high, but it was indeed more than eating at McDonald's or Chick-fil-A. While driving there, I was thinking to myself, I've made it in life. I can order food without looking at the price first. Just kidding. But only half kidding. 

The older I get the more I notice myself wanting specific items of a certain quality. Growing up, I was not taught this. We bought the cheapest items possible only when necessary and did without if we could. This mentality, although beneficial in certain circumstances, was also very unhealthy in others. I never learned to appreciate the value of quality, and I didn't discover the value of saving my sanity until I grew up and became an adult. 

Around the house, there are a lot of things we own which I appreciate and am glad we purchased. For this post specifically, I wanted to share a few items which have been very useful for us but are not considered big ticket items.

1. Stainless Steel Straws

We purchased stainless steel straws last year because our kids love using straws. Is it more work than plastic? Yes, it is. But in the long run, it is both eco-friendly and cost effective. The pack of straws we purchased came with a cleaning brush. This is a must have. Without it, I would completely nix this item because that is the only way I can clean them. Because they are stainless steel, I have on occasion put them into the dishwasher. I haven't gotten to the point where I carry a reusable straw with me wherever we go, but when we are at home, these are the ones my kids use. 

2. Handheld Bug Zapper

I can't tell you what a difference these have made in our lives. Mosquitoes get into our house 95% of the time during the summer. It's almost more than a one to one ratio of one mosquito entering the house per day in the summer. I feel much more equipped to kill them and less annoyed when they enter the house because I know if I see one, chances are, I can get it. I've also gotten better at maneuvering the amount of air the zapper disturbs as I zero in on the mosquito to zap. Those little buggers are quite sensitive and if they feel air movement, they will start to fly away. I had many opportunities this summer to hone my technique. 

3. Nice Bath Mats

Years ago when I was shopping at Ross, we picked up some bath mats pretty inexpensively. We've used them for a good number of years, but I was starting to get annoyed because the pile was worn down and less plush than it should have been. You see, we have other bath mats in the house which were more expensive and better quality, and with comparable use, they have remained plush and comfortable to step onto when exiting the bath/shower. So one day, I decided I wanted a new bath mat. At first, we went to Home Goods to see what they had. Believe it or not, they did not have a bath mat which met my expectations, and their prices were not very discounted from any other department store. Then I went to Costco and found a foam bath mat with fur on top. My husband did not like the fur on top, and it was quite expensive. A few days later, we went to Sam's and I found the perfect foam bath mat at the perfect price. For the rest of my life, I think I will only purchase quality foam bath mats because they are the easiest to clean and feel the most comfortable. 

4. Squeegee 

We've only suctioned it once and it's been on ever since! Impressive. 

We renovated our bathroom over five years ago now. After installing frameless shower glass, we needed a way to keep it clean. My husband was the one who introduced me to squeegeeing a shower to keep it clean longer. We had an old squeegee we bought when we first got married and were using. However, after we installed a brand new beautiful bathroom with a new large glass door, we needed to upgrade. Squeegees can be found for as low as $2 and they can range up to about $20. Check the material of the blade. It makes a huge difference. The most expensive one I found was $133! Insane. Ours was just under $20 and it has been worth every dollar. I can't tell you the last time I cleaned our shower glass, but I can tell you the last time we squeegeed it! 

I still wouldn't consider myself someone who would spend money willy-nilly, but I'm definitely realizing moments in life when I think to myself, "I really wish I had a ____________."

I think that's one of the reasons why I'm so glad I tracked my small appliance usage this year (still going!) because I've learned a lot about my cooking habits and which kitchen gadgets have paid themselves off in time and efficiency. I'm even allowing myself to buy some new ones. 😇. Stay tuned!