14 Cheap Buys That Made Homeowners' Lives So, So Much Better

You know how toddlers sometimes ignore the pricey present you buy them and spend hours playing with the box it came in, or a random rubber band attached to its padding, instead?

Well, I’m no better. Though I’ve been given some amazing pressies before, nothing beats the £4 felt box my partner bought me that means I no longer have to get up from the sofa to grab my book, or crochet hook, or glasses. 

That’s because, as posters to r/AskUK know, the best home buys are often surprisingly cheap. 

Recently, site user u/Fllupsy asked members to share “a cheap quality-of-life improvement you made in your house”. 

Here are some of the best replies: 

1) “Painting walls.” 

“After years of living in magnolia rental properties, when we bought a home, I was staggered by what a difference... being able to put some colour on the walls [made] to my happiness and sense of home.”  

Credit:u/Otherwise_Koala4289

2) “Phone chargers and long cables in every room.” 

“I was so tired of chasing my charger around the house, and also not being able to pick the phone up from wherever I was sitting.” 

Credit:u/Happy_Chief

3) “Soft close toilet seats are also great.” 

“I now hate using other toilets that don’t have it.” 

Credit: u/CoffeeIgnoramus

“I literally just fitted one for the first time in my life last week, and I love how it doesn’t BANG shut every time,” u/IcyCaverns agreed.

4) ”[A] dehumidifier.” 

Credit: u/ImpressiveGrocery959

“Same,” u/grayscalemamba agreed.

“Mine lives under the drying rack, and [my] clothes dry so fast now.” 

5) “Plants everywhere!”

“They smell good, filter the air, and make me feel like I live in a forest! All you need is cheap plant pots and some soil. Spider plants, snake plants and devil’s backbone are particularly hardy.” 

Credit:u/CaterpillarLoud8071

6) “I bought a smart plug for the kettle.” 

“I have a routine on my phone so that when I switch my alarm off it switches the kettle on.

“So nice to come down to a freshly boiled kettle for coffee or tea instead of waiting for it, especially on cold mornings.” 

Credit: u/bonjourivresse

7) “A £2.99 sofa arm tray with pockets.” 

“No more searching for remotes, phones, and all your stuff.”

Credit: u/Lopsided-Camel1114

8) “An electric blanket.” 

“I’ve actually bought two now!” 

Credit: u/soraie

“Seconding this, turning it on 10 minutes before bed is luxury,” u/BellisBlueday responded.

9) “A meat thermometer.” 

“It was great over Christmas for roasts and turkeys, or any... meat you want to be sure is thoroughly cooked.

“Find a chart online for perfect temps for different meats, and away you go.” 

Credit: u/clearbrian

10) “Motion sensors on the landing and bathroom.” 

“When I open the bedroom door, the landing light comes on, and when I open the bathroom door, the bathroom light comes on.

“No more trying to find the light switch, just instant light. And I don’t end up leaving the lights on all night.” 

Credit:u/yolo_snail

11) “Putting up a pulley instead of using horrible clothes horses.” 

“My washing dries so fast, no space taken up with clothes horses, and [it’s] so easy to put up.” 

Credit:u/meiiamtheproblemitme

12) “Storage containers for the kitchen cupboards.” 

“No more knocking over the rice and [spilling it] everywhere, [or] nudging the flour and getting a puff of dust! All clean, labelled, and organised. Delightful!” 

Credit:u/Happy_Chief

13) “I added soft-close things to all the kitchen cupboard doors (£3 each), and a really quiet pull-switch for the bathroom light (no ker-CLINK in the middle of the night).” 

“Just little things that make the house quieter and calmer.” 

Credit: u/Flupsy

14) “A living room duvet.” 

“Enough of... little blankets... for decoration. Lovely, heavy, pillowy warmth whenever you wanna curl up on the sofa.” 

Credit:Happy_Chief