Australians name one item under $100 that significantly improved their daily life: ‘I couldn’t do without it now’

In a world where markets are crowded and products are pushed at you from every direction, word of mouth still reigns supreme. 

And sometimes, it’s the smallest, cheapest buys that don’t just lift your day – they quietly lift your whole quality of life. 

So when one curious shopper asked Aussies to name ‘one thing under $100 that’s significantly improved your daily life’, the answers came in thick and fast. 

‘My choice of item is the electric toothbrush,’ she wrote. 

‘You have to look after your teeth and dental… it’s very expensive [otherwise].’

From everyday basics to unexpected cult favourites and a very unexpected bathroom addition, they didn’t disappoint. 

Pets

Unsurprisingly, furry friends topped the list. 

‘My cat was bought for $50 she is my reason for living,’ one woman wrote. 

‘We got our dog for the same price. Having to walk her everyday has massively improved my overall health and wellbeing,’ another added. 

‘I got two for $50. Best purchase ever! They were doing half price adoptions and I fell in love with both of them on sight,’ one more echoed. 

Self-care gadgets 

Sometimes you’re just one click away from the ‘silly little purchase’ of a lifetime.

‘A foot massager. Bought it from Amazon for around $100. I work long hours on my feet and it’s amazing coming home and having my feet massaged. It feels incredible and I love the heat setting when it’s cold during winter,’ one man wrote.

‘[Mine is an] electric blanket. It makes bed amazing and means it I’m not running heaters at night. I work nightshift and have mine connected to a smart plug. I tell Alexa to turn it on when I knock off work and it’s warm when I get home,’ another added.

An office worker said his daily life had been improved by using an AnoLogitech M575  trackball instead of a mouse ($79) – a gadget that can be operated using a large ball reduce wrist and hand movement.

‘Rolling a ball with your thumb while you rest your hand on the table means you’re no longer using your whole arm for fine motor movements. A lot of shoulder pain/headaches is from mouse use,’ he said.

Perhaps most interestingly, however, was how many people raved about their bidets – a tap or receptacle that washes nether regions after they use the toilet. 

‘My $40 Amazon bidet seat,’ one wrote.

‘I got a $40 bidet spray/hose off Amazon and it’s amazing. Makes my cheeks feel so healthy,’ another echoed. 

‘A bidet! Stop living like a caveman and start washing your butt. You won’t look back, I promise you,’ one more wrote.

Another bought the same bidet spray for $40 from Amazon and had it installed for free by the plumber while he was doing something else for the household. 

‘Would have covered its own cost several times now given we’re buying much less toilet paper as a result,’ he wrote.

Kitchen upgrades

When it comes to the kitchen, saving time is everything – and these suggestions were all about practicality on a budget. 

‘My $15 mini rice cooker from Kmart. Absolutely perfect for one person to make enough for dinner and lunch the next day, no mess no fuss,’ one wrote.

As expected, air fryers were a popular mention. 

‘My air fryer! I use it most days for quick and easy meals. It saves on cleaning the big oven too,’ one wrote.

‘I have two. Couldn’t do without,’ another said.

‘Came here to say this. Air fryer for the win. An addition I bought is a chip maker off eBay for $19. That baby makes sweet potato chips easy in the air fryer. I’ve eyed off the dual tray type but can’t warrant the expense,’ one echoed, saying their own was purchased from Kmart.

One person snagged a $100 De’longhi Magnifica Coffee Machine from Facebook Marketplace that ‘changed my life’.

Another swears by their SodaStream ($76) for keeping up their water intake – or, as they called it, ‘spicy water’. 

‘A flat form citrus juicer/squeezer! $20 and so good at juicing lemons (see Dreamfarm Fluicer for example, I love it… also I have a very lively lemon tree, so I have many lemons to juice,’ one added.

Beauty ‘musts’

Lip balm was a ‘hero product’ for most.

‘Good quality lip balm like Lanolips ($14.95). Saves my lips from becoming cracked and sore in winter, or generally dried out all year round. Feels so much nicer than the cheaper stuff does, and a little bit goes a long way,’ a woman said.

‘Seconding this suggestion, but in my opinion the best one is Hurraw – get the ‘moon’ ($6.50) one and put it on overnight,’ another agreed.

A third said her satin hair bonnet for sleeping was a personal favourite. 

‘Go silk if you want natural fibres but it costs more. I also use a large, thrifted silk scarf sometimes but it’s not as easy. Near constant good hair days,’ she said.

Basic everyday items

A good notebook and pen. A coffee mug that keeps drinks hot for hours. A giant metal water bottle that actually makes you want to drink more. 

The main message here was that the small things had a big impact. 

‘A YETI coffee mug ($40) and a heating pad for my back. Significant life improvement. With hot coffee and a relaxed back I can do anything,’ one woman said.

‘Same with the YETI tumbler ($30),’ one more added.

‘I drink a minimum of 3L a day with this thing, and I found that’s it’s way more durable and leak proof than the Frank Green. Honestly just having a giant metal water bottle with a straw has changed my life so much.’

Turns out, you don’t always need a big budget for a big life upgrade. Sometimes, $20 (or a half-price adoption fee) will do the trick.