Budget Items

Off-topic Chatter
1

I like the concept that there are still interesting and useful products out there that are let’s say $30 and under.

Even in a field where many items are a lot more than that. It’s especially rewarding to find budget items that more or less do what you want them to do with no real downsides.

For example there are cheap flashlights that will cheaply light up the room. They may also have characteristics that you just have to put up with (strobe, crenelations, whatever).

There are other budget lights like the Thrunite TI for instance that in my opinion anyway in addition to being inexpensive don’t really have any negative characteristics. So throwing more money at that particular type of light doesn’t really make it any better for me.

TI

I like the SRM F1-723. It’s inexpensive and has no negatives associated with it for me.

SRM F1-723

I found a $30 small guitar amp that is very good for what it does.

Smokey Mini-Amp

My current watch is in that same category. It’s not much more than $30 but there isn’t anything more I would want from it even if I wanted to throw more money into it.

Timex Expedition

Regarding the watch and amp…these were areas where I couldn’t find anything I liked better (or even as well in some cases) even were I to spend a whole lot more.

Have you found any particularly good deals (using your own standards/preferences) and lets keep it in this same general $30 and under range? It can be in any subject (not just knives or lights) but something that you ran into and were surprised at the value you got for the money?

It doesn’t have to be $30 and under. That’s just a good target since it’s inexpensive enough for people to try more things out in areas where they may not have a lot of interest initially.

2

The Victorinox Cadet pocket knife has killer value IMO and can be had for around 20 USD I think.

3

Definitely my webber kettle BBQ grill. I think it was ~$65-70. Add some kingsford for heat, mesquite + hickory wood chips… Mmmmm welcome to budget flavor country.

4

The first thing that comes to mind is my EDC light. It is a Pelican 1920 2AAA penlight. I can’t really ask for more at any price. It was about $22 shipped from Botach and I have been very happy with it.

In knives, I find you pretty much get what you pay for. There are a lot of good knives for low prices like the Ganzo and Sanrenmu knives but they all lack something that a more expensive knife may have. For example, there is no knife that compares to the Spyderco Delica in size, weight, strength, quality and value that I know of. It is one of those knives that is nearly at the point where if you add anything to it, you subtract from another part of it. For example, if you a super premium steel, you just increased the price to the point where it is not a great value anymore. At about $45, it is a great deal, at $100, I would rather have something else. If you add weight in the form of thicker liner or thicker blade for strength, you just lost the main advantage of the Delica as it is ment to be a lightweight pocket knife not a brute force knife like a Strider.

5

I have been using this as an EDC gear case a lot recently and I am always impressed by it's quality .

Regular price: $20.95
Sale price: $16.59
6

A slow cooker makes delicious stews with inexpensive ingredients.

I’ve also been experimenting with sous vide (modern french technique) using a cheap integrated digital temp controller + said cooker. Vacuum pack using the $5 ziplock kit works well. http://www.ebay.com/itm/30-Off-110VAC-Digital-temperature-controller-Probe-Cooling-Heating-STC-1000-/261033437433?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cc6ce28f9. This simple setup is FAR less expensive than the commercial implementations and very flexible. I splice the controller to an extension cord and use it for an assortment of food experiments (temp controlled cold smoking for example). I’ve also converted to induction for general heating. Its superior cleaniness and control, and induction plates are <$30 in asia, but still expensive in the US. Perhaps aliexpress can help here if 120vac versions are availabe, but shipping might be expensive.

For toys, the mini RC helicopters from Syma (S107) are quite fun and easy to fly due to gyro tech. Sorry! Something went wrong!.

For computer accessories, the new crop of wireless mice/keyboards from Logitech and MS have months long battery life and great (frictionless) scrolling. I have the M705 and Arc Explorer mice, the K340 and Arc keyboard, and they’re all under the budget line on ebay.

A bit higher in budget would be e-ink readers; several models are now <$100. The screens are quite easy on the eyes.

Also, shouldn’t you be sharing links to your own recommendations? :slight_smile:

7

10000% this!!!

I have had a Kindle for 2-3 years now, and I love it. I have 100s of books on it, its a VERY clear and easy to read screen. I just love it. I get all my books for free via Torrents.

Mine has the keyboard, but I never use that function.

Here is one for $79. I have no interest to get the color one or the touch, so this basic one would be fine for me.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0051QVESA/ref=famstripe_k/192-0859710-8970144

8

And these water bottles are great too, very high quality and marked in ml and oz so you can see how much you drink. Ive had the same bottle for years.

9

Done! :slight_smile:

10

Xcelite 170D 6~10$

great lil pair of snips to hack at diodes resisters ,fingernails or anything that isn't hardened or brutal ..beautifully sharp and snip it;s gone ..perfect 5$ toy/tool buy them ..buy them in a ten pack and gift them

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Rice cooker ... if you like rice buy yourself a decent rice cooker

..forget about budget .. these are 100~200$ and worth every dime ...If you have to do it budgetwise .. buy a good used one .

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Fluke 77 meter

again buy one used is a great idea since they have an unconditional send it back we fix it guarentee on the 77's and I thinbk the 73's..

Better yet ..buy a broken one and send it in to fluke ..

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Mason Pearson

this has nothing to do with budget

It is however the finest hair rush on the planet

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Smiss arwy nife

These are 6$ new and can be found all over with advertising etc for as cheap as a buck or so ..

Pop both plastic sides off the knife and throw away the toothpic and tweezers and you have a super thin keychain knife ready for the world .

i go thru about 4 every decade .. after a few months riding in your pocket the rivets are worn smooth ...handy as hell.

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Lastly I'll suggest a ..

Lexus Ls 430

buy it

11

“Pop both plastic sides off the knife and throw away the toothpic and tweezers and you have a super thin keychain knife ready for the world .” I too like having this little knife/tool, but I like the toothpick (yes, I get the occasional sanitary lecture) and the tweezers and handy once in a while.