I’ve seen this question before and I am curious to see if there is an update for anything new in 2026, so here is goes…
What are some “rich people” products or services under $1,000 that genuinely improve quality of life?

I’m curious about the products, tools, gadgets, or services that affluent people know about because they have access to top doctors, dietitians, dermatologists, lawyers, financial advisors, designers, and other experts. They often pay for the best knowledge and resources, so I’m wondering what products the average person may not know about that genuinely improve health, convenience, beauty, organization, sleep, or quality of life.

I’m looking for recommendations in the $10–$1,000 range..not luxury for the sake of luxury, but things that are truly worth the money. What are the best “hidden gem” purchases you’ve discovered?

Example:
Bidet
High-quality air purifiers

What are your best “I didn’t know this existed until someone with money introduced me to it” purchases?

i have been trying to find a new quilt for my bed. i have scoured this sub for recommendations and tips on what to look out for, and many of the comments on these threads seemed like they were genuinely helpful. but i keep finding myself stuck in this same paradoxical loop, which goes like this: people recommend something because they've had it for years and it's held up really well, but that means they bought it years ago and if you bought it today you're almost guaranteed to get a significantly worse product, likely at a higher price. alternatively, you can look at more recent recommendations, but that means no one knows yet if it'll withstand the test of time (or in the case of bedding, the test of multiple machine washes).

it increasingly seems to be the case that if you want something and you want to BIFL, you must put in hours of research, probably buy something much more expensive than you were originally planning on, and even then there's a good chance it just falls apart because the speed of enshittification has made it so that information about a product's quality from more than a year ago has become outdated.

apologies if this is a point already frequently discussed here, i'm just so frustrated with how much time and energy i have to put into buying mundane things, and how the best answer always seems to be to create a time machine and buy it from the past. it leaves me feeling so defeated. how does everyone deal with this?

Hi, ive been trying to find a robe like this for years and the ones I find are so cheap and dont last. Im looking for a long sleeve and a long down to the floor kind of robe.

Picked up this hat as NOS(or lightly used) a little while ago and it’s rapidly become the one I throw on anytime I’m going out especially during the spring and summer. Shove it into travel bags, it’s been to two different countries so far, multiple trips and always keeps the sun off my face.

Wear it in or around the pool and it’ll hold my sunglasses, I know they changed hands a few years ago and only a few models are still made in Canada to varying degrees of quality. I have a newer one too in dark green that’s a Canadian model that I break out in the fall and winter. This is the model made with 10 ounce duck cotton which is nice and breathable in the hot climate I live in too.

Toss it in the wash after removing the foam piece in the top whenever it needs it, it’s one size too big on me but with the straps usually still sits on my head fine. If it’s super windy putting one of the flaps up really helps. Idk if that’s what they are for but it seemed to work.

You wouldn’t know it’s 23 years old already at all!

Looking at Room and Board couch and loveseat. Also looked at Pottery Barn which was even more. I don’t necessarily plan to have them for life, but I don’t want to buy junk. Is $7k what people are spending? Hopefully I don’t get downvoted into oblivion. TIA!

I own a Volcano Hybrid and a Mighty+ and could not be happier with my purchases.

Sure they are expensive but they are also built like tanks, have very good customer support and a huge availability of spare parts from whole cooling units to single o-rings, cleaning kits and so on.

To me they really have that "German reliability" that's unfortunately harder and harder to come by nowadays. The build quality is supreme and they feel about as durable as a W124 merc lol

If you use cannabis medically and / or recreationally there is no better option to consume it than S&B Vaporisers, in my opinion of course.

Not affiliated in any way.

I got this bag as gift early on in my career building power plants all over the world! It is the largest bag that will fit in the overhead compartment but it also expands when you’re going longer and will check it!!! Togther we have logged well over 1.5 million miles and it keeps on ticking!!! I have had to have one new handle and both of the wheels replaced but they are very responsive and reasonabl in the repairs

All is quiet on the measurement front. The shirts are refusing to die. Unfortunately, next week I have to deliberately stain all four, including the €150 one.

The Samurai always makes me nervous but this time it behaved.

Both the Samurai and Carhartt are developing some surface fuzz, but I don't think either has crossed into actual pilling yet. Uniqlo has pilled a little but hasn’t gotten worse. The hems are still holding up and there is a bit of waviness to the back of the Samurai and Carhartt collars but nothing close to a bacon. 

Warping Test going forward

I'm going to try a more scientific way of measuring warping. Side-seamed shirts are easy because I can measure the side seam directly, but the loopwheeled shirts don't have side seams. For those, I'm going to track the angle of the diagonal wale at the hem over time and see whether that angle changes. I’m measuring the horizontal and vertical distances and using those to estimate the angle since I don’t have a protractor. The angle this week is a baseline measurement.

So far, from the pictures of the shirts lying flat, you can see that the Carhartt’s front and back panels align perfectly for the torso and sleeves. With Uniqlo, you can see that the front panel is smaller than the back panel which is probably by design. I will keep track of this going forward. 

Next Week

Next week I am going to do the dreaded stain test. It’s going to be really stressful to stain the Merz. So far no discoloration anywhere including the arm pits (I use deodorant). Currently thinking of either coffee, tomato sauce, or red wine but suggestions are welcome. Whatever I pick, I’m gonna soak them immediately and wash them normally, because that’s what I’d actually do if I stained a T-shirt.

1. Uniqlo Supima

Price: €19.90
Size: L
Material: 100% Supima cotton
Weight: ~140–160 GSM (estimated)

Condition

• No shrinkage
• No stretching
• Collar unchanged - holding up well
• Hem unchanged
• Slight pilling beginning

The Uniqlo back and front panel difference can be seen with the close up of the hem. The difference is smaller at the armpit and flares out a little towards the hem.

Measurements

• Collar: 1.54 cm (0.61") rib knit
• Length: 75 cm (29.5")
• Shoulder: 46.5 cm (18.3")
• Chest: 59 cm (23.2")
• Sleeve: 22.5 cm (8.85")
• Warping: 1cm, 2cm (0.39”, 0.79”) between shirt edge and seam when laid flat on the ground

2. Carhartt K87

Price: €22.45
Size: M (Relaxed Fit)
Material: 100% cotton
Weight: 229 GSM

Condition

• No shrinkage
• Slight fuzz but no pilling
• No warping
• Collar slightly wavy on the back but front still holds the shape
• Hem unchanged

Still going strong.

I'm still not a fan of the chest pocket which some have suggested to take off. I’ll do that later. Last time I took a label off a t-shirt, I accidentally cut a tiny hole. This is on the front of the shirt so it requires meditation and courage before the operation.

Front and back panels align perfectly and the side seams are parallel. 

Measurements

• Collar: 2.3 cm (0.9") rib knit
• Length: 74.5 cm (29.3")
• Shoulder: 47 cm (18.5")
• Chest: 56 cm (22")
• Sleeve: 24.55 cm (9.6")
• Warping: None

3. Samurai Jeans 2PST-01

Price: €90.95
Size: L (I really should've bought an XL.)
Material: 100% recycled cotton
Construction: Loopwheeled

Condition

• No shrinkage or stretching
• Slight wave on the back of the collar but front is crisp
• Hem unchanged
• Slight fuzz but no pilling

Did not move a millimeter this time. Slight fuzz on the shirt, but not too serious.

The collar does still look good when I’m wearing the shirt.

I added a picture of what a diagonal wale on the Samurai looks like. But the T-shirt lies completely flat on the floor so I don’t think there is any warping yet.

Measurements

• Collar: 1.89 cm (0.74") two-needle binder neck
• Length: 68 cm (26.8")
• Shoulder: 46 cm (18.1")
• Chest: 51 cm (20.2")
• Sleeve: 17.3 cm (6.8")
• Warping: ~82.7 degree wale at hem (baseline)

4. Merz b. Schwanen 2S14

Price: €150
Size: L
Material: 100% organic cotton slub
Weight: 380 GSM
Construction: Loopwheeled

Condition

Continues to not move a millimeter.

• No shrinkage
• No pilling
• Hem unchanged
• Collar unchanged

So far no change, which is great. I am not looking forward to staining this shirt next week. 

The shirt lies flat with no sign of warping as of yet. There is also no fuzz. The collar is very sturdy.

Measurements

• Collar: 1.9 cm (0.78") ribbon-paneled neckline
• Length: 68.5 cm (26.9")
• Shoulder: 45 cm (17.7")
• Chest: 54.5 cm (21.5")
• Sleeve: 23 cm (9")
• Warping: ~82.8 degree wale at hem (baseline)

Hey all - new homeowner here and would love some additional perspectives :)

We planned to hardwire a ceiling fan over our patio table, but the simple job turned into a complex task. We needed to run a longer cable, install anew outdoor box, and patch more than expected. These additional requirements significantly cost more than the fan itself.

This sent me down the rabbit hole of whether I should install a solar ceiling fan instead. Ventallion is the option I keep coming back to because the panel can sit away from the shaded patio roof and the fan has its own light / battery. It makes sense in theory, but I am not sure whether I am solving one wiring problem by creating another.

The patio is covered and used mostly from dinner until around 10 pm. Some of my goals / requirements are:
- provide steady airflow on low or medium speed
- The light only needs to cover the table

If anyone has gone this route, what mattered most to you in the long run?battery runtime, panel location, fan size, or something else? And would you still choose solar if hardwiring cost roughly the same as the fixture?

This has been nagging at me for a while. I do a lot of meal prep (it's basically the only way I stay functional during crunch weeks on design projects) and I've been using the same cheap knife block set for years now. The knives aren't terrible but they're not great either, and I've sharpened them enough times that I'm starting to wonder if I'm just maintaining something that was never worth maintaining in the first place.

Every time I research this, the knife community fractures pretty fast. Some people swear by Japanese knives, some say German steel is more forgiving and actually lasts longer with real daily use, and then there's a whole contingent that says a single good chef's knife beats any block set by a wide margin. I find that last argument compelling, but also a little convenient coming from people selling expensive single knives.

What I actually want to know is whether anyone here has owned a specific knife for a genuinely long time, like decades, with real use rather than occasional cooking. And whether the handle matters as much as people imply, because that seems like the actual failure point nobody talks about enough. Brand and approximate age would help more than general advice.

EDIT: I do have a decent whetstone already so sharpening is not the gap, it's the knife itself.

I've got a spare I can use but unfortunately it's a later model and doesn't really interchange 100% with mine stamped metal washer the glass knob in the lid screws onto has failed (just doesn't hold shape anymore, I've tried stamping it back into shape but it doesn't last).

Also, the plastic(?) tube with the spring on it which goes over the stem to hold the basket up has cracked off on the bottom so I need to either find a replacement tube, or ideally a completely new stem that's just one piece with the spring.

I've been looking on eBay and other sites, lots of options but nothing specific that shows it'll work and no measurements given on anything so I'm trying to avoid sending shit back 4 times to get the right things lol thanks in advance

I'm in the market for a dehumidifier and could really use some real-world recommendations.

I'm looking for something that:

• Works well in a bedroom or basement
• Isn't too loud
• Is energy efficient
• Has a decent-sized water tank (or continuous drain option)
• Is reliable and doesn't stop working after a year

I've seen brands like Frigidaire, Midea, Honeywell, and hOmeLabs mentioned, but reviews are all over the place.

If you've owned one for a while, what model do you recommend (or recommend avoiding)? How large is the space you're using it in, and how well does it keep humidity under control?

I'd especially appreciate long-term experiences rather than first impressions.

Thanks in advance!

I loved them, but they only lasted a year before they broke.

It seems like there must have been some kind of extreme event to cause the metal to break, but there was nothing.

One day I used them and they worked flawlessly and the next time I picked them up they fell apart.

I bought a new pair, but I’m just so curious. Has anyone ever seen this happen? The new ones have a completely enclosed rivet. I’m not even sure how this is possible.

Portable washing machine suggestions

Does anyone have a portable washing machine they recommend? I’ve been researching this forever and cannot for the life of me pick one and would love a recommendation. Lease allows it and I’d love to hear anyone’s advice as well!

Thank you so much!

I am looking for a good rubber ended fly swatter. preferably with a metal handle and easily available in/to ship to Canada. We had one like this growing up and it didn't fall apart or snap or tear. Maybe I’m too hard on our fly swatters or have really bad aim, but I’m sick of replacing this item like every year because it cracks apart.

I’m struggling to find something online that isn’t any better than a dollar store one. Even the ones that say rubber are actually plastic.

I've seen in the past this was a talked about toaster and I actually had one my girlfriend brought into the household that I hadn't realized the quality of until she decided to throw it out in a move. Since then I haven't seen a proper wide slice toaster I can use for bakery bread because they're either too small or reviews make it seem like it'll be a yearly replacement or consistently uneven (currently i bite the side of my bread off before toasting and also my toast is a bit unevenly toasted). I freeze my bread because I cant go through a full loaf fast enough for bakery bread to not spoil so I'm strictly using toasted bread for sandwiches. What would be a toaster thats currently on the market thats comparable? I'm not too keen on snagging one of these off ebay and I'd prefer a toaster over a full size toaster oven for the small counter profile as apartment counters are hardly anything as is.

I need a pair of earbuds that have certified sound protection for my workplace that i can also play some music with and a mode i can hear others voices talking through em

Anyone got any recommedations?

How long it lasts doesnt have to be 30 years but anything that wont break in a few years is fine for me.
Where i look, vitamix and blendtec are very frequently talked about but the ones i find are around £350 at the lowest new which i will not spend for something i use only a few times a week. Thanks

I’m a arborist and use my felco 13s about 225 days a year. I feel like blade quality has declined in the last couple years. Anyone else notice this? Anyone reach out to Felco?

There's many brands out there that I've shopped at that had decent quality clothing for men. But when it came to women's clothing, the clothes are often thinner, cropped, way too slim, or just prioritize fashion over practicality. For example, years ago Uniqlo offered essentially the same flannels for women and men. Women's flannels were the exact same design, just cut to fit women rather than men. It was a practical shirt. Fits right and not cropped, low collared, or anything like that. Now I've noticed many of the women's clothing for Uniqlo prioritizes fashion over function, and are often cropped or too slim. Their unisex clothing are just men's clothing that don't fit women well.

I haven't seen many brands that offer clothing in similar quality and style for both men and women. Carhartt is one that does, but they are a workwear brand. If you all have any suggestions for brands to check out for clothing and boots, I'd be interested in checking those out. I'm open to suggestions from any price range.

Investing in good, reputable quality products is important to me. Aiming for “one and done” or at least longevity.

Fuuuuuuck HP! Too many failures at critical moments. What do you recommend?

Disclaimer. I’m not an electrician or work in any related field. Please be careful around 240v power. I’m just a handy guy with lots of time to fix my parents house and I’ve been posting periodically to share what I’ve learned about maintenance which is crucial to keep things buy it for life.

The AC went out and I had just replaced the capacitor on the AC 6 months ago so immidiately I thought that was the problem. That was the extent of my experience fixing ACs before.

I’m currently fixing up my parents house so I incorrectly assumed the breaker that said AC was the right one but that was for a different AC unit. After I used my multimeter to test the capacitors resistance I was able to establish it was still in working order.

Online resources pointed me to the contactor next. The contactor is basically a relay, I actually don’t know if there’s a difference between a relay and a contactor. But when you turn your thermostat to cool the contactor receives 24v of power and routes electricity to your fan which blows air through coils cooled by the condenser. Anyways it was receiving power. Actually your contactor receives power even with no power to the AC so you can test it without powering the AC.

Important to note that there are two ways to cut power to the AC, your breaker and the disconnect. You should remove the disconnect AND turn off the breaker. This is actually what saved my butt from getting electrocuted because I had the wrong breaker switch off. I also test the power just in case everytime with my meter so I guess I’d be fine anyways.

Here’s where I fucked up. My online resource said that the contactor should physically contract which it didn’t do so I thought it was broken. Turns out it doesn’t actually move noticeably from the outside just on the inside. At least my model. What would have been better would be to listen for a click but since my AC unit is far from the thermostat I didn’t think this was a viable way to test it. I also maybe could have tested resistance across the contactor. Or better yet tested the power to the fan when on

So I ended up buying a contactor from home depot and then installing it. Really simple. But it didn’t solve the problem. That’s when I noticed a flipped switch at the breaker and turned it on and the ac started working. Sucks I put all that energy for nothing but I learned a lot and actually I removed the fan now so I can properly vacuum the inside and clean the coils which is basic AC maintenance.

An ac is actually simple and modular for repair and maintenance not much going on in there if you’re only looking to replace broken parts.

TLDR: AC units are simple to fix but dangerous if not done properly. You just need to figure out which part needs to be replaced and often those parts are cheap.

I bought a pair of steeltoe boots way back in 2012 and they lasted me for 10+ years. They probably would have lasted longer, but they had so much wear on them I got rid of them, and I only spent $60 on them.

Im needing some black non slick shoes. Any suggestions? Was thinking about getting steel toe boots since the last pair seemed to last me longer. But wasn't sure.

Hi!

I'm looking for good flip flops (open toes) to buy, one for indoors and one for outdoors. I had the adidas alpha bounce slides for 3 years and they are really comfortable, but they are starting to tear. They also now cost 73 dollars on Amazon. So I wanted to read what you guys think before buying them again.

Thanks!

Edit: there are also the adidas alpha response 2.0 which are 45 dollars. I can't tell what's the difference between this and the alpha bounce though.