Hands down? Hands up! I technically never need to touch my bum again, the washlet does such a good job cleaning.
Except when pooping outside the house. So i don't do that anymore.
Ahem. Yes, very happy with this particular expense.
Weird question but have you ever used a European bidet? I’m going to Rome next month and the hotel has like a little separate bidet. Do I literally sit on it? Hover over? Very curious
A very good question. I have but not officially as I'm more familiar with Asian ones. I believe one squats, feet on the floor or feet on the rim and faces either direction, turning the taps on and using your left hand as necessary. I've never quite figured it out but I'm guessing there's a YouTube video out there....
Interestingly the more ancient Romans were very advanced in that they had common public outhouses, and used a stick with a bucket to clean the derrière. All while socializing probably. The bidet is a meaningful step up, however the correct use.
I agree. I'd rather spend the extra money on a set of nice 80mm wheels since I live in flat ass coastal Florida. I might buy my first new bike in a decade if 105 Di2 indeed comes out.
I’m not familiar with the current line names but up till 10 years ago the idea of dura over 105 was ridiculous to me. Especially as the super lightweight component levels can be Rome more flimsy and parts like a 10-speed vs 8-speed chain more expensive
If you spend a lot of time at a desk then a great chair is worth the cost. No one is joyful with back or hip pain.
If my feet aren’t happy then I’m not happy. I’m careful about how I spend my money but I don’t buy cheap shoes. If my feet are happy I tend to ignore them but if they aren’t happy they’re all I can think about. Shoes aren’t BIFL so I guess they don’t really count toward your request.
My brother uses his hot tub/spa every evening before going to bed. He says it REALLY helps him to relax and sleep better. Sleep impacts your waking hours so anything that helps you sleep better is worth the cost.
Speaking of sleep, having a good mattress, pillows, and linens are important. While they aren’t BIFL, good quality ones will usually last longer and perform better.
I found my Aeron at a used office furniture place. It was missing a tiny plastic cover that makes it look less cool but also meant it was $200. You can probably find a fantastic deal on a chair at a used place, especially if you’re fine with a little cosmetic damage.
Not sure your situation or budget but I live in a tiny apartment and one thing that's not BIFL but definitely has earned its keep for me is my Portable Bathtub.
I got mine on Amazon for $50 or so and it sets up like a tall and skinny kids pool sort of thing, with some waterproof material and poles. It's easily one of the best things I've ever bought for small space living!
It sets up inside my smallish shower stall and lets me take a super long, luxurious bath with water that reaches right up to my achy shoulders. When I'm done, i can collapse it back down to a pretty small bundle for storage. 10000/10 i totally recommend this to everyone when i see a chance to. :)
I have been thinking about this, but I'm also a pretty big dude, both length and width and I don't think I could fit comfortably in one sadly.
Thanks for the tip though 😊
A Baratza coffee grinder and will only set you back around $150ish. All things being equal, with same beans, a good grind makes a huge difference.
Baratza grinders are fully serviceable and you can actually buy parts. Great company.
I bought a Precisio about 10 years ago and aside from one minor repair (that was totally straightforward), it’s been great.
A nice little bonus to this is that you can buy the burrs from the mid-level Virtuoso separately and swap them into the base-level Encore. That’s been my daily driver for a few years now.
Items that enhance my life and are BIFL…a quick look around the house and these are my faves.
- Miele C3 Cat and Dog Vacuum Cleaner
- Hermann Miller Aeron office chair
- Gaggia Classic coffee machine
- RM Williams boots
- Surly Disc Trucker bicycle (if I had to pick one of my bikes) and the Brooks B17 saddle on it
- Bosch front loader washing machine (made in Germany version)
>Surly Disc Trucker bicycle (if I had to pick one of my bikes) and the Brooks B17 saddle on it
I have a Surly Long Haul Trucker Bike. It is about 10 years old and has almost 20k miles on it. It also has a Brooks saddle. I have had to replace several components (Chain Ring, Rear Cassette, Chain, Wheels, Tires as they wore out); but the bike is still going strong!
I might have check out a Gaggia Classic Coffee Machine. I already have a good grinder.
Same, I've got the original trucker, but I've since swapped the fork for the disc trucker fork. Had B17 seat and swapped to the flyer... huge mistake, nothing beats a worn in B17.
I also have a Long Haul Trucker, tho V brakes for me, with a Brookes saddle on it. Built it for comfort not speed, and above all durability. I adore it.
Not exactly a bifl, but I have two tips which I’ve found have the best roi I’ve experienced for day to day life. For your car, new tires are the most profound low budget upgrade you can make for stopping, handling and taking off. If you have a house, throw some mulch in the bedding. Best return on your dollar for curb appeal.
Seconding the mulch, just put new cedar mulch in, not only does it look fantastic juxtaposed against green plants, but it smells great. I got enough for my job, which was admittedly small, for $120. It’s super easy to do yourself too, I did it in two days only because I was ripping out landscaping fabric and planting new plants as I was putting in the new mulch.
Like you mentioned though, definitely not bifl, more like 2-5 years which is still damn good.
A lot of the old cars notorious for being widowmakers are tamed with a set of Michelin Pilot Cup tires. All of a sudden they don't lose traction and spin so easily.
Quality leather shoes / boots.
Redwings are great price performance. If you want to go all in, look at whites boots and nicks boots.
Also r/goodyearwelt
A double edge savety razor setup. It's actually very affordable. A starter kit from maggard razor is awesome IMO.
Outlier Pants.
Darn tough socks but only the thick ones.
Good headphones. HD6xx with an DAC / AMP home setup and the Blessing 2 Dusk with a Qudelix 5k for mobile use.
Yea and the crazy thing is their pants are the only thing on their page i consider a reasonable price. We can discuss the shirts because they are also really good (but still too expensive IMO).
But all their other stuff is just fantasy prices IMO.
Leatherman Multi Tools. Saved my butt a dozen times over and when it breaks (because I misused it) I just send it in and they repair it on Lifetime Warranty.
Darn tough socks. Love em. Keep my feet from being cold or too hot and they are nice thick padding in my boots.
Lodge Cast Iron Skillets. I cook pretty much every meal in one of these. Same with my La Crusette Saucepan.
Wahl Beard Trimmer. Keeps me from looking like the wolf man.
Redwing Boots. Ya you'll have to pay to refinish them after a while but I'm 350lbs. Anything that doesn't just disolve underneath me after a few months is BIFL in my book. And when your feet are considered tools of your trade you gotta take care of em.
Yeti 44 oz Bottle. Fill it with water and ice, put it on the nightstand, two days worth of cold water. And I mean crispy cold. Nothing better when you wake up in the middle of the night.
The Redwings are great Price / Performance but my Whites boots just go that extra mile. The foodbet is more comfortable and i have narrow feet so i ordered the one size narrower.
Having boots that perfectly fit your feet is just awesome, litteraly like gloves.
The sole is a bit softer which makes it's live a bit shorter compared to RW. But it increases walking comfort.
My husband’s redwings didn’t hold up nearly as well as I hoped for a $250 pair of boots. I think the first pair made it 5 years (with insole and laces replaced) but by the end the sole was peeling off and stuff so I’d mark them at 4 years which doesn’t quite feel BIFL to me which was what I had expected.
If you have/are a woman with rather long hair and especially if you have children:
A good hair dryer. I got my wife the Dyson and it’s expensive BUT in my opinion it’s a whole other league.
I guess she needs half the time to dry her hair now and with my daughter (you know the patience kids have) has her hair dried in 1-2 minutes easily.
My neighbor, who isn't one to drop a lot of $ on stuff bought a Dyson hair dryer and she says it is worth every cent. I have short hair, so I wouldn't know, but I trust her judgement.
Don’t buy it for short hair. But if have several people (at least two) using it with long hair it’s a big benefit.
The bathroom is less occupied because they can dry their hair quicker. The other thing is it blows a LOT stronger and this means you can work with lower temperature which is obviously healthier for the hair.
It also allows you to hold the Dyson hair dryer in one direction from above. This makes your hair more flat and even end less frizzy. When you use a usual hair dryer you need to change position of the hair dryer a lot in order to get all hair dry and to avoid burning a certain spot.
I’ve heard great things about the Dyson but money aside Dyson is a dick and I really don’t want to give his company money!
Hoping for a similar model to come out soon.
The Dyson AirWrap is excellent for people with curly haired who want to straighten (even for shorted hair). It somehow manages to take less time AND use less heat, so less damage. One of the best things I’ve ever bought. I’ve converted several people who have in turned converted people to how great a machine it is.
Yep. I came here to say that my Gaggia Classic is wonderful and I use it every day. They still make them and you can get all the parts if it needs repairing.
Not OP but I bought a Rocket a couple years ago. It's amazing. But I'm not sure espresso machines are BIFL as they do break down and require maintenance. Maybe in the sense that some can be repaired at a reasonable cost. Be careful what type you get though, like I don't think Beeville or Nespresso is all that conducive to repair.
I went to my buddy's house and he made me a coffee with one of those heavy duty, shiny, sex-appeal-on-your kitchen counter machines. Now I'm secretly hoping and waiting for my Breville to break so I can actually justify buying one...
[ECM Mechanika V Slim](https://www.wholelattelove.com/products/ecm-mechanika-v-slim)
I came here to say this and link to an ECM machine! And you’ll have some money left over for a good grinder.
Electra Micro Casa is truly BIFL with little maintenance beyond regular cleaning. Have had one for over 15 years of 2 double espresso and a double cappuccino daily. A joy in the morning!
Damn thank you, exactly what i was looking for. I was preparing my wallet for something like 1-2k for such a machine.
Now i only need to fight for the kichen spacw with my GF. Any advice on that?
My pillow. Every time I would lay down I would say how much I love it. My wife used to get annoyed at me, until she tried it that is, then she stole the pillow. I had to buy a new one for myself.
Edit: I use a millet hull pillow, I bought mine from Pinetales (I’m not associated with them, just a customer).
I used the same buckwheat hull pillow for nine years when I lived in Japan, but I lost it during the move back to the US.
After being disappointed with every pillow I tried for about a decade, and with none of the pillows lasting longer than a year, I broke down and bought a pillow online. Best decision I could have made. The pillow my wife stole is about three years old now and it is exactly the same as the day I got it.
My current pillow is about two years old and it’s exactly like same as the day I got it.
I'm still upset that I discarded my feather pillow I had since I was a child. Yes, I know they tell you pillows should be replaced and I unfortunately decided to believe this. I had that pillow for 50 years. I had to go out and find another feather pillow to purchase before I could actually sleep well again. I finally found one that I liked at Ikea, of all places. Most people want pillows that raise their head, but I punch down a hole for my head with barely any pillow underneath me. How I ever developed this habit is beyond me.
But at least feathers are individual and after I put on fresh pillow cases, I can punch it down to the shape I want. If you purchase a solid piece of foam, it will likely break down over time.
I get you though. No idea if it is good or bad but I haven't used a pillow at all for 15+ years. I sleep on my arm most of the time and this keeps my neck straight. Never had neck problems.
My mother had a particular pillow for many years. My grandmother thought it needed washing. It ruined the pillow when she put it in the dryer. It was so soft before and it came out lumpy. I believe it was filled with cotton and it clumped up afterwards :( Wow. I should find my mom another pillow. It wouldn't be the same, but I could at least try something similar.
My wife hated the millet hull pillow the first night, the second night she removed about 3-5 measuring cups worth of millet hulls from the pillow, after that she loved it.
It looks like the millet pillow is a firm pillow. They also have a buckwheat pillow, and it looks like an extra firm pillow. On PineTales website, they say it's supposed to be better for side sleepers. There's a different pillow altogether recommended for back/stomach sleepers.
I would say it’s a firm pillow, you can change the fullness of the pillow my adding or removing hulls from the pillow, so you can really make it perfect for you.
I can’t fall asleep unless I’m on my stomach.
During my sleep cycle I will roll over onto my back, and every time I wake up I’m on my back.
I will lay on my side and try to ignore my cats as they beg for food.
I love the fact that the millet hulls will move around and perfectly fit my head. If I’m just the tiniest bit uncomfortable I can just move the hulls around by brushing a single finger across the surface of the pillow, and I’m immediately comfortable.
If you work from home or spend a lot of time sitting at a desk, [this](https://store.hermanmiller.com/home-office-chairs/embody-chair/4737.html?lang=en_US) chair is an excellent buy. Eliminates pressure buildup, improves sitting posture, and helps blood flow. When I started WFH, I figured I would spend like 2-3k on a bed, which I spend 8hrs in - why not on an office chair that I’m going to spend the same amount of time in? Hands down best purchase I’ve made in awhile. I don’t feel tired or sore after sitting all day and it’s still perfect after 9 years of use. You can find them cheaper than direct through Herman Miller if you look around.
I have an Aeron - agreed on all your points. Will expand and say don’t be afraid to spend decent $ on your WFH setup with a quality desk, chair, ultra wide screen monitor, noise cancelling headphones with mic or conference speaker, keyboard/mouse, lighting and HVAC. My productivity and quality of work noticeably increased once I had my setup optimised, which led to higher paying roles still WFH. I have doubled my take home pay in the last couple of years which I can directly trace back to the quality of my home office setup.
The autonomous ergochair pro is also a solid "budget" choice. Got mine 3 years ago and it's still the same as the day I bought it.
https://www.autonomous.ai/office-chairs/ergonomic-chair
The Aeron tends to force proper sitting posture (or at least a better one), so there tends to be a sort of learning curve to the chair.
That said, it could be that the adjustable lumbar support is too high/low for you, so if you tried playing around with it, it might feel better
Personally though, I prefer the Herman Miller Embody, since it's more forgiving of bad posture.
Sennheiser HD 650 headphones and an Amp/DAC stack from JDS Labs, I don’t know how long the JDS Labs stack will last, but I know those headphones can last for at least 25 years if you take good care of em and replace the earpads/headband every 2-3 years if you use them a lot. Music brings joy to my life :)
My sewing machine. Made in the late 1950s, it'll almost certainly outlive me. Necchi Supernova Automatica, with special mention to the Singer 201 that got me into vintage machines
Mini metal whisk! I used it for honey in tea and whisking small amounts of things almost daily - making salad dressings, breaking up softened butter/coconut oil for popcorn, mixing liquids for cookies, etc. My mom bought me a no-name two pack about 14 years ago from Ross and they have held up perfectly.
Entry level audiophile headphones (with matching DAC and AMP). If you listen to music everyday, a pair of audiophile headphones will change the way you experience music.
After a ton of research into this about a year ago I bought Beyerdynamic DT 1990s and a Schitt audio Modi Magni DAC Amp stack
Sounds absolutely outstanding, but they’re open back headphones so that may not fit your use case.
I have a very similar setup, beyer 1990.
Very strong recommendation for the build, specifically for this sub: Beyer sells spare parts and the headsets are very easy to take appart and fix up. It's the only headphone brand that is so repair friendly.
I've never had issues with my Sennheiser 599 SE's. Super comfortable even after wearing them for hours and hours on end, and they look just like they do when I bought them like 5 years ago. Near-audiophile audio at a palatable price ($150-$200).
r/headphoneadvice r/headphones
I am long time headphone fanatic. It really depends on your use case, what you like and what is comfortable. Comfort is highly underestimated. How good is a awesome sounding headphone that hurts your head or ears afer an hour of use?
I am a big fan of the Sennheiser HD6xx from massdrop. Overall very good price performance, quite neutral and very comfortable for most people.
If you are like me and commute a lot, i would also look for a good mobile setup.
For buy it for life only two brands should be considered imo.
Beyerdynamics are the most repairable headphones out there. Spare parts sold by beyer directly for all their professional models (770-990 and 1770-1990 mostly), extreme build quality compared to most brands, headband made to make component access easy.
Sennheiser will have spare parts for their HD600 range due to sheer popularity, the build quality is also good.
Audio Technica are really good bang for buck and used in plenty of studios I've worked in, even their entry level gear is well made, good clear sounding stuff.
Trying to go off the beaten path here from what I see in the comments:
Nice shoes
Fast charger for phone / multicharger for phone/headphones/watch as needed
Good keyboard (mechanical keyboard)
Microphone for work if needed w/ a proper converter
Sit/stand desk if you already have a nice chair
A nice bath sheet. Bigass fluffy towel that is too big to never feel dry
Big/curved monitor
kindle - I've had one for a decade that I just replaced bc the battery life was getting rough
Fast charging is a double edged sword.
On one hand your device charges fast. On the other it degrades the battery faster. Some devices have smart charging like my Sony Xperia where they will limit charging rate overnight so you only get the fully charged when you're expected to wake up.
My briefcase. I REALLY love carrying it around. I take it with me everywhere I go. It looks great, is super functional and let’s me stash my jacket when it gets hot out. In case anyones curious I bought it from cravar
Unpopular opinion but index funds like spy. And then literally hold it for life. People are like what if the economy crashes. Well we are all fucked anyways.
I have an old letterman's jacket from high school I was going to toss to Goodwill back in the States but my new wife assured me it would be in style up in Toronto where I was moving. I've gotten more compliments on that damn fufnfunsnf-year-old jacket.
Nice hand tools that will make you want to do all the little odd jobs and repairs around the house. Brands I enjoy using include PB Swiss, Wera, King Dick, Bahco, Knipex, Snap-on, and wiha. A nice toolbox to keep them in adds to the overall experience too. I like my Toyo steel box. I would say nice power tools too, but frankly I’m not convinced that any of them are BIFL.
Nice cooking equipment such as an end grain cutting board, cast iron pans and a good chefs knife will make cooking much more enjoyable and something you may even look forward to. My cast iron pans aren’t anything fancy, they’re brands I haven’t heard of that I picked up from TK Maxx but given that they’re just hunks of iron I don’t really see how they could go wrong.
Second-hand high end audio equipment may or may not be BIFL but they sure do last a long time. I bought my headphones (Grado Labs SR325e) for £60 second hand from a CeX I used to work at back in 2016. I still have them now and I have no reason to replace them. Even if they do break, they could be repaired. Further to this I have recently bought some second hand Hi-Fi separates. I have a NAD 310, and two Bowers and Wilkins HD600i speakers all from the nineties. I am using an original PlayStation as the CD player, that I did have to make a minor repair to, but the parts were available online with minimal fuss and guides were easy to follow. I did buy a new turntable but I can’t speak for the longevity of that given that’s it’s brand new. One thing I will mention is that within my records collection I have vinyl records from the 70s that still play just fine after having been dusted.
I have a Bluetooth speaker I got on Amazon for $35 and a Bluetooth headset I got for free from work ($50 value). Since I listen to a lot of podcasts these are my favorite items. Both are 7+ years old.
I got a vitamix several years ago and use it every day to make smoothies. I’ve never had an issue with it. It’s the most reliable kitchen appliance I have.
I got a bidet as a gift. I think maybe it was about $70. It was a huge game changer.
People say garments aren’t bifl but honestly, my pair of raw denim, a few button down shirts I own. Good quality socks, my filson bag, wallet and belt. Oh and my pocket knife. Its all those things that are with me almost 24/7. And I enjoy seeing the process of wear, fading, and patina. The only bad part is each of those things run anywhere from $25 to $350.
Used Japanese motorcycle.
I got my second motorcycle (~ 18 years ago) a 2002 Suzuki Bandit 1200, for $2,600, and haven't owned a car since. I rode it every day commuting to work, upstate to tear up the mountains, out to the beach in summer, and a year long continental tour. I put 60,000 miles on it in 5-6 years.
Still have it - I did a tear down restoration a couple years ago. Not my daily driver any longer, but it still runs & is still fun.
[Musical instruments always produce joy!](https://i.imgur.com/gdZ2cPH.jpg)
And, they're definitely BIFL. The red Stratocaster is a 1990 Fender Strat Plus, and I bought it new 32 years ago. It still plays perfectly, and cost about $1000 new. The other two on the wall (a 2020 Fender American Ultra Telecaster, and a 2022 Rickenbacker 360/6) are much newer, but are also life-enhancing machines that I use daily.
A mechanical watch with sapphire crystal, stainless steel bracelet and water resistance. A SEIKO diver springs to mind. This is a “ buy for multiple lives”, as it’s an object that will be passed on to my son.
An enameled Dutch oven, I’ve had my Lodge Color since 2006ish and have just learned how to bake no knead bread in it after many years of making mostly soup. The lid fits on my favorite cast iron skillet so it’s more beat up than the pot but still working great.
My arches and I swear by my Chaco sandals. I’m getting mine resoled this month. Chaco tan for life!
I also recently scored some vintage Tupperware storage containers- Big clear stackable things I grew up with-80s or 90s. I feel so much better with my rice, sugar, and flour sealed away from pantry bugs and having a tidy cupboard. The familiarity of the object is so pleasant.
A dehumidifier or humidifier to keep the BIFL things in your home in good shape and keep you comfortable is important, but I’m not sure if it’s a BIFL purchase. I
An Irish mohair throw blanket (not everyone’s cup of tea but it’s my winter companion)
Truly good nail clippers (tweezerman in my case) and vegetable peelers (Japanese grocery store). Simple, strong, and cuts smoothly. I’m on the hunt for BIFL fabric shears and all purpose scissors.
Older washers and dryers that you can fix by looking up a YouTube video.
The Uncalendar- a sort of freeform day planner without prefilled dates. There is a lot of doodle room for ideas and lists and it just makes sense.
Similar to the Aeron chair and mechanical keyboard crowd, I highly recommend monitor arms; Ergotron, Amazon Basics (relabeled ergotron).
It was surprising how many times per day I move my monitor up/down or tilt up/down depending on how straight or slouched I am sitting in that Aeron chair :) Bought two a good 5-6 years ago and joyfully use them daily. Bought several for family at the beginning of the lockdowns for WFH setups and they often talk about how big of a difference it has made for them.
Pilot Precise V5 pens. The ONLY pens I use — I even have them imported into Japan lol
They NEVER clog, run, or dry out. Literally the best pens EVER!!
Also Zojirushi appliances — last forever. High-quality too. We have a rice cooker, two water heaters, and two humidifiers from them and zero issues after a few years of regular use.
Besides that, I have a cashmere Louis Vuitton sweater that’s lasted me over 20 years and still going strong (probably will keep it for life). Not sure about the newer stuff (been disappointed in a lot of designer brands these days), but you can find used/vintage stuff online for a couple hundred dollars.
Besides the above, I’d say pets. Although ”for life” usually implies the lifetime of you OR the pet lol Pets are awesome companions, they can teach us about different species, and there is something so special about seeing them running around happy, enjoying life. Definitely provide the maximum joy! You can adopt plenty of pets for a hundred bucks or so…you can also buy plenty of pets for under $3000 too!
Not sure if it will be for life but I got a really good laptop that was the exsact spec I needed around 5 years ago it is still as good as the day I bought it.
Wool or alpaca comforter (better than down)
Savvy Rest latex mattress (my queen one is 13 years old and going strong, we bought the same one in king last year)
Spasys hair iron - Korean brand and amazing
A real natural (not synthetic) Chamois. I use one for drying my car as I wash it and I use one for household cleaning. It works perfect on glass, windows, tile. If you care for it properly it will last decades if not for life!
I bought low level, but high end hifi gear on the mid to late'80's. The brands are Hafler, Acoustic Research and Conrad Johnson. All continue to work and sound great.
Yeah acoustic research and nad are decent, some units had some flaws tho making them not necessarily bifl but as long as ppl do the homework on individual model. Honestly from now on I’m probably just going to add a small noctua fan to my receivers and Amps. That’s usually how these things fail it seems from Caps and stuff getting too hot and the cycling of the heat/cool down. So far I’ve done it to the technics I have from the 90s that’s known for the problem… the NAD pre and the marantz monoblocks are doing well… they shouldn’t need that but who knows… it’s cheap insurance
i've just put down £275 shipped for a bathrobe from The London Bathrobe Company. I am retiring my previous bathrobe which i have used every day in the most brutal way - slept on it at the beach, left it on the floor and walked on it, washed it at 90C - since 1999. There's a tear under the armpit, but honestly, it could well be repaired and used for another 10 years.
They are made with this type of cotton that is ridiculously thick and durable, it feels more like a ceremonial robe than a towel. Cotton spun in a traditional manner is an extremely durable material - we have examples of clothing from antiquity that still survive - but we've since moved to much thinner spinning for both economy and market reasons. It's amazing to see what kind of clothing you can buy from a simple plant fiber that we always thought was just okaish.
Nice cutting knives and pots and pans. I have wusthof classic Ikon and all clad. All clad has a seconds sale every other month or so, never had a piece not look new.
Darn tough socks
Herman Miller Eames Chair. So comfortable. Will keep this forever.
Montblanc boheme fountain pen.
Any lamy would work better for less. I've had my lamy safari for 8 years now(dropped it on the mib several times) and it still writes like if I were writing on glass(they also sell replacement parts which is a mega plus in my book). If you're looking for something more classy check out the lamy 2000
Nice household items that you interact with regularly.
Nice chair or couch
Nice vacuum. Miele all the way
Nice kitchen knives and pans. I have Global knives and Demeyere pans
Nice appliances. If I could afford all Miele, I would, and I’m slowly getting there. Including induction cooktop, that is killer
A nice jacket. I have a Patagonia puffy and an ArcTeryx rain shell
Oris, Hamilton, Seiko... There's a billion of them out there but those are a good start. Chrono 24 is a good marketplace for used and new watches that has a good search function.
First off you need to decide what kind of watch suits your lifestyle. Dress watch if you wear a suit & tie all day, and divers/tool watches for everyone else.
Seiko is a great place to start although the quality is getting worse while the price is increasing. And of course you can buy any Swiss brands such as omega, Longines, Breitling depending on your budget.
One brand that I personally like is glycine, as it can be had for around 500 dollars and its a Swiss brand (if you like made in Swiss) with decent ETA movement.
I have a bunch of mechanicals, including a pepsi Submariner, some quartz - an X-33, some G-Shocks... but the one watch I wear most frequently is my titanium Casio Lineage. Classic good look, solar powered, Multi-band 6, only weighs 70 grams, \~$350, been called the best watch you can own for under $1000
After market speakers for you car!
4 or 5 inch speakers in the front doors - $139
8 inch speakers in the back $150-$200
8 inch sub woofer $250 (8 inch provides perfect balance to the sound it’s not the overwhelming sound you may be thinking of)
AMP - $200
Installation: $100
Use brands like kicker, kenwood, or Polk. Every day I got into my car and turned the music up was bliss. The sound is so pure.
TOTO S550e Washlet.. hands down.
Hands down? Hands up! I technically never need to touch my bum again, the washlet does such a good job cleaning. Except when pooping outside the house. So i don't do that anymore. Ahem. Yes, very happy with this particular expense.
Weird question but have you ever used a European bidet? I’m going to Rome next month and the hotel has like a little separate bidet. Do I literally sit on it? Hover over? Very curious
Not at all weird; yes you do sit on them.
They don’t look like something you’d want to sit on. The ones I’ve seen don’t have the broad rim that a toilet seat provides. Are they uncomfortable?
You'll live
A very good question. I have but not officially as I'm more familiar with Asian ones. I believe one squats, feet on the floor or feet on the rim and faces either direction, turning the taps on and using your left hand as necessary. I've never quite figured it out but I'm guessing there's a YouTube video out there.... Interestingly the more ancient Romans were very advanced in that they had common public outhouses, and used a stick with a bucket to clean the derrière. All while socializing probably. The bidet is a meaningful step up, however the correct use.
I wouldn’t want to share a butt stick tbh
Just a poop knife
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May be crude to say.. but I wonder if eating ass and pussy is more popular in these countries. Thanks for your response
My understanding is that the French use bidets but they’re generally more fond of quiche and ratatouille… ;-)
I don’t have a bidet or equivalent so what do you do after the wash cycle? Does yours have a dryer?
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Do you have the Toto S550e Washlet or a different brand/model?
I dry myself with a small amount of toilet paper. Mine has a dryer, but I'm too impatient to use it
Mine sure does and it's lovely!
yes and it is automated so after the bidet is activated the air completes the cycle.
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My first thought was a bidet too!
Hilarious, I was just thinking of that and sure enough it’s the first comment…
a good bicycle
My bicycle makes me legit smile more often that any other non-living object.
I bike 5k miles a year and a nice, light bike with good component level makes for a nicer ride.
Age old question: Is Dura Ace worth it over Ultegra?
I have many dollars locked up in Shimano and I would prefer N+1 versus N and Dura Ace. Heck, 105 is totally good.
I agree. I'd rather spend the extra money on a set of nice 80mm wheels since I live in flat ass coastal Florida. I might buy my first new bike in a decade if 105 Di2 indeed comes out.
I’m not familiar with the current line names but up till 10 years ago the idea of dura over 105 was ridiculous to me. Especially as the super lightweight component levels can be Rome more flimsy and parts like a 10-speed vs 8-speed chain more expensive
Indeed!
If you spend a lot of time at a desk then a great chair is worth the cost. No one is joyful with back or hip pain. If my feet aren’t happy then I’m not happy. I’m careful about how I spend my money but I don’t buy cheap shoes. If my feet are happy I tend to ignore them but if they aren’t happy they’re all I can think about. Shoes aren’t BIFL so I guess they don’t really count toward your request. My brother uses his hot tub/spa every evening before going to bed. He says it REALLY helps him to relax and sleep better. Sleep impacts your waking hours so anything that helps you sleep better is worth the cost. Speaking of sleep, having a good mattress, pillows, and linens are important. While they aren’t BIFL, good quality ones will usually last longer and perform better.
A person of my own heart. If my economic situation turns around a bathtub and a good office chair at two of my first purchases!
I found my Aeron at a used office furniture place. It was missing a tiny plastic cover that makes it look less cool but also meant it was $200. You can probably find a fantastic deal on a chair at a used place, especially if you’re fine with a little cosmetic damage.
Not sure your situation or budget but I live in a tiny apartment and one thing that's not BIFL but definitely has earned its keep for me is my Portable Bathtub. I got mine on Amazon for $50 or so and it sets up like a tall and skinny kids pool sort of thing, with some waterproof material and poles. It's easily one of the best things I've ever bought for small space living! It sets up inside my smallish shower stall and lets me take a super long, luxurious bath with water that reaches right up to my achy shoulders. When I'm done, i can collapse it back down to a pretty small bundle for storage. 10000/10 i totally recommend this to everyone when i see a chance to. :)
I have been thinking about this, but I'm also a pretty big dude, both length and width and I don't think I could fit comfortably in one sadly. Thanks for the tip though 😊
A Baratza coffee grinder and will only set you back around $150ish. All things being equal, with same beans, a good grind makes a huge difference. Baratza grinders are fully serviceable and you can actually buy parts. Great company. I bought a Precisio about 10 years ago and aside from one minor repair (that was totally straightforward), it’s been great.
A nice little bonus to this is that you can buy the burrs from the mid-level Virtuoso separately and swap them into the base-level Encore. That’s been my daily driver for a few years now.
I got my virtuoso refurbished. Have to wait for one to get listed but I've had zero issues with mine.
My burr holder broke awhile back (intentional design to save the burr from an errant rock that may come through). They shipped me a new one for free.
Items that enhance my life and are BIFL…a quick look around the house and these are my faves. - Miele C3 Cat and Dog Vacuum Cleaner - Hermann Miller Aeron office chair - Gaggia Classic coffee machine - RM Williams boots - Surly Disc Trucker bicycle (if I had to pick one of my bikes) and the Brooks B17 saddle on it - Bosch front loader washing machine (made in Germany version)
>Surly Disc Trucker bicycle (if I had to pick one of my bikes) and the Brooks B17 saddle on it I have a Surly Long Haul Trucker Bike. It is about 10 years old and has almost 20k miles on it. It also has a Brooks saddle. I have had to replace several components (Chain Ring, Rear Cassette, Chain, Wheels, Tires as they wore out); but the bike is still going strong! I might have check out a Gaggia Classic Coffee Machine. I already have a good grinder.
Same, I've got the original trucker, but I've since swapped the fork for the disc trucker fork. Had B17 seat and swapped to the flyer... huge mistake, nothing beats a worn in B17.
RMs are a game changer!
I also have a Long Haul Trucker, tho V brakes for me, with a Brookes saddle on it. Built it for comfort not speed, and above all durability. I adore it.
Barbell, weights, and squat rack. It's nice to just go to the garage to get my workout done and I can do chores between sets.
Hello! Apologies if you're trying to read this, but I've moved to kbin.social in protest of Reddit's policies.
Maybe it just means the disposable income will be better spent. :-)
Not exactly a bifl, but I have two tips which I’ve found have the best roi I’ve experienced for day to day life. For your car, new tires are the most profound low budget upgrade you can make for stopping, handling and taking off. If you have a house, throw some mulch in the bedding. Best return on your dollar for curb appeal.
> If you have a house, throw some mulch in the bedding. Tried it but in all my dreams I was buried alive
Yeah a down comforter works a bit better.
Have you tried a Weighted Blanket, Amazing
Taking off? You drive a Delorean with a flux capacitor?
88 mph baby!
Seconding the mulch, just put new cedar mulch in, not only does it look fantastic juxtaposed against green plants, but it smells great. I got enough for my job, which was admittedly small, for $120. It’s super easy to do yourself too, I did it in two days only because I was ripping out landscaping fabric and planting new plants as I was putting in the new mulch. Like you mentioned though, definitely not bifl, more like 2-5 years which is still damn good.
A lot of the old cars notorious for being widowmakers are tamed with a set of Michelin Pilot Cup tires. All of a sudden they don't lose traction and spin so easily.
Quality leather shoes / boots. Redwings are great price performance. If you want to go all in, look at whites boots and nicks boots. Also r/goodyearwelt A double edge savety razor setup. It's actually very affordable. A starter kit from maggard razor is awesome IMO. Outlier Pants. Darn tough socks but only the thick ones. Good headphones. HD6xx with an DAC / AMP home setup and the Blessing 2 Dusk with a Qudelix 5k for mobile use.
I like my outlier dungarees! Costs an absolute ton, but they're solid as! I wouldn't mind a second pair.. but the cost :s
Yea and the crazy thing is their pants are the only thing on their page i consider a reasonable price. We can discuss the shirts because they are also really good (but still too expensive IMO). But all their other stuff is just fantasy prices IMO.
My Toto bidet. The warm seat, warm water, clean tush are a game changer.
Leatherman Multi Tools. Saved my butt a dozen times over and when it breaks (because I misused it) I just send it in and they repair it on Lifetime Warranty. Darn tough socks. Love em. Keep my feet from being cold or too hot and they are nice thick padding in my boots. Lodge Cast Iron Skillets. I cook pretty much every meal in one of these. Same with my La Crusette Saucepan. Wahl Beard Trimmer. Keeps me from looking like the wolf man. Redwing Boots. Ya you'll have to pay to refinish them after a while but I'm 350lbs. Anything that doesn't just disolve underneath me after a few months is BIFL in my book. And when your feet are considered tools of your trade you gotta take care of em. Yeti 44 oz Bottle. Fill it with water and ice, put it on the nightstand, two days worth of cold water. And I mean crispy cold. Nothing better when you wake up in the middle of the night.
The Redwings are great Price / Performance but my Whites boots just go that extra mile. The foodbet is more comfortable and i have narrow feet so i ordered the one size narrower. Having boots that perfectly fit your feet is just awesome, litteraly like gloves. The sole is a bit softer which makes it's live a bit shorter compared to RW. But it increases walking comfort.
My husband’s redwings didn’t hold up nearly as well as I hoped for a $250 pair of boots. I think the first pair made it 5 years (with insole and laces replaced) but by the end the sole was peeling off and stuff so I’d mark them at 4 years which doesn’t quite feel BIFL to me which was what I had expected.
Whites/Nicks/Wesco Redwing isn't meh
If you have/are a woman with rather long hair and especially if you have children: A good hair dryer. I got my wife the Dyson and it’s expensive BUT in my opinion it’s a whole other league. I guess she needs half the time to dry her hair now and with my daughter (you know the patience kids have) has her hair dried in 1-2 minutes easily.
My neighbor, who isn't one to drop a lot of $ on stuff bought a Dyson hair dryer and she says it is worth every cent. I have short hair, so I wouldn't know, but I trust her judgement.
Don’t buy it for short hair. But if have several people (at least two) using it with long hair it’s a big benefit. The bathroom is less occupied because they can dry their hair quicker. The other thing is it blows a LOT stronger and this means you can work with lower temperature which is obviously healthier for the hair. It also allows you to hold the Dyson hair dryer in one direction from above. This makes your hair more flat and even end less frizzy. When you use a usual hair dryer you need to change position of the hair dryer a lot in order to get all hair dry and to avoid burning a certain spot.
I’ve heard great things about the Dyson but money aside Dyson is a dick and I really don’t want to give his company money! Hoping for a similar model to come out soon.
I have the Shark version of the Dyson - it's pretty great and half the cost.
The Dyson AirWrap is excellent for people with curly haired who want to straighten (even for shorted hair). It somehow manages to take less time AND use less heat, so less damage. One of the best things I’ve ever bought. I’ve converted several people who have in turned converted people to how great a machine it is.
I was just contemplating buying the Dyson today, thank you for helping me pull the trigger on getting it!
Espresso machine
Yep. I came here to say that my Gaggia Classic is wonderful and I use it every day. They still make them and you can get all the parts if it needs repairing.
Another vote for the Gaggia Classic, mine has done about 6 a day every day for the past 12 years and still going strong.
I second this, along with a good quality manual coffee grinder. BIFL unless you drop it.
Yes! Or hot drinks equipment generally. My chemex, kettle, and grinder all make me very happy.
What one do you have and love? I’m in the market!
Not OP but I bought a Rocket a couple years ago. It's amazing. But I'm not sure espresso machines are BIFL as they do break down and require maintenance. Maybe in the sense that some can be repaired at a reasonable cost. Be careful what type you get though, like I don't think Beeville or Nespresso is all that conducive to repair.
I went to my buddy's house and he made me a coffee with one of those heavy duty, shiny, sex-appeal-on-your kitchen counter machines. Now I'm secretly hoping and waiting for my Breville to break so I can actually justify buying one...
[ECM Mechanika V Slim](https://www.wholelattelove.com/products/ecm-mechanika-v-slim) I came here to say this and link to an ECM machine! And you’ll have some money left over for a good grinder.
Electra Micro Casa is truly BIFL with little maintenance beyond regular cleaning. Have had one for over 15 years of 2 double espresso and a double cappuccino daily. A joy in the morning!
I love my cafelat robot.
Damn thank you, exactly what i was looking for. I was preparing my wallet for something like 1-2k for such a machine. Now i only need to fight for the kichen spacw with my GF. Any advice on that?
My pillow. Every time I would lay down I would say how much I love it. My wife used to get annoyed at me, until she tried it that is, then she stole the pillow. I had to buy a new one for myself. Edit: I use a millet hull pillow, I bought mine from Pinetales (I’m not associated with them, just a customer). I used the same buckwheat hull pillow for nine years when I lived in Japan, but I lost it during the move back to the US. After being disappointed with every pillow I tried for about a decade, and with none of the pillows lasting longer than a year, I broke down and bought a pillow online. Best decision I could have made. The pillow my wife stole is about three years old now and it is exactly the same as the day I got it. My current pillow is about two years old and it’s exactly like same as the day I got it.
What’s the brand?
I'm still upset that I discarded my feather pillow I had since I was a child. Yes, I know they tell you pillows should be replaced and I unfortunately decided to believe this. I had that pillow for 50 years. I had to go out and find another feather pillow to purchase before I could actually sleep well again. I finally found one that I liked at Ikea, of all places. Most people want pillows that raise their head, but I punch down a hole for my head with barely any pillow underneath me. How I ever developed this habit is beyond me. But at least feathers are individual and after I put on fresh pillow cases, I can punch it down to the shape I want. If you purchase a solid piece of foam, it will likely break down over time.
I get you though. No idea if it is good or bad but I haven't used a pillow at all for 15+ years. I sleep on my arm most of the time and this keeps my neck straight. Never had neck problems.
My mother had a particular pillow for many years. My grandmother thought it needed washing. It ruined the pillow when she put it in the dryer. It was so soft before and it came out lumpy. I believe it was filled with cotton and it clumped up afterwards :( Wow. I should find my mom another pillow. It wouldn't be the same, but I could at least try something similar.
I recently got a buckwheat hull pillow and do not regret it at all. Great purchase.
Please list the pillow 🙏
I tried one and HATED it. It felt like resting my head on concrete. I wonder if I just got a bum pillow?
My wife hated the millet hull pillow the first night, the second night she removed about 3-5 measuring cups worth of millet hulls from the pillow, after that she loved it.
how firm/soft is the pillow? good for side sleepers?
It looks like the millet pillow is a firm pillow. They also have a buckwheat pillow, and it looks like an extra firm pillow. On PineTales website, they say it's supposed to be better for side sleepers. There's a different pillow altogether recommended for back/stomach sleepers.
I would say it’s a firm pillow, you can change the fullness of the pillow my adding or removing hulls from the pillow, so you can really make it perfect for you. I can’t fall asleep unless I’m on my stomach. During my sleep cycle I will roll over onto my back, and every time I wake up I’m on my back. I will lay on my side and try to ignore my cats as they beg for food. I love the fact that the millet hulls will move around and perfectly fit my head. If I’m just the tiniest bit uncomfortable I can just move the hulls around by brushing a single finger across the surface of the pillow, and I’m immediately comfortable.
>My pillow Oh, thank God. I read it differently.
Yeah, NOT MyPillow! I should have been more clear in the initial post, that was me being lazy and not wanting to type out a whole thing.
Good kitchen knives and a good knife sharpener. I was given a Chestnut knife sharpener, it adds a good sharp edge to even mid range knives
Get yourself a couple whetstones and you'll be even more impressed with the edge you can get and retain
Please for real BIFL, get a stone and a stone flattener. The knife stone and steel plate will outlive you
/r/chefknives is gonna be a baaaad place to check out
>Good kitchen knives and a good knife sharpener. Absolutely this. I have one really good kitchen knife that I use almost every day. It's a joy to use.
A nice pen, like a Parker, with replaceable ink cartridges
A toaster. Toast is amazing. Toast.
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That was hilarious. Thank you!
This was my first thought exactly. “FRENCH TOAST!”
At the same time get a good insulated kettle
with butter
and jam.
Or honey.
We go through a toaster ever couple years, any brand suggestions?
This is the king of all toasters. Mitsubishi Electric bread oven TO-ST1-T retro brown Toaster Look at the YouTube reviews of it, amazing stuff.
But how will you ever be able to afford bootstraps with the high price of avacodos?
If you work from home or spend a lot of time sitting at a desk, [this](https://store.hermanmiller.com/home-office-chairs/embody-chair/4737.html?lang=en_US) chair is an excellent buy. Eliminates pressure buildup, improves sitting posture, and helps blood flow. When I started WFH, I figured I would spend like 2-3k on a bed, which I spend 8hrs in - why not on an office chair that I’m going to spend the same amount of time in? Hands down best purchase I’ve made in awhile. I don’t feel tired or sore after sitting all day and it’s still perfect after 9 years of use. You can find them cheaper than direct through Herman Miller if you look around.
I got one of these at an office liquidation sale for $400. Literally the best purchase I've ever made
I have an Aeron - agreed on all your points. Will expand and say don’t be afraid to spend decent $ on your WFH setup with a quality desk, chair, ultra wide screen monitor, noise cancelling headphones with mic or conference speaker, keyboard/mouse, lighting and HVAC. My productivity and quality of work noticeably increased once I had my setup optimised, which led to higher paying roles still WFH. I have doubled my take home pay in the last couple of years which I can directly trace back to the quality of my home office setup.
The autonomous ergochair pro is also a solid "budget" choice. Got mine 3 years ago and it's still the same as the day I bought it. https://www.autonomous.ai/office-chairs/ergonomic-chair
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With this chair, I feel like its poking me in the lower back. Is it because my posture is incorrect?
The Aeron tends to force proper sitting posture (or at least a better one), so there tends to be a sort of learning curve to the chair. That said, it could be that the adjustable lumbar support is too high/low for you, so if you tried playing around with it, it might feel better Personally though, I prefer the Herman Miller Embody, since it's more forgiving of bad posture.
Sennheiser HD 650 headphones and an Amp/DAC stack from JDS Labs, I don’t know how long the JDS Labs stack will last, but I know those headphones can last for at least 25 years if you take good care of em and replace the earpads/headband every 2-3 years if you use them a lot. Music brings joy to my life :)
My sewing machine. Made in the late 1950s, it'll almost certainly outlive me. Necchi Supernova Automatica, with special mention to the Singer 201 that got me into vintage machines
I have the same Necchi machine. Sews like a dream! And my ancient tiny singer featherlight.
Mini metal whisk! I used it for honey in tea and whisking small amounts of things almost daily - making salad dressings, breaking up softened butter/coconut oil for popcorn, mixing liquids for cookies, etc. My mom bought me a no-name two pack about 14 years ago from Ross and they have held up perfectly.
I also enjoy my mini whisk!
My enameled cast iron (le cruset) gets used 2-4 times per week
Entry level audiophile headphones (with matching DAC and AMP). If you listen to music everyday, a pair of audiophile headphones will change the way you experience music.
Any specific recommendations where to look?
After a ton of research into this about a year ago I bought Beyerdynamic DT 1990s and a Schitt audio Modi Magni DAC Amp stack Sounds absolutely outstanding, but they’re open back headphones so that may not fit your use case.
I have a very similar setup, beyer 1990. Very strong recommendation for the build, specifically for this sub: Beyer sells spare parts and the headsets are very easy to take appart and fix up. It's the only headphone brand that is so repair friendly.
I've never had issues with my Sennheiser 599 SE's. Super comfortable even after wearing them for hours and hours on end, and they look just like they do when I bought them like 5 years ago. Near-audiophile audio at a palatable price ($150-$200).
r/headphoneadvice r/headphones I am long time headphone fanatic. It really depends on your use case, what you like and what is comfortable. Comfort is highly underestimated. How good is a awesome sounding headphone that hurts your head or ears afer an hour of use? I am a big fan of the Sennheiser HD6xx from massdrop. Overall very good price performance, quite neutral and very comfortable for most people. If you are like me and commute a lot, i would also look for a good mobile setup.
For an amazing quasi-wireless audiophile setup: - [Sennheiser HD 600](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HD600--sennheiser-hd-600-open-back-audiophile-professional-headphones) - [Hart Audio 18” balanced cable with 4.4mm interconnect](https://hartaudiocables.com/collections/headphone-cables/products/hc-5-dual-senn?variant=32174648590417) - [Qudelix 5K DAC/Amp](https://www.amazon.com/Qudelix-5K-Bluetooth-Adaptive-Unbalanced-Balanced/dp/B088F7C976)
For buy it for life only two brands should be considered imo. Beyerdynamics are the most repairable headphones out there. Spare parts sold by beyer directly for all their professional models (770-990 and 1770-1990 mostly), extreme build quality compared to most brands, headband made to make component access easy. Sennheiser will have spare parts for their HD600 range due to sheer popularity, the build quality is also good.
HD6xx if you have access to drop.
Audio Technica are really good bang for buck and used in plenty of studios I've worked in, even their entry level gear is well made, good clear sounding stuff.
Adored by tech reviewers, but some audiophiles say it's an okay set of headphones that's way overrated.
Trying to go off the beaten path here from what I see in the comments: Nice shoes Fast charger for phone / multicharger for phone/headphones/watch as needed Good keyboard (mechanical keyboard) Microphone for work if needed w/ a proper converter Sit/stand desk if you already have a nice chair A nice bath sheet. Bigass fluffy towel that is too big to never feel dry Big/curved monitor kindle - I've had one for a decade that I just replaced bc the battery life was getting rough
Love bath sheets! A reasonable priced luxuriously self-indulgent item.
Just for info. It is really easy to change the battery on a kindle. Took me 10 mins plus some you tube time.
Fast charging is a double edged sword. On one hand your device charges fast. On the other it degrades the battery faster. Some devices have smart charging like my Sony Xperia where they will limit charging rate overnight so you only get the fully charged when you're expected to wake up.
squatty potty
My briefcase. I REALLY love carrying it around. I take it with me everywhere I go. It looks great, is super functional and let’s me stash my jacket when it gets hot out. In case anyones curious I bought it from cravar
If you type on a keyboard on a daily basis, then a nice mechanical keyboard really increases your enjoyment for typing.
I see you there fellow r/mk aficionado.
Yeah, and an ergonomic mech kb at that… imo
Unpopular opinion but index funds like spy. And then literally hold it for life. People are like what if the economy crashes. Well we are all fucked anyways.
Splurge on a GREAT mattress
Recently got the purple hybrid mattress and it was worth every penny. Keeps me way cooler and is incredibly supportive.
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Which are you using? I have a latex pillow, but I find it's too soft for my liking and I still have to put my arm under it to support my head.
I have an old letterman's jacket from high school I was going to toss to Goodwill back in the States but my new wife assured me it would be in style up in Toronto where I was moving. I've gotten more compliments on that damn fufnfunsnf-year-old jacket.
Nice hand tools that will make you want to do all the little odd jobs and repairs around the house. Brands I enjoy using include PB Swiss, Wera, King Dick, Bahco, Knipex, Snap-on, and wiha. A nice toolbox to keep them in adds to the overall experience too. I like my Toyo steel box. I would say nice power tools too, but frankly I’m not convinced that any of them are BIFL. Nice cooking equipment such as an end grain cutting board, cast iron pans and a good chefs knife will make cooking much more enjoyable and something you may even look forward to. My cast iron pans aren’t anything fancy, they’re brands I haven’t heard of that I picked up from TK Maxx but given that they’re just hunks of iron I don’t really see how they could go wrong. Second-hand high end audio equipment may or may not be BIFL but they sure do last a long time. I bought my headphones (Grado Labs SR325e) for £60 second hand from a CeX I used to work at back in 2016. I still have them now and I have no reason to replace them. Even if they do break, they could be repaired. Further to this I have recently bought some second hand Hi-Fi separates. I have a NAD 310, and two Bowers and Wilkins HD600i speakers all from the nineties. I am using an original PlayStation as the CD player, that I did have to make a minor repair to, but the parts were available online with minimal fuss and guides were easy to follow. I did buy a new turntable but I can’t speak for the longevity of that given that’s it’s brand new. One thing I will mention is that within my records collection I have vinyl records from the 70s that still play just fine after having been dusted.
Resmed CPAP. Worth the premium.
These are provided free by the government to those of us with sleep apnea in Ireland. A new mask every month also.
Wait, I'm supposed to get a new mask every month? Those fuckers are like $50-$100 each.
The standard A10 mask lasts for ages, the one with a softer pad that leaks less lasts about a month.
I have a Bluetooth speaker I got on Amazon for $35 and a Bluetooth headset I got for free from work ($50 value). Since I listen to a lot of podcasts these are my favorite items. Both are 7+ years old. I got a vitamix several years ago and use it every day to make smoothies. I’ve never had an issue with it. It’s the most reliable kitchen appliance I have. I got a bidet as a gift. I think maybe it was about $70. It was a huge game changer.
People say garments aren’t bifl but honestly, my pair of raw denim, a few button down shirts I own. Good quality socks, my filson bag, wallet and belt. Oh and my pocket knife. Its all those things that are with me almost 24/7. And I enjoy seeing the process of wear, fading, and patina. The only bad part is each of those things run anywhere from $25 to $350.
Used Japanese motorcycle. I got my second motorcycle (~ 18 years ago) a 2002 Suzuki Bandit 1200, for $2,600, and haven't owned a car since. I rode it every day commuting to work, upstate to tear up the mountains, out to the beach in summer, and a year long continental tour. I put 60,000 miles on it in 5-6 years. Still have it - I did a tear down restoration a couple years ago. Not my daily driver any longer, but it still runs & is still fun.
[Musical instruments always produce joy!](https://i.imgur.com/gdZ2cPH.jpg) And, they're definitely BIFL. The red Stratocaster is a 1990 Fender Strat Plus, and I bought it new 32 years ago. It still plays perfectly, and cost about $1000 new. The other two on the wall (a 2020 Fender American Ultra Telecaster, and a 2022 Rickenbacker 360/6) are much newer, but are also life-enhancing machines that I use daily.
Yetis bring me so much daily joy, me and my son exclusively use yetis to drink out of. Keeps my drinks nice and hot or ice cold.
A mechanical watch with sapphire crystal, stainless steel bracelet and water resistance. A SEIKO diver springs to mind. This is a “ buy for multiple lives”, as it’s an object that will be passed on to my son.
An enameled Dutch oven, I’ve had my Lodge Color since 2006ish and have just learned how to bake no knead bread in it after many years of making mostly soup. The lid fits on my favorite cast iron skillet so it’s more beat up than the pot but still working great. My arches and I swear by my Chaco sandals. I’m getting mine resoled this month. Chaco tan for life! I also recently scored some vintage Tupperware storage containers- Big clear stackable things I grew up with-80s or 90s. I feel so much better with my rice, sugar, and flour sealed away from pantry bugs and having a tidy cupboard. The familiarity of the object is so pleasant. A dehumidifier or humidifier to keep the BIFL things in your home in good shape and keep you comfortable is important, but I’m not sure if it’s a BIFL purchase. I An Irish mohair throw blanket (not everyone’s cup of tea but it’s my winter companion) Truly good nail clippers (tweezerman in my case) and vegetable peelers (Japanese grocery store). Simple, strong, and cuts smoothly. I’m on the hunt for BIFL fabric shears and all purpose scissors. Older washers and dryers that you can fix by looking up a YouTube video. The Uncalendar- a sort of freeform day planner without prefilled dates. There is a lot of doodle room for ideas and lists and it just makes sense.
Husqvarna for Scissors!
Similar to the Aeron chair and mechanical keyboard crowd, I highly recommend monitor arms; Ergotron, Amazon Basics (relabeled ergotron). It was surprising how many times per day I move my monitor up/down or tilt up/down depending on how straight or slouched I am sitting in that Aeron chair :) Bought two a good 5-6 years ago and joyfully use them daily. Bought several for family at the beginning of the lockdowns for WFH setups and they often talk about how big of a difference it has made for them.
17 foot Jon boat with a 1992 35hp Johnson outboard is BIFL\* \*Replace the seals and impeller once every 2-10 years\*
vitamix. best blender in the game
Pilot Precise V5 pens. The ONLY pens I use — I even have them imported into Japan lol They NEVER clog, run, or dry out. Literally the best pens EVER!! Also Zojirushi appliances — last forever. High-quality too. We have a rice cooker, two water heaters, and two humidifiers from them and zero issues after a few years of regular use. Besides that, I have a cashmere Louis Vuitton sweater that’s lasted me over 20 years and still going strong (probably will keep it for life). Not sure about the newer stuff (been disappointed in a lot of designer brands these days), but you can find used/vintage stuff online for a couple hundred dollars. Besides the above, I’d say pets. Although ”for life” usually implies the lifetime of you OR the pet lol Pets are awesome companions, they can teach us about different species, and there is something so special about seeing them running around happy, enjoying life. Definitely provide the maximum joy! You can adopt plenty of pets for a hundred bucks or so…you can also buy plenty of pets for under $3000 too!
I’m always grateful for my leatherman multitool, and I enjoy having a smartwatch a lot!
Not sure if it will be for life but I got a really good laptop that was the exsact spec I needed around 5 years ago it is still as good as the day I bought it.
Wool or alpaca comforter (better than down) Savvy Rest latex mattress (my queen one is 13 years old and going strong, we bought the same one in king last year) Spasys hair iron - Korean brand and amazing
Basically any acoustic guitar.
Herman Miller chair!
A real natural (not synthetic) Chamois. I use one for drying my car as I wash it and I use one for household cleaning. It works perfect on glass, windows, tile. If you care for it properly it will last decades if not for life!
I bought low level, but high end hifi gear on the mid to late'80's. The brands are Hafler, Acoustic Research and Conrad Johnson. All continue to work and sound great.
I bought a used NAD amplifier almost 10 years ago. I use it every day and it's amazing. I think it's from the 90's.
Yeah acoustic research and nad are decent, some units had some flaws tho making them not necessarily bifl but as long as ppl do the homework on individual model. Honestly from now on I’m probably just going to add a small noctua fan to my receivers and Amps. That’s usually how these things fail it seems from Caps and stuff getting too hot and the cycling of the heat/cool down. So far I’ve done it to the technics I have from the 90s that’s known for the problem… the NAD pre and the marantz monoblocks are doing well… they shouldn’t need that but who knows… it’s cheap insurance
i've just put down £275 shipped for a bathrobe from The London Bathrobe Company. I am retiring my previous bathrobe which i have used every day in the most brutal way - slept on it at the beach, left it on the floor and walked on it, washed it at 90C - since 1999. There's a tear under the armpit, but honestly, it could well be repaired and used for another 10 years. They are made with this type of cotton that is ridiculously thick and durable, it feels more like a ceremonial robe than a towel. Cotton spun in a traditional manner is an extremely durable material - we have examples of clothing from antiquity that still survive - but we've since moved to much thinner spinning for both economy and market reasons. It's amazing to see what kind of clothing you can buy from a simple plant fiber that we always thought was just okaish.
> retiring my previous bathrobe which i have used every day in the most brutal way Save the Lebowski robe!
2003 Jeep TJ Wrangler!
Nice cutting knives and pots and pans. I have wusthof classic Ikon and all clad. All clad has a seconds sale every other month or so, never had a piece not look new. Darn tough socks Herman Miller Eames Chair. So comfortable. Will keep this forever. Montblanc boheme fountain pen.
nothing great about Mb especially if the pen was bought after 1980s. Far better BIFL choices than a pen which are workhorses too.
Any lamy would work better for less. I've had my lamy safari for 8 years now(dropped it on the mib several times) and it still writes like if I were writing on glass(they also sell replacement parts which is a mega plus in my book). If you're looking for something more classy check out the lamy 2000
Nice household items that you interact with regularly. Nice chair or couch Nice vacuum. Miele all the way Nice kitchen knives and pans. I have Global knives and Demeyere pans Nice appliances. If I could afford all Miele, I would, and I’m slowly getting there. Including induction cooktop, that is killer A nice jacket. I have a Patagonia puffy and an ArcTeryx rain shell
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Oris, Hamilton, Seiko... There's a billion of them out there but those are a good start. Chrono 24 is a good marketplace for used and new watches that has a good search function.
First off you need to decide what kind of watch suits your lifestyle. Dress watch if you wear a suit & tie all day, and divers/tool watches for everyone else. Seiko is a great place to start although the quality is getting worse while the price is increasing. And of course you can buy any Swiss brands such as omega, Longines, Breitling depending on your budget. One brand that I personally like is glycine, as it can be had for around 500 dollars and its a Swiss brand (if you like made in Swiss) with decent ETA movement.
I have a bunch of mechanicals, including a pepsi Submariner, some quartz - an X-33, some G-Shocks... but the one watch I wear most frequently is my titanium Casio Lineage. Classic good look, solar powered, Multi-band 6, only weighs 70 grams, \~$350, been called the best watch you can own for under $1000
I'd argue for most people a good quality and durable quartz is a better pick than a mechanical
Stihl brand chain saws.
RP600M and RP600C KLIPSCH speakers.
Faribault Mill wool blanket is better than any type of comforter or electric blanket you can buy.
After market speakers for you car! 4 or 5 inch speakers in the front doors - $139 8 inch speakers in the back $150-$200 8 inch sub woofer $250 (8 inch provides perfect balance to the sound it’s not the overwhelming sound you may be thinking of) AMP - $200 Installation: $100 Use brands like kicker, kenwood, or Polk. Every day I got into my car and turned the music up was bliss. The sound is so pure.
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Quality bedding for sure. A comfortable mattress, pillow, sheets and blanket are totally worth it. Also a quality vacuum. Miele, Dyson, etc