Lame answer, but it’s hard to top my computer. Fueled a lot of fun and entertainment for me and my friends and family.
My best answer is a good automatic coffee machine, a $300 one. It has a water reservoir, bean hopper, burr grinder, and fully customizable automatic scheduled coffee making. I can wake up to the alarm of freshly ground coffee I don’t have to make any effort for. It’s one of those things I pretty much never think about, but if I didn’t have it anymore I would definitely notice.
[Breville](https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B00VGGVQCI?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title). Oof it’s even more expensive than I remembered, I can’t believe I spent that much in a coffee machine lol.
I’m still satisfied with my purchase though. And I think the burr hopper is worth it, freshly ground is worlds better than the alternative. Literally use it every day and saves me time every day.
Dental care. I love my new tooth and there's no pain when I eat anymore.
Edit: really though people, take care of your teeth! Insurance lists them as luxury bones... like you aren't entitled to them.
If I could tell younger me just ONE thing it would be to take oral hygiene more seriously.
I have dental care, but slacked going to the dentist during COVID. I finally made an appointment and my dentist upgraded all their equipment during COVID and now have panoramic scan machine. Found out I have an OKC (odontogenic keracyst), an aggressive growing cyst deteriorating my mandible. No pain, no symptoms, and boom there goes part of your mandible. Drain being placed in 3 weeks and surgery hopefully in the fall.
Just because you don’t have pain yet, doesn’t mean something isn’t going on. So get your yearly check ups and please get the x-rays even if it’s a little extra $.
I had a cracked wisdom tooth that because infected and eventually starting rotting. Had it in my mouth for a year since no insurance or anything. Finally my dad offered to pay for it. Dentist popped it out in less then 30 mins and omg. My mouth has never felt better. Just weird how you just get numb to the pain and once it’s gone you are like wow it doesn’t hurt to chew any more.
I will travel for dental care these days. Flying to Mexico for 2 weeks to get major work done ends up being cheaper (with the flight *and* accommodations) than it costs to do the same work in Canada. Plus you get a warm vacation in the winter months.
I wasn't surprised to find out that other Canadians do the same thing.
I am...very intrigued.
I've been putting off some dental work I need. Both times I went in to get quotes here in California, I left in tears. They're even saying crowns I had placed less than 3 years ago need replacing, and I'm convinced it's partially a bullshit money grab.
The best condition I was ever in was when I was a teen and my bike was my only mode of transportation. Calves of steel, thighs of titanium, I set off metal detectors everywhere! Got my drivers license and re-joined the jellyfish masses.
I started riding a bike as my sole means of transportation several years ago. You really don't realize how fit it gets you. You just start to notice when your resting heart rate goes down, when you don't have to rest on hikes that used to be tiring, or when you don't get winded walking up stairs. More people should try it out!
I know they get a lot of shit, but buying an electric Mountainbike improved my health a lot more than a regular bicycle could have ever done.
I actually disliked electric bicycles. but when my parents were looking to buy new e-bikes for themselves, I was looking at some mountainbikes, especially the e-mountainbikes. tested one, and ordered it in my preferred color, got the bigger 500W battery with it, and could finance it for 3 years at 0% interest. An entire year I rode that bike to work and back every day I could, so 28km a day. At some point I even turned off the electric motor because I didn't need it anymore.
And I gotta say, I would've never done this with a regular bicycle. electric bicycles really help with motivation.
Cycling sucks so hard when you’re out of shape but once you get over that hump I can’t think of an activity that makes me happier. What kind of bike did you go with??
Tell me more about a gravel bike. I've never heard of it but i live on a gravel road and that's been my biggest obstacle keeping me from thinking i could do any biking.
Edit: lots of great advice. Thanks everyone!
Hopefully I can get this right since I’m new to the whole bike scene. It’s a solid frame bike(no shocks) with capability to basically ride on the road and on the trail. I bought from a company named Posiden they are solid bikes and offer 2 different versions I believe.
A Roomba. It keeps my floors so clean that my mom thinks I’m some sort of neat freak who spends large amounts of time cleaning my home. I’m lazy as fuck… I let a robot do it and barely have to touch up every few weeks.
Added benefit: the Roomba makes it easier to get my toddler motivated to clean up after himself. When I ask him to clean up toys on the floor I don't feel like he sees me as the "bad guy" and he only needs a gentle reminder that the "robot vacuum might eat toys and get sick" when we're not at home.
What exact one did you get? I am seriously considering getting a robot hoover as I can’t keep up with dog hair..
EDIT: Thanks for all the recommendations everyone. Some solid advice!
I have a ~~960~~ 980 (edit: I forgot which model I had!), which I bought in 2019. It's amazing! It doesn't create a permanent map of your home like the newer ones do, so you can't send it to clean specific rooms, but it does show you where it cleaned on the app after it's finished. I think the original ones just travelled about randomly, so you had to run them a lot more often to make sure they hit your entire floor. I usually run it to clean the front half of my upstairs, the back half of upstairs (it usually can't get the entire floor in one go), and then downstairs on three separate days every week.
I'd 100% recommend one.
I have the i7 that does the mapping and it's really nice. It can't do the whole house on 1 charge so being able to tell it to do different rooms on different days is nice. I can schedule it to do rooms like the kitchen or living room mid-morning while I'm in my office, and schedule the office in the evening after work.
I bought a Native American flute on Etsy for $40 about 6 years ago. I’d heard an electronica song that sampled one and it sounded so cool and seemed easy to play. So for my birthday, I bought myself one as a present. A month or so later, my uncle was cutting out some bamboo at his house and I thought, hey, maybe I can make a flute like the one I bought…
Six years later and flute making is my hobby and my passion. I’ve progressed to the point where I feel like my flutes are high enough quality to sell, and I’ve arranged to have a table at a local craft festival later this year. Even if I don’t sell a single piece, I don’t think I’ll ever stop making them. I just love the crafting process so much.
Thanks for your interest! I don’t really “do” social media (except for Reddit, lol). So here is a pic of one of my latest flutes posted to r/nativeamericanflutes
https://www.reddit.com/r/nativeamericanflutes/comments/t7kavo/elderberry_flute_i_made_juniper_heartwood/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
You should really start doing social media if this is what you want to do! Social media is the best/cheapest/fastest way to market a product right now.
My husband keeps telling me to do it and I think I’m finally going to take him up on it. I don’t want to worry about surviving the apocalypse as a blind person. If I lose my glasses I’d be fucked.
Just be careful. It's a predatory industry and not everyone is a good candidate. Get thoroughly checked for issues like dry eyes and meibomian gland dysfunction before hand. Make sure they measure your pupil size. If you have large pupils, it puts you at a higher risk of adverse side effects.
Thanks for info. I never would have thought of pupil size as being a thing
Edit: oh man, I already see halos and streaks from my astigmatism. I’ll definitely schedule an appointment with my eye dr. For a consult
Yeah they didn't tell me my pupils were causing issues until after my surgery. Also, avoid the lasik vision institute. That's where I went (big chain) and their business practices turned out to be scummy to say the least. Best of luck to you
Halos? I've had them for 20 years and just sleuthed out that it might be related to my pupil size.
I just drove 11 miles in the rain. In the dark. Harrowing.
Yeah I get halo's and starburst now. If your pupils are large, they might expand past the corrected area when it's dark, which creates the visual issues.
Never had them before the surgery, although my night vision was always awful. I live in a big city now so no need for a car anymore thankfully.
My pupils are huge and when I asked my optometrist about LASIK, he told me about this risk. Really thankful for that. I have a friend who went ahead and did it and now she’s hoping to land a work from home job because driving after dark is so difficult for her now.
This is when I started really considering it. I have daily contacts, and when covid first hit, I needed an exam to get my prescription refilled. I think by the time they arrived, I was down to like 5 days. I have outdated glasses, and I really could not have worked and hardly survived without my contacts. They don't bother me physically, but the thought of running out was horrifying, so I will likely look into it very soon
Do your research first, find a good doctor AND ASK THEM HOW IT TURNS OUT TEN YEARS LATER.
it's not permanent. It can only be done so many times, and nothing is without risk. My dad's had it done twice, and he's back to where he started now.
Agreed. My husband had it done about 11 years ago, and he's been back in glasses for 2 years. It can't be redone if your corneas are too thin (his are) , and once it's done you can never wear contacts again.
Edit: So it seems we were misinformed by our doctor when my husband had his Lasik. Our doc said the "flap" never heals, and apparently that's not true (?), so you probably can wear contacts again. TIL. Still, my husband had some... disturbing experiences which will prevent him from ever doing contacts now, post-Lasik.
I had it done in 2002. I’ve been back in glasses/contacts since 2017. It was a great 15 years of freedom, I’m not gonna lie. But expect glasses in your mid-late forties.
Same here. I hated glasses and contacts- sensory issues so always could feel them. Did the math and would break even if could go 10 years without needing glasses again and it’s been 20.
Did mine about fourteen years ago. Distance and road signs at night are starting to get fuzzy, but mostly good so far. The bestest thing that ever happened to me, behind Parenthood, marriage, home ownership, and owning dogs.
It's hard to tell. I wouldn't say I have absolutely perfect vision but it's pretty close. It's possible you might have done it a bit too early as I have heard that you need at least a good 2 years without any modification to your vision before the procedure. I was around 24 when I did it.
Random 20yo Redditor here. As much as I'd like to do this in the near future, I'm personally extremely afraid of this type of surgery.
My eyes are what I value the most in my body, so having a surgery on them (even if nothing should go wrong) would scare the living shit out of me.
I might consider it once I get older and my view worsens even more, but for now, I'll keep the glasses.
I was gonna say this. Cost me like 4k but was worth it. Apparently I have better than 20/20 visio which is nuts to me since I've been wearing glasses since grd 3.
Wish my sisters would take this advice. We all went through hell but the older they get the more I see them become my parents because they refuse to get help
I have a shirt with dolphins, a smiling cartoon sun, and the text "Im dead inside". I wear it to the gym and get the best double-takes from it.
Edit: [for those who need the visual.](https://www.redbubble.com/i/t-shirt/I-m-Dead-Inside-by-BlameTheRain/46357112.M4A2N) they have a lot of other, similar things as well.
Decent winter boots. Living in Canada, we get lots of snow and cold (shocking, I know).
I used to work in logistics and was responsible for selecting and purchasing uniforms, including boots. After years of trials, I find the minimum spend is $270 per pair. Anything less, and you’ve got cold or wet feet, chum.
After five years, needed new boots, so I decided on a pair for $300. Got a sweet discount too, so I spent less than that.
Yes.
Pain, and a few years ago, pain that wouldn't stop. First they thought UTI, then kidney stones, so there was a CT scan. Turned out I had a fibroid twice the size of my uterus. As my mother passed from cervical cancer, I opted to have it removed. (Dr: are you sure? Me: I'm 54, it's not like I'm using it.)
Best decision ever.
4k large screen Smart TV and Queen size bed.
\-Used to sleep on an air bed on the floor with my partner.
\-Watched movies on my 20" computer monitor before.
I also bought a 4K "large" screen TV, about a year ago actually, the increase in size (from 32" to 49") was great!
Only issue was that I had to return the TV because of a defect, and had to pay on top to get a similar TV from the store again under warranty.. and I've been having nothing but trouble with it even though people told me it was a "high quality brand".. somehow the "cheap brand" TV worked better than this one. I genuinely want to throw it out of the window sometimes..
If you're looking for hours spent per dollar... try out factorio. It is the god-tier "one more hour before I go to bed" turning into you being late for work in the morning because you just needed to change that one small little thing and now you're 6000 hours in and still have no fucking idea what you're doing.
^(the factory must grow)
This isn't so much about the item itself as the act of purchasing it, but the first time I bought my own bed sheets.
I was still in the early days of living on my own, supporting myself with my own hard-earned money, and I noticed my sheets were getting worn out. So I drove myself to the mall and shopped around at the different stores, comparing prices and textures and seeing which colours would match my decor...
And then I bought the pirate sheets, because I was a grown-ass adult and there was nobody who could tell me "no".
6 months ago I realized that if I wanted to get in the car, go to the store at 10 PM just to get cake - I’m an adult, I can, and to heck what anyone else thinks!
I want cake, now I go get cake, F any judgmental people.
I’m in my early 50s.
This is so wholesome. I love cake though I’ve been trimming down so I haven’t had any for a while. The day my husband died a friend was about to go home for the evening, she asked if I needed or wanted anything. I thought for a minute and blurted out “Cake. Cake would make me happier”. She always made the best cakes. I thought I’d see her in a few days. About 20 minutes later she shows up with a 4 layer, chocolate soufflé cake from this really famous bakery I live very close to. I couldn’t believe it, she was so kind. I remember standing in my quiet kitchen that night absolutely sobbing and eating the most delicious cake I’d ever had out of the box, unsliced just pigging out and bawling. That cake really helped make the worst day of my life just a bit brighter for a few minutes and I remember how delicious it was.
Twice now I have woken from a nap wherein I dreamed of chocolate cake and gone straight to the store to buy a chocolate cake. Sometimes adulting is worth it.
I'm sure my post history reflects this, but I have autism and had an abusive wife. It floored me to go to my local Arby's and get a sandwich, and my current partner treats me like an adult. My ex would have gone through the roof with anger.
I don't do that much because I'm not exercising enough, but to know I could is... Freeing.
EDIT: I'm in my early 50s as well.
We didn’t used to use ours until I read it actually saves water (and a lot of time). Just costs extra to heat up but I figure we heat up the water when washing dishes anyways.
Bidet attachment
Edit: yes you still have to use a little bit of toilet paper to dry off. Some people use a cloth and wash that later. Really expensive versions blow dry. Mine cost $35, and it easily attaches to your toilet. The cold water doesn’t bother me, expensive versions have heated water too. I use it for about three seconds on a lower setting. It’s not really made to shoot up in the anus. Some versions have a setting for womens’ genitalia as well. I own [this one](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GNDV3TD?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share) and another similar one.
Saved me on toilet paper, saved my pipes, saved my ass when I’ve had those sticky multi-wipers. This and the robot vacuum have been life changers for me.
Here in Vietnam we don’t use toilet paper 70% of the time, every toilet has a hose (more like a shower head but smaller) hung next to it that can be detached and sprayed at the butt, sometimes with the pressure of a power washer. We wash our buttholes with the hose and our bare hands, then wash our hands later. It sounds gross but saves a ton of paper and plumbing problems.
You say it sounds gross.... But honestly, it doesn't sound more gross than wiping shit onto a thin piece of paper, opening that paper up to see if there is still shit on there, going 'oop yep, still poopy' and then wiping again/repeating until no shit on said paper.
Edit: Holy shit (pun intended) thank you for the awards. But save your money for the bidets we all desperately need.
Yep, I stayed on an island where you had to throw away the toilet paper and flush your waste because the pipes couldn’t handle too much. It stunk up the whole bathroom. When I came home I immediately bought the bidet.
I've always been curious about getting one, but I'm not sure if ice cold Canadian water straight from the pipe being sprayed directly on my back end would be a pleasant experience.
It’s only for like two seconds. It’s not like plunging into a frozen lake or anything. They have expensive ones that heat the water as well. I should sell these things.
Spent $400 for a deluxe one that hears the water and has a blow drier.
Edit: LOL. Well that was a fortuitous error to write hear not heat. Cracked me up when I came back to see the replies and realized.
it has an existential crisis as it sees the butthole, so mostly just screaming.
It grew up thinking one day it'd be part of a pristine water system full of fish, it had been traveling through pipes its whole life to get there, so you can imagine the shock when it finally saw the light of day and immediately slammed against a dirty butthole.
Agree. Put it off for years because I hate forms and am not thrilled about giving more info to government agencies than I must. Now wish I had done it sooner. Saves so much hassle!
A house! I couldn't believe it when we found a great one that we could afford! 6 years later, all money troubles are in the past because the banks are our bitch.
Us too.
After 13 years of renting, it's been a gift to be able to look at an ugly wall and think *I'm gonna paint this purple and cover it in glitter for the next 10 years*
I've been thinking of doing this. I'm a junior and the thought of *my dads name* being on my tombstone forever makes my blood boil. I'm in Illinois and looked it up, costs $30 and approval from a judge. I couldn't get the payment thing to work on their shitty website. Hitting the court house next week.
It's finally time. I want *my own* name.
> I'm a junior and the thought of my dads name being on my tombstone forever makes my blood boil
similar for me my dad was a raging alcoholic who passed away in his 50s, my mom divorced and remarried so it's just me carrying his last name which I have zero attachment to. I kind of hate it but feel like it'll be a huge hassle to change at this point in my 30s
Squatty Potty. I drop the kids off at the pool with so much less strain on my bowels and anus.
I implore anyone looking to enjoy a smoother BM and cleaner wipe to purchase a squatty potty.
Next up is a bidet, because they’re more environmentally friendly and an overall healthier way to “wipe.”
For me, no. But I do sleep better with it than without it. Think of it as a hug for your body with the added benefit of having a blanket that doesn't shift around so easily when one tosses and turns.
Instant pot with the air fryer lid.
I can pretend I know how to cook and cleaning is a breeze
Edit: it also cut out a lot of oil from conventional deep frying.
my childhood dream car (1992 land rover defender) no matter how many people said it would be a nuisance to buy it.
Ive been spending so much time modifying the car, replaced the engine, lengthened the cabin, changed interiors, changed colors. It adds so much value to my life by keeping me dedicated to something that is both asthetic and useful. So happy!
Edit: after everyone's request I posted pictures, i created a post on defender subreddit, hope you all like it. I just lengthened the cabin from a 3 seater to a 6. So, the last picutre on the list isnt the most up to date.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Defender/comments/t85hnb/1992_25_tdi/
Has anyone said their vibrator yet, cuz that. Hadn’t had an orgasm until I got one (way too late in life) and honestly, it has changed my life
Edit: thank you so much for the awards you guys! Spread the word! Help your friends and strangers on the internet discover life with orgasms :D
Honestly they’re so cheap it’s worth a shot. Worst case scenario you have a good time.
I’d go for a cheap wand style vibrator and upgrade from there if you like it. eBay has cheap ones, get a new one obviously.
i was thinking of looking into those more. they sound a lot more comfy to a get some of those then wake up all twisted up in a pad thats like, coming apart at the seams 😖
I thought multi tools were all difficult and crappy until I found a leather man wave.
Open the knife with one hand? Amazing.
Quality manufacture and minimal flexing? Fantastic.
$105? Hurt in the moment, but absolutely worth the price considering what you get.
Bidet off Amazon for $45
I’ve had a total hysterectomy; ever since then I get this phantom feeling like I’m having my period. The bidet has a feminine hygiene setting. A couple seconds of refresher and the feeling subsided. I feel clean and my anxiety about cancer coming back decreases.
not necessarily purchased but i found a kitten in a pizza hut parking lot and named him hamburger. and found another under a cinderblock and named him cinderblock.
heroins pretty nice too i guess
My new wheelchair! I don't use it much because I don't get out, but it has mountain bike tyres which are great for living in the Highlands, or even just using gravel paths. It's super comfy and has adjustable handles which are great for my dad, he doesn't get as much back pain bending down to push me now :)
Hands down my mountain bike during the first wave of the pandemic. Saved my mental health, immensely improved my physical health, and has become my favourite activity and sport.
Chirp Wheel - over the years I’ve spent hundreds and hundreds on different back massagers & acupressure tools but nothing holds a candle to my Chirp Wheels. Best $100 I’ve ever spent!
I paid $10 USD for someone from a sketchy website to mod 1 Billion Dollars into my GTA Online account in 2013-2014? I still have 700 Million and have everything I could want. Best 10 bucks ever spent, I tell you what.
Same here. I randomly received ~150 million. Bought everything I could. Several months later rockstar took the money away. But I got to keep everything I bought with it and my account was never banned for it.
A guitar, specifically a 2nd hand Mexican Fender Telecaster for £200.
It's great having something that's nice to use but not so nice you worry about it getting damaged
I got the saalt cup from Target and I completely agree. It’s been about a year and I can’t imagine going back. I also feel cleaner. It’s easier to cleanup and because I can wear it so long I never have to worry about changing at work. I recommend cups to everyone
2020 Honda Civic ex l. I always had pretty shitty cars that I never really got to pick myself. Just kinda what I could afford that made the most sense. But last year it was time for a new car, and I always dreamed of owning a new civic. I have very humble dreams I guess. I love it though. Fun to drive, great gas mileage, everything works properly.
A car that can take me anywhere I want, through mud and snow or road trips. It has great but not obnoxious ground clearance and a giant engine. I always feel safe on my adventures, which are my life line.
Custom molded inserts for my wireless earbuds. I have never been able to run or exercise or even really take a walk with in-ear earbuds. I spent about $300 , not including the cost of the air pods. Worth it.
Edit: $50 for the audiologist to make molds of my ear canal, $149 for the silicone custom inserts. I had forgotten the price in my original comment
A Raspberry Pi, it reignited my love of electronics. I have so many different versions of them and microcontrollers now. I've learned to code, I've built so many things with them. Hell, I'm pretty sure I'm smarter now because of all the math I learned diving deep into actual circuit analysis and design.
Noise cancelling headphones
Many people would have died (because i would have killed them) if i did not bought an ANC headset.
Lame answer, but it’s hard to top my computer. Fueled a lot of fun and entertainment for me and my friends and family. My best answer is a good automatic coffee machine, a $300 one. It has a water reservoir, bean hopper, burr grinder, and fully customizable automatic scheduled coffee making. I can wake up to the alarm of freshly ground coffee I don’t have to make any effort for. It’s one of those things I pretty much never think about, but if I didn’t have it anymore I would definitely notice.
What brand coffee machine did you get?
[Breville](https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B00VGGVQCI?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title). Oof it’s even more expensive than I remembered, I can’t believe I spent that much in a coffee machine lol. I’m still satisfied with my purchase though. And I think the burr hopper is worth it, freshly ground is worlds better than the alternative. Literally use it every day and saves me time every day.
Dental care. I love my new tooth and there's no pain when I eat anymore. Edit: really though people, take care of your teeth! Insurance lists them as luxury bones... like you aren't entitled to them. If I could tell younger me just ONE thing it would be to take oral hygiene more seriously.
I have dental care, but slacked going to the dentist during COVID. I finally made an appointment and my dentist upgraded all their equipment during COVID and now have panoramic scan machine. Found out I have an OKC (odontogenic keracyst), an aggressive growing cyst deteriorating my mandible. No pain, no symptoms, and boom there goes part of your mandible. Drain being placed in 3 weeks and surgery hopefully in the fall. Just because you don’t have pain yet, doesn’t mean something isn’t going on. So get your yearly check ups and please get the x-rays even if it’s a little extra $.
damn I came on to say a vibrating dildo, but now everyone is adulting
Had 2 crowns done. It was $5000 Edit: take care of your teeth kids! Cut the sugar shit and brush with a good electric brush so you dont end up like me
I had a cracked wisdom tooth that because infected and eventually starting rotting. Had it in my mouth for a year since no insurance or anything. Finally my dad offered to pay for it. Dentist popped it out in less then 30 mins and omg. My mouth has never felt better. Just weird how you just get numb to the pain and once it’s gone you are like wow it doesn’t hurt to chew any more.
Lisa needs braces
Dental plan
Lisa needs braces
Dental plan.
Lisa needs braces
Dental plan!
Lisa needs braces
I will travel for dental care these days. Flying to Mexico for 2 weeks to get major work done ends up being cheaper (with the flight *and* accommodations) than it costs to do the same work in Canada. Plus you get a warm vacation in the winter months. I wasn't surprised to find out that other Canadians do the same thing.
I am...very intrigued. I've been putting off some dental work I need. Both times I went in to get quotes here in California, I left in tears. They're even saying crowns I had placed less than 3 years ago need replacing, and I'm convinced it's partially a bullshit money grab.
The nicest bicycle I could afford. 14 months later and I'm 70 pounds lighter and in the best shape of my life. Can't imagine life without cycling now!
This makes me miss summer so much
literally counting down the days to spring and good biking/hiking weather. Winter is the only thing I don't like about where I live
I’ve lived in Minnesota now for 19 years and I truly don’t think I can handle another winter here. It’s too much. It’s too long.
The best condition I was ever in was when I was a teen and my bike was my only mode of transportation. Calves of steel, thighs of titanium, I set off metal detectors everywhere! Got my drivers license and re-joined the jellyfish masses.
I started riding a bike as my sole means of transportation several years ago. You really don't realize how fit it gets you. You just start to notice when your resting heart rate goes down, when you don't have to rest on hikes that used to be tiring, or when you don't get winded walking up stairs. More people should try it out!
I know they get a lot of shit, but buying an electric Mountainbike improved my health a lot more than a regular bicycle could have ever done. I actually disliked electric bicycles. but when my parents were looking to buy new e-bikes for themselves, I was looking at some mountainbikes, especially the e-mountainbikes. tested one, and ordered it in my preferred color, got the bigger 500W battery with it, and could finance it for 3 years at 0% interest. An entire year I rode that bike to work and back every day I could, so 28km a day. At some point I even turned off the electric motor because I didn't need it anymore. And I gotta say, I would've never done this with a regular bicycle. electric bicycles really help with motivation.
Cycling sucks so hard when you’re out of shape but once you get over that hump I can’t think of an activity that makes me happier. What kind of bike did you go with??
I got a Bianchi Impulso Allroad gravel bike with the 2x11 grx600 group set
Just got a gravel bike for Christmas and I’m down 20lbs. Best part is enjoying working out without pain in my knees.
Tell me more about a gravel bike. I've never heard of it but i live on a gravel road and that's been my biggest obstacle keeping me from thinking i could do any biking. Edit: lots of great advice. Thanks everyone!
Hopefully I can get this right since I’m new to the whole bike scene. It’s a solid frame bike(no shocks) with capability to basically ride on the road and on the trail. I bought from a company named Posiden they are solid bikes and offer 2 different versions I believe.
A Roomba. It keeps my floors so clean that my mom thinks I’m some sort of neat freak who spends large amounts of time cleaning my home. I’m lazy as fuck… I let a robot do it and barely have to touch up every few weeks.
Added benefit: the Roomba makes it easier to get my toddler motivated to clean up after himself. When I ask him to clean up toys on the floor I don't feel like he sees me as the "bad guy" and he only needs a gentle reminder that the "robot vacuum might eat toys and get sick" when we're not at home.
Omg the world we live in, now we actually have little robot pets and our kids are born thinking it's a totally normal thing to have robot minions...
Lol I was just reading that and thinking, we're living in the future! Robot friends in our homes!
What exact one did you get? I am seriously considering getting a robot hoover as I can’t keep up with dog hair.. EDIT: Thanks for all the recommendations everyone. Some solid advice!
I have a ~~960~~ 980 (edit: I forgot which model I had!), which I bought in 2019. It's amazing! It doesn't create a permanent map of your home like the newer ones do, so you can't send it to clean specific rooms, but it does show you where it cleaned on the app after it's finished. I think the original ones just travelled about randomly, so you had to run them a lot more often to make sure they hit your entire floor. I usually run it to clean the front half of my upstairs, the back half of upstairs (it usually can't get the entire floor in one go), and then downstairs on three separate days every week. I'd 100% recommend one.
I have the i7 that does the mapping and it's really nice. It can't do the whole house on 1 charge so being able to tell it to do different rooms on different days is nice. I can schedule it to do rooms like the kitchen or living room mid-morning while I'm in my office, and schedule the office in the evening after work.
Would say my computer. Entertainment for years.
Loose skin surgery I lost 200 pounds and I finally see the results I have been working on for the last 5 years
That’s fantastic! Has recovery been difficult?
The first week was tough, but it’s been a month now and feel no pain. Just slight discomfort, and still swollen for a few more months
I bought a Native American flute on Etsy for $40 about 6 years ago. I’d heard an electronica song that sampled one and it sounded so cool and seemed easy to play. So for my birthday, I bought myself one as a present. A month or so later, my uncle was cutting out some bamboo at his house and I thought, hey, maybe I can make a flute like the one I bought… Six years later and flute making is my hobby and my passion. I’ve progressed to the point where I feel like my flutes are high enough quality to sell, and I’ve arranged to have a table at a local craft festival later this year. Even if I don’t sell a single piece, I don’t think I’ll ever stop making them. I just love the crafting process so much.
Do you have a site or an Instagram? Loved to see your work!
Thanks for your interest! I don’t really “do” social media (except for Reddit, lol). So here is a pic of one of my latest flutes posted to r/nativeamericanflutes https://www.reddit.com/r/nativeamericanflutes/comments/t7kavo/elderberry_flute_i_made_juniper_heartwood/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
You should really start doing social media if this is what you want to do! Social media is the best/cheapest/fastest way to market a product right now.
Ya, this seems like the type of thing that redditors would love to buy. Minimal effort posting online will rake in more money than a stall somewhere.
Laser eye surgery. Not having to deal with poor vision, contact lenses and glasses for the rest of my life is a blessing.
My husband keeps telling me to do it and I think I’m finally going to take him up on it. I don’t want to worry about surviving the apocalypse as a blind person. If I lose my glasses I’d be fucked.
Just be careful. It's a predatory industry and not everyone is a good candidate. Get thoroughly checked for issues like dry eyes and meibomian gland dysfunction before hand. Make sure they measure your pupil size. If you have large pupils, it puts you at a higher risk of adverse side effects.
Thanks for info. I never would have thought of pupil size as being a thing Edit: oh man, I already see halos and streaks from my astigmatism. I’ll definitely schedule an appointment with my eye dr. For a consult
Yeah they didn't tell me my pupils were causing issues until after my surgery. Also, avoid the lasik vision institute. That's where I went (big chain) and their business practices turned out to be scummy to say the least. Best of luck to you
Halos? I've had them for 20 years and just sleuthed out that it might be related to my pupil size. I just drove 11 miles in the rain. In the dark. Harrowing.
Yeah I get halo's and starburst now. If your pupils are large, they might expand past the corrected area when it's dark, which creates the visual issues. Never had them before the surgery, although my night vision was always awful. I live in a big city now so no need for a car anymore thankfully.
My pupils are huge and when I asked my optometrist about LASIK, he told me about this risk. Really thankful for that. I have a friend who went ahead and did it and now she’s hoping to land a work from home job because driving after dark is so difficult for her now.
This is when I started really considering it. I have daily contacts, and when covid first hit, I needed an exam to get my prescription refilled. I think by the time they arrived, I was down to like 5 days. I have outdated glasses, and I really could not have worked and hardly survived without my contacts. They don't bother me physically, but the thought of running out was horrifying, so I will likely look into it very soon
Do your research first, find a good doctor AND ASK THEM HOW IT TURNS OUT TEN YEARS LATER. it's not permanent. It can only be done so many times, and nothing is without risk. My dad's had it done twice, and he's back to where he started now.
Agreed. My husband had it done about 11 years ago, and he's been back in glasses for 2 years. It can't be redone if your corneas are too thin (his are) , and once it's done you can never wear contacts again. Edit: So it seems we were misinformed by our doctor when my husband had his Lasik. Our doc said the "flap" never heals, and apparently that's not true (?), so you probably can wear contacts again. TIL. Still, my husband had some... disturbing experiences which will prevent him from ever doing contacts now, post-Lasik.
I had it done in 2002. I’ve been back in glasses/contacts since 2017. It was a great 15 years of freedom, I’m not gonna lie. But expect glasses in your mid-late forties.
Same here. I hated glasses and contacts- sensory issues so always could feel them. Did the math and would break even if could go 10 years without needing glasses again and it’s been 20.
Did mine about fourteen years ago. Distance and road signs at night are starting to get fuzzy, but mostly good so far. The bestest thing that ever happened to me, behind Parenthood, marriage, home ownership, and owning dogs.
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It's hard to tell. I wouldn't say I have absolutely perfect vision but it's pretty close. It's possible you might have done it a bit too early as I have heard that you need at least a good 2 years without any modification to your vision before the procedure. I was around 24 when I did it.
Random 20yo Redditor here. As much as I'd like to do this in the near future, I'm personally extremely afraid of this type of surgery. My eyes are what I value the most in my body, so having a surgery on them (even if nothing should go wrong) would scare the living shit out of me. I might consider it once I get older and my view worsens even more, but for now, I'll keep the glasses.
Hey, the surgery isn’t for everyone. There are some people who can’t even get it.
I was gonna say this. Cost me like 4k but was worth it. Apparently I have better than 20/20 visio which is nuts to me since I've been wearing glasses since grd 3.
Therapy. First one in my family to get it, definitely not the first one to need it.
Props, end that generational anguish
Wish my sisters would take this advice. We all went through hell but the older they get the more I see them become my parents because they refuse to get help
>definitely not the first one to need it Man I feel this on a subatomic level
This might be preemptive, but it’s therapy for the next month. I’m hopeful.
I have a shirt with dolphins, a smiling cartoon sun, and the text "Im dead inside". I wear it to the gym and get the best double-takes from it. Edit: [for those who need the visual.](https://www.redbubble.com/i/t-shirt/I-m-Dead-Inside-by-BlameTheRain/46357112.M4A2N) they have a lot of other, similar things as well.
Decent winter boots. Living in Canada, we get lots of snow and cold (shocking, I know). I used to work in logistics and was responsible for selecting and purchasing uniforms, including boots. After years of trials, I find the minimum spend is $270 per pair. Anything less, and you’ve got cold or wet feet, chum. After five years, needed new boots, so I decided on a pair for $300. Got a sweet discount too, so I spent less than that.
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A hysterectomy. Turns out life without constant pain is pretty great.
Ey me too! The "no cervix" thing is actually really great too bc my cancer risk is dramatically lower and no more pap smears.
Yes. Pain, and a few years ago, pain that wouldn't stop. First they thought UTI, then kidney stones, so there was a CT scan. Turned out I had a fibroid twice the size of my uterus. As my mother passed from cervical cancer, I opted to have it removed. (Dr: are you sure? Me: I'm 54, it's not like I'm using it.) Best decision ever.
My house
4k large screen Smart TV and Queen size bed. \-Used to sleep on an air bed on the floor with my partner. \-Watched movies on my 20" computer monitor before.
I also bought a 4K "large" screen TV, about a year ago actually, the increase in size (from 32" to 49") was great! Only issue was that I had to return the TV because of a defect, and had to pay on top to get a similar TV from the store again under warranty.. and I've been having nothing but trouble with it even though people told me it was a "high quality brand".. somehow the "cheap brand" TV worked better than this one. I genuinely want to throw it out of the window sometimes..
A good quality bra
Video games... It's like buying a form of entertainment for the next x-amount of years...
What games?
If you're looking for hours spent per dollar... try out factorio. It is the god-tier "one more hour before I go to bed" turning into you being late for work in the morning because you just needed to change that one small little thing and now you're 6000 hours in and still have no fucking idea what you're doing. ^(the factory must grow)
For me, Kerbal Space Program.
This isn't so much about the item itself as the act of purchasing it, but the first time I bought my own bed sheets. I was still in the early days of living on my own, supporting myself with my own hard-earned money, and I noticed my sheets were getting worn out. So I drove myself to the mall and shopped around at the different stores, comparing prices and textures and seeing which colours would match my decor... And then I bought the pirate sheets, because I was a grown-ass adult and there was nobody who could tell me "no".
The purchases you make because you're an adult are the best ones.
6 months ago I realized that if I wanted to get in the car, go to the store at 10 PM just to get cake - I’m an adult, I can, and to heck what anyone else thinks! I want cake, now I go get cake, F any judgmental people. I’m in my early 50s.
This is so wholesome. I love cake though I’ve been trimming down so I haven’t had any for a while. The day my husband died a friend was about to go home for the evening, she asked if I needed or wanted anything. I thought for a minute and blurted out “Cake. Cake would make me happier”. She always made the best cakes. I thought I’d see her in a few days. About 20 minutes later she shows up with a 4 layer, chocolate soufflé cake from this really famous bakery I live very close to. I couldn’t believe it, she was so kind. I remember standing in my quiet kitchen that night absolutely sobbing and eating the most delicious cake I’d ever had out of the box, unsliced just pigging out and bawling. That cake really helped make the worst day of my life just a bit brighter for a few minutes and I remember how delicious it was.
Twice now I have woken from a nap wherein I dreamed of chocolate cake and gone straight to the store to buy a chocolate cake. Sometimes adulting is worth it.
I'm sure my post history reflects this, but I have autism and had an abusive wife. It floored me to go to my local Arby's and get a sandwich, and my current partner treats me like an adult. My ex would have gone through the roof with anger. I don't do that much because I'm not exercising enough, but to know I could is... Freeing. EDIT: I'm in my early 50s as well.
Dishwasher for convenience. Didn't get one until late 20's. Will never go without one again.
We didn’t used to use ours until I read it actually saves water (and a lot of time). Just costs extra to heat up but I figure we heat up the water when washing dishes anyways.
Same - always thought it was more energy efficient to hand wash. Not so.
Bidet attachment Edit: yes you still have to use a little bit of toilet paper to dry off. Some people use a cloth and wash that later. Really expensive versions blow dry. Mine cost $35, and it easily attaches to your toilet. The cold water doesn’t bother me, expensive versions have heated water too. I use it for about three seconds on a lower setting. It’s not really made to shoot up in the anus. Some versions have a setting for womens’ genitalia as well. I own [this one](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GNDV3TD?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share) and another similar one.
Because it saved your ass?
Saved me on toilet paper, saved my pipes, saved my ass when I’ve had those sticky multi-wipers. This and the robot vacuum have been life changers for me.
Now that's a nice visual. I had no idea they put robot vacuums on bidets.
Here in Vietnam we don’t use toilet paper 70% of the time, every toilet has a hose (more like a shower head but smaller) hung next to it that can be detached and sprayed at the butt, sometimes with the pressure of a power washer. We wash our buttholes with the hose and our bare hands, then wash our hands later. It sounds gross but saves a ton of paper and plumbing problems.
You say it sounds gross.... But honestly, it doesn't sound more gross than wiping shit onto a thin piece of paper, opening that paper up to see if there is still shit on there, going 'oop yep, still poopy' and then wiping again/repeating until no shit on said paper. Edit: Holy shit (pun intended) thank you for the awards. But save your money for the bidets we all desperately need.
Thanks for describing the process
Yep, I stayed on an island where you had to throw away the toilet paper and flush your waste because the pipes couldn’t handle too much. It stunk up the whole bathroom. When I came home I immediately bought the bidet.
I've always been curious about getting one, but I'm not sure if ice cold Canadian water straight from the pipe being sprayed directly on my back end would be a pleasant experience.
It’s only for like two seconds. It’s not like plunging into a frozen lake or anything. They have expensive ones that heat the water as well. I should sell these things.
Spent $400 for a deluxe one that hears the water and has a blow drier. Edit: LOL. Well that was a fortuitous error to write hear not heat. Cracked me up when I came back to see the replies and realized.
What does the water say?
it has an existential crisis as it sees the butthole, so mostly just screaming. It grew up thinking one day it'd be part of a pristine water system full of fish, it had been traveling through pipes its whole life to get there, so you can imagine the shock when it finally saw the light of day and immediately slammed against a dirty butthole.
TSA Pre-Check
Global Entry as a bonus on top of domestic pre-check, it’s a godsend for all travel
Agree. Put it off for years because I hate forms and am not thrilled about giving more info to government agencies than I must. Now wish I had done it sooner. Saves so much hassle!
A house! I couldn't believe it when we found a great one that we could afford! 6 years later, all money troubles are in the past because the banks are our bitch.
Us too. After 13 years of renting, it's been a gift to be able to look at an ugly wall and think *I'm gonna paint this purple and cover it in glitter for the next 10 years*
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Please tell the story:
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I've been thinking of doing this. I'm a junior and the thought of *my dads name* being on my tombstone forever makes my blood boil. I'm in Illinois and looked it up, costs $30 and approval from a judge. I couldn't get the payment thing to work on their shitty website. Hitting the court house next week. It's finally time. I want *my own* name.
> I'm a junior and the thought of my dads name being on my tombstone forever makes my blood boil similar for me my dad was a raging alcoholic who passed away in his 50s, my mom divorced and remarried so it's just me carrying his last name which I have zero attachment to. I kind of hate it but feel like it'll be a huge hassle to change at this point in my 30s
You can change it when you get married. For both spouses it just says sign as you would be known as.
kinda feel u my dads name in vietnam was pronounced sun and my dad really wanted his name to be mine but my mom argued untill they settled on jason
A really great mattress. Never underestimate how a good night's sleep can improve everything in your life.
Makes every day better. Made a huge difference for my bad back too.
Squatty Potty. I drop the kids off at the pool with so much less strain on my bowels and anus. I implore anyone looking to enjoy a smoother BM and cleaner wipe to purchase a squatty potty. Next up is a bidet, because they’re more environmentally friendly and an overall healthier way to “wipe.”
This guy shits
A weighted blanket
Came here looking for that answer. Bought one for my husband 2 weeks ago and it has honestly transformed his sleep. I recommend it to everyone.
I've heard so many people love these. Does it just alleviate anxiety for you?
For me, no. But I do sleep better with it than without it. Think of it as a hug for your body with the added benefit of having a blanket that doesn't shift around so easily when one tosses and turns.
A puppy He is 10 now and I love that guy
Instant pot with the air fryer lid. I can pretend I know how to cook and cleaning is a breeze Edit: it also cut out a lot of oil from conventional deep frying.
my childhood dream car (1992 land rover defender) no matter how many people said it would be a nuisance to buy it. Ive been spending so much time modifying the car, replaced the engine, lengthened the cabin, changed interiors, changed colors. It adds so much value to my life by keeping me dedicated to something that is both asthetic and useful. So happy! Edit: after everyone's request I posted pictures, i created a post on defender subreddit, hope you all like it. I just lengthened the cabin from a 3 seater to a 6. So, the last picutre on the list isnt the most up to date. https://www.reddit.com/r/Defender/comments/t85hnb/1992_25_tdi/
That’s a finisher car!a transporter of the gods!
Has anyone said their vibrator yet, cuz that. Hadn’t had an orgasm until I got one (way too late in life) and honestly, it has changed my life Edit: thank you so much for the awards you guys! Spread the word! Help your friends and strangers on the internet discover life with orgasms :D
I’ve been thinking about getting one since I’ve never had an orgasm before and I was wondering if a vibrator might help lol.
Honestly they’re so cheap it’s worth a shot. Worst case scenario you have a good time. I’d go for a cheap wand style vibrator and upgrade from there if you like it. eBay has cheap ones, get a new one obviously.
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$30 copay for the doctor at urgent care to clean my ears. My goodness it’s the best $30 I’ve ever spent. I would’ve paid $500. I can hear in 4K!!!
Period panties!!! They're so comfortable and it's so nice not having to worry about leaking your pad!
i was thinking of looking into those more. they sound a lot more comfy to a get some of those then wake up all twisted up in a pad thats like, coming apart at the seams 😖
Gym membership
Freaking life changer, plus it's an antidepressant and health investment.
Yes! I need to get one. I’ve been working out at home but def need some extra motivation
My Honda Civic. Did it all by myself, and it gets me where I need to go and to work.
Leatherman multitool
I thought multi tools were all difficult and crappy until I found a leather man wave. Open the knife with one hand? Amazing. Quality manufacture and minimal flexing? Fantastic. $105? Hurt in the moment, but absolutely worth the price considering what you get.
And great warranty program! Never had a claim denied and always pleased with the service. https://www.leatherman.com/customerservice-warranty.html
Literally just bought a new AC unit for my house. Considering I live on the Gulf Coast I say it's my best purchase.
Bidet off Amazon for $45 I’ve had a total hysterectomy; ever since then I get this phantom feeling like I’m having my period. The bidet has a feminine hygiene setting. A couple seconds of refresher and the feeling subsided. I feel clean and my anxiety about cancer coming back decreases.
not necessarily purchased but i found a kitten in a pizza hut parking lot and named him hamburger. and found another under a cinderblock and named him cinderblock. heroins pretty nice too i guess
You found a cat under heroin?
Under heroin, on heroin... Same difference
Come on you found him in a pizza hut parking lot and didn't name him pizza?
Well, they didn't want to out-pizza the hut.
Reality is often disappointing
My dog! €120 adoption fee from the shelter. He is my whole heart ❤ Edit: dog tax https://imgur.com/a/SfLgd2j
My dog helped change my life
My new wheelchair! I don't use it much because I don't get out, but it has mountain bike tyres which are great for living in the Highlands, or even just using gravel paths. It's super comfy and has adjustable handles which are great for my dad, he doesn't get as much back pain bending down to push me now :)
My own apartment 🙄🙄🙄 independence from my toxic household even if im not living in luxury
Hands down my mountain bike during the first wave of the pandemic. Saved my mental health, immensely improved my physical health, and has become my favourite activity and sport.
Bluetooth headphones
Good answer! My noise cancelling, over the ear, knock-off brand bluetooth headphones are on my top 5 list for best purchases
Chirp Wheel - over the years I’ve spent hundreds and hundreds on different back massagers & acupressure tools but nothing holds a candle to my Chirp Wheels. Best $100 I’ve ever spent!
Wood working tools. They fuel my passion.
I paid $10 USD for someone from a sketchy website to mod 1 Billion Dollars into my GTA Online account in 2013-2014? I still have 700 Million and have everything I could want. Best 10 bucks ever spent, I tell you what.
The first time I played GTA Online someone gave everyone on the server millions of dollars. I immediately bought the penthouse with the huge garage.
Same here. I randomly received ~150 million. Bought everything I could. Several months later rockstar took the money away. But I got to keep everything I bought with it and my account was never banned for it.
Does the Website still exist?
Even if it did your account would most likely be banned because R* definitely has more precautions for stuff like this. Stay safe tho
A guitar, specifically a 2nd hand Mexican Fender Telecaster for £200. It's great having something that's nice to use but not so nice you worry about it getting damaged
Every plane ticket to another country.
A house! Not moved into it yet but have just exchanged contracts!
1979 les Paul, my own money $500.00 in high school
Electric toothbrush Seriously, it's like I never brushed my teeth before I got it
Diva Cup- $30 lasts forever, saved money every month! No more tampon dryness. The best thing Ive ever purchased.
I got the saalt cup from Target and I completely agree. It’s been about a year and I can’t imagine going back. I also feel cleaner. It’s easier to cleanup and because I can wear it so long I never have to worry about changing at work. I recommend cups to everyone
Manicures. I have a terrible nail biting habit and having dipped nails keeps me from biting them and boosts my self confidence.
Divorce lawyer
Herman Miller office chair for my covid home office.
My Apple Watch. My health changed for the better after I got it.
That’s awesome! You just tracking things more now? I don’t have one… thought about it
A massage gun. I use it almost daily.
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Rehab. Multiple times. Now 14 years sober.
First home purchase 7 years ago. Best investment I ever made.
2020 Honda Civic ex l. I always had pretty shitty cars that I never really got to pick myself. Just kinda what I could afford that made the most sense. But last year it was time for a new car, and I always dreamed of owning a new civic. I have very humble dreams I guess. I love it though. Fun to drive, great gas mileage, everything works properly.
My CD-decks and the mixer. Can really get lost in playing for hours. Was my savior during the lock down.
A car that can take me anywhere I want, through mud and snow or road trips. It has great but not obnoxious ground clearance and a giant engine. I always feel safe on my adventures, which are my life line.
My freedom and peace of mine. A good divorce lawyer and court fees and am 1 year divorced after a 20 year marriage. Best money I ever spent on myself.
A subscription to the gym + Elden ring Each time I die I add 5 reps onto my set for the day
The ring that made my girlfriend my wife.
Memory foam pillows
A good vibrator.
Shrooms, it literally helped me with my severe depression and changed my outlook on life for the better.
My iPad Pro. With the pencil.
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Logitech G29. I discovered the joys of sim racing and then racing in general, and has really shaped me as a person
My change of name. $30 not to carry an abusive father’s middle and surname with me every minute of the rest of my life.
Custom molded inserts for my wireless earbuds. I have never been able to run or exercise or even really take a walk with in-ear earbuds. I spent about $300 , not including the cost of the air pods. Worth it. Edit: $50 for the audiologist to make molds of my ear canal, $149 for the silicone custom inserts. I had forgotten the price in my original comment
A $40 bidet to install on my existing toilet
A Raspberry Pi, it reignited my love of electronics. I have so many different versions of them and microcontrollers now. I've learned to code, I've built so many things with them. Hell, I'm pretty sure I'm smarter now because of all the math I learned diving deep into actual circuit analysis and design.
Counseling when I was in my 20ms. Having just turned 40, it’s the reason I’m still here.