In no particular order, here are ten things I would (want to) replace the very next day if they broke. (I’ve included some links, but none of these items are sponsored or affiliate links.)
(I’m also not including things like a washer/dryer or vehicle—those feel like a different category entirely.)
My Goodr sunglasses. First, a huge thanks to Kyria. She had a credit to an outfitting store in Canada that didn’t ship to the US, so she very kindly gifted me the credit. One of the things I bought was a pair of Goodr sunglasses, and I LOVE them. They’re lightweight and will definitely be coming with me to Europe! (Mine are Vincent’s Absinthe Night Terrors, here.)
Our bottom-loading water cooler. This thing is such a workhorse in our home. We don’t use the hot-water feature, but the cold-water function gets used many times every day. (Ours is Whirlpool brand.)
My food processor. I use my food processor about once a week, and it’s a kitchen gadget I wouldn’t want to be without. I mostly use it for muffins and shredding things.
A king-sized bed. The day we were shopping for a king-sized mattress, a woman overheard us talking and interrupted to ask if this was our first time owning one. When we said yes, she replied, “It’s going to change your life.”
I’m not sure I’d go that far, but anytime I have to sleep in anything other than a king-sized bed, I’m grumpy about it. I love, love, LOVE having plenty of space to myself.
A microwave. Between leftovers, Magic Bags, and coffee/tea, I use our microwave at least five times a day (sometimes many more than that).
A Stanley drinking bottle. We are a family that likes to drink water and I love having something with a handle that keeps drinks cold and doesn’t spill! (Here’s the IceFlow version I own and love.)
My Apple products (iPhone/Mac/Airpods). I really do love Apple products, and I use them for years. My previous MacBook was almost eight years old before I upgraded, and I’ve had my current phone for six years. So while they’re significant investments, I use each product every day and love how seamlessly everything pairs together.
Magic Bags. Life without reusable oat bags is not a life worth living.
Padded eye masks. I’ve been wearing an eye mask to bed for over a decade, but the turning point came when I discovered masks with hollow spots for fake eyelashes. I don’t wear fake eyelashes, but this means there’s no pressure on my eyes—they’re so comfortable and completely block out the light. Unfortunately, I can no longer fall asleep without an eye mask… but these are SO good. (Here is the exact set I use.)
Georg Jansen Cobra Candlesticks. I love these things. They’re easy to wash, classic, and at this point, deeply sentimental to me! (Here.)
BONUS:
- Copious amounts of long sundae spoons. We use SO MANY OF THESE every single day. To stir coffee. To get the last dollop of jam from the bottom of a jar. To eat dessert.
- Two monitors (minimum) in my office.
- My exercise ball chair.
- My heated foot mat. (Here.)
- A space heater.
- My BOG (knockoff) flat-bottomed bag.
- I’m pretty sure I’m already at the point where I would immediately go buy another Instant Pot!
Okay—your turn.
- Tell me about the items you’d immediately re-buy if they broke.
- What size bed do you own/prefer sleeping in?
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I’m with you on many of these, Elisabeth, especially the phone!
My instant re-buys would be my kettle (basically my lifeline), my running shoes, and my sunglasses. The sunglasses are customized and I wear them on all my runs in all weather, even rain.
One question though… I don’t have a food processor so I’m not sure how these work, but don’t you have to remove the banana peel and stickers before you blend them? I stared at that photo way too long 😂
Im curious about the bananas too.
See above (response to Catrina). Short version: we do NOT consume the peels and stickers 😉
This is the only picture I have of my food processor… but it’s not a great one! YES, I remove the banana peels. I put the bananas into the freezer as-is, thaw them inside the food processor and then squeeze the banana and juices out after they thaw. So we are NOT consuming banana peels and stickers in our household.
Customized sunglasses! That’s so cool!
Ewww, Elisabeth, I’m with Catrina on those bananas in the food processor!
And I’m a little concerned for you on your upcoming 4-month sojourn away from your king-sized bed and other important items. Will you be able to sleep? Will there be microwaves in your rental homes? Are you taking your Stanley water bottle?
See response above 🙂
I AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT BEING AWAY FROM A KING-SIZED BED. I love it so much, Jana. Oh well. I’ll be in Europe, so there is that 😉
I am hoping for microwaves, but will make the best of it without one. Sigh.
No! I will not be taking my water bottle. It’s quite heavy (insulated, keeps things cold all day). Again, travelling with just a carry-on means making hard choices!
Things I’d want to replace:
-my running shoes
-coffee maker…although I’m not too picky about what kind, just something to make coffee.
– my nude heels, I wouldn’t have to replace them immediately, but they’re a good pair and go with all kinds of outfits.
– Mason jars and lids, I use them all the time!
I suspect coffee makers would make a lot of people’s lists 🙂
Nude heels are so versatile!
I would replace my phone – any android with a decent camera will do. Such a necessity in this age!
I would replace my bread machine, my Kitchenaid mixer, and my microwave. The microwave is the one appliance my husband won’t try to repair himself. And even these other things I’d wait until a sale came along.
We had a full sized bed for the first 11 years of marriage- cozy- but then my dad bought us a queen sized once and it was such a game changer. My husband had room to stretch out! A baby could snuggle in and we could still sleep comfortably! I think we only coped with the full sized because half the time I’d be on the couch with a baby at night.
Cozy is one way to put it! I feel like a full-sized bed is barely enough space for one person!
I’d love to hear more about your ball chair. I’ve been thinking about one–I already have the ball. How do you keep from slouching when you’re using it? Do you find it helps strengthen your core?
I’ve been using this chair for… 8(?) years now, so it’s all I know in terms of office chairs at this point. I love it and would replace it in a heart beat. I don’t spend all day in my office, so I might not be the best person to ask about extended use, but I find it very comfortable and I definitely have better posture while using it than I did with a more traditional office chair.
I’m not sure I can notice any real difference in my core, but I’m also not overly intentional about my posture while using it either. But it naturally makes me have to sit up (I can’t slouch backward, that’s for sure!!)
We switched from a queen to a king when i was pregnant with our second kid. Best decision. But if you really want to upgrade the king bed sleeping experience, look into Scandinavian sleeping style. Basically, you and your partner have your own duvet. No tugging at a shared cover. Now blanket stealing. You can have a light blanket while your partner has a heavy cover. It’s heaven.
It is tempting but I’m always stopped by the aesthetic. After our trip to Europe, I might be convinced, though!!!
My Garmin watch broke while we were in Asia! And I got a new one in Bangkok, the next day. So, I guess there’s that! Coffee maker, Vitamix, those are immediate buys. KING SIZE BED. Although, what are we doing to break our king size beds??? *raises eyebrows* But yes, I love mine too and I’d almost rather (okay, I would rather) sleep alone in a twin than sleep in a double with my husband. I NEED SPACE.
Ha ha, Nicole…
Nicole! Your mind is running wild on me, haha. To be fair, our bed has no springs so it’s almost literally impossible for it to break. But you know what I mean…
I knew your coffee maker would show up on the list!!
A double is SO SMALL for two people. I know Engie disagrees with me on this one…
I think I missed the moment you actually acquired an Instant Pot so I’m going to have to pick your brain about it. Honestly, I need an opening in my appliance cupboard before I buy one but when my 18 year old trusty slow-cooker inevitably bites the dust, I’m moving on to an Instant Pot!
I got it for Christmas (John got it new in box off Kijiji for $40).
I am LOVING it!! I use it almost every day.
Wait! I wrote a comment but I think I somehow didn’t post it because I was busy laughing at Nicole’s comment above. KING SIZE BED FOREVER (I’m still trying to recover from the trip to Tampa where the hotel gave us a FULL SIZE- I think I got about one minute of sleep per night.) Yes to Goodr sunglasses and apple products (phone and laptop!) And my Garmin. Now that I’m so used to my electric teakettle I would be sad to have to live without it.
Seriously, who buys full mattresses that is sharing a bed??? A Queen is hard enough for me now, but a full makes it impossible for either of us to get a proper sleep.
There are things on your list I don’t own, Elisabeth, so I don’t know to miss them, lol. I would immediately replace my coffee maker/Keurig and my phone. I bought a cheap microwave two years ago after my old one caught on fire. Definitely need to replace it with a better one and have earmarked some of my tax refund for that 🙂
Eeks!! A microwave fire sounds terrifying, Jean.
I use my microwave so often I would go and buy a new one day-of!
I immediately replaced my phone when I broke it last year. (I set aside $20 every pay specifically for tech upgrades/replacements so fortunately, it caused no pain in the budget).
I also don’t know how I would do daily life without:
De-tangling comb. I don’t know how I would comb just washed hair without it. I’ve used the same style comb since 8th grade!
Alarm clock. I just don’t trust my phone to be loud enough to wake me.
Heated blanket or mattress pad, if it’s winter.
I have a full sized bed, but it’s just me sleeping in it and I am not particularly tall, so it works fine.
It feels next to impossible to exist in modern society without a phone!!
What a smart allocation of funds. Technology is definitely a budget item these days!
Well our electric kettle broke a few weeks ago and it was tragic. Luckily I had a back up electric kettle. And we upgraded and ordered a Zorijushi water boiler, so that was exciting.
I would definitely replace my travel alarm clock if I lost or broke it – and I have done this many times. Only they don’t make the same kind anymore, which is sad. But I definitely need a little tabletop clock for work. And my watch. Can’t imagine being without a watch. My bluetooth keyboard. My hands free cellphone holder for my car. It makes me mad when my Husband takes it down (he hates driving with it).
I made a list like this a while ago and I had put my Gelrup slippers on it, but then they got several holes in them and I’ve been wearing a pair of hand me down slides (they aren’t even meant to be slippers) as my house slippers for the past three months. I keep thinking I’m going to replace my Gelrups, but not doing it for some reason… Which is all to say, maybe for me it’s specifically not the Gelrups, but having some kind of slipper? There are definitely slippers that I’ve tried that I don’t like. And the Gelrups are definitely my favorite. But the ones on my feet right now are… fine. I definitely prefer them to going barefeet.
A water boiler – I’m intrigued!! We do love our warm beverages, don’t we!!
A travel alarm clock. Do you use it for travel, or in everyday life as well??
I wear Crocs as my indoor slippers!
We have a queen mattress. A king would not fit in our bedroom unless we got rid of bedside tables and we both really like having a bedside table. Our bedroom is very oddly shaped so while it’s a very large room, the space in the room is very odd as it has a little alcove area with a fireplace. If I redid it, I’d do away w/ the fireplace and make the room more of a square/rectangle. It is hard to describe the room but trust me when I say it is very odd! I guess that is what happens when you remodel a 1925 home (they “popped the top” and changed it from a 1.5 story to a 2 story home in 2008).
Things I would replace: my oura ring, air pods/apple watch/iphone, instant pot, coffee pot, coffee bean grinder, toaster oven/air fryer combo device, and my sleep mask! I am tempted to try out your sleep masks! Mine don’t have a hollowed out area for my eyes but I don’t mind the pressure on my eyes and I think the pressure helps me fall asleep. I once forgot to pack my sleep mask on a work trip. I ended up tying my tights around my head! I absolutely CANNOT SLEEP without a sleep mask (and ear plugs – I’m high maintenance).
I love my eye masks so much. Though last week it fell off in the night and ended up wedged behind my mattress and ruined my sleep. Thankfully that doesn’t happen often.
I hate the sensation of ear plugs but I must have white noise on. The only time it causes trouble is when the power goes out! I wake up so disoriented without the white noise!
I’ve only owned a microwave once in my life (it was in a kitchen I was renting) and I only used to bake potatoes. I would definitely instantly replace my electric kettle though!
I know a few people who don’t have microwaves and I cannot imagine life without them. But, I suspect if I had grown up without one, I’d be none the wiser!
I heat up my tea, leftovers, and Magic Bags basically every single day!
I feel like I need to come in to the comments to say the unpopular thing. We sleep on a full mattress, my husband and I. I think if we get a bigger mattress, it will mean that our marriage is in trouble. Whenever we get a hotel room and we have a queen or king, I hate it so much. I am a cold sleeper and my husband (AKA my space heater) is so far away that I just sit there shivering. Anyway, more power to all of your with your ginorous, lonely beds!
Things I’d immediately replace: major appliances like fridge, stove, washer/dryer come to mind. It turns out that I think I could wait on most things. Microwave? Well, we could get by with the stovetop/oven until we found a good deal. Instant Pot? We could use the slow cooker. Home computer? I could get by with our tablet and my work computer. Phone? Maaaaybe. I wouldn’t like to not have access to audiobooks and podcasts. I’m willing to do without to save money it turns out. LOL.
I also get cold but I snuggle with John until I’m warm and then slide to my own side, toasty and content WITH ROOM! It makes me feel claustrophobic to be sleeping to close to someone else. I remember a friend who would sleep in her boyfriend’s arms each night and she found his gentle snoring COMFORTING. What now????
Occasionally (like a few times a year) I’ll fall asleep in John’s arms but I always wiggle out by morning. What can I say? I like space!!!
I miss our king sized bed! We used to have one, and when we replaced it they couldn’t get the king mattress up our stairs. But, the old one had come up? Oh, we forced the old one up around some tight corners and likely broke it in the process. Anyway, we now have so much furniture in here (my office is in our bedroom) that there’s no room for a king anyway. SIGH. I did love all of that room. Now we have a queen and are used to it, but when we stay in a hotel with a king we are SO HAPPY.
What would we replace asap? I guess my phone. My husband’s French Press. I could live without my kettle, we could boil water on the stove like you do, but I do love my kettle and would likely replace it quickly enough. My iPad. Our TV died a few years ago and we had a new one within a couple of hours.
The obvious downside to a king-size bed is definitely how much space it takes!
I rarely watch TV but my kids and husband would want it replaced PRONTO!
Another king size bed lover here! Way back in the day (DH and I were 21 & 19 when we met, and much skinnier people than we are 35 years later) a full size bed was okay, moving up to a queen was roomy. Then in 2000 we got a king. . . Not having to sleep curled up on a wedge (because DH would sleep diagonal so his feet weren’t hanging off) was a game changer! Now that we’re in our mid-50s it’s not as possible for either of us to curl efficiently and still sleep well and it’s gotten to the point that I won’t stay in a hotel with only a queen bed unless a) there’s a comfy sofa or b) we get a room with two queens not just one.
Other things I can’t live long without: my phone although more for the camera function than anything else, a notebook to write lists/ideas/doodles in, my Pyrex mixing bowls (because I cook/bake most everything we eat and through the years have gotten rid of nearly every other shape and material of mixing bowls but always grab for the Pyrex ones.
I use my phone for so many things but my favourite function is definitely the camera!!
I didn’t even investigate the bed sizes too much for Europe, but I’m dreading not having a king-sized bed everywhere we go!
Agree to agree! I’ve had some experience staying in places that did not have microwaves, and it’s no way to live. Every Apple product that I’ve gotten has lasted a very long time, and I used them into the ground and then got either new or new-to-me replacements and never looked back. I don’t wear an eye mask at home since we have light blocking curtains, but it’s a must for travel.
King bed FTW!
Haha. You are right: it’s no way to live!! Two of my friends don’t own microwaves and I’m flabbergasted!
Apple products are an investment but for me, at least, they’re lasted incredibly well.
My prescription glasses – I have a backup pair, but the prescription isn’t up to date.
My kettle for sure, it sees a lot of use.
My phone, most likely. I do like keeping in touch and bring able to take pictures.
My electric toothbrush – I’m ok without, but I feel like my teeth get better cleaning with it (I have a Philips sonicare, in case people wonder)
And also, conditioner and shampoo, comb and my hair styling products. My hair is absolutely frizzy and goes anywhich way without them.
Glasses! Before I had laser surgery, I remember always being so nervous when I travelled. What if my glasses got broken or lost???
I’m curious about your hair routine and your favourite products?!
My Apple Watch, iPhone, IPad and MacBook would have to be replaced immediately. I also love my Pima rechargeable lamp – it’s a little pricey but I love the aesthetic and practicality. It is lightweight, portable and comes in handy if we lose power (much better than a flashlight or candle). Its small profile makes it ideal for small bedrooms, in place of candles on a dining table (inside or out) or reading in bed if the bedside lamp is too dim for fine print. For tasks, walking at night and power outages I also love my adjustable neck flashlight that gives hands free light. An electric kettle is also an essential item for me.
Kettles are clearly a consensus!
I’m off to look of Pima lamps – I’ve never heard of them before!
I resisted getting a king size bed for years because I loved our headboard and footboard. About two years ago, I caved and we got the king size (and bonus, I found a headboard/footboard that I also loved). I am never going back to any other size again.
Yay!! For years we had a Queen and I was none the wiser. But once I’d tasted the space a king mattress gives, I was officially ruined on all others sizes!
I’m in the King sized bed club! I would also replace my Mac, iPad, iPhone, and AirPods. I just got the AirPods after reading about J’s love of them, and I adore them so much! I would also replace my Peloton. I love it! My AirPods can connect to it so my husband can watch TV while I’m riding.
I admit that I spent way too much time looking at the bananas in the food processor! Ha! Ha!
I am so glad you’ve loved your Peloton so much!!! And that’s very convenient to be able to use your AirPods!
John has had a lot of issues with his AirPods and now uses something else, but I’ve loved mine!!
This is so interesting. You’re making me think. I’ve not tried an instapot, but I cannot live without a crockpot. I own a fleet of four, so I think I’ll survive if one bites the dust. I’d replace my laptop in a heartbeat – but I’d also wait until it was really really dead. My last one was held together with fabric and safety pins (to keep the cover propped open) and I dealt with it like that for over a year – maybe 2 or 3 before I replaced it. I don’t use a Stanely but I do love my water bottle. Keeps things cold, Take a beating.
I cannot believe we waited until we were married for 28 years to switch things up and get a king. It has been life changing. Coach is 6’4″ and I’m 5’10”. Our queen was no where near big enough.
I cannot imagine before 6’4” (that’s over a foot taller than me) and trying to make do without a king!! Game changer.
That’s a lot of Crockpots but it makes sense with such a big crowd to feed!
I’m down to one crockpot, but the InstantPot can function like a crockpot, so that’s very handy.
The Apple products – especially the phone! – for sure. Our phones are almost 5 years old now, and still working great. My phone before that was 6 when I replaced it/upgraded.
We use our electric kettle multiple times a day.
My blue light blocking glasses – I actually have 2 pairs (1 was for home, 1 was for the library) AND a sunglasses version.
I really like the functionality of Apple devices. And my phones have lasted soooo long! My battery on my 5.5 year old phone isn’t great (despite replacing it!) but other than that, it works just as well as the day I got it!
Whenever we’ve had a TV break, my husband runs out immediately to buy a new one. He is sort of ridiculous about that. I am like that with my curling iron 🙂
I also love my Goodr sunglasses! The only gripe I have and the reason that right now I am using Shady Rays, is that my lenses get scratched on the Goodr pretty easily, but as you know, I am pretty hard on them. The Shady Rays don’t scratch as easily and if you lose or break them, they will send you a new pair, no questions asked! I am 100% with you on the sunglasses though, so much so, that they are one thing that I do carry a duplicate of! Yes, I have an extra pair in my carry on… no sunglasses, no bueno!
I have never heard of a company that will replace LOST items. That’s genius. I looked them up and I think it might be tricky since I don’t live in the US, but I LOVE that guarantee!!
This is a fun idea for a post – I may steal it!
Things I would replace right away: sunglasses, my Keurig, my wireless mouse (oddly specific but I hate using the laptop trackpad!), my phone, my Airpods, my laptop… so many things, now that I think about it!
I’m with there; there are a lot of things I would NOT want to be without.
I can’t imagine sharing a bed with someone in anything smaller than a king-sized bed; sleep is so essential, so don’t touch me while I’m doing it. 🤣
I’ve not heard of GoodR sunnies before, but I’m going to check them out.
I can’t live without my Apple products, too!
I forgot to mention how much I adore those candlesticks; every time I see them, I fall a bit deeper in love!
Aren’t they so pretty? I just packed them up yesterday for the season and the kids were so sad. But it was time (and it’s something I can do in advance of our trip!)
YES! I do not want to be touched while I’m sleeping.
I am willing to boycott a lot of companies right now but Apple is not one of them. I love all Apple products (and like you, I get a lot (and long) use out of them. My iPhone currently is 5 years old and my MacBook is going on 8 years.
I love our Tempurpedic bed (and it has held up so great) but I wish we would have had space and invested in a king size bed when we bought it. Alas, that was not the case in 2013. But if I had to replace it, I would go king size. 🙂
I’d also immediately replace: my Peloton and my Garmin watch. Are you surprised? 😉
I am not surprised 🙂 I assume you’ve read Nicole’s recent post about replacing her Garmin IN BANGKOK!!!
Microwave. Absolutely. I can’t fathom how you only use it 5x/day? Some days, I swear I use it 3x/hour (heating up my version of a magic bag). I even use it in the middle of the night. 🙂