Ali Abdaal - 17 Cheap Purchases That Actually Improved My Life
The creator shares a list of inexpensive purchases that have enhanced their lifestyle, emphasizing practicality and ease of use. The first item is an apple chopper, which simplifies eating apples and encourages healthier snacking habits by pairing chopped apples with almond butter. The second item is a MagSafe travel tripod for iPhones, which is lightweight and convenient for taking photos or video calls without hassle. The third item is a portable bidet, which is praised for its cleanliness and convenience, especially in places where traditional bidets are not available. The creator also highlights the utility of multi-pronged USB-C cables and magnetic iPhone battery packs, which streamline charging multiple devices. Real plants are recommended for their aesthetic and air-purifying benefits, enhancing the workspace environment. The creator also mentions the importance of digital privacy, promoting a service called Delete Me that removes personal information from data broker sites. Other notable mentions include blue light blocking glasses for better sleep, a Kindle for reading convenience, and conversation cards for deepening relationships. Each product is chosen for its ability to improve daily routines and overall quality of life.
Key Points:
- Apple chopper increases apple consumption by making snacking easier and cleaner.
- MagSafe travel tripod offers convenience for photos and video calls, eliminating the need for awkward selfies.
- Portable bidet enhances personal hygiene, especially in places without built-in bidets.
- Multi-pronged USB-C cables and magnetic battery packs simplify device charging.
- Real plants improve workspace aesthetics and air quality, promoting a more vibrant environment.
Details:
1. 🍏 Apple Chopper Revolution
1.1. General Benefits of Apple Chopper
1.2. Personal Experiences and Impact
2. 📱 MagSafe Tripod for iPhone
- The MagSafe travel tripod for iPhone, produced by Peak Design, is known for its high-quality build but comes at a higher price point compared to third-party alternatives.
- This tripod is designed to attach magnetically to the iPhone, making it lightweight and easily portable, ideal for travel and on-the-go photography.
- It provides a stable setup for taking photos and video calls, eliminating the need for makeshift solutions and ensuring hands-free convenience.
- Particularly useful for group photos, the tripod reduces the need to ask bystanders for help, enhancing the overall photography experience.
- While Peak Design's version is premium, users might find more affordable options with similar functionality from other manufacturers.
3. 🚿 Portable Bidet Benefits
- Portable bidets are essential for maintaining personal hygiene, particularly in Muslim countries and France where bidets are a standard feature in bathrooms.
- They provide enhanced cleanliness and comfort, especially in environments lacking traditional bidets, such as offices or public restrooms.
- The convenience of carrying a portable bidet in a backpack ensures cleanliness throughout the day, offering significant advantages over relying solely on toilet paper.
- In comparison to Western countries where toilet paper is predominantly used, portable bidets are highlighted as providing superior hygiene benefits.
4. 🔌🔋 USB-C Cables & Battery Packs
- Multi-pronged USB-C cables are utilized in every room, providing two USB connections for the price of one, which is ideal for USB-C maximalists looking for cost-effective solutions.
- The Anchor magnetic flip standy iPhone battery pack not only attaches magnetically to iPhones but also serves as a kickstand, enhancing the utility for tasks like video calls.
- The household is equipped with various battery pack chargers due to the frequent need for charging caused by poor phone battery life, highlighting the importance of having accessible charging solutions.
- Belulkin charger supports both USB-C and Lightning cables, making it versatile for households with both modern and older iPhone models, demonstrating adaptability and future-proofing.
5. 🔑 Nomad Key USB-C Cable
- The Nomad Key USB-C Cable acts as a keychain with a magnetically attached USB-C cable, making it convenient to carry and use.
- Ideal for use with battery packs lacking MagSafe, allowing users to plug one end into the pack and the other into a phone for seamless charging.
- Provides a solution for instances when someone forgets to bring a USB-C cable, ensuring devices can still be charged on-the-go.
6. 🌿 Adding Real Plants for Vibe
- Real plants, costing 5 to 10 USD each, were purchased from a local shop in Hong Kong as an affordable way to enhance aesthetics.
- The addition of real plants aims to create a more vibrant and creative environment compared to artificial plants.
- Real plants improve the freshness and overall atmosphere, promoting a productive workspace.
- The speaker's wife's YouTube studio with real plants has a more pleasant smell and atmosphere than spaces with fake plants.
- The speaker plans to replace some fake plants with real ones, indicating a shift towards natural decor.
- Real plants are strategically placed around the studio to maximize both aesthetic and environmental benefits.
7. 📓 Magical Moleskine Notebooks
- The Harry Potter and Moleskine collaboration has resulted in themed notebooks that are utilized for different purposes such as business, product development, and content planning.
- Specific notebooks mentioned include the Lumos for journaling, Expectra Patronum for product building, and Progo Maxima for planning YouTube videos.
- Using themed notebooks increases the likelihood of their usage due to the aesthetic and functional appeal.
- The speaker's preference for the Loyerm 1917 dot grid notebooks prior to the Harry Potter collaboration indicates a focus on quality and usability.
- There is evidence suggesting that physical journaling with pen and paper enhances cognitive connections and creativity.
8. 🗑️ Essential Trash Bins Everywhere
- Having trash bins in every room improves cleanliness by preventing trash buildup on desks and surfaces.
- Inexpensive bins, such as those available for under $10 from Amazon or Taobao, can be used effectively.
- Placing tissues in every room and on every desk is also recommended for convenience.
- Immediate disposal of trash like opened parcels or used tissues into nearby bins reduces messiness.
9. 📝 Effective Paper To-Do Lists
- Ugg Monk offers a luxury paper to-do list and card system for $100, but similar products are available on Amazon for $10.
- The system involves writing tasks on cards and placing them in a visible holder to keep tasks in front of you all day.
- This approach allows for easy task management by striking through completed tasks, providing a visual method to track progress.
10. 😴 Enhancing Sleep with Mouth Taping
- Mouth taping is used to encourage nasal breathing during sleep, a practice that has been in use since 2021 with supporting evidence.
- The user experienced a transition from chronic mouth breathing to increased nasal breathing, highlighting the effectiveness of the technique.
- Nasal breathing is deemed superior to mouth breathing due to its health benefits, such as improved sleep quality and reduced snoring.
- The method is cost-effective and straightforward, requiring only 3M transport surgical tape, applied vertically over the lips to gently keep the mouth closed.
- Potential risks include discomfort and should be approached cautiously by individuals with nasal blockages.
- The book 'Breath' by James Nestor provides further insights into nose breathing benefits, advocating for its health advantages.
11. 👓 Nighttime Blue Light Blockers
11.1. Blue Light Blocking Glasses
11.2. Kindle Usage and Impact
12. 📚 Kindle: A Reading Revolution
- The 'Confessions Game' by The School of Life is highlighted as a tool to foster deeper interpersonal connections, aligning with the Kindle's mission to enrich personal experiences through reading.
- This game includes cards with questions across categories such as career, family, and relationships, encouraging meaningful conversations.
- Example questions like 'What do you wish you could ideally tell your father?' illustrate the game's potential to prompt reflection and dialogue.
- Such conversation-based games are cost-effective means to enhance relationships, similar to how Kindle aims to enrich reading experiences by promoting thoughtful engagement.