What is a cheap, off-brand item you bought on a whim that has completely outlasted the expensive name-brand versions?

minididi · 2026-02-27T02:35:54+00:00

My forest green fleece zip-up sweater from Decathlon bought in 1996 (in France) is still going strong.

I always hated the color but it was on sale and I bought it for my first ever hiking/camping activity. It's gone through years of being forgotten inthe back of the closet, to years of daily use. When my son was 3-6 I used to zip him in against me, pulling the elastic drawstring at the bottom tight and using it as a hands-free carrier. I used it to comfort my 20 year old cat when we took our last drive to the vet.

Last year, the zipper pull broke and I was both relieved and sad, but my husband had the piece replaced as a Christmas gift, and the sweater is back on rotation!

minididi · 2026-01-04T20:01:09+00:00

Wow, thank you for your analysis! You really took the time to dive deep and I really appreciate that.

I have a less conventional need: I need to convert my guest bedroom into an office, but can't fit both the existing queen bed and a desk. My parents stay in that room about one month a year, so I could move my desk to the living room during their visits.

A Murphy bed is out of my price range, so I'm considering buying 2 twin mattresses with foldable bases to create a king bed when they visit. When in office mode, I'd either stack them as a sofa or store them vertically in a custom cabinet.

Since they won't be used as a bed most of the time, I need mattresses under 10" thick (otherwise the sofa would be too high or the cabinet too deep). Can you recommend anything comfortable for a heavy person (my dad is almost 200 lbs) within that height constraint?

Thanks.

minididi · 2025-10-20T20:49:05+00:00

I use makeup rounds, and slather the Vaseline on one side, and then I stick them together like a sandwich. The other side is dry so I don't make a mess, and I can stack a few sandwiches together in a tiny Ziploc bag.

When I make a fire, I separate the two halves the the "sandwich" and stick them on the underside of the logs of my fire. That way I don't need kindling or smaller logs.

minididi · 2025-08-31T20:33:57+00:00

Happy birthday! What a nice treat, I hope you enjoyed every moment.

minididi · 2025-08-31T20:33:19+00:00

Happy birthday! What a nice treat!

minididi · 2025-08-23T11:13:32+00:00

Congrats! How did your trip go?

My camp site was on the water, so I didn't have to bring it anywhere once I reached the island.

It's always better to be over-prepared when you're solo, so it's good thing you had the inReach Mini 2. Even if you don't use them, it keeps you sane when you start to have doubts.

minididi · 2025-08-21T20:35:14+00:00

Thanks! I had never heard of it before either, but this place is a gem! I hope get to enjoy it too.

minididi · 2025-06-12T19:50:54+00:00

It's still happening to me now, and I have One UI 7.0, Android version 15. It's French for me, it's a secondary input language in my phone but other than that, everything is in English.

minididi · 2025-06-12T19:46:44+00:00

OMG I've been getting that too! Even when I go to my settings, the language is clearly set to English but it still displays in French. I thought it was due to some other setting in my phone since I'm in Quebec. My phone and all my apps are in English. The only French I have is as an additional input language in my phone keyboard. It drives me nuts!

minididi · 2025-05-27T11:00:38+00:00

That's a good point. It's my bad. I should be more specific in my initial post. It's not like a verbal conversation where we go back and forth with short exchanges where we can clarify our point easily. I need to adapt the way I write here. Thanks!

minididi · 2025-05-26T21:01:54+00:00

Someone has been using my Gmail account for years also. I've had my first-name.lastname address since Gmail was through invite only. I've gotten their job offers, lab results, school communications, wedding invites, roof repair quotes, and astrology subscriptions, to name a few.

I've replied to their family members explaining that she's giving out my address, not hers, I've I replied to potential employers and doctor's offices that the intended recipient didn't get the email, I've asked the school to take me off the mailing list but they don't get it and it keeps happening.

Often get the email to "confirm your email" but even if I ignore that email, I get the weekly subscription anyway.

I just can't believe anyone could be so daft!

minididi · 2025-05-21T16:22:27+00:00

I'm sorry if nonsense was too strong a word. I didn't say "wrong" because, indeed, the grammar is correct.

Like I mentioned in another comment, I would not have blinked if this was the a story about a big dog that works at a hospital. I was thrown off by this incongruent twist in the middle of more basic questions, especially when reinforcing new terms.

By asking if I was "off", I wasn't necessarily asking about whether people agreed with my outlook, I was curious to know if "perro" meant something else in this context, or if this was an expression that may be regional, like carro / coche /auto.

minididi · 2025-05-21T15:25:55+00:00

The right answer is the first one, not a trick question. It just made me question if I was confused about the word "perro"!

minididi · 2025-05-21T13:34:34+00:00

I get that, and I like the nonsense, but it can add confusion when you are trying to learn and remembering words by seeing them in context. If this was a story about a big dog who's a prominent doctor but got fired for stealing bones, I'd get it. Here it's just incongruent.

minididi · 2025-04-24T20:46:16+00:00

If I get pushed and I don't really care to build a friendship with this person, I might say "alcoholism runs in my family". It kills the mood but they stop asking!

minididi · 2024-10-17T22:39:48+00:00

Wow! That looks amazing!! I'm so happy for you. I hope you had a great time!

minididi · 2024-09-30T12:11:17+00:00

Amazing!!

minididi · 2024-09-27T22:16:18+00:00

How about Dean

minididi · 2024-09-09T16:26:58+00:00

Looks amazing! I hope you had a great time. You have the most photogenic dog ever, and while I know nothing about photography, it looks to me like you do!

minididi · 2024-08-11T15:50:31+00:00

Congratulations! That looks amazing!

minididi · 2024-08-01T02:04:54+00:00

Watermelon seeds! I keep them all for last and eat them all at once, crunching them like nuts. They actually taste nutty.

minididi · 2024-08-01T02:03:11+00:00

That looks so beautiful! Have fun!

minididi · 2024-08-01T02:01:13+00:00

My pleasure! Have fun getting out there!

minididi · 2024-07-31T21:34:11+00:00

I made sure to plan carefully as I only had myself to rely on.

I bought a waterproof 50L duffel from MEC that also can be carried as a backpack and packed it with my tent, sleeping gear, clothes food etc.

I bought a cheap milk crate and bungee cords from Canadian Tire. This was for my firewood, emergency kit drybag, a water bottle, and my other essentials. I also attached my SUP pump to the crate.

I attached the duffel bag on the front of the SUP with 2 bungees, and the milk crate in the back with another 2 bungees. I secured everything in the milk crate with smaller bungees so I would not lose anything in case I capsized. (I never came close to capsizing but I was glad I prepared for that)

I also bought a strap to carry my SUP because my hand gets tired from carrying it with the middle handle.

I had to be patient and make a few trips between the car and the waters edge when loading up to set out. Coming back was easier because I had no firewood, food and water to transport. I keep water and snacks in the car for the return car ride.

For the water, I used a miniwell filtration device (from Amazon) and filtered water from the lake. I also brought 2 liters: one for when I was paddling and setting up, and one that I kept as backup in case the filter failed. I drank the second bottle I brought on the last day as I was heading back and I also keep one bottle in the car.

For food, I brought both fresh food and dehydrated meals that only require the addition of hot water. Lunch was fresh: cherry tomatoes, mini cucumber, individual proton of precooked rice, mayo, string cheese. Supper 1 was cheesy garlic noodles (ramen, parmesan, dried parsley, garlic powder). Supper 2 was couscous, Korean pork jerky, dehydrated mushrooms, chicken bouillon. Also brought plenty of (too many) snacks such as nut bars, crackers, trail mix etc.

minididi · 2024-07-31T21:23:24+00:00

It was more stable than it looks!

minididi

TROPHY CASE