The Great 'Which gadgets were your biggest waste of cash?' Hunt

catbear

I bought a bread making machine, which was terrible, the loaves cane out like footballs every single time! I use it now as a storage box for my nail varnishes!:D

trickypockets

If I am tempted by all those amazing gadgets in the Lakeland catalogue (and similar 'purchasing opportunities) I ask myself one simple question : 'have I managed without a garlic press/food covering system/thing for scraping the last bit of food out of a pan/special cookie decorating nozzle/set of 'unique' measuring spoons/fridge crisper cushion/oven bottom liner - etc, etc. - for 40 years ?' The answer is invariably a resounding yes.

Some gadgets are useful, but you should never buy a big appliance like a food processor unless you know you have somewhere you can put it for ready use. If it lives in a cupboard, after the first couple of goes it's always too much trouble to get it out to use.

Oh, and please don't throw your gadgets away ! If they are in working order, many charity shops will take them, or you can dispose of them on Freecycle. As has been proved by the posts on this thread, one man's useless gadget is another's indispensable tool, but they'll pollute for a long time in landfill.

lynnejk

Lum wrote: »

Is it just me, or do toasted sandwich makers go through a lifecycle something like this:

*Ooh, I've found the toasted sandwich maker, I love toasted sandwiches
*Spend half an hour scrubbing the damn thing free of solidified cheese and breadcrumbs
*Have toasted sandwiches every day
*Hmm, I should clean this
*You know, what, I don't like toasted sandwiches that much
*Puts it at the back of the cupboard
(a year passes)
*Ooh, I've found the toasted sandwich maker, I love toasted sandwiches

I had the same problem and so often all the stuffing squeezes out or burns.
Found perfect answer - toasted sandwich bags. Make sandwich, best if de-crust, put in bag. Put in microwave for 20 seconds then put in toaster. Keep eye on it though as cooks quicker than you think. Bags can easily be washed with dishes and reused loads of times. So easy -now are always in suitcase to make a quick snack in room! Very cheap in usual low-cost chains and £ shops. BLISS:T:T:T

chunter

The Christmas tree. I only get the use of it once a year.

wary

Bought an IPAQ for my daughter for Xmas 2004 for £150. It never really got used and is probably worth next to nothing now.

wary

benidormgary wrote: »

Biggest waste of my money recently (£30) is a room "Ioniser".What a con!.:(

I wasted £50 on one of these back in 1989, and would agree that it is a con.

Having said that, I bought it more as a rather expensive ornament rather than because I believed it could do magical things, but I still got myself labelled as being a bit "weird" for having one!!!

richard9991

lap top with windows vista basic load od carp

bagby

purpleweasel wrote: »

One of those mandolin slicer-thingys. My OH wanted it but i have always thought it was a lot of assembly/messing about/washing up for the amount of time it might save. And i was scared it would slice the tops of my fingers off

I use mine all the time. Onto my second one which is about to give up the ghost as it is breaking in two and I don't want to pay £20 for a new one but suppose I will have to. Use it for soups mainly.

KayB

Bought an inflatable mat to put into bath and with a pipe attached it switches on. The first time I used it I had added bubble bath and the waterlevel was quite high and you can imagine what happened! There was white foam all over the bathroom!

ClaireS93

I've got to say the keyboard I bought for my Blackberry Playbook.

I love my Tablet, but thought the keyboard would help typing in lectures. Bought the cheaper one with silicon keys, and now can't type with the squishy keys.