I once got myself a nice smart thermostat thinking it was going to make my life easier. I only thought about energy efficiency and setting the temperature without me lifting a finger.
Sounded great, right? Well, not so much. The app wouldn’t work properly, and fixing it was like solving a technical riddle.
After struggling with it for a month, I knew I’m done with gizmos. These days, my theory is to stick to easy to use items that won’t give me headaches. Here are 10 things I’ve found just not worth the trouble anymore.
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High-Tech Toasters
A digital-screen toaster with infinite presets looked like a cool kitchen appliance, but for me, it was a hassle more than it was worth.
Its controls were confusing, and everything was a guessing game; sometimes my toast burned, sometimes they were barely warm. And it cost a heck of a lot more than just a regular toaster.
Overly Fancy Blenders
I was expecting a fancy blender to make my smoothies and soups all the better. But the big box was noisy, occupied half my table, and had too many parts to wash.
A normal blender is just as good for basic blending tasks and doesn’t make me feel like I am running a restaurant.
Smart Light Bulbs
Changing the light color with my phone was fun for about a week. And then the wifi connection started dropping, and the app stopped working.
Considering the fact that they burn out quicker and cost a lot more than normal bulbs, I’m back to regular light bulbs that just work fine.
Electric Wine Openers
I bought an electric wine opener, thinking it would be sleek and fancy, but it became a headache.
It would blow the battery at the worst possible moments, and it was heavy to carry around. Just a corkscrew is faster, more convenient, and doesn’t take up space or need charging.
Specialty Egg Cookers
At first, I loved the idea of an egg cooker promising perfect eggs every time. But rinsing it out every time and getting mixed results disappointed me.
A pot of water on the stove works just as well, is easy to clean, and doesn’t hog counter space.
Overcomplicated Showerheads
Once a showerhead with fancy modes, LED lights & even a Bluetooth speaker sounded luxurious to me.
But it never connected to my phone properly, had very little pressure and was hard to maintain. A simple, high-quality shower head gives me a better shower experience and I no longer need all the gimmicks.
Soda Makers
Drinking sparkling water at home looked fun, except the carbonation tanks were expensive to top up and the machine used up valuable counter space.
Buying sparkling water at the store is easier and about the same cost in the long run.
Smart Door Locks
A wireless smart lock that’s tied to your phone seems cool, but when the battery runs out or the app crashes, you can’t get inside.
A strong lock and key are not quite as advanced, but they’re secure, and there’s no learning curve.
Popcorn Makers
A popcorn machine is a waste when a pot on the stove or a microwave can make you a nice bowl of salty & buttery popcorn.
This machine is also bulky, needs to be cleaned after every use, and is not worth the extra work for a quick treat.
Electric Can Openers
At first, an electric can opener seemed time-saving to me but it jammed constantly and was hard to clean. A manual can opener is quicker, easier, and saves my counter space. (Nothing too fancy; it just works every time.)
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