10 time-saving gems that will take your routine to the next level

Feeling like there aren’t enough hours in the day? If it makes you feel any better, you’re not alone in the battle against the clock! We’ve got a secret stash of time-saving gems that’ll make you feel like you got your hands on Hermione Granger’s Time-Turner.

1. Make a bunch of perfectly shaped meatballs in seconds with this manual kitchen tool. You don’t need to get your hands dirty or make any mess. Put the meat mixture inside the container and press down. Enjoy the result!

Pros:

  • This product is a huge time-saver. You can make up to 5 meatballs at once.
  • The device is easy to use and clean.
  • The bowl is made of clear plastic so you can see what’s inside while cooking — handy.

2. Don’t waste time looking for your keys, use this magnetic key holder instead. This fluffy white cloud is pretty versatile: you can also use it in the kitchen, living room, bedroom, and even bathroom. It is easy to install and holds well on a wooden, ceramic, plastic, or metal texture. The surface has to be flat and smooth for the product to have better bearing capacity.

Pros:

  • The product is versatile.
  • It fits nicely into any interior.
  • Does its job quite well and keeps keys securely in place.

Cons:

  • You need to make sure you properly stick the device to the surface to prevent it from falling off.

Promising review:

  • Love the easy installation. Clean the wall, peel off the sticker, and place it where you like. The magnet is strong and holds my heavy car key. Recommend! — Jamie P.

Buy this item on AMAZON here

3. Get your glasses squeaky clean in the blink of an eye with this efficient lens-cleaning cloth. The power of Japanese microfiber is real! The product represents itself as ultra-fine, super-dense, and completely lint-free cloth. Its texture is extremely soft yet very durable.

Pros:

  • Works like a charm.
  • The packaging is handy.

Cons:

  • Gets dirty quicker than one may have hoped.

Promising review:

  • They came neatly packed in a sealed box. Each cloth is in its own slipcover. I was able to easily refold the cloth and put it back in the cover for future protection. It seemed to easily clean my lenses without a cleaning solution. — MS

Buy this item on AMAZON here

4. Prepare a batch of eggs for a big company or a big breakfast just for you using this stainless steel poached egg cooker. The pan will cook perfect eggs every time. The stainless steel device is sturdy and heavy. It goes well with all stove types (including induction).

Pros:

  • This product will save you a lot of time. It is perfect for a big family.
  • The device is sturdy and efficient.

Cons:

  • You’re going to need a mitt for the metal handles (to remove the egg trays safely).

Promising review:

  • I was hesitant to order this but figured I’d give it a shot. And you want to talk about perfect, commercial, beautiful eggs?? You’ll find it with this product. Easy to use, easy to clean.
    And I ask myself, «How did I live without this tool in my kitchen!?» You want those perfect eggs? Get this! — Amy

5. Use this strainer lid to drain unwanted liquid from a can—fast and mess-free. This item is efficient, flexible, and durable. The product has a bit of stretch, so it can fit slightly wider cans.

Pros:

  • The product is adjustable.
  • It is also portable; It’s small, light, and easy to carry. You can take these lids on a camping trip.

Cons:

  • The lids might not be suitable for a particular can size. Don’t forget to check the size beforehand.

Promising reviews:

  • I like the idea of not having to get a big colander out when draining cans. — Ruthy
  • I picked these because of the size. They are perfect. — Karen Walton

6. Here is the fastest way to make dessert for a big company. This silicone popsicle mold is non-stick, hygienic, and easy to use. The popsicles slide out super easily. To top that off, you can fill the product with fruit juice, purée, yogurt, jello, berries, fruits, or jam. Yum!

Pros:

  • Super easy to use and clean.
  • The product is also a great space-saver.
  • Comes with a funnel and a cleaning brush.
  • Versatile

Cons:

  • A little on the small side.

Promising reviews:

  • I liked that it was very easy to use. You can remove the popsicle very fast and have good-looking popsicles. — Marsela Ballabani
  • It’s convenient that it comes with a funnel and cleaning brush! Great buy! — Quality!

7. Speed up your cooking process with these 2 pairs of kitchen scissors and a pair of 5-ply herb scissors. And you don’t need to look for a cutting board. They are suitable for cutting different food items: herbs, veggies, meat, dough, and more.

Pros:

  • The devices come with protective covers and a cleaning brush.
  • They are sharp and work well.
  • The kitchen scissors have additional features: built-in nutcrackers, bottle openers, or fish scalers.

Cons:

  • The devices do not come apart for easy cleaning.

Promising review:

  • Very nice scissors. Each pair has a sheath to protect you or others from getting hurt and the scissors from getting damaged. I am very pleased with this set. — Bob M

8. You don’t wanna waste another minute when you are seriously hungry. Cut your tasty pizza the fastest with this no-effort pizza cutter. It fits comfortably in the palm of your hand and lets you fully control the cutting process. The large cutting wheel makes it extremely easy and fast.

Pros:

  • The product is high-quality and sharp; now you can slice and dice your food rather efficiently.
  • It comes with a protective blade guard and is easy and safe to store.
  • Disassembles in seconds to be washed.

Cons:

  • The cleaning is tricky because keeping the blade still might not be easy.

Promising review:

  • I bought this as a replacement for a really cheap one. I loved the idea of not needing a handle, and the blade cover was a plus. I liked how big this one was, so I bought it. I was pleasantly surprised with the ease of cleaning. You can completely take it apart and wash every part of it. It took me a minute to figure out how to take it apart, but once you get it, it’s easy. — Annika R

9. You’ll not have to waste your time looking for stuff if you have it neatly arranged with this under-sink organizer. This item maximizes under-sink space nicely. The item is easy to set up. It also has an adjustable height for the top shelf, which can be very handy.

Pros:

  • The product will save a ton of space in your kitchen.
  • The construction is pretty spacey.

Cons:

  • A little pricey.

Promising review:

  • I was skeptical at first. Especially when I was putting this together, I didn’t think it was going to be large enough. But to my surprise, it was! It was easy to put together, too! — Meg

10. This «meatball master» will be handy for cooking a fast dinner and storing meals in the freezer for later. You can use it for making meatballs, cookies, sushi, and more. The design allows you to remove the portions effortlessly (even when frozen). After using it, you can throw it in the dishwasher with no fuss.

Pros:

  • The product is versatile.
  • You can prepare a lot in a short amount of time; for instance, you can make 32 meatballs at once.
  • Easy to use and clean.

Cons:

  • The size of the meatballs could be too small for some people’s taste.
  • The results may vary if you overfill the product.

Promising review:

  • Where has this been—all of my cookie-baking life?? It is so much easier to use than a scoop. I bought 3 of them.
    I made a double batch of cookie dough, and I am pleased that you got 96 cookies. You do not get that many using a scoop. I like that all the cookies are baked evenly and are all the same size. I soak the containers to get them clean. — Chris Boor

We hope that these products will find their way to your heart. They can make your routine considerably simpler, so you can spend your spare time on something truly important.

Bright Side gets commissions for purchases made through the links in this post. Reviews could have been edited for length and clarity.

Preview photo credit Amazon

My Relatives Thought They Had Robbed Our Rich Blind Grandfather, but He Turned Out to Be Much Smarter

When Ellie’s blind, dying grandfather gathers the greedy family to announce he’s donating his fortune to charity, tension explodes. The open safe tempts everyone, and as relatives enter the room one by one, Ellie suspects foul play. But when it’s her turn, Grandpa reveals a shocking truth.

At 19, I was the black sheep of a family that treated me like I was invisible. After Mom died, Dad married Sharon, who came complete with two daughters and had enough emotional baggage to sink a cruise ship.

A woman standing in a doorway | Source: Midjourney

A woman standing in a doorway | Source: Midjourney

The way they looked at me — like I was something they’d scraped off their shoes — made our spacious home feel smaller than a closet.

Their matching designer outfits and perfectly styled hair only emphasized how much I didn’t belong with my thrift store clothes and a messy ponytail.

“Ellie, dear,” Sharon would say, her voice dripping with fake sweetness, “wouldn’t you be more comfortable eating in the kitchen?”

A disapproving woman seated at a dinner table | Source: Midjourney

A disapproving woman seated at a dinner table | Source: Midjourney

That was her way of saying I embarrassed her in front of her country club friends. Dad would just stare at his plate, suddenly fascinated by his roasted asparagus.

My cousins weren’t any better. All six of them treated family gatherings like networking events, schmoozing with anyone who might boost their social status.

I usually ended up in the kitchen, helping the staff clean up. At least they talked to me like I was human. Maria, our cook, always saved me a piece of her famous chocolate cake.

A decadent chocolate cake | Source: Pexels

A decadent chocolate cake | Source: Pexels

“Those people out there?” she’d say, sliding me an extra-large slice. “They don’t know what they’re missing.”

But Grandpa? He was different. He’d worked his way up from nothing to build the family fortune, but being wealthy never changed him. Grandpa was the salt of the earth, through and through.

He was the only one in the family who saw me for who I really was when everyone else looked right through me.

A young woman speaking to her grandfather | Source: Midjourney

A young woman speaking to her grandfather | Source: Midjourney

Grandpa taught me everything worth knowing, from how to plant the perfect rose garden to how to laugh when life kicks you in the teeth.

While the rest of the family was busy climbing their social ladders, Grandpa and I would sit on his wraparound porch, drinking lemonade and talking about everything and nothing.

“Remember, Ellie,” he’d say when I was having a rough day, “the best revenge is living well. And maybe a little practical joke now and then.”

A young woman sitting on a porch with her grandfather | Source: Midjourney

A young woman sitting on a porch with her grandfather | Source: Midjourney

I didn’t fully understand what he meant until that summer when everything changed.

Grandpa got sick, and his health deteriorated fast. His eyesight failed, and suddenly he was bedridden. The family descended like locusts, their concern was as fake as Sharon’s designer handbags.

I visited him every day, watching as he grew weaker, my heart breaking a little more each time. While the others whispered about his massive wall safe and what might be inside it, I just held his hand and read him his favorite books.

An open book | Source: Pexels

An open book | Source: Pexels

We worked our way through “The Count of Monte Cristo” at his request, which should have been my first clue about what was coming.

“Read that part again,” he’d say, “where Edmund discovers the treasure.”

Now I wonder if he was trying not to laugh.

Then came the day that changed everything.

A worried woman sitting at her grandfather's bedside | Source: Midjourney

A worried woman sitting at her grandfather’s bedside | Source: Midjourney

“Family meeting,” Grandpa announced via a voice message, his voice barely above a whisper. “Everyone come to my house. Now.”

The whole family rushed to Grandpa’s house, nearly trampling each other in their hurry to reach his bedside. I hung back, leaning against the wall near the door.

Then I noticed the safe in Grandpa’s bedroom was ajar. Grandpa never left the safe open. I glanced around the room, and my heart sank when I realized I wasn’t the only person who’d noticed.

A young woman frowning | Source: Midjourney

A young woman frowning | Source: Midjourney

All my relatives were eyeing the dark crack at the door with hungry eyes. Sharon’s daughters, Amber and Crystal, kept nudging each other and pointing at it when they thought no one was looking.

“I’m sad I can’t see any of you anymore,” Grandpa said. “I’d give anything to see your faces again, but it’s too late for that now. The doctor says I don’t have much time left. That’s why I called you all here today. I’ve been putting my affairs in order and I want you all to know that I’ve decided to donate all my money to charity.”

A man wearing dark glasses lying in bed | Source: Midjourney

A man wearing dark glasses lying in bed | Source: Midjourney

The silence that followed was deafening. I could practically hear their dreams of inheriting millions shattering like cheap glass. My cousin Bradley actually gasped, then turned and stared at the safe.

Everyone else followed his gaze. It was like they were all thinking the same thing: if they took something, he’d never know.

“Now that’s out of the way, I’d like a chance to speak with each of you privately,” Grandpa continued, adjusting his dark glasses. “Who’s first?”

An elderly man wearing dark glasses speaking to someone | Source: Midjourney

An elderly man wearing dark glasses speaking to someone | Source: Midjourney

What happened next was like watching piranhas in a feeding frenzy. Everyone started talking at once, pushing and shoving, trying to be first in line.

“Enough!” My uncle declared loudly. “I’m the eldest son, and I will go first.”

The look in his eyes silenced everyone.

“Grandpa, wait!” I called out, trying to warn him, but Amber and Crystal shoved me into the hall.

An extremely worried young woman | Source: Midjourney

An extremely worried young woman | Source: Midjourney

I watched from the hallway as they went in one by one. Each came out looking smug, like cats who’d gotten into the cream.

My stomach churned. I knew exactly what was happening. The open safe was too tempting, and a blind old man would never know if they helped themselves, right?

I wasn’t allowed to see Grandpa until everyone else had their chance to “say goodbye.” I walked in and sat beside Grandpa’s bed, ignoring the safe completely. It was too late to prevent my relatives from plundering it now.

A young woman sitting at her grandfather's bedside | Source: Midjourney

A young woman sitting at her grandfather’s bedside | Source: Midjourney

“Grandpa,” I whispered, taking his hand. “I’m not ready for you to go.”

Tears spilled down my cheeks as memories flooded back. “Remember when you taught me to fish? I was so scared of hurting the worms, but you showed me how to bait the hook gently. Or all those summer nights on the porch, watching the stars come out? You taught me every constellation.”

“And you remembered them all,” he said softly. “Just like you remembered to water my roses every day while I’ve been stuck in this bed.”

An elderly man in bed speaking weakly | Source: Midjourney

An elderly man in bed speaking weakly | Source: Midjourney

He squeezed my hand. “You’ve always had a good heart, Ellie. And you’ve always been the one person I could trust.”

Then he did something that made my heart stop. He reached up and took off those dark glasses, revealing eyes that were sharp and clear — and looking right at me.

“You’re probably wondering how I saw all this coming,” he said, grinning like a kid with a secret.

“You… you can see?” I stammered, nearly falling out of my chair.

A shocked woman throwing her hands up in the air | Source: Midjourney

A shocked woman throwing her hands up in the air | Source: Midjourney

“Yes, and I’ve seen everything,” Grandpa replied. “Every greedy glance, every hand sneaking into that safe. They didn’t think an old blind man could catch them, but I did.” Grandpa gestured to the safe. “Let’s see how much is left, Ellie.”

I walked to the safe, my legs wobbly, and opened the door wide. It was empty!

Grandpa laughed.

An elderly man in bed laughing | Source: Midjourney

An elderly man in bed laughing | Source: Midjourney

“I had 10 million dollars in fake bills in there,” Grandpa announced proudly. “And they took every last one. The real money is in a bank vault downtown. And it’s all yours, Ellie.”

I couldn’t speak. My throat felt like I’d swallowed sand.

“You’re the only one I trust to use it wisely,” he continued. “And if you want to leave this toxic mess of a family behind, don’t look back. Heaven knows I’ve wanted to shake their dust off my shoes for years.”

A smiling elderly man pointing at someone | Source: Midjourney

A smiling elderly man pointing at someone | Source: Midjourney

A few days later, Grandpa’s health suddenly started improving with a new treatment. The doctors were shocked, but I wasn’t. You can’t keep a good trickster down.

I bought two plane tickets to Bali the next day. First class because Grandpa insisted we start our new life in style.

The family exploded when they realized what had happened. Sharon threatened to sue. Dad finally found his voice, but only to demand his “fair share.” My cousins showed their true colors with a rainbow of creative curse words.

Two people arguing | Source: Pexels

Two people arguing | Source: Pexels

We left anyway, with nothing but our suitcases and the satisfaction of knowing justice had been served.

Now, I’m writing this from a beach chair in Bali, watching Grandpa teach local kids how to build the perfect sandcastle.

He’s got more energy than all of them combined, and his laugh carries across the sand like music. His recovery seems even more miraculous in the tropical sun.

An elderly man building a sandcastle with some children | Source: Midjourney

An elderly man building a sandcastle with some children | Source: Midjourney

“Pass me another coconut drink, would you, Ellie?” he calls out. “Planning the perfect revenge makes a man thirsty!”

I bring him his drink and sit beside him, watching the sunset paint the sky in colors I never saw back home.

“Was it worth it?” I ask. “All that planning, pretending to be blind?”

He takes a sip and grins. “Look around, kiddo. You’re smiling. You’re free. And those vultures back home are probably still arguing about fake money. I’d say that’s worth everything.”

A woman and her grandfather on the beach at sunset | Source: Midjourney

A woman and her grandfather on the beach at sunset | Source: Midjourney

I lean back and close my eyes, feeling the warm breeze on my face. For the first time, I know exactly what he means when he says living well is the best revenge.

And you know what? He was right about the practical jokes too.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

Related Posts

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*