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What's a small luxury under $20 that significantly improves your daily life?
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this post was submitted on 17 Jan 2025
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Platinum Preppy fountain pen. Often, it's less than 10$
No one needs a fountain pen to write, but writing with a fountain pen is a unique experience. Alas, many fountain pens will cost a little fortune and other will cost a large fortune (what about a 40k$ one?). The Preppy is an exception. It's not the best fountain pen but it's very decent, it's even incredibly good considering its price. For slightly more 25-30$, I would also suggest the Lamy Safari.
Beside that, I can't think of many luxury items under 20. I mean, I can think of a few useful luxury things but they cost more than 20.
Love Platinum, they’re the only fountain pens I can even consider using, as they’re the only ones I found that can handle my low writing volume without drying out between uses.
Yep. As long as you cap it (like with any fountain pen for that matter), they won't dry. In that regard, they're among the best at any price range not kidding. But the plastic of the cap is a on the brittle side... which may ends up hindering the tightness of the capping as it won't sit as tight. Not hate here, that's only a maybe could happen (happened to me ;), they're great.
The Pilot Varsity fountain pen feels cheap in your hand, but the way it writes is exquisite. This pen is shorter than average, yet holding it by the opposite end and dragging the nib across paper, letting the nearly inexistent weight of the pen apply pressure, you'll be left with a beautiful and consistent line.
You can usually pick up single Varsity fountain pens at stores such as PoopShelf for less than $3 each, or you can support your local art store by buying them in 3-packs for less than $10. I've been using these pens for over a decade and the only pen I've ever found that had an equally smooth and delicate writing experience was something I found at Paradise Pen for over $500—back when I could get these fountain pens for less than $2.
I have to warn you about their cheap construction, though: don't store them in your pants pocket. They'll find some way to bend, crack, or otherwise dump their entire reservoir in your pants.
Never had the opportunity to buy a Varsity, so I never tried one even though my all time favorite fountain pen is one from Pilot (not in the same price range, though ;)