Mr. Big Stuff: gadget ideas if you win at the races

For many, Melbourne Cup means gambling, and if you happen to be on the winning side of a bet, you’ll probably have a few quid to spare, so if you need some help to spend on yourself, here’s a tiny guide, going from little wins to, well, some of the big ones.

Spare change ($10-39)

So you didn’t win much. Well, it happens. There were 22 horses and there could only be one winner, and you didn’t spend much, but hey, a twenty dollar note is still a twenty dollar note.

Chances are, that’s a couple of drinks, or something a little different.

SanDisk Cruzer U

Price: $14-$26

If we had a buck for every time we yelled “does anyone have a spare USB?” we’d probably be able to afford a 16GB stick, which comes in at around $14. At least these have a little loop for you to keep your keys attached to, you know, so we don’t have to yell that out again.

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Canon’s revamped recycled calculator

Price: $23

Do people even need a calculator anymore? We have them in phones and tablets and computers and we’ve even seen them in gaming consoles. But hey, if you need a calculator, do it, and do it in style, with a recycled part calculator. It comes in green. That’s like the colour of money… at least in some parts of the world.

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ChargeKey: an iPhone plug on a keyring

Price: $30

This is one of those useful gadgets that you can order from overseas and will make sure you always have an iPhone Lightning connector or a microUSB plug with you at all times, because this hangs on your keyring.  Sure, you’ll want a USB port, but you probably have a computer for that.

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Not too shabby ($40-99)

Fifty bucks is nothing to sneeze over, but and if you don’t mind a little gift, here are some choices:

Moshi Digits

Price: $40

It’s not cold anymore, but if you’re heading somewhere cold, Moshi’s Digits will let you keep your fingers warm and still use that smartphone or tablet, with conductive fibres sewn into the mittens.

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Sunbeam Big Fill Toastie Maker

Price: $70

What would end a great win? Toasties. Toasties make everything better, especially in the morning. With cheese. And ham. And tomato. *runs off to the kitchen to get one*

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Lavazza Minu

Price: $99

You’ve been looking for a way to get into easy and reasonably instant espresso for a while, you just didn’t have the inspiration. Now with $99 at the ready, you can grab one of the most compelling options around.

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