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Category Archives: thrift
I Surrender…Sort Of…
I tried…Lord knows I tried. No one can say otherwise. I did not want to buy a new computer. I was perfectly happy with my second-hand, six-year-old MacBook, until its logic board bit the dust. Before that, I had been … Continue reading
Posted in Project, technology, thrift
Tagged chrome, chromebook, computer, linux, technology, windows
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The Verdict Is In
I’m such a tease! My official excuse, and of course I have one, is that I would rather actually publish a series of short posts than not publish a nice, long one. That, and I have forgotten how to do … Continue reading
Posted in Project, shopping, technology, thrift, work
Tagged chromebook, netbook, tablet, travel
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Test Case, Part 2
We happened to have a spare tablet around the house, a Lenovo K1 left over from a hasty spring shopping trip. (Let us pause for a moment to reflect on a world where a low-income family can have a “spare” … Continue reading
Posted in Project, shopping, technology, thrift
Tagged Android, budget, chromebook, computer, k1, lenovo, macbook, netbook, tablet
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Thrift-tech: The DIY Version
Meanwhile, as I fume and rant about our shallow, materialistic society, I have to both address my family’s need for suitable technology and confront my own desire for shiny things. The latter is arguably more mutable, whereas there is only so … Continue reading
Posted in Budget, Project, technology, thrift
Tagged Android, budget, computers, diy, linux, mac, technology
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Scared Straight
I suppose things have been building up to this point for a while, and it is time to face the music. We are stuff-a-holics, and need to go into recovery. It sneaks up on you, this condition; it can start … Continue reading
Tech-Thrifting, Part 2
Having stated the case last week regarding the challenges of thrifty tech-shopping, I sat back and looked at the whole picture again. I realized I had neglected one important element of the equation. Thrift shopping is still shopping; “mindful” consumption … Continue reading
Thrift Shopping…and Technology?
I’ve made much recently of the economic, environmental, and social benefits of thrift shopping, and I still firmly believe in all of them. However, as with any human endeavor, there is a downside: hidden costs, unintended consequences, and immutable constraints … Continue reading
Posted in Project, technology, thrift
Tagged 35mm, floppy discs, LP records, retro, technology, thrift shops
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Spring Fever
I’ve been rather busy lately, and I’m sorry to say I’ve hardly jotted down a word of it. Once the weather here finally turned for spring, I jumped outdoors with both feet (really, the easiest way to do it). Taking … Continue reading
A-Hunting We Will Go
One of my favorite elements of thrifting is the treasure hunt, the moment when I actually find what I’ve needed or been looking for. Even better is the surprise, when something utterly unexpected and irresistible shows up in my path. … Continue reading
Posted in shopping, thrift
Tagged bicycle, fountain pen, fuji, jules verne classic, parker 45, redline, schwinn, treasure, vintage, waterman, waterman phileas
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The Shampoo Scam
I didn’t realize that not doing something could be such a big deal until I mentioned in passing to my wife once while shopping that I didn’t need shampoo, as I’d stopped using it. From her reaction, you might think … Continue reading
Posted in Project, thrift
Tagged apple cider vinegar, capital, elitism, martha stewart, pitfalls, shampoo, tightwad gazette
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