Ask HN: What do you perceive as worth spending money on? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What do you perceive as worth spending money on?

#81

Post by tlrobinson » Fri, Sep 10, 2010, 8:54 PM UTC

Definitely not "stuff". This pg essay really resonates with me: http://www.paulgraham.com/stuff.html

I've found my attitude changing from "can I afford this?" to "do I really want to be burdened by this object"

During my last move I put everything own into a storage unit, and cherry-pick the few things I actually need/want as I need them. Next time I move I'm going to get rid everything left in storage. I figure if it's been in storage for that long I probably won't ever need it.

Incidentally, this is exactly the same strategy I take with my computer. Once or twice a year I'll backup everything, reformat, and only copy back over what I need, as I need it.

Re: Ask HN: What do you perceive as worth spending money on?

#82

Post by prawn » Sat, Sep 11, 2010, 12:49 AM UTC

etm117 wrote: post #51

prawn wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm similar. Convenience. Fine dining. Travel experiences. But I'd add cookware to the list - pains me to see people struggle along with cheap and shoddy knives, small chopping boards and weak pots and pans.

I totally agree on the knives. If you want easy brownie points I recommend purchasing for your mother (or father if he does the cooking) a set a nice knives for the Holidays or birthday one year. You will be a hero the first time they cut a tomato and don't squish it. My mother still thanks me and it has been over 6 years since I gave her a set of Wüsthof.

Funny you should say that, because we bought a set of Wusthof-Trident for my in-laws.

I bought mine in Germany and carted them back through China. Gives you a special appreciation of them when you've carried heavy knives and a wood block on your back for a couple of months to get them home!

Re: Ask HN: What do you perceive as worth spending money on?

#83

Post by drblast » Sat, Sep 11, 2010, 2:15 AM UTC

patrickaljord wrote: post #30

b3b0p wrote: post #15

First, I really (really) enjoy spending money on other people, especially those important to me (friends and family). When it's a surprise it's even more fun! I love to see their face light up when they least expect. Great feeling. Now, if we are talking about items for myself, not necessarily of great importance, I do indulge on certain things, but I have rules. I have no problem spending money on well designed item…

Ubuntu user here. Wireless, video, sleep and hibernate work too and I never spend time tweaking anything.

Ditto, however I can say that 10.04 was the very first time I've installed Linux where everything worked without tweaking. It's a dream come true.

Re: Ask HN: What do you perceive as worth spending money on?

#84

Post by kingnothing » Sat, Sep 11, 2010, 2:32 AM UTC

akgerber wrote: post #66

jasonkester wrote: post #63

I tend to lean toward spending on Experiences rather than Possessions. That said, there are certain classes of Possession that can really make your life better if you buy the best. Always buy the best: - Kitchen Knives - Development tools - Toilet Paper All the above can be skimped on, but they'll make you unhappy. I've spent enough of my life sawing onions in half with a squirrelly 99 cent Ginsu clone, trying to get…

I get the impression that there are a lot of unnecessarily expensive kitchen knives out there. Professional cooks spend all day using a knife & most of them use some knife that cost maybe $25 at the restaurant supply store.

You only need two knives -- a chef's knife and a paring knife. Anything beyond that may be useful occasionally, but 99% of your time should be spent with those two staples.

Re: Ask HN: What do you perceive as worth spending money on?

#85

Post by srv » Sat, Sep 11, 2010, 12:37 PM UTC

kranner wrote: post #21

Books. Still a fan of the dead-tree variety. It's not so much paper vs e-ink, more that every new book is a new physical object with its own size, shape, weight and (sometimes) smell.

I absolutely love everything book-related, and have for a long, long time. But as you say, each book is an item with its own size, shape and weight. Having to pack the thousands of them I have amassed for moving has lead me to finally getting a Kindle.

Re: Ask HN: What do you perceive as worth spending money on?

#86

Post by kranner » Sat, Sep 11, 2010, 2:03 PM UTC

srv wrote: post #85

kranner wrote: post #21

Books. Still a fan of the dead-tree variety. It's not so much paper vs e-ink, more that every new book is a new physical object with its own size, shape, weight and (sometimes) smell.

I absolutely love everything book-related, and have for a long, long time. But as you say, each book is an item with its own size, shape and weight. Having to pack the thousands of them I have amassed for moving has lead me to finally getting a Kindle.

I know what you mean having suffered the same issue multiple times. But if I'm going to spend quality time with a book, I still think it worthwhile to purchase the physical version.

The digital version is good for archival and portability, but the first time through a good book feels like it should be with its most authentic representation.