Buy well, buy once • Hacker News Board

Re: Buy well, buy once

#131

Post by mrweasel » Sat, Jun 10, 2023, 6:23 AM UTC

nicbou wrote: post #64

jrflowers wrote: post #35

I enjoyed this article about the minimalist man getting two minimally useful extra wallets.

I used to be interested in minimalism, but I realised that they just obsess over objects in a different way. I wanted to save money, avoid maintenance and reduce my mental load. I found people who keep spreadsheets of their stuff and debate whether it's okay to own tools or multiple coffee cups.

> reduce my mental load

That's has become my goal for new purchases. For some items that means getting higher quality that will last longer, for others it's get the cheapest that will work and replace it if it breaks. It does lead to weird purchases like higher quality charger cables, but cheaper a cheap TV.

Re: Buy well, buy once

#132

Post by rootsudo » Sat, Jun 10, 2023, 6:23 AM UTC

cortesoft wrote: post #46

rootsudo wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It can be - if you do a STR/Airbnb/Hotel, the pots and pans should come with the place and they're not yours. Many hotels do include the above, especially mid to higher end ones. If you're renting on a standard long term lease - not short term rental, and it isn't furnished with them, yes they're yours because you bought them. It's up to you what you want to "count", but toiletries are like petty cash. Pots/Pans can…

So if I rent everything, I can live my exact same lifestyle but be called a minimalist?

You don't own it - its furniture, comes with the house - it's the lifestyle itself. While you technically seem correct on it, you're missing the point.

Re: Buy well, buy once

#133

Post by Blackthorn » Sat, Jun 10, 2023, 6:25 AM UTC

0xr0kk3r wrote: post #123

xyzzy123 wrote: post #111

Maxi checking in. I have racks of labelled drawers full of bearings, screws, glues, specialty tapes, oodles of hand tools, power tools, ad infinitum. I'm honestly not super competent or anything (I barely know what I'm doing, in any domain) but I do learn new things all the time and it brings me joy. I miss the clarity of minimalism, but I can also have a different view on wallets - they're just leather and some stit…

"rather than getting the $70 replacement part" Appliance repair usually starts at a $100 house-call fee and goes up from there. It is cheaper to buy a new dishwasher than get it repaired.

The person is talking about buying the part and installing it themselves, not paying someone to come repair it for them.

Re: Buy well, buy once

#134

Post by Thorrez » Sat, Jun 10, 2023, 6:25 AM UTC

0xr0kk3r wrote: post #123

xyzzy123 wrote: post #111

Maxi checking in. I have racks of labelled drawers full of bearings, screws, glues, specialty tapes, oodles of hand tools, power tools, ad infinitum. I'm honestly not super competent or anything (I barely know what I'm doing, in any domain) but I do learn new things all the time and it brings me joy. I miss the clarity of minimalism, but I can also have a different view on wallets - they're just leather and some stit…

"rather than getting the $70 replacement part" Appliance repair usually starts at a $100 house-call fee and goes up from there. It is cheaper to buy a new dishwasher than get it repaired.

When I moved into my apartment, the racks in the dishwasher were badly rusted. I told the management.

They replaced the entire dishwasher. They said they couldn't get a replacement rack.

Re: Buy well, buy once

#135

Post by sliken » Sat, Jun 10, 2023, 6:27 AM UTC

mberning wrote: post #56

In a way I admire committed minimalists. But I often wonder what their long term lifestyle is like. Surely many of them are single (or they only count the items which are solely theirs). They surely rent at a higher rate than own property. They surely own vehicles at a lower rate. And so on. I just get this picture of a person in an urban area, living alone in a studio apartment, dependent upon everyone else for basi…

Dunno, seems like we might be past peak materialism. Do people really need 2000 ft^2 with a 2 car garage just packed with crap. So much so that they often buy things because they can't find what they own. Even renting storage units on top of a full size house is surprisingly common.

China closets, album collections, file cabinents, many book cases packed, shelves of games/cartriges/cdroms, many different kinds of sports equipment not used for a decade, dead appliances, 3 toolboxes filled with crappy tools, drawers filled with disposable pens, large closets packed with clothes not worn in a decade etc. Every trash day with overflowing garbage cans from all the disposable stuff.

Buying decent shoes, tools, a decent pen, a decent razor, and decent wallet can last decades. Even more disposable things like cars, computers, stereos/electronics can last a decade or more, but often have a somewhat higher cost up front/but cheaper to own per year. In general if it's made in plastic my first conclusion is that it's not worth it. Don't eat out of plastic, drink out of it, don't use a plastic keychain, even cans these days are plastic lined. Don't even touch it if you can avoid it.

Yes this kind of attitude is possible even with wife, kids, and a dog. If it's not been used in the last year considering upcycling, donating, giving it away, or pitching it.

Re: Buy well, buy once

#136

Post by Thorrez » Sat, Jun 10, 2023, 6:27 AM UTC

dublinben wrote: post #60

mberning wrote: post #56

In a way I admire committed minimalists. But I often wonder what their long term lifestyle is like. Surely many of them are single (or they only count the items which are solely theirs). They surely rent at a higher rate than own property. They surely own vehicles at a lower rate. And so on. I just get this picture of a person in an urban area, living alone in a studio apartment, dependent upon everyone else for basi…

I’m fond of the conspiracy theory that the rise of minimalism is actually propaganda to placate Millennials who can’t afford the same level of material comfort as their parents and other earlier generations enjoyed.

My grandma grew up in the US without even indoor plumbing. She had to use an outhouse. She's still alive today.

Re: Buy well, buy once

#137

Post by sliken » Sat, Jun 10, 2023, 6:29 AM UTC

hotpotamus wrote: post #107

mberning wrote: post #56

In a way I admire committed minimalists. But I often wonder what their long term lifestyle is like. Surely many of them are single (or they only count the items which are solely theirs). They surely rent at a higher rate than own property. They surely own vehicles at a lower rate. And so on. I just get this picture of a person in an urban area, living alone in a studio apartment, dependent upon everyone else for basi…

Steve Jobs was known for living in such a way that I don't think was entirely a put on. He did own vehicles but refused to put license plates on them apparently for aesthetic reasons. Ironically, it seems like having a lot of wealth helps with the minimalist thing.

Heh, don't think that fits. I heard he figured out the related california law that you had 1-3 months before you'd get a legal penalty for not putting a new plate on the car. So he worked it out with the car dealer to swap cars every 1-3 months, so he could park whenever he wanted and never get a ticket.

Re: Buy well, buy once

#138

Post by pahae » Sat, Jun 10, 2023, 6:30 AM UTC

Havoc wrote: post #129

There is a balance there too though. e.g. I was looking at multimeters. Much googling later I determined that the Fluke brand ones are the best and "last for life" type buy. Nearly spent 200+ on one 2nd hand via ebay auction. After a while sanity prevailed and I got an amazon brand one for a 1/4. Does the job too and I use it so seldomly (soldering DIY sht) that I'm glad I didn't spend more.

Yeah, I think many "buy it for life" items are generally only sensible if you depend on them either for work, a somewhat regular hobby, or for everyday use.

Sometimes it almost hurts me to buy cheap junk. But then I also realize that this is perfectly adequate for my use cases and even $10 more for another product would not be worth it. (And who says that the other product would really be better?).

Re: Buy well, buy once

#139

Post by Thorrez » Sat, Jun 10, 2023, 6:32 AM UTC

dublinben wrote: post #60

mberning wrote: post #56

In a way I admire committed minimalists. But I often wonder what their long term lifestyle is like. Surely many of them are single (or they only count the items which are solely theirs). They surely rent at a higher rate than own property. They surely own vehicles at a lower rate. And so on. I just get this picture of a person in an urban area, living alone in a studio apartment, dependent upon everyone else for basi…

I’m fond of the conspiracy theory that the rise of minimalism is actually propaganda to placate Millennials who can’t afford the same level of material comfort as their parents and other earlier generations enjoyed.

OTOH, if you're poor, it might be best to save every item in case it becomes useful later, whereas a rich minimalist can afford to give away or sell for cheap everything not needed right now, knowing that replacements can be bought when necessary.

Re: Buy well, buy once

#140

Post by Panushkin » Sat, Jun 10, 2023, 6:36 AM UTC

Yeah i still drive my 86 plymouth horizon. Gets me to work on 60 bucks for the month.Bloody thing will outlast me if i have anything to say about it.Plus it has a good radio 8)