I was thinking about this today. I try to research products and save up before buying something, so I invest in quality (also trying to buy responsibly due to environment), but sometimes I buy something expensive and then half a year later realize I didn’t use it as much as I had hoped to… but feel bad about donating / recycling the thing so soon since I paid a lot of money for it.
Another example is shaving razors. I’d like to buy a proper, metal one with a replaceable blade, but then I’m thinking how much nicer it is to just dispose of it once I am done (no need to clean it or sharpen it).
Any thoughts, experiences, comments are appreciate it. Really interested about what people think about this topic!
I find this to be a catch-22 situation. If I buy cheap and then find it to be very useful (but inferior because it was cheap) then I would feel bad about replacing it with a quality item and wasting the cheap one (even if I donate it) because I feel strongly about minimizing waste and promoting the use of throw away products. Then again, if I buy expensive and the item sits around I have wasted needless money that frankly I don’t have.
Right now I have just downsized from a two bedroom apartment to a one bedroom due to skyrocketing rent. I have to shrink my WFH desk space and am considering transitioning from my 32" widescreen monitor to just my laptop screen and a 15.6" portable monitor that can be packed away. The portable monitor would also become my main monitor for my gaming PC. This may or may not work out as being practical for my use case. I could get a no-name cheap portable monitor for about $100 but the brightness and colors may not be that great and response times for gaming poor. Or I could spend $400 on one with higher refresh rate, better colors and likely better stand options but if it doesn’t work out I’ve likely lost a lot of money even if I resell it. On top of that I’ve now contributed to consumerism and pollution twice which goes against my ethos.
I think a third option of buying-used needs to be a consideration. Personally, I dislike buying used for most things (especially tech). I generally get burnt by finding out the item was being sold because of some unreported defect and that bugs me as I like to keep my stuff pristine.
No real answer for you there, just an acknowledgement that the struggle is real.
Hey, no answer required, this is exactly what I wanted: Discussion. Thanks for writing out your thoughts!
I know exactly what you mean and I agree, it is a catch-22 situation very often. I’m still really struggling with this topic and that’s why I wanted to see different point of views and this thread has been successfull in that regard.
If you want an stranger’s experiences: Working on laptop / small screen alone sucks long term. I’ve found that having one really good screen at home and laptop alone for when I need to take work somewhere to be the best option. You’ll have a spot at home with a great monitor, which also works for gaming and you don’t need to worry about taking a lot of stuff with you when you need to go work somewhere.
For gaming I’ve actually been thinking about steamdeck! I tried out Nintendo Switch (was initially sceptical) but the amount I spent playing on the couch tells that it really worked for me - even though the screen is small. But yeah I also have a PC and afraid that one would be redundant in the end.
Agree on the used electronics. I only buy those from recycling centers here which repair, clean them and give you a 6 month warranty.
Hope you are comfortable in your new home and hope you can find the best option that fits you.
I’m also balancing the hope to become (with my wife) a digital nomad in the future, a one bag digital nomad if at all possible (I like a challenge). In that case a laptop and portable monitor are really the only good option so I’m tempted to go that route now just to get used to it. Of course there is no guarantee DNing will happen and I’d just be making my current life potentially difficult for no reason.
Ah, the challenges of balancing simple living, minimalism, and frugality. You can normally get two out of the three in any decision but rarely all of them. Another interesting topic for discussion perhaps?
I buy quality, but used. The thing about used is that you have to know when to buy used and when to buy new according to your needs/preferences. So consider some of the following categories:
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Clothing. Dead easy to buy amazing quality used. There’s a super saturated market of virtually unused clothes, often with the tags still on, at less than half of retail price. If you want a $500 dress that will last you 20 years AND maintain its resale value, you can find that for $100.
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Furniture. Personally, I used to think that I wanted a “perfect” home with a “perfect” aesthetic, but it turns out I like the idea of that more than actually doing it. Last time I moved I furnished my apartment with almost nothing but furniture off the street, and that created a better aesthetic/vibe than I ever could have purchased. People are dying to have you pick up their old furniture so that they don’t have to deal with it.
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Appliances. Again used. The discount on a used toaster or blender or whatever is so substantial that you could buy a second one if the first one didn’t work out. You do need to inspect it or buy online for buyer protection, but I’ve never been screwed over and not had recourse. This goes especially for the kinds of appliances that people use a couple of times and then throw into the closet. I also find that I have a far less “personal” connection to these items, so I don’t care if they’re a bit shabby.
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Electronics. These I buy new or refurbished. I buy refurbished phones that I’ve never had any issues with, usually an older model through a reputable online seller. Something like a laptop I’ll buy new - it’s just one of those things where it’s highly personalized and I want to know the history and the exact specs and such.
A lot of this comes down to a gut feeling imo, and the degree of personal connection to the item. You know in your gut that you’ll always be uneasy with a used laptop, or that you don’t care whether the desk you’re sitting at is a bit scratched up. You know you’ll regret spending money on aesthetic “fluff” when you could have gotten a cheap one used, and you know which pieces of clothing are keepers and which you’re going to get bored of in a year.
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I quite like the single use blades for razors. Easier to replace than the gym handle.
I think the rule is typically if you know you’re going to use it then buy quality. Things that your life depend on perhaps comfort. We all know the “what separates you from the ground, don’t cheap out: shoes, mattress, tires…”
I usually buy cheap for a lot or borrow from friends to determine usage. However, I decided to spend decent on a bike trainer and I genuinely hope I use it enough because like you, I put the info researching and saving. I’ll sell it if I done use it, but it’ll be really disappointing if that’s the case.
- It’s OK to buy some things cheap and other things for life. Figuring out which things should be which will be a process.
- You should feel great about donating expensive things. You’re not just getting rid of stuff, you are giving to a cause.
- Regarding a traditional razor, specifically: Ooh boy, that could go either way. The wetshaving community references various “Acquisition Disorders.” Razor AD, Soap AD, and the list goes on. Not getting sucked in takes discipline, and you could easily end up spending more money and taking up more space. However, you are likely to have achieve a greater value experience that brings enjoyment to your life regardless.
You’re not “giving to a cause”. I worked at donation centres for quite a while, and there’s a good chance that your stuff got tossed, and if not then it was picked up by a flipper. If you want it to be put into the hands of someone who needs it, you need to do it yourself.
I agree that it is a good idea to consider who in your community accepts donations, and try to make a mindful decision. As a matter of fact, I donate to a VERY small operation that I trust to be good stewards of what they receive.
I wish more people had something like that. Unfortunately “goodwill” at this point is just a fancy synonym for “feel-good junkyard”.
Depending on what it is, research and buy quality or even secondhand. I don’t see minimalism as being frugal by any means. I’ve just come to terms that it’s okay to donate nice things, especially since I know someone else will be thrilled to get it at a low price. Our parents have stopped giving us a lot of stuff though because they know we’ll just donate it or throw it away lol.
Also getting a reusable handle for safety blades is so worth it. This is box of 100 I bought on Amazon like 3 years ago. A much better shave and nice using a fresh blade
I agree! I like that the discussions here are different from frugal communities, because it would be boring if they had the same purpose and we wouldn’t hear the thoughts and opinions of those who are not striving towards frugal lifestyle. And lol I feel you with the parents donating stuff!
Thanks for the link and advice! I have been on the edge of buying reusable handle for a very long time, guess I really need to start looking more into it since the price for the blades doesn’t seem too bad.
I also got a little brush thing and a soap shaving cream to go full old school, but regular shaving cream works just fine. I hated shaving before, and now I still do, but less. Skin feels wayyy less razor burned this way though.
i’m poor so i’ll usually buy the cheapest of whatever i need and make it last for as long as possible
I do the same, same reason. But also take notice of how much it lasts. If it breaks too soon maybe consider saving and then buying something better.
yeah, my girlfriend has a rule where if something breaks then she tries to upgrade to the next best of whatever it is. i think it’s a good rule if you can afford it.
