• berryjam@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    I wanna say get good gear for your hobbies, but most of us probably don’t need convincing to spend on what we love. I resisted buying a good set of gear for my main hobby for nearly two years, and I wish I’d done it sooner.

    • finestnothing@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      There was a post earlier asking for slurs for beginners in a hobby that buy the top of the line stuff for the hobby. Don’t cheap out on starter gear, but don’t go for top of the line right out of the gate either

  • Ænima@lemm.ee
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    2 months ago

    Definitely bed. Not affiliated in any way but AmeriSleep makes the best bed and pillows I have ever slept on. Hands down no comparison. It’s the perfect combo of firmness and conformity.

  • leauxhigh@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    water filters, go whole house if able but get decent filters for kitchen and bathroom faucets, including the shower. You don’t want to breath city water steam, or soak in it. imo it’ll help improve your quality of life and be kinder to your skin. Many last for a good while so it’s not really that costly.

  • weeeeum@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    This is a niche one but quality sharpening stones. A complete blindspot for sharpeners in the western hemisphere.

    People assume that the edge is great if it’s sharp. There are even people that will sharpen on a brick, strop on green goop, shave hair, and claim you don’t need fancy sharpening stones.

    Truth is, the sharpening stone dictates edge retention as much as the blade’s quality can. Can you get hair shaving sharp on a brick? Yes. Will it stay sharp? No.

    This is why the Japanese go crazy for special and expensive stones. The quality of stones are so important that in medieval times, the best stone quarries were classified military secrets.

    I recently attended a seminar and the speaker spoke how the 30,000 grit stones DOUBLED his edge retention over his 16,000 grit stone.

    What you use to sharpen MATTERS, and that’s why they get so damn expensive.

  • kubok@fedia.io
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    2 months ago

    Running shoes because when you wear ill-fitting shoes, you will hurt yourself eventually.

    • Brutticus@lemm.ee
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      2 months ago

      Shoes in general. Youll have so much more stamina at festivals and other places if you have sturdy shoes that fit well.

      • kubok@fedia.io
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        2 months ago

        I switcthed to barefoot shoes for hiking and everyday. They are the opposite of sturdy, but well worth the investment. As a guy in his late forties, I have fewer little nagging pains.

        • Deadful@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          I second this. I have huge feet (US men’s 15 extra wide) and after a lifetime of cramming my feet into shoes that fit “good enough” I’m developing bunions along with other aches and issues. After a particularly painful weekend on my feet I decided to see if the Internet had any suggestions and I fell down the barefoot shoe rabbit hole. I initially balked at the price and styling of most brands I saw but the cheaper options simply didn’t come in my size. I decided to go for it and got a pair of Xero shoes since they make a men’s 15 that isn’t too hideous and I haven’t looked back. Best decision I have made in the last 2 years.

          • frozenpopsicle@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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            2 months ago

            Never heard of Xero, thanks! I personally swear by my size 15 Red Wing steel toed boots. Foot pain is pretty bad, it screws up your entire posture. Having custom inserts made was really worth it for me.

  • anon6789@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    If you write or sign things a lot, get a couple decent pens. Not expensive ones you’d be upset if you lost them, but not sad, free office pens.

    I’ve gotten numerous compliments on my Pilot Precise V5. It’s bold, but easy to read, and if anyone borrows it, they’ll notice it’s smooth and feels nice to use.

    The Precise is a rollerball. If you need a ballpoint, Uni Jetstream is great. Pentel Energel or Bic Inkjoys for gel. Grab a pair of each and you can write on near anything.

    Zebra Sarasa Grand is a nice metal body with binder clip type clip if you want an upgrade. The above pens all use the same size refill, so if you like one body but a different ink, you can swap them.

    The Grand is around $10, the rest you can find for around $5 for a pair.

    If you’re using a pen all day, it’s an upgrade you’ll notice whenever you grab a freebie pen and it’s scratchy, the ink skips, and it smudges. It’s a nice upgrade that will feel more luxurious than the price would imply.

      • anon6789@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Those were my gateway drug pen!

        I like the soft touch body of the Inkjoys more, and I feel Energels don’t last as long, but they’re still one of the top budget pens and I like they come in a number of body styles and colors.

              • anon6789@lemmy.world
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                2 months ago

                It may sound silly, but don’t be afraid to practice your writing.

                I tried fountain pens for a bit (too fussy for me) and to get practice at it and get my cursive skills back up, I would copy the Duolingo I was doing at the time. That way I got to practice writing and language at the same time. You can always just copy articles or books or whatever.

                You could practice copying font styles too if you want something special. If your writing stinks, steal someone else’s! 😁

                • Rai@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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                  2 months ago

                  You’re sweet! I would love to try the pens that part while you press harder, but regular pens make my shaky-ass hand look terrible. Maybe I could get better with practice!

    • ___@lemm.ee
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      2 months ago

      The jet streams feel smoother than any others I’ve tried.

    • mommykink@lemmy.worldOP
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      2 months ago

      The Pilot Precice (V7 because I’m not a heathen) literally got me my first date with my current fiancée. I barely handwrite anymore since I graduated a few years ago but still make a note to grab a pack of those pens whenever I notice my home supply is getting a little thin. They’re really lovely things

      • anon6789@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        That’s awesome! I have fancier pens, but the Precise is always the attention grabber when people write with it.

        My gf is a 0.7 user and hates all my 0.5, but I write smaller than she does and the ink lasts longer as a bonus. She writes bigger to enjoy the bold lines.

      • anon6789@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Jotter is a classic!

        Check out the OHTO Rays for something similar. It’s a plastic body so it cuts down on both weight and price.

  • athairmor@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    There’s the adage, “spend your money where you spend your time.”

    If you’re going to spend a lot of time in front of a TV, get a nice one. Cook a lot? Get the good knives and pans. Don’t read much? Don’t buy an e-reader or book subscription service. Not big into DIY? Get cheap drill/driver for the rare times you need it.

    There’s plenty of exceptions but it’s a nice general rule.

    • Tiptopit@feddit.org
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      2 months ago

      Even if you are into DIY: Buy cheaper once, if something breaks buy something more expensive.

      • mommykink@lemmy.worldOP
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        2 months ago

        I see this a lot and take some issue with it the wording of it. I think a lot of people say this thinkkng of something like Ryobi or Harbor Freight as the “cheap” guys, when in reality the price scaling of tools puts those makes pretty squarely in the mid to high-end bracket.

        In reality, there are some cheap tools that are downright unsafe for use that some people might see after reading that comment and decide to get.

        ETA: If it’s sharp, spins, or runs on electricity, get it from a physical store or highly reputable online vendor and make sure it has a warranty

        • Ben Hur Horse Race@lemm.ee
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          2 months ago

          I dunno, I’ve had good luck with Aldi and Lidl “Center Isle” power tool purchases. Thats Workzone and Parkside tools, a far cry from mid to high-end. If I use something enough that it merits a replacement, I buy the Makita version

          • PlasticExistence@lemmy.world
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            2 months ago

            Those are still from a reputable store. I think the really cheap ones are the Chinese ones that don’t even have a brand name. Slightly above that are the Chinese made ones with a nonsense word for the brand name.