My wallet cried a little when I bought new bike, then I calculated the cost of alternative (car, public transport) and was surprised that even nicer bike is cheaper.
If I count only operating cost of car it will pay off in about 1 - 1.5 years. Public transport is at about 2 years.
Yes I know that I have some infrastructure, and other things that make it possible for me to use it everyday as car.
Also I stay fit and healthy when I don’t sit in a car - so this is another value that can’t be easily put in monetary perspective.
I did the same math when I bought my bike. How many times do I have to ride it to work to break even on this purchase? And as soon as I hit that threshold I never touched the thing again. Turns out I hate riding a bike.
3D Printer. You’ll probably need to learn a bit of 3D modeling to get the most out of it and it is a hobby in its own right… But man, the amount of little bullshit stuff I had to buy from Amazon that now I print for pennies and to the exact specifications that I need. I made a new door shelf for my fridge to hold my coffee carafe, a door stop, a loop for my bedside table to hold cables, bracket to hold my webcam, hydroponics tower, drawer organizers, pegboard hooks, a plate to cover a weird shaped hole in my wall, a bracket to hang a rgb smart bulb behind my monitor, a phone stand, angled smart doorbell mount, broom and mop hanger, board games, and of course attachments for my 3D printer!!
A 3D Printer and CAD software, especially if you can get around free software.
Break a plastic thingy, why spend $50 on a replacement when you can make one. On no that broke, learn why and make it better.
I’m at the point where I can 3D print small tablet cases, and it’s funny watching the included injection moulded accessories fall apart, while mine is going strong.
It’s not for everyone, and there is a skill gap that’s bigger than most people are comfortable jumping. But if you have the desire/want to learn CAD or 3D printing, it will pay for itself, if you use it right.
I can think of a few that have served me well:
- A good laser printer: $100 plus a few reams of paper have covered my printing needs for over a decade (and going)
- Wool socks for the winter. Makes dropping the thermostat a degree or two much less unpleasant
- A good, 100W USB-C PD charger. I’ve got a few, and they’ll charge/power pretty much any of my devices (including laptop).
100% laser printer. My Brother laser paid for itself the first time I bought a set of cheap toner for it. I don’t understand why people buy/rent inkjet ripoffs.
I spotted one on the curb and thought it was an Epson at first glance. Took another look and saw it was a BW Brother laser the internet nerds are always going on about. I took it inside and dried the water off from the rain that just started, and was ready to take it back out to the curb where I found it whenever I discovered why it was put outside.
That thing is rock solid.
My girlfriend insists on having her Canon inkjet for color, and that thing bugs out at least once a month. Her mom’s HP has been a nightmare for me to deal with over the time she’s had it. This trash Brother has been the best home printer and scanner I’ve had in my near 30 years of computing. It’s still going on the toner it came with, not that I print much. Any wifi issues have not been related to the printer. It prints and scans great. From what I understand, third party toner should be no issue when the time comes as there’s no chip.
The hype is real on these Brothers.
Anything you purchase to put between you and the ground. Shoes, tires, beds, furniture, foundations
