Cheapskates Corner

MacDoc

MacDoc

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What have you come up with lately that saved you money or repurposed something.

Since I'm the only one watching big screen at home save for very rare occasion the good quality Yamaha sound bar was gathering dust and did not fit very well under the new TV we got. I prefer to watch with the Momentum headphones which are contoured to my hearing deficit. I did like the Clear Voice option on The Yamaha Soundbar.
I moved it to the left and unhooked it - left a good spot for the 4k Blu Ray player.
Then it dawned on me it would be a very good bluetooth speaker system with some neat features.
Set up easily as a BT speaker on the laptop and can run it wireless from anywhere in the area. Much better sound than the Echo Studio tho that stays active.
I can run Amazon Music through the sound bar as well as any music on YouTube ....Brave avoids any commercials. Good stuff all around.

Actually considering buying another used one as there are lots available that were part of a home entertainment system where the TV has failed or been replaced. It will fit very well on the bookcase in my bedroom and again provide better sound than the Amazon Echo.
There was an LG for $50 - 400 watt only couple years old. Might still grab that.

Anything you've repurposed?
 
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Nobbie
You reminded me of an episode with my Mercedes 300SD. Windshield wipers stopped working. Quote from dealer ( and this was in the 80s ) $600. :eek:
took it to my regular mechanic in Sauga. $60 to braise the broken wiper arm:love:
....
Gene thanks for that I have a few broken zipper pulls on luggage and jackets. I also have many orphan keyrings. (y)
 
I have a fountain in my garden that I bought years ago. It’s cracked in places, it fell over once and broke a bit off. I fixed the leak, patched it all up and it holds water and looks fine. I keep doing this every year and probably will continue doing so until it decays. Once the water is running all the defects are hidden.

We don’t get take out anymore instead I cook big meals at the weekend and freeze them in portions. That saves us tons of cash.

We hunt around the house for things we haven’t used in months/years and sell them. Made about a thousand that way.

Most of my activities are with clubs or orgs that I have already got memberships for prepaid so no extra outlay. Some memberships were left to lapse if I wasn’t using them.

Parasitic draw on my bank account is real. Trawling through subscriptions and cancelling them is necessary periodically. All those dollars here and there add up.
 
Lightcycle said:
Keyrings make great zipper pulls on motorcycle gear when the originals break.

Very glove-friendly.

Don't tell me I'm the only one...?
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The clinking of metal zipper pulls on jackets or bags bugs me, so I always clip them off and replace them with shrink-wrapped cord.

Tom-Bihn-Brain-Bag-Custom-Zipper-Pull.jpg
 
A lot of shoes these days have hard plastic heel cups. That plastic breaks down after a while and stabs me in the ankle before the sole wears out. When that happens, I now cut off the back of the heel cup to turn the shoes into a pair of mules which last another 5 years.

I have also cut off the legs of worn out jeans and sewed one end shut to make tool bags. A ziptie or rubber coated wire works fine to close the open end if you don't feel like sewing in a zipper.

I don't like sewing, but it's a fundamental skill for cheapskates. A hand awl or a really stout needle and a thimble goes a long way when repairing motorcycle gear or luggage.
 
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Lightcycle said:
Keyrings make great zipper pulls on motorcycle gear when the originals break.

Very glove-friendly.

Don't tell me I'm the only one...?
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Ultra-cheapskate version (you are a student and have little money) - the beefiest unattended paperclips you can find

The zipper pulls on old Joe Rocket gear were all dogshit for some reason. Like I swear they stamped them out of zinc
 
Ash > A lot of shoes these days have hard plastic heel cups. That plastic breaks down after a while and stabs me in the ankle before the sole wears out. When that happens, I now cut off the back of the heel cup to turn the shoes into a pair of mules which last another 5 years.
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I'm wearing a pair now tho just flattened the heel and made them slip ons. Good for taking out the recycle ....9 am and

UPDATED 9:00AM AEST 29.6°​

FEELS LIKE 33.4°C​

Driveway is very hot on bare feet - tropical sun is brutal as solstice approaches. Solar dog is enjoying it tho. 🙄
 
Wingboy said:
Parachute packers charge ten bucks. No thanks. My pack jobs work pretty good.
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That sounds more like being safe than being cheap.
 
We like antiques but they usually get repurposed into a different use. Our Hoosier is the catchall needed in the kitchen, plastic bags, snacks, rarely used but handy items etc. I have a secretary (Writing desk with drop down front) in our bedroom. It holds my sock and underwear.
 
My wife makes me stop for orphan furniture at the curb. I’m a way back wood hound. Cedars coming out or big old maple that housed the neighborhood raccoons? Hi neighbour! What are your plans for that wood? Mind if i come back with a trailer and take a load off your hands?


I believe 2 or 3 chairs in our living room are from the curb. Lamps, plant bases etc. refurbish and new life at home. Or we bring them to the thrift store or scrap. Junk stays where it sits. Unless the boss says it’s treasure! Then I suggest a run to the dump and sneak it onto the trailer. Hide and seek curb furniture. Heck, the foam from the old hot tub cover is being used in in some large planters. I tried to get it to the dump!


The meme of the old man that used a piece of wood sitting in the garage for years is very applicable to this house. 😆
 
nakkers said:
My wife makes me stop for orphan furniture at the curb. I’m a way back wood hound. Cedars coming out or big old maple that housed the neighborhood raccoons? Hi neighbour! What are your plans for that wood? Mind if i come back with a trailer and take a load off your hands?


I believe 2 or 3 chairs in our living room are from the curb. Lamps, plant bases etc. refurbish and new life at home. Or we bring them to the thrift store or scrap. Junk stays where it sits. Unless the boss says it’s treasure! Then I suggest a run to the dump and sneak it onto the trailer. Hide and seek curb furniture. Heck, the foam from the old hot tub cover is being used in in some large planters. I tried to get it to the dump!


The meme of the old man that used a piece of wood sitting in the garage for years is very applicable to this house. 😆
Click to expand...
When they took down a huge maple in my back yard they wanted $1000 to cart away the wood. My neighbour was happy to take the free firewood. I also occasionally get free wood baked pizza from his oven.
 
nakkers said:
My wife makes me stop for orphan furniture at the curb. I’m a way back wood hound. Cedars coming out or big old maple that housed the neighborhood raccoons? Hi neighbour! What are your plans for that wood? Mind if i come back with a trailer and take a load off your hands?


I believe 2 or 3 chairs in our living room are from the curb. Lamps, plant bases etc. refurbish and new life at home. Or we bring them to the thrift store or scrap. Junk stays where it sits. Unless the boss says it’s treasure! Then I suggest a run to the dump and sneak it onto the trailer. Hide and seek curb furniture. Heck, the foam from the old hot tub cover is being used in in some large planters. I tried to get it to the dump!


The meme of the old man that used a piece of wood sitting in the garage for years is very applicable to this house. 😆
Click to expand...
You are very brave...I would be worried about bringing bed bugs, roaches and other nasty critters into my house...gives me the shivers...
 
nobbie48 said:
When they took down a huge maple in my back yard they wanted $1000 to cart away the wood. My neighbour was happy to take the free firewood. I also occasionally get free wood baked pizza from his oven.
Click to expand...
If it’s a neighbour I know, garage beers or something to express our gratitude is a given. Whisky or something.
 
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