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Thread: Just trying it out
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06-25-2011, 10:22 PM #1Registered User
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Just trying it out
I'll often scour garage sales and thrift shops for items that have caught my eye, that I suddenly think I can't live without, but that I'm not sure will serve my needs no matter how much I think I want it. I figure if I can pick something up inexpensively to try it, it's worth what it costs just to find out.
Last year I picked up one of those rectangular folding campfire cooking grates for $1.50 at Goodwill. At the time, I was convinced I'd just love to have one and nothing else would do. They sell new for about $14, but I was just not willing to pay that much for one. I used it for the first time while camping a couple weeks ago and decided I didn't like it because the height can't be adjusted, so will be donating it either as a door prize for an upcoming RV rally, or back to Goodwill. Still, it was worth $1.50 to find out I didn't like it.
Next up, the $20 tripod grill I paid $3 for, just so I could try that out.
I figure it's better to spend $1.50 to find out something doesn't work for me, than ten times that or more buying the same thing new.
So how many of you do this, too? What have you bought that you thought would be the coolest thing, only to find it didn't work out for you after all?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Anything you cannot relinquish when it has outlived its usefulness possesses you.” -Mildred Lisette Norman
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06-26-2011, 01:20 AM #2Registered User
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I am sorta like that too. I knew I wanted a small, compact video camera. The Flip model looks ideals, but the one I really like was more than I wanted to spend. My mom got me an "off" brand for Christmas until I could afford the Flip. I've found that I don't use it enough to justify the Flip and that the $40 model she got me is perfect for me.
I often have to stop myself for jumping in with both feet and convince myself to try an alternate and often find that what I thought I wanted/needed wasn't for me after all!Working on Our Debt a Day at a Time:
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06-26-2011, 01:23 AM #3Moderator
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Up to now, I've never purchased something second hand or whatever just to try it out. I have borrowed dehydrator and bread machine from friends to try them out - for free!!
Travel light. The baggage of the past can only hold you back.
“Decluttering isn't just simplifying your life. It's having a vision, setting new priorities and using those notions to get rid of obstacles.”
— Peter Walsh
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06-26-2011, 01:00 PM #4Registered User
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You can really see things outside the box SD. That's great. I wish I could be more like that.
Dh Bob
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06-26-2011, 04:08 PM #5Registered User
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I love second hand !
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