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What Things Would You Keep Buying Even If the Price Doubled?
- bmer 8y agoFood. Medicine. Shelter. Thankfully, these are generally well-regulated in Canada. I am having a hard time thinking of other products which I would pay double for: * clothes: I already buy these at a thrift store * laptop/computer/internet access: provided by university; I do have home internet, but if the price doubled, I'd probably just spend more time at the library * soap/toothpaste/shampoo: I don't use soap, as water-only showers I find are pretty good in keeping me smelling neutral; toothpaste I could do without (it just feels more icky) and shampoo I can actually replace with soap, if its price doubles (soap being cheaper than shampoo)---in terms of hygiene, I don't think there is anything else I really use (maybe razors, but I could just get used to growing a proper beard if the price of razors doubled?), and I think I do a pretty good job of not smelling * apps/games: I don't spend money on these typically, and definitely not if their price doubles; also, open source stuff is awesome * transportation: I use public transit, but again this is regulated in Canada; if the price did double though, I could pick up cycling (especially since there are also likely to be less cars on the road then) The great thing about working in math is that you can do useful mathematics even if you are in a prison, without pen and paper. So, my "work" (does play really count as work?) requires very little in terms of resources, apart from a metric crap-ton of patience, and mental energy (which depends on food). It's worth noting that I am not in any sort of fancy/well-paying/tenured position at a university. Yay for taxes, which provide public services which help lazy do-nothings like me keep their mental hallucinations sustainable!
- anticensor 8y agoWater.
- TuringNYC 8y agoThus the rationale behind this prescient (devious?) investment trend: https://www.wsj.com/articles/harvard-quietly-amasses-california-vineyardsand-the-water-underneath-1544456396 https://www.wsj.com/articles/harvard-quietly-amasses-califor... WSJ: Harvard Quietly Amasses California Vineyards—and the Water Underneath Making a bet on climate change, the university’s $39 billion endowment has been snapping up farmland and the related water rights
- jlarocco 8y agoI recently found out from a friend that the Walton family is (supposedly) doing a similar thing here in Colorado. Basically buying up large properties with water rights, and then sitting on them for later. I'm not thrilled about it, but at least they're not developing them.
- momentmaker 8y agoI remember at the end of the movie The Big Short, it had said Dr. Burry was investing all of his money on his next big bet: water.
- Akinato 8y agoI honestly don't think I would keep buying anything that's over $20, and isn't a basic human necessity -- Unless there was also a huge jump in quality that matches the price jump.
- alephnan 8y agoDo you consider a laptop a basic human necessity ?
- SlightRespect 8y agoGarbage removal. If your trash man stops coming to haul away your waste, you've got a problem. You will then ask, "how much do I need to pay to get this service back?" Same with most utilities.
- klyrs 8y agoGasoline. Bring on the 100% tax
- anticensor 8y agoCome to Turkey. We have 200+ percent tax on gasoline but no one stops refuelling.
- chaosbutters314 8y agoAs long as goes to fixing potholes and paying for public transportation
- klyrs 8y agolol potholes will be the least of our worries when we hit 3C. What we need that money for is emergency preparedness, and improved, sustainable, climate hardened infrastructure. Not to mention environmental remediation. Make it 400%
- theamk 8y agoCheap things. For example, Q-tips are $3 per box which lasts a us couple of years. If the price doubles (or triples for that matter), I'd still be buying that.
- pram 8y agoVideo card and processor prices have essentially doubled recently and I keep buying them so there you go.
- chaosbutters314 8y agoAMD keeps undercutting Intel
- JamesLeonis 8y agoCoffee. I roast my own coffee, so I can get many pounds of green coffee for ~$6 a pound or less. Buying it pre-roasted easily quadruples the price. Buying a cup of coffee, whether a latte or trucker-stop black, is tantamount to lighting money on fire. At the same time, I look at the markets for coffee and it strikes me that Hawaii's Kona is likely closer to the true cost of coffee production if we wanted to pay a non-exploitative and sustainable price (both are debatable, I'll admit). This doubles the price of green beans compared to other origins. Thus not only would I pay double (because I have in the past) but I also think coffee is underpriced in the global market.
- turtlecloud 8y agocondoms - the cost benefit analysis is huge.
- momentmaker 8y agolol yes. if cheap, spray and pray option works too ;)
- sunstone 8y agoCars.