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Because you seem content with this path, may I ask how old you are, or at least how long you've been on this path? I'm also curious to hear examples of the 2% y

Because you seem content with this path, may I ask how old you are, or at least how long you've been on this path? I'm also curious to hear examples of the 2% you mention. I'm young but I try to have this same approach of taking the time to buy nice things which will last (furniture, kitchenware, camping gear), and tend to be a bit obsessive about ratings + reviews. I sometimes wonder if this is the "right" approach or if I would be happier buying cheaper crap and spending less time doing it. I do find strong intrinsic value when I'm confident I bought the thing which best fits my needs after doing hours/days of research.

Daishiman 12y ago
Believe me, having durable goods is one of the few material things that have brought me lasting happiness (or at least made me avoid chronic unhappiness). It really depends on the class of goods. I enjoy high-quality audio, so I made the effort to do some research and spent decent money on a good sound card and two high-end headphones. End of story; it's unlikely that I'll need a replacement for those things for a decade. Thankfully there are tons of good products in the area and it makes little sense to sweat it once you're found a dozen good choices. As far as furniture goes; it really depends on how obsessive you are on design and interior decoration. There's a healthy compromise to strike between utility, cost, and aesthetics, and my experience is that once you have a solid idea for your interior decoration (which is not easy, mind you) you're probably good to go; minor blemished and defects should not detract from your satisfaction. In kitchenware, solid and cheap is a good combination. Apart from knives, the most important thing is build quality, but a cheap cast-iron pan is good as long as you're not burning stuff.
kstenerud 12y ago
I'm 39 now, but I started this path late. Most of my life was spent going from country to country, with all of my possessions able to fit in two bags. I was also reduced to the shirt on my back a couple of times in business ventures gone wrong. What I've discovered is that there aren't actually that many things to get. A bed, a dresser, a kitchen table and chairs, a couch, a coffee table, a TV, stand, amp and some speakers, living room chairs, a desk + chair, a bookshelf. After that it's outfitting the kitchen and bathroom, clothing, and some art for the walls. That covers the necessities. Beyond that it's just supporting your hobbies & things you do for fun. The other 2% are things like a car (I just use Zipcar for now), some of the more high tech gizmos for the kitchen, more camping gear, good pots & pans once I get better at cooking - Stuff I can live without, so I'm content to wait for a really great deal before buying. The best part is finding something you know you'll need eventually (because it's on your list), but it's available now at a deep discount because some shopkeeper is desperate to be rid of it. That's actually the key: having the ability to be patient. For about a year, I kept a list of everything I wanted to buy, including links to what were the best in each area. Then I'd keep an eye out for sales, check out garage sales & flea markets, go to second hand stores, surplus stores, etc. I tried to not buy unless I could get it for 70-80% off the new price or better, while still of acceptable quality. For brand new stuff over $50, I'd usually only buy at 40% off or better. To completely furnish my place with stuff I'll never replace, I spent about $2000 over the course of a year. Some stuff was free. Some stuff was damn near free (my solid oak desk was $20) Some stuff I ended up paying a fair price for, because I would accept no substitute. My biggest purchase was a 50" TV for $500, which I'll keep for the next 10 years or so unless it actually breaks. My older, 8 year old 32" TV I now use as an external monitor. It still works like the day I bought it, but then again I also researched the shit out of it before buying (Sharp Aquos, on sale 40% off). The best part about buy-it-for-life stuff is that a used item is just as good as a new. The research is slow and tedious. The key is to not be in a hurry. There is a finite amount of stuff to get, and you can probably survive without it for awhile.

Daishiman 12y ago

Believe me, having durable goods is one of the few material things that have brought me lasting happiness (or at least made me avoid chronic unhappiness). It really depends on the class of goods. I enjoy high-quality audio, so I made the effort to do some research and spent decent money on a good sound card and two high-end headphones. End of story; it's unlikely that I'll need a replacement for those things for a decade. Thankfully there are tons of good products in the area and it makes little sense to sweat it once you're found a dozen good choices. As far as furniture goes; it really depends on how obsessive you are on design and interior decoration. There's a healthy compromise to strike between utility, cost, and aesthetics, and my experience is that once you have a solid idea for your interior decoration (which is not easy, mind you) you're probably good to go; minor blemished and defects should not detract from your satisfaction. In kitchenware, solid and cheap is a good combination. Apart from knives, the most important thing is build quality, but a cheap cast-iron pan is good as long as you're not burning stuff.

kstenerud 12y ago

I'm 39 now, but I started this path late. Most of my life was spent going from country to country, with all of my possessions able to fit in two bags. I was also reduced to the shirt on my back a couple of times in business ventures gone wrong. What I've discovered is that there aren't actually that many things to get. A bed, a dresser, a kitchen table and chairs, a couch, a coffee table, a TV, stand, amp and some speakers, living room chairs, a desk + chair, a bookshelf. After that it's outfitting the kitchen and bathroom, clothing, and some art for the walls. That covers the necessities. Beyond that it's just supporting your hobbies & things you do for fun. The other 2% are things like a car (I just use Zipcar for now), some of the more high tech gizmos for the kitchen, more camping gear, good pots & pans once I get better at cooking - Stuff I can live without, so I'm content to wait for a really great deal before buying. The best part is finding something you know you'll need eventually (because it's on your list), but it's available now at a deep discount because some shopkeeper is desperate to be rid of it. That's actually the key: having the ability to be patient. For about a year, I kept a list of everything I wanted to buy, including links to what were the best in each area. Then I'd keep an eye out for sales, check out garage sales & flea markets, go to second hand stores, surplus stores, etc. I tried to not buy unless I could get it for 70-80% off the new price or better, while still of acceptable quality. For brand new stuff over $50, I'd usually only buy at 40% off or better. To completely furnish my place with stuff I'll never replace, I spent about $2000 over the course of a year. Some stuff was free. Some stuff was damn near free (my solid oak desk was $20) Some stuff I ended up paying a fair price for, because I would accept no substitute. My biggest purchase was a 50" TV for $500, which I'll keep for the next 10 years or so unless it actually breaks. My older, 8 year old 32" TV I now use as an external monitor. It still works like the day I bought it, but then again I also researched the shit out of it before buying (Sharp Aquos, on sale 40% off). The best part about buy-it-for-life stuff is that a used item is just as good as a new. The research is slow and tedious. The key is to not be in a hurry. There is a finite amount of stuff to get, and you can probably survive without it for awhile.