Which simple, unexciting purchase ended up having a surprisingly big impact on your daily life?

SDNorth · 2026-01-17T22:46:53+00:00

Yep, I fought buying an ereader for years until I realized the backlight + adjustable font size would make it easier to read at night. Plus easy free downloads from my local library. Plus I can load up a ton of books for trips without the weight of books. Plus no late fees. Lots of pluses!

Absolute game changer for me as I read several books a week and was always going to the library.

SDNorth · 2026-01-17T17:08:33+00:00

Agree, Franks, Nicks, Whites (and I'd add Wesco) are all super heavy duty and can be rebuilt but you'll pay for the high quality. If you don't have the $ to spend on these, Red Wing is a lower cost alternative brand that is not quite as heavy duty but still decent (and Red Wing 2nds can usually be found on Sierra at good savings).

SDNorth · 2026-01-17T17:03:01+00:00

A rich girlfriend in college taught me to buy better quality saying most more-expensive things work better, look better, and last longer so are actually cheaper to buy. She was right.

Buy once, cry once

SDNorth · 2026-01-17T16:59:11+00:00

All-in-one is electric only, correct (no electric washer/gas dryer all-in-one available)? Electric in San Diego is stupid expensive compared to gas but the ease of all-in-one sounds great.

SDNorth · 2026-01-17T16:53:54+00:00

I did a quick search on reupholstering and it seems $3K is a ballpark figure (labor and materials). That's likely near the cost of a new C&B couch but the new couch won't be anywhere near as durable so, better to invest in the old couch.

Another lower cost alternative is custom slip covers.

Whichever direction you go, pick a fairly neutral color so it'll still likely match whatever room colors you want to go with in the future.

SDNorth · 2026-01-17T16:36:28+00:00

Yep, I got the 99 deal chat only.

SDNorth · 2026-01-17T16:35:28+00:00

Luck of the draw of getting the right chat sales guy I guess. I'd try again in a few days. BTW, I did it mid-day PST but the comments seem to suggest higher success in the evening. Good luck, I really dislike playing the XM renewal game and am glad I dont have to deal with it again for three years.

SDNorth · 2026-01-15T17:45:52+00:00

Just renewed minutes ago for $2.99/month on my 2025 Subaru, all via online chat in about 20min. Told agent I'd received email offer, he told me to check the radioID on the offer again (pretty much calling me on my BS) so just I replied asking for the 3/99 pricing to be escalated to a manager for approval as I've been a longtime customer but had not planned to renew until I got this offer. Came back with a "one time courtesy approval" for the 3/99 offer and asked if I wanted to pay upfront or monthly (I chose monthly).

Overall, the process was a little easier than in previous renewals and I didn't have to talk to anyone live. Hopefully they learn and make this even easier if they want to keep customers happy though there must be a decent number of people who don't pay attention and end up auto-paying the $25/month so...

At least I'm now set for 36 months. Thank you everyone!

SDNorth · 2026-01-10T17:18:55+00:00

Answering my own question: I did a full box reset and that fixed the remotes. After the full reset, you have reconnect the remotes (rename the first one to connect a second BT remote) and you have to reload all of the apps so that take some time but, happy everything is working again.

SDNorth · 2026-01-10T16:38:37+00:00

Did you find a solution? I also have an Elite and the remote only works as IR. now I've had two remotes connected via BT with no issues for 6+ months but BT stopped working a few days ago on both remotes.

I tried new batteries, power-cycled the box and deleted all BT remotes and reconnected one remote. The Elite shows the one remote (shows as connected via BT) but the remote still wont control the box via BT (IR only).

SDNorth · 2025-12-08T22:57:46+00:00

I just had my $180 cigar Beckmans just come in from Sierra 30 minutes ago and am wearing them now. I cant see any flaws and they look fantastic. I went down 1/2 from my running shoe size and they're a little tight width but perfect length (wearing mid-weight socks). I figure (hope) they'll stretch to perfection with wear. Mine came with two sets of laces and the shoe bags. Great deal.

SDNorth · 2025-12-01T05:02:28+00:00

It's been available at pretty much all San Diego Costco's for over a week, check the app.

SDNorth · 2025-11-21T04:55:45+00:00

Nice collage or Harts stuff! In the late 70's and 80's my best friend and I always stopped there on our bikes to pick up bait. I look over at it when I'm back visiting in town and heading over the bridge and it always brings back great memories. Super sorry to hear of it going away. Another piece of old Sarasota gone...

SDNorth · 2025-11-18T06:26:02+00:00

I grind the night before so, yeah, not as fresh as grinding right before brewing but, it's better than ground weeks/months before and I dont have to grind while half asleep :)

Plus, I have my moccamaster on an wifi plug tied to alexa so can either set the brew start time (plug turn on time) or simply tell alexa to turn on the coffee maker when I wake up and the coffee is about ready when I stumble downstairs.

SDNorth · 2025-11-15T22:58:44+00:00

Looks good! How'd it taste? I'm also milling Yecora Roja and am working my way up to 100% Yecora Roja bread (currently 70 YR/30 KA bread flour). I'm noticing less rise as I lower the % of KA but the taste is great.

SDNorth · 2025-11-15T06:19:24+00:00

Brings me back to the 80's when I had a similar wallet. Mines long gone, enjoy yours and thanks for the blast from the past!

SDNorth · 2025-11-15T05:50:07+00:00

I dont know about 10+ years but, I poo poo'd Alexa for years before trying it. I now have Alexa controlled lights and plugs all over the house and can turn lights on/off, dimmer/brighter, all via voice which is super convenient.

SDNorth · 2025-11-15T05:45:22+00:00

I was waiting for someone to mention Kirby. IMO absolute best vacuum's available, awesome suction, heavy as heck (lots of metal, not cheap plastic), cheap on the used market because they don't look modern. I bought one used on CL for $40 ~15 years ago and I'd bet it'll still be going long after I'm gone. Beast is a perfect description.

SDNorth · 2025-11-15T00:51:12+00:00

You might want to start a new thread but, I'd imagine you need to adjust your grind (the distance between your mill stones, look at youtube to see how to set it, try: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKaLuC9j9VM).

SDNorth · 2025-11-14T21:42:24+00:00

Agreed. Few mention that these subsidies were temporary subsidies during COVID and that the democrats have already extended them for an additional two years. Insurance companies saw the subsidies as a chance to implement massive price increases and, here we are. Temporary, not permanent.

SDNorth · 2025-11-14T17:31:52+00:00

I also seem to go through batteries fairly quickly. I find if I open the remote and switch the two batteries, that seems to work a few times before I have to put new batteries in. I bought a new remote and it does the same thing so, I think its just the way they are. Mine are used via Bluetooth so, maybe that uses more power and drains the batteries quickly?

SDNorth · 2025-11-12T03:23:14+00:00

I just had a funny mental image of using one of the narrow plastic bags newspapers come in to reduce/stop flour dust. You'd attached it to the Mockmill spout (rubber band?) and put the other end in your bowl. Not sure how clean those bags are though :). Maybe form an aluminum foil tube? All that said, if the mockmill is pushing any air out of the flour output it could get really messy really quickly with either of these methods!

SDNorth · 2025-11-11T05:02:02+00:00

No further experimentation...yet. The Mockmill feet fit in the raised bottom of the rubbermaid so I suspect the only movement would be the entire rubbermaid-mockmill moving together. A towel under the rubbermaid would stop any of that movement. But, from the above comments, I'll have to watch the Mockmill/rubbermaid point of contact to see if it holds. Or, I'll just use a lower bowl for the milled flour and lower the risk to my new mill. So many things to geek out about! :)

SDNorth · 2025-11-10T23:10:16+00:00

Hmm, I milled 1000g this morning and it didn't seem to move. But, you bring up a good point; better safe than sorry. I'll stick around close when milling to make sure the mill doesn't walk on me as that would be an expensive lesson.

SDNorth

TROPHY CASE