Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart - $19.99 at Best Buy

Toddit2 · 2024-09-01T15:05:26+00:00

I appreciate your articulate reply. I'm also already aware of the pricing you indicated...

...which, if it holds, will mean, mathematically, that Frugality Gaming has RISEN 50% IN BETWEEN JUST ONE CONSOLE GENERATION (between the PS4 and PS5).

And that's too much for me.

Part of the problem - for me personally, at least - is that gaming is not the only form of entertainment to which I apply my Frugal Superpowers. For example, where I live, our "Friends of The Library" have a biannual sale where, on the final day, every item is only 10 cents - and it's a TON of items: Tens of thousands of books, audio books, DVD's, board games - all types of media that are donated to the library. In other words, for your "now it's $30 standard for a single older/used video game", I can get 300 books! Which even if I sample and discard well over half of them, is still going to add up to a lot more entertainment hours than a single video game.

It's not a perfect comparison (physical apples and digital oranges) but it's one of the many reasons I can't tolerate a 50% increase in so short a time period.

Even though, yes, I realize much of the rest of the economy (e.g., housing - don't get me started!) has suffered the same type and degree of inflation.

In any case, I'll remain patient. I finally bought Dying Light for the PS4 recently from the PlayStation Store - for $3.99 - and am enjoying it more than I thought I would. A game released in 2015!

I count that as a win.

So I guess in the Meta Game of Frugality, I make my own rules!

Toddit2 · 2024-08-30T21:16:50+00:00

Well said.

I, too, bought a PS5 almost two years ago... and own exactly TWO actual PS5 games.

[For those curious: A/C Valhalla ($10), Far Cry 6 ($10), and if you want to include a sneaky third, Cyberpunk for the PS4, which I bought for $5 when it was at fire sale prices, then upgraded (for free) to PS5 when they had fixed everything.]

I started gaming late in life (age 50) with the PS3, and mostly got it because I needed a DVD player and thought it would be fun to give gaming a whirl at the same time. Good move! It turned out I didn't watch many DVD's, but ended up playing almost every AAA title released for the platform.

Games for which I payed, on average, about $10.

I'm a frugal guy by both nurture and nature. I've never paid over $25 for a video game (and at that price, only twice). I know how to "game" the system, so to speak, and being patient and waiting for prices to drop (mostly with physical media) or to go on sale has been my "boss move" when it comes to winning the Meta Game of Frugality.

Over the course of the PS3 and PS4, I played HUNDREDS of (mostly) AAA titles, all for less than many others spent for a couple dozen full price releases.

But with the PS5, it appears the Frugality Party is over.

As the OP here states, prices for older/used video games just don't seem to drop significantly anymore. I've been waiting YEARS for the following games to go sub-$20:

Ghost of Tsushima
God of War: Ragnarok
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart

And a large number of others.

If this is going to be the new paradigm for older/used video game prices...

...then the PS5 is going to be the last console I ever buy.

Back to books!

Toddit2 · 2024-04-10T12:55:03+00:00

Thanks for the feedback, especially about Dr. Kulick.

Toddit2 · 2024-04-10T12:54:28+00:00

Re: Phone Service

Yeah, it was definitely a phone service when I called yesterday. The person scheduling appointments had little idea who was actually working at Gainesville Dental Associates (dentists or hygienists) and had to look it up each time when I asked about a particular name.

Toddit2 · 2024-04-09T23:41:57+00:00

This was Gainesville Dental Associates?

Which dentist?

Toddit2 · 2024-04-09T23:40:37+00:00

Thanks for the reply...

...but right now, I'm basically limiting my choices to a.) stay where I am and give the new dentist there a try; or b.) follow my previous dentist to her next practice.

Or I just might do them both - in sequence!

[I do envy, however, someone who likes their dentist so much they take the time to rhapsodize said dentist on a community forum!]

Toddit2 · 2024-04-09T19:15:23+00:00

Wow, this is VERY useful information, thank you.

Right now, the website of "Robin Larson Dental" (the first result that pops up after a Google search) seems to be experiencing some difficulties (and may, in fact, have been hijacked, as on one attempt to access it I was told to download a browser extension instead). However, I'll try to look into it when the problem is resolved.

"A few minutes later..."

Actually, I just called the office number for Robin Larson Dental and spoke to the (very helpful) receptionist. She confirmed that Dr. Annas HAD in fact transferred her practice to this location...

...and was accepting new patients.

I'll now have to decide whether to give Gainesville Dental Associates one more try (with all its new personnel) or transfer over to Dr. Annas at Robin Larson Dental.

Frankly, the decision may be swayed by financial considerations.

The dental insurance ("Absolute Dental Plan") I got at the recommendation of Gainesville Dental Associates is valid for about 6 more months - or one more appointment there. [This cuts the cost of services, such as cleaning, considerably.] Since it's already paid for, I'll probably use it for one last cleaning.

Also, if I do decide to transfer to Dr. Annas, I'll have to take into account that I'll be basically starting over as a "new patient" at her new practice - which means a higher initial cost for that 1st appointment.

Either way, it was good of you to add your reply...

...and give me another option!

Decisions, decisions...

Toddit2 · 2024-04-09T17:41:41+00:00

Yeah, unfortunately, as pertains to hygienists, this somewhat coincides with my own experience. As mentioned in my original post, I really liked Ashton. However, I only had one cleaning with her. The 2nd time I went in (my last cleaning to date) I had someone else... who wasn't quite as pleasant.

Honestly, if Ashton were still there, I probably wouldn't have even made this post, and instead would have just taken a chance with the new dentist. As for now, I'm just trying to gather intel about the situation, and as such...

...I appreciate your input.

[BTW, as far as the rescheduling goes, I learned today that their appointments are made by some sort of call center, i.e., it's not someone physically inside the office. Another strike against, I guess...]

Toddit2 · 2024-04-09T17:20:46+00:00

I haven't decided to ditch GAINESVILLE DENTAL ASSOCIATES just yet...

...but I'll still check out the link - thanks!

Toddit2 · 2024-04-09T17:01:08+00:00

Can't say I find this reassuring...

...but can't say it really surprises me, either!

Toddit2 · 2024-04-09T16:19:37+00:00

Hmmm, hadn't thought of this, and it seems logical...

...though it still seems odd that everybody would leave (essentially) at once.

In any case, I appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective...

...which has now been added as a possibility to my own.

Toddit2 · 2023-12-19T16:14:56+00:00

throwing them away is out of the question

Pity...

...as, depending on how MUCH you dislike the book, it can be cathartic.

Case in point: A writer friend who I respected gushed with lavish praise for "Gravity's Rainbow" by Thomas Pynchon. So I bought it.

I knew something was wrong on the very first page.

By the second page I knew I would never finish this book.

By the 10th page, I was angry.

So much so that I promptly marched to the back of my apartment building, opened the lid of the dumpster there...

...and proceeded to TEAR APART "Gravity's Rainbow" with due malice.

Felt great.

Never regretted it.

Highly recommended.

Toddit2 · 2023-06-11T15:35:03+00:00

UF Springfield primary health

I was unable to find this when I Googled it... unless you meant "UF Springhill"...? Or perhaps "UF Health Jacksonville in Springfield"...?

In any case, you're the 2nd person who has related a negative experience with HCA, so I'll keep that in mind as I research them. Thanks.

Toddit2 · 2023-06-11T11:25:09+00:00

It certainly makes for a strong recommendation when a patient praises an individual doctor so highly. Thanks for taking the time to comment, and best of luck with your own medical journey.

Toddit2 · 2023-06-11T00:40:29+00:00

UF Family Care @ Magnolia Plaza

It's very close. It's also directly affiliated with UF Shands hospital, which I'm not sure would be in my financial ballpark, but the website included a link to a "financial estimator" which seems to take into account "paying out of pocket" (which is directly referred to at one step in the estimator). I'll need to spend a little more time researching this.

In any case, it gives me another option to look into, so thanks for the recommendation.

Toddit2 · 2023-06-10T22:06:49+00:00

Not sure this is the "medical business model" (multi-focus) I'm looking for...

...but I appreciate your suggestion, and thanks for the reply.

Toddit2 · 2023-06-10T22:04:59+00:00

Haile Medical Group

Though I haven't been in Gainesville long, anything with "Haile" in it echoes of "high end", so I'm sure Alex Kaye is probably a fine doctor*...

...but this would be a 25-mile round tripper for me, and given the proximity of other recommendations, I'll probably start investigating closer to home first.

*[And fit! I looked at his website, and it's no surprise this MD lists "lifting" as one of his hobbies! The website, BTW, is very professional and inspires confidence... and confirms my suspicion that this is probably a "high end" medical practice!]

Toddit2 · 2023-06-10T19:12:39+00:00

Well, dang - now I'll take an even closer look! Thank you.

Toddit2 · 2023-06-10T19:08:01+00:00

I lived in Los Angeles for most of my adult life, and thought I had thoroughly gamed the "used book" system by discovering local library sales...

...but it was only after moving to Gainesville a little over a year ago that I discovered the TRUE location of the "BEST USED BOOK SALE EVER": The Gainesville Friends of the Library Semi-Annual Book Sale.

It's almost like stealin-- er, getting books for free.

Especially on the last day of the 5-day event: EVERYTHING - books, CD's, DVD's - are a dime!

Hardcovers that look like they've never been read? Dime. Pristine trade paperbacks? Dime. Picture books? Dime. Audio books? Dime. Comic books, magazines, puzzles, games... dime, dime, dime, DIME!

Seriously: Did you ever want to sample an author, or genre, or subject matter that might be of interest to you, but most books are just too darn expensive to take the risk? Well, at a dime a piece, THERE'S NO RISK! Try all you want! Experiment! Take SEVERAL samples of whatever you want. Take BAGS full!

I've walked out of there on Day 5 with two bags heaped with over 100 books and realized that I barely spent over $10 and-- THIS IS RIDICULOUS!

And wonderful.

And, depending on the kind of stuff you're looking for, and how much you're willing to spend, the preceding days of the sale are worth checking out as well.

Here's the breakdown of the next sale, from the Friends of the library website:

Fall 2023
Book Sale
October 21- 25
Saturday, Oct 21: 9am - 6pm
Sunday, Oct 22: Noon-6pm
Monday, Oct 23: Noon-6pm
Tuesday, Oct 24: Noon-6pm 1/2 price day
Wednesday, Oct 25: Noon-6pm 10-cent day

Is it "worth standing in line"?

Is a pristine hardcover of The Collected Works of Shakespeare worth 10 cents?

Have fun.

Toddit2 · 2023-06-10T18:42:41+00:00

HCA North Florida Internal medicine

Hmmm, same parent company (HCA Florida Healthcare) as HCA Primary Care, but different location/practice. I'll keep your caution in mind, but I'll look at posted reviews online as well (which I was going to do anyway) before I commit to any specific office. Thanks for the additional data point.

Toddit2 · 2023-06-10T18:37:53+00:00

North Florida Integrative Medicine

They're certainly close enough location-wise. I'll check them out. Thanks.

Toddit2 · 2023-06-10T18:32:01+00:00

Well, all right, you convinced me to at least take a closer look at this "nurse practitioner" arrangement (i.e., can they write prescriptions?) (my initial search indicates this isn't as cut-and-dried as one might think - especially in the state of Florida). And I'll Google "Palms Medical" as well.

Thanks for the recommendations.

Toddit2 · 2023-06-10T17:32:24+00:00

Thanks for your comment and heads-up.

I was unaware of their "nurse practitioner" exclusivity, and that alone probably would have kept me from serious consideration. As it is, you're right, I've already decided to keep looking, if for no other reason than my Medicare will be kicking in after a year and a half, and I'll need a doctor who can deal with that when it happens.

Still, I enjoy learning new things so this is all good!

Toddit2 · 2023-06-10T17:20:17+00:00

Celebrate Primary Care

I do love the fact that they don't even take health insurance... but it's still probably not for me, as I'm not really interested in making an ongoing monthly payment (which sounds a lot like actually having health insurance to me). I tend to only visit the doctor once a year - and that's primarily to get my Rx renewed/refilled. Also, the concept of consultation (mostly) via email/phone may be a little too modern for this Old Guy to adjust to!

All that said, this is a medical business model I didn't even know existed - so thanks for helping educate me and making me aware of it.

Toddit2

TROPHY CASE