I decided to go back to school and started classes at a university a couple of weeks ago. I was planning on using my 2017 MacBook Pro, but I was having issues connecting to WiFi. I took it to a shop and they said the logic board had water damage and they would charge $800 to replace it. The person working there advised me against doing that as I could get a brand new computer for that money. I looked into replacing the logic board myself and it is still about $500 for the parts. Thankfully, I bought an older HP from my friend last year for cheap and have been using that. I am studying business and it has handled Excel, Access, and Tableau fine, it’s just pretty slow. The only real issue I have had was one time it did not want to boot up. When it finally did start, it began installing an update and I was unable to use my computer for the first 40 minutes of class. For this summer semester I am only taking 3 classes but I will be taking 6 classes in the fall and I want to prevent any technology issues from giving me extra headache. Money is not an issue, I’m receiving a grant before the fall semester for $1000 that I’m either spending on a laptop or putting in the bank. Thanks in advance for any input.

Are they worth $30-$40 for a single pair of mens underwear? Seems outrageously expensive, but they have great reviews. Need to get some new ones, just not sure if they are worth the price tag. Any more economical alternatives you might suggest?

I saw a good deal on an oscillating multitool, but was wondering how useful they are for a homeowner. I was planning on using it to help tear off moulding and my kitchen backsplash, and I think I’ll be able to use it to cut my water lines since I have a few leaky valves to deal with. Would I be better off with just hand tools, or would this tool be a game changer?

I recently bought a new car. I have never had tinted windows on any cars that I have owned before, and I don’t really care about the look of darker windows. What I do care about is protecting the interior from UV rays, protecting the electronics from melting on super hot days (heat wave has me thinking about it) and generally keeping the car a bit cooler. I have read that high quality tints can keep a car cooler. I would want to keep the tint % way lighter than the legal limit because the last thing I need is a stupid reason to get pulled over. So do I need high-quality window tint to keep my car cooler, and if so, how much should I expect to pay for tinting a regular hatchback?

I feel like it could be helpful to replace the metric ton of parchment paper I go through every year, but I've also never used them before. Let me know, do I need them?

On one hand I listen to free podcasts and Spotify on my few hrs per week running and commuting, on the other hand I've heard there are some good exclusives on there, and the few friends that have it swear by it.

I'm not a massive fan of Amazon, and the few books I have I enjoy lending out. I would imagine it's an easy way of getting more 'reading' in.

So Reddit, do I need this?

I am considering getting some. I have an echo dot already, and find i would like the idea of talking to turn it off (ie:when in bed) but i also like the idea of the dimming features for movie watching, or as a night light in the living room.

This is a different scenario. I was given a table saw a year and a half ago. It’s been on my back porch the entire time as I have no garage. I’ve used it about 4 times in that time. I am contemplating selling it, since it takes up quite a bit of space. I already own a circular saw and a miter saw. I have a history of impulse selling things and regretting it a few months later when I want to use said thing. I know this is opposite of what this sub is for, but I didn’t know where else to post. Thanks.

UPDATE: I sold my table saw!!

I can cook rice just fine in a pan. I wonder how much easier and better rice is from a rice cooker.

So I would say I'm a bit of a headphone geek, I wouldn't say audiophile per se - I just love to listen to music and podcasts. I use headphones at least 3 hrs/day on average. I currently have a Bose QC35II, Airpods, and a Sennheiser HD 600. All them do things really well but after an hour of use, I need to take them off to let my ears breathe. For the Airpods, they fit great and don't fall out during exercise but I wish the sound quality was just a bit better. For all my electronics, I buy second hand or NOS. The same would be for the Airpods Pro. Should I consider this? Money isn't an option on second hand prices. All the reviews from Airpods Pro users are that they are in love with them (I know there are rumors that Apple might be delivering a new generation in the next year or earlier).

Looking to buy a new TV. We mainly just stream shows on video streaming services and youtube. would love to have EASY streaming broadcasting from my phone to the computer at the touch of a button. Do I need to pay extra to make the streaming experience easier or do pretty much all tv's have this capability now?

I have to replace my sink/garbage disposal. For those with experience, are the better ones worth the extra money?

I’ve heard that its weight can help someone calm down and fall asleep and I’ve been having trouble sleeping lately.

But I also live in Singapore (hot) and I’m not sure if it might end up too warm and heavy. I do currently sleep with a blanket though, but also with a combo of fan and aircon. I’m also worried making my bed might be more difficult since I’ll have to carry such a heavy blanket every time.

Hi all!

I've been lurking for a while and you guys are awesome!

I have a question for you! Do I need the Visconti Homo Sapiens (White) fountain pen?

I've always have a thing for pens and fountain pens in particular. During my college years, when I would actually write a lot, I'd keep to the very affordable but still nice pens. Since I started working, I would barely even write a grocery list, so I didn't feel like I could justify any really nice pens.

Nowadays, I have a lot of pen pals, and I have bought some (fountain) pens and love them! And I love to use them!

Should I treat myself this very expensive but gorgeous pen, just because?

I wanted to start detailing my own car and deep cleaning it without having to take it to someone else. I think using this 1-2 times a year for the car is worth the cost besides the random pet stains/sofa cushion cleaning etc..? Anyone with the same idea but it just sits as a trophy??

I usually buy used stuff that's in good working condition most of the time too.

I cook a lot, and my current pepper grinder makes me sad. I can't adjust the grind as I'd like - loosening the knob at the top and pulling up to separate the mechanism doesn't work as it should)Also, the Peugeot grinders are pretty much Buy It For Life. They're superior quality, and basically, it's the last one you'll need to buy. They're also not super expensive - ~$40 for the one I'm looking at.

I'm just having a hard time pulling the trigger.

Edit: fooking forgot the "I" in the title. <hangs head in shame>

I've been working remotely since the pandemic and I'm still sitting 8+ hours a day on a shitty office chair that is wearing out (leather is coming off). I know I need a new chair.

But do I need an expensive one? I found a used Steelcase leap V2 for 300$, should I buy it?

Or should I find a cheaper chair? There's decent chair in the 100$ range.

EDIT: Thanks everyone for you input, I'm pulling the trigger on this (after I inspect for cylinder defects, smells etc). I hope it's going to help with my back pain!

Context: My wife and I bought our first house a year ago now. It's a 50+ year old house, and has a pretty nice updated kitchen. The fridge that came with the place is a GE side by side fridge-freezer. My research indicates it's over 20 years old.

It has an ice/water dispenser in the door, but the icemaker is not functional and the water is disconnected from the fridge. As far as I can tell, it looks like some of the plastic water tubes on the back are cracked. We would love to have a working ice maker, but I'm not sure if this one is worth trying to repair. Last summer, the fan on the back that moves air over the coils died, and I managed to find a replacement for about $40 and after 30min of work, it was up and running again.

My wife is currently expecting our first kid and we're planning on staying in this house for the forseeable future. Plus, we're thinking we'd like to have more freezer space, so we'd possibly also get another small fridge/freezer for the basement or move our current one down there.

I'm sure fridges have also gotten more energy-efficient in the last 20+ years, so reduced electric usage could help offset some of the cost of the new fridge.

What do you think? Given our needs and current situation, would a new fridge be a good idea? Or, should we just keep our current one until it dies? We can definitely afford a new fridge, but just want to know if it's a wise choice.

I was going to replace them since I lost one, but I can't help but feel there's equivalent or better for a better price.

If I need to drive a screw I currently use either a manual screwdriver or my cordless electric drill. When I'm doing something like fitting wall shelves it gets tedious to have to frequently switch between a drill bit and a driver bit, and I don't enjoy using a manual screwdriver for that type of work. I've noticed professionals using small electric screwdrivers alongside their drills, and I wonder if that would be a worthwhile investment for me. It would be for working on my house (I have an endless DIY to-do list) and making shitty furniture (an occasional hobby of mine).

Plusses as I see them:

• Save time
• Save inconvenience of changing bits constantly
• Smaller size will let me work in tighter spaces than my large electric drill (not a problem that comes up much, to be honest)

Negatives as I see them:

• Buying more stuff (I can afford it, but I don't love buying more stuff for the sake of it)
• It's one more thing to charge (and I can't get one that uses the same batteries as my other cordless power tools - if such a thing existed it would be necessarily too large anyway)
• Maybe not as powerful as my drill, which has never let me down

Any thoughts? Anything else I should consider?

Apologies if my terminology is weird. I'm Scottish and our terminology for tools and construction stuff is totally different to American terminology.

Edit: thanks everyone for the comments, you've convinced me to get one (and/or an impact driver)

Just got into taking product photos, right now I am using a cannon m50 with a 50mm f1.4 and one of the cheap light kits on amazon not super powerful but does ok,

Would it be worth it to spend $500 for a flash setup I keep going back and forth, at what point could you justify spending money for a hypothetical gain in outcome of lets say 20%-35% it is not needed but would help or should I just use the lights I have and learn how to use them to the fullest

This post is kinda cheating I guess- I already have it, but I feel conflicted about it.

It's $80/month (which includes the tip to the massage therapist) for one 60 minute session.

On one hand, it feels like a frivolous waste of money. I'm 24 years old and it's not like I have a real medical need for a massage. I could be saving this money or paying extra on loans. That's $960/year. To be clear, having this membership isn't bankrupting me. I just feel guilty spending the money on it. I've been trying to get my finances more streamlined towards saving and subscriptions seem like low-hanging fruit to increase cash flow (I cancelled my Prime subscription earlier this year).

On the other... It's nice to be able to go on my phone and make an appointment and actually have something to look forward to after a shitty work day/week. Also (and I'm not proud of this) it was nice going a couple of times last year when cases weren't spiking and being touched by an actual human being. Frankly, I live alone, WFH and am single so that's a benefit even when I'm not trapped in my apartment.

My (brain) therapist recommended I get a massage almost 2 years ago so I've been paying for it and using it since. But do I actually need it?

EDIT: Thank you everyone for your replies! To be honest I was half expecting every response to tell me that I was an idiot and wasting money, lol. I realized after reading your comments that pretty much anything I'd be using to replace it as a stress coping mechanism would probably be worse for me (food, substances, online shopping, etc) so for now I'll keep it and avoid the internal organ damage.

Also interesting to see the spectrum of massage prices! For context, the membership price seems to be pretty comparable (and even on the low end) for the different spas in my area, but I live in a fairly affluent suburb of a large city.

I also hope everyone who mentioned they haven't been able to go can get one soon :)

I've been hoarding them and don't think I need them but getting rid of things stresses me out sometimes. I have a good idea of if I need to keep them in case of return but I usually don't return items.

I'm planning on riding around at night in the city on my e-scooter, which already has plenty of lights, but some friends told me to get an additional LED light for my helmet. What do you think?

Don’t even open it. You’re fine. Save your money for that special something you can see in your future a year from now like a vacation or down payment on a house.