Being thrifty is not very fashionable where I come from anymore. Protestant heritage? Check. Puritan sentiments still rampant around? Check and underscore. But that old protestant thriftiness has certainly taken a popularity hit around here this last decade.
Our repairist was shocked to be called out for fixing a five year old washing machine — it is highly unusual, she said, people just buy new ones. “This kitchen is eight years old”, said our local property agent, it will be described as total refurbishment needed if you want to sell the apartment.“ People laugh in scorn at my ancient cross country skis (five years, mostly unused, for obvious reasons).
Then again, I have to say that I only practice moderate thriftiness myself. New and shiny has its allure, especially in hi-tech. But I do think it is a virtue worth aspiring too, without taking it too far.
Most of all, it is a question of resource responsibility, lessening your footprint in the world and the negative impact your lifestyle has on others . This is also the new thrifty: Shifting your spending from resource wasting consumption to consumption of services and virtual goods.
So I try to fix things that break before I buy new ones. I try to upgrade my computers and gadgets instead of buying new ones, perhaps extending their life with a year or two. It is not very difficult putting that new hard drive into your iPod, actually, and it is a good way of learning more about the tech world. And it’s fun.
Often I get good help online on how to do these little things. So, in good spirit, I’ll jot down a few notes documenting my own experiments now and then — at least when they work, and when I’m not familiar with any other good documentation.
Posted in english, Hill hacks
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