Used to drink beer for $0.25 a glass. When it went up to $0.30, I'd spend $0.90 at the bar on a Friday with the crew. And, that couldn't have been so long ago!
Recession Relaxation - No Cost Fun
- Thread starter Spade
- Start date
I like to salvage old electronic items out of the garbage and dismantle the curcuit boards. I save all the parts in the hopes that I can do something with them one day. This also helps to keep some of the nasty things out of the landfill for a little while longer - at least till I move a considerable distance again. Did you know that there are a conciderable number of old thermostats with very large mercury switchs in them - they never wear out and are reusable as long as the tube and wires are intact.
Sorry Spade, but I think memory is playing tricks on you. I remember 25 cents a glass beer, that was way back when, in the 70s, more than 30 years ago (remember gas 20 cents a gallon?).
If you and I remember 25 cents a glass beer, it just shows how old we are.
Yup, I remember those, and you always had to order two at a time. The Skyline Hotel, (don't know what it's called now) near the airport in Toronto that had a sign by the parking lot saying "Men's Entrance", it was just a drinking ditch with no public entrance from inside the hotel. No women were allowed, (no self respecting woman would want to go there), all the posties, linemen, construction workers, etc, would go there to get blasted on $4, then go staggering home to the missus, hopefully with drachen fodder in hand.
It seems like yesterday, but so does the Nixon administration.
This morning I will be spending some more quality time with my van saving myself from paying $400 for a back end brake job. I have already invested $150 in parts - 4 hours on laying in the snow trying to get a nut to free up that snapped a brake line - Will likely cost me a case of beer for my expert help to come today to help so both of us can freeze for a couple more hours in the snow. I have made 2 trips to get parts but I walked so I saved gas there. If the next line can not be saved we will have to jury rig lines from Canadian Tire that will likely be another $60 and 2 more hours of freezing in the snow - All because I could not justify in my mind paying a repair shop $95/hour to use their equipment and knowledge to do the job. In the good old days I would have traded my van in by now.
mit; Ouch! That's a lot of money for parts, must be drum brakes. I spent less than that on 2 new rotors and pads for my urban assault vehicle. Canadian tire doesn't have the best prices. Of course I couldn't get the old rotors off, my mechanic spent 45 minutes with a sledge hammer doing it, breaking the parking brake mount in the process. Rear wheel discs can be a real b*tch, but he still did the job for about 100 bucks.
My contribution to the Global economy - $40 for made in China Brake shoes - $30 for Made in China Brake Cylinder - $49 for a Made in Mexico Brake line assembly - $30 for a Made in China Spring kit (Didn't need it so it is going back) - $7.00 for packaged in Mexico Brake Fluid. Not a darn thing from the USA or Canada other than the case of Carling I am buying buddy for helping me.
Seems like these labour savings companies get from shopping overseas does not translate in to lower prices for me.
Seems like these labour savings companies get from shopping overseas does not translate in to lower prices for me.
You really gotta watch those made in China parts too, there have been reports of sub standard brake pads and shoes. I'd shop around next time, NAPA sometimes, (not allways) has better prices and quality, Princess Auto also has deals. I go to a place called Ferguson's, I don't know if they're out there. Oddly, if they are parts dealers buy in bulk you can often get the best deals there.
Oddly, if they are parts dealers buy in bulk you can often get the best deals there.
How do you mean buy in bulk? Buy 10 break shoes, or 10 brake cylinders at a time?
How do you mean buy in bulk? Buy 10 break shoes, or 10 brake cylinders at a time?
I have been looking for a good bridge tutorial - any suggestions - the Hoyle one I have sucks
If they are parts that wear out often and are interchangeable on many models they buy them by the thousands. I once needed a heater fan resistor, the aftermarket stores wanted anywhere from $140 to $190 where the dealer sold me one for 85 bucks. I needed door hinges, again the best deal for new ones was at the dealer, $260 for the bottom and $340 for the top 8O. I went to a wrecker in Truro and picked up two hinges, a seat and seatbelt assembly for $70. Depending on what you need, wreckers offer the best deals.
We as consumers rarely have a choice to buy Made in Canada or Made in USA - All these parts were formerly made within 40 miles of my home - Brake Shoes in Cambridge - Brake cylinders in Woodstock - Brake hoses in London - These plants have all closed or will be closed by end of summer.
Something I do to while away the time during the recession is check out thrift stores - Value Village - Talize - etc. I like buying uniform shirts and pants there - Good quality - cheap - excellent selection with all the plant closures - See a lot of electronics passing through these stores - Pawn shops have a much better selection as those that had money are trading their purchases in to supplement their EI cheque. Just waiting for spring so I can turn some of my finds in to a profit.
Something I do to while away the time during the recession is check out thrift stores - Value Village - Talize - etc. I like buying uniform shirts and pants there - Good quality - cheap - excellent selection with all the plant closures - See a lot of electronics passing through these stores - Pawn shops have a much better selection as those that had money are trading their purchases in to supplement their EI cheque. Just waiting for spring so I can turn some of my finds in to a profit.
When the kids were mere tads, we'd occasionally stop at a garage sale and pick up a toy or two for each of them for pennies. Often, the toys were like new and the kids had a ball!