Comments on: How I’ve Survived Without the Help of Wii, Ipod or TomTom http://frugaldad.com/2008/02/15/how-ive-survived-without-the-help-of-wii-ipod-or-tomtom/ Tips for living frugal while still having a life Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:33:01 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Squeaky http://frugaldad.com/2008/02/15/how-ive-survived-without-the-help-of-wii-ipod-or-tomtom/comment-page-1/#comment-1830 Squeaky Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:41:30 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/02/15/how-ive-survived-without-the-help-of-wii-ipod-or-tomtom/#comment-1830 Hmm. I've been toying with the notion of a television, a microwave oven, or even a CD player for my car. I don't know about this MP3 business: the sound quality is awful and I can't understand why anyone would like MP3 encoded songs since they don't sound like music. I don't want a cell phone, much less a CrackBerry or PDA, because that gives other people the option of interrupting me 24x7 even if I'm out of the house, teaching, recording, or composing. No go. GPS? I don't think so. It's easy to read street signs and maps (free from MapQuest). If I'm out hiking where there are no roads I simply remember my trail or use sun, stars, or a compass if I'm feeling lazy. I've never understood how it's physically possible to get lost outside. Hmm. I’ve been toying with the notion of a television, a microwave oven, or even a CD player for my car.

I don’t know about this MP3 business: the sound quality is awful and I can’t understand why anyone would like MP3 encoded songs since they don’t sound like music. I don’t want a cell phone, much less a CrackBerry or PDA, because that gives other people the option of interrupting me 24×7 even if I’m out of the house, teaching, recording, or composing. No go.

GPS? I don’t think so. It’s easy to read street signs and maps (free from MapQuest). If I’m out hiking where there are no roads I simply remember my trail or use sun, stars, or a compass if I’m feeling lazy. I’ve never understood how it’s physically possible to get lost outside.

]]> By: Gas Prices are Still (Relatively) Cheap | Frugal Dad http://frugaldad.com/2008/02/15/how-ive-survived-without-the-help-of-wii-ipod-or-tomtom/comment-page-1/#comment-1658 Gas Prices are Still (Relatively) Cheap | Frugal Dad Tue, 22 Apr 2008 03:06:35 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/02/15/how-ive-survived-without-the-help-of-wii-ipod-or-tomtom/#comment-1658 [...] Try pouring a gallon of skim milk, bottled water or beer in your gas tank and see how far your car will go. None of these other products have anywhere near the cost-to-market expenses as gasoline. The components of gasoline must be explored, drilled, stored, shipped, refined and then shipped again before the product is worthy enough to fill your gas tank. Of course all that takes equipment and manpower that must be paid for out of gasoline sales. I’m not defending the profits of oil companies, but their margins are comparable to that of high-end clothing and overpriced technology gadgets. [...] [...] Try pouring a gallon of skim milk, bottled water or beer in your gas tank and see how far your car will go. None of these other products have anywhere near the cost-to-market expenses as gasoline. The components of gasoline must be explored, drilled, stored, shipped, refined and then shipped again before the product is worthy enough to fill your gas tank. Of course all that takes equipment and manpower that must be paid for out of gasoline sales. I’m not defending the profits of oil companies, but their margins are comparable to that of high-end clothing and overpriced technology gadgets. [...]

]]> By: An Unusual Goal: A Thin Wallet | Frugal Dad http://frugaldad.com/2008/02/15/how-ive-survived-without-the-help-of-wii-ipod-or-tomtom/comment-page-1/#comment-1651 An Unusual Goal: A Thin Wallet | Frugal Dad Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:24:10 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/02/15/how-ive-survived-without-the-help-of-wii-ipod-or-tomtom/#comment-1651 [...] division and laminate it for protection. I carry it with me, since you know I don’t have a Blackberry, PDA or other electronic gadget to store numbers. Believe it or not, pens and paper still work just [...] [...] division and laminate it for protection. I carry it with me, since you know I don’t have a Blackberry, PDA or other electronic gadget to store numbers. Believe it or not, pens and paper still work just [...]

]]> By: postindustrialist http://frugaldad.com/2008/02/15/how-ive-survived-without-the-help-of-wii-ipod-or-tomtom/comment-page-1/#comment-1477 postindustrialist Wed, 16 Apr 2008 03:36:18 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/02/15/how-ive-survived-without-the-help-of-wii-ipod-or-tomtom/#comment-1477 You got ripped off on that mp3 player. You can find mp3/CD players for about five dollars more. Because of them, I refuse to buy an mp3 player AND a CD player, or conversely, buy all my CDs online again in mp3 format. Now if I want the convenience of playing digital files, I simply get the mp3's off the net, and burn them directly to disc in such a format. As a disc still holds 700MB of data, it also still holds slightly more than the 512MB player you featured. As for the iPhone, I rarely use my cell phone, except for work, and quite frankly, a phone is one of those few gadgets I DON'T want combined with every other device from electric toothbrush/nosehair trimmer to GPS missile guidance system... You got ripped off on that mp3 player. You can find mp3/CD players for about five dollars more. Because of them, I refuse to buy an mp3 player AND a CD player, or conversely, buy all my CDs online again in mp3 format. Now if I want the convenience of playing digital files, I simply get the mp3’s off the net, and burn them directly to disc in such a format. As a disc still holds 700MB of data, it also still holds slightly more than the 512MB player you featured.

As for the iPhone, I rarely use my cell phone, except for work, and quite frankly, a phone is one of those few gadgets I DON’T want combined with every other device from electric toothbrush/nosehair trimmer to GPS missile guidance system…

]]> By: 10 Frugal Questions With Jason White From FrugalDad.com : Mr. Cheap Stuff http://frugaldad.com/2008/02/15/how-ive-survived-without-the-help-of-wii-ipod-or-tomtom/comment-page-1/#comment-895 10 Frugal Questions With Jason White From FrugalDad.com : Mr. Cheap Stuff Mon, 24 Mar 2008 22:31:47 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/02/15/how-ive-survived-without-the-help-of-wii-ipod-or-tomtom/#comment-895 [...] 9.  Give me your top 3 blog posts that every Mr. Cheap Stuff reader should read. How I’ve Survived Without the Help of Wii, TomTom or iPod [...] [...] 9.  Give me your top 3 blog posts that every Mr. Cheap Stuff reader should read. How I’ve Survived Without the Help of Wii, TomTom or iPod [...]

]]> By: JEMi | Tips for Life, Love, You http://frugaldad.com/2008/02/15/how-ive-survived-without-the-help-of-wii-ipod-or-tomtom/comment-page-1/#comment-614 JEMi | Tips for Life, Love, You Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:29:57 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/02/15/how-ive-survived-without-the-help-of-wii-ipod-or-tomtom/#comment-614 you know whats so funny is I hate wasting money. I do. But I tell you what Out of this list of 7 I have 5 and want one. Yes I know. I'm one of them. I've just always been the girl who'd save for an expensive gadget instead of buying a bunch of other things. Yeah.. looks like I'm def. of product of this generation I'm a new driver - and not by choice at that.. since I moved to the suburbs from the city it seems you really have to drive. If you ever wanted to punish me, you take away my GPS. And yes..I'm a pod person. iPod to be exact. I remember when the trains would be filled to the brink with silent commuters and white headphones lol. But the thing lasts a very long time, holds an insane amount of music..and data.. uh oh - I won't try to sell it to you nevertheless I really enjoyed this post. This site is really great :) you know whats so funny is I hate wasting money. I do. But I tell you what

Out of this list of 7 I have 5 and want one.

Yes I know. I’m one of them.

I’ve just always been the girl who’d save for an expensive gadget instead of buying a bunch of other things. Yeah.. looks like I’m def. of product of this generation

I’m a new driver – and not by choice at that.. since I moved to the suburbs from the city it seems you really have to drive. If you ever wanted to punish me, you take away my GPS.

And yes..I’m a pod person. iPod to be exact. I remember when the trains would be filled to the brink with silent commuters and white headphones lol. But the thing lasts a very long time, holds an insane amount of music..and data..

uh oh – I won’t try to sell it to you

nevertheless I really enjoyed this post. This site is really great :)

]]> By: Who is Making Your Lunch Today? | Frugal Dad http://frugaldad.com/2008/02/15/how-ive-survived-without-the-help-of-wii-ipod-or-tomtom/comment-page-1/#comment-446 Who is Making Your Lunch Today? | Frugal Dad Mon, 25 Feb 2008 11:04:56 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/02/15/how-ive-survived-without-the-help-of-wii-ipod-or-tomtom/#comment-446 [...] further ahead nearly impossible. I choose to drive an older vehicle, take my lunch to work and forgo tech toys so my wife can stay home. She has put her educational and career goals on hold for the [...] [...] further ahead nearly impossible. I choose to drive an older vehicle, take my lunch to work and forgo tech toys so my wife can stay home. She has put her educational and career goals on hold for the [...]

]]> By: Kin http://frugaldad.com/2008/02/15/how-ive-survived-without-the-help-of-wii-ipod-or-tomtom/comment-page-1/#comment-357 Kin Sun, 17 Feb 2008 18:36:36 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/02/15/how-ive-survived-without-the-help-of-wii-ipod-or-tomtom/#comment-357 Hey Frugal Dad! Another Entrecard finder here. I love this post. Firstly, I'm stunned that you can get an MP3 player for $20 (I'm in Australia). Both the $50 version's I have bought died within 12 months, but coincidentally, after the 6 month warranty expired. My $200 ipod nano on the other hand is 3 years old and still going strong. Sometimes you get what you pay for (obviously you've had more success there than I have). Secondly, I do have a GPS. Actually I have two. One is part of a PDA my Dad gave me when he upgraded (not sure what he needs one for, but anyway), and the other is on my phone (which incidentally cost nearly $700, but doesn't do half the stuff of an iphone, and was the second cheapest one available at the time. Man I'm so wishing we had cheaper electronics over here. Oh, and I also have a pile of maps in my car. We, however, have never had any sort of game console, or plasma tv (although when our last tv died we did go with a flatscreen), or voice activated stereo (whose idea was that??) As for something I secretly covet, but would never buy? Hmmm, probably a Macbook Air, although I'd love to lay hands on one first. For now though, my 12 month old laptop, and 4 year old desktop will do me. Hey Frugal Dad! Another Entrecard finder here. I love this post.

Firstly, I’m stunned that you can get an MP3 player for $20 (I’m in Australia). Both the $50 version’s I have bought died within 12 months, but coincidentally, after the 6 month warranty expired. My $200 ipod nano on the other hand is 3 years old and still going strong. Sometimes you get what you pay for (obviously you’ve had more success there than I have).

Secondly, I do have a GPS. Actually I have two. One is part of a PDA my Dad gave me when he upgraded (not sure what he needs one for, but anyway), and the other is on my phone (which incidentally cost nearly $700, but doesn’t do half the stuff of an iphone, and was the second cheapest one available at the time. Man I’m so wishing we had cheaper electronics over here. Oh, and I also have a pile of maps in my car.

We, however, have never had any sort of game console, or plasma tv (although when our last tv died we did go with a flatscreen), or voice activated stereo (whose idea was that??)

As for something I secretly covet, but would never buy? Hmmm, probably a Macbook Air, although I’d love to lay hands on one first. For now though, my 12 month old laptop, and 4 year old desktop will do me.

]]> By: Things I DIDN’T Learn in College: Part 5 - How I Manage Multiple Priorities | The Wisdom Journal http://frugaldad.com/2008/02/15/how-ive-survived-without-the-help-of-wii-ipod-or-tomtom/comment-page-1/#comment-351 Things I DIDN’T Learn in College: Part 5 - How I Manage Multiple Priorities | The Wisdom Journal Sun, 17 Feb 2008 01:46:35 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/02/15/how-ive-survived-without-the-help-of-wii-ipod-or-tomtom/#comment-351 [...] I eliminate things in my life that really don’t matter. Believe it or not, there are some things you can live without. Television, newspapers, certain social activities all take a lot of time but do nothing to help me [...] [...] I eliminate things in my life that really don’t matter. Believe it or not, there are some things you can live without. Television, newspapers, certain social activities all take a lot of time but do nothing to help me [...]

]]> By: Book Review: The Total Money Makeover | Frugal Dad http://frugaldad.com/2008/02/15/how-ive-survived-without-the-help-of-wii-ipod-or-tomtom/comment-page-1/#comment-346 Book Review: The Total Money Makeover | Frugal Dad Sat, 16 Feb 2008 15:34:04 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/02/15/how-ive-survived-without-the-help-of-wii-ipod-or-tomtom/#comment-346 [...] Dave Ramsey’s assertion that we don’t have to live with debt, we simply need to deny ourselves life’s latest toys and save for those that we do want to buy. The bumper sticker on my old truck best sums up this [...] [...] Dave Ramsey’s assertion that we don’t have to live with debt, we simply need to deny ourselves life’s latest toys and save for those that we do want to buy. The bumper sticker on my old truck best sums up this [...]

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