Marketplace Core

infodumping on how to live cheaply in the U.S.

[sugoiney-weaver]

I got these huge new shelves off of fb Marketplace over the weekend. $150 for delivery and help getting it into the apartment, all same day.

They fit perfectly in this space. They are each 39" wide and the wall is 80" wide. Perfect!

And this has enabled me to finally do the math and hang up the Saga cover art prints I bought so long ago

[marketplacecore]

These shelves look amazing, and I love the Saga series!!!!

[marketplacecore]

Clean shit!

I just cleaned my hairbrush that I have had for years, now it is good as new and my hair looks 100% better now that there isn't gunk on my brush. Yeah, I could have paid $8 and gotten a new one, but this prevents waste and saves that money for something more necessary.

I might make a post about "how to clean shit". I think a lot of people weren't formally taught how to repair and clean things for themselves

[guerrillatech]

[marketplacecore]

If you are gonna go dumpster diving, here's a trade secret of mine. Target college apartment complexes a little before move-out season. A lot of college students will throw out a lot of furniture and clothing so they have to deal with less as they move their lives after they graduate. I've scored a large mirror, vanity, handmade leather bag, and a woven blanket doing this.

Just be careful of bedbugs, and properly clean anything you dig out. Do your research before dumpster diving.

[marketplacecore]

Does Plastic Have to be Disposable?

Don't let the overpriced greenwashed containers get you.

When I buy veggies and fruit at the grocery, I do put them in plastic produce baggies from the grocery store. But they are the same ones I've used for the last four months. I store them, I don't throw them away. When the bottom gives out, I just tie a knot and keep using them.

I keep yogurt containers and use them for everything. I have kept food, art supplies, loose tea, hair ties, pre-prepped food, even silverware in yogurt containers. I have a waterproof first aid kit in a yogurt container. What do you do when you have too many yogurt containers? Fill them with soup and give them to elderly neighbors, or fill them with toiletries and give them to the homeless.

You have bread bags? Bring them to the farmer's market for produce. That plastic netting from fruit bags? Keep it. Use it as a produce bag. Those berry containers stack so nicely. When I go on vacation I keep my soap and washcloth in them. I rinse my plastic bags, the ones I keep raw meat in are labelled as such. I made a full set of bookshelves out of cardboard boxes and paper tape.

I am a trash gremlin. There is no container I can't find a use for.

[s-n-arly]

Skip Google for Research

As Google has worked to overtake the internet, its search algorithm has not just gotten worse.  It has been designed to prioritize advertisers and popular pages often times excluding pages and content that better matches your search terms 

As a writer in need of information for my stories, I find this unacceptable.  As a proponent of availability of information so the populace can actually educate itself, it is unforgivable.

Below is a concise list of useful research sites compiled by Edward Clark over on Facebook. I was familiar with some, but not all of these.

⁂

Google is so powerful that it “hides” other search systems from us. We just don’t know the existence of most of them. Meanwhile, there are still a huge number of excellent searchers in the world who specialize in books, science, other smart information. Keep a list of sites you never heard of.

www.refseek.com - Academic Resource Search. More than a billion sources: encyclopedia, monographies, magazines.

www.worldcat.org - a search for the contents of 20 thousand worldwide libraries. Find out where lies the nearest rare book you need.

https://link.springer.com - access to more than 10 million scientific documents: books, articles, research protocols.

www.bioline.org.br is a library of scientific bioscience journals published in developing countries.

http://repec.org - volunteers from 102 countries have collected almost 4 million publications on economics and related science.

www.science.gov is an American state search engine on 2200+ scientific sites. More than 200 million articles are indexed.

www.pdfdrive.com is the largest website for free download of books in PDF format. Claiming over 225 million names.

www.base-search.net is one of the most powerful researches on academic studies texts. More than 100 million scientific documents, 70% of them are free

[marketplacecore]

How to be a Cool Adult

I'm now 21 and living a life I didn't think I'd have when I was 15. Here's the advice I'd give to younger me.

Listen to at least 20 songs from various artists in a genre before you decide you dislike it.

Read more weird books your parents dislike.

You are right about a lot of things, but you don't know how to articulate it yet. Writing your thoughts down might help.

You are wrong about a lot of things, but that doesn't make you a bad person. Don't be afraid of different opinions.

Ask for stories from the old people around you. Listen without judgement. Their memories will be preserved by you.

Spend time doing things that are boring with your family and friends. They won't be around forever, and the memories will help you as you grieve.

It's a bad habit to hate yourself.

It's not a character defect to do drugs or drink, but it can be an illness.

It's not a virtue to be educated. It's a privilege. You are not better than others because you know more.

Apply to things for the hell of it. You'll get rejected a lot, but also get some really cool opportunities.

Take the back roads, not the highways. You'll come across weird little towns you love.

You'll fall in love soon. Your heart will be your greatest asset.

A high GPA never reflects a person's capability, but it will help you shove your foot in the door. Stay focused on school.

Keep up random skills. Knowing how to dance and play piano will help you bond with people all over the world.

Get the cool haircut. You'll grow it back out, but that doesn't take away how cool of a haircut it was.

Don't pretend to be poorer or wealthier than you are. You will only come across as disingenuous.

Video games aren't a waste of time, they are stories. Go try playing a few, you'll find it relaxing.

A little nihilism can help you get through the day.

Ask for help sooner.

[marketplacecore]

Shopping Cheap etiquette:

General TAKE ONLY WHAT YOU NEED. ACCEPT "NO" AS A COMPLETE ANSWER. UNDERSTAND TIME IS A PRIVILEGE. KEEP SETS TOGETHER.

At the Thrift Store Don't hide things. You might be able to get bulk discounts if you ask politely. (I bought $40 worth of books for $20). Keep track of discount days. Check the Thrift Store first, so they can keep donations moving. On Marketplace or Classifieds Keep an eye out for scam listings. Read descriptions closely for any weirdness. Tell a friend where you'll be if picking up in an unfamiliar area. Respond to messages in a timely manner.

At the Flea Market Expect to rummage. Get to know the sellers. Learn to recognize rip-offs. Only try to haggle if you know what the item is worth. Keep sets together. If you don't need all of it, don't buy it.

At an Estate Sale or Auction Be respectful of the previous homeowners. Don't try to haggle down your bid after purchase. If you buy it on accident, you still have to pick it up. Don't push pickup times. Take a chance on the $5 piles.

Garage Sale Haggling is usually expected. Don't park in anyone's way. Be friendly. Don't comment on people's property or items. Be neighborly.

At the Farmer's Market Make conversation, get to know people. Don't try to come to a booth while they are packing or setting up. Don't avoid imperfect food. Bring reusable bags and jars. Learn meat and veggie lingo. Avoid the resellers. They take up booth space from farmers.

At the Antique Store Don't swap price labels. Don't hide things for later. Expect rummaging. The staff doesn't know what's in the store. Understand different booths price differently. If you break it, you buy it. If the sign says "do not touch" don't touch it. Ask for help moving furniture or unlocking cases.

Shopping Online Shop online last. Always review who you buy from reasonably. Triple check the description. Don't complain about something you were warned about. Contact the seller with questions. Double check for "local pickup" listings.

Foraging food Leave only footprints. I've seen so much trash from foragers. If you can, grow it, don't forage it. Go for invasive edibles first. Don't forage in protected woods. Always leave some behind. Don't resell foraged food. Only. Take. What. You. Need.