Forget home or car. Can’t even buy electronics anymore

    • peeonyou@lemmy.ml
      3·
      2 years ago

      careful with that wording… we all know how ‘access to healthcare’ is working out

  • Shrike502
    19·
    2 years ago

    Welcome to the glorious future of renting everything you might need.

  • FuckBigTech347
    17·
    2 years ago

    I went dumpster diving and managed to rescue lot of the electronics that I still use today. Cleaned them, tried fixing them and even if I couldn’t fix them I usually kept them to have some spare parts. Even some tools I got for free from neighbors and others. Like a really old tool box with some screw drivers and pliers that were really rusted, but still usable. It was an “either you take it, or it goes in the trash” kind of situation.

    One of the monitors I’m using right now to watch a video on is an early 2000s Dell office monitor. And I plan on using it until it breaks so bad that any attempt at repairing it is futile.

    The PC I have? Used and almost 10 years old. Got it for a decent price. GNU/Linux breathes life into any old hardware from the last decade+.

    The TV I have? “Inherited” from a passed family member. The people clearing their apartment wanted to throw it in the trash.

    Let me say this though: I don’t recommend just going dumpster diving. At least not anymore. There are just too many risks involved these days. I myself stopped doing it because the places I used to go to have been progressively getting more and more strict and take a lot more precautions compared to a few years ago. Not sure how things are where you live, but I think the used market is probably your best option.

    • Shrike502
      11·
      2 years ago

      There are just too many risks involved these days

      If you don’t mind me asking, what are the risks?

      • FuckBigTech347
        13·
        2 years ago

        There have been times where I almost got caught. A few times I’ve likely been seen which caused some to put a big lock on the dumpsters and a guy checking every now and then. Many wouldn’t be afraid to call the police on you for “stealing” or “trespassing” or whatever.

          • electrodynamica@mander.xyz
            7·
            2 years ago

            And yet cops don’t need warrant of probable cause to use anything ‘discarded’ as evidence against someone, seems important enough for them to make a distinction then. Just shows what a joke our “free society” is.

        • Shrike502
          4·
          2 years ago

          But they throw it out, surely they no longer want it. Eesh.

          Thank you for sharing your experience, appreciate it.

  • KiG V2
    16·
    2 years ago

    Credit cards 😎😎😎 just go into debt! Lmao. It’s been working for me so far! And when it becomes behemoth I’ll just file for bankruptcy 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

  • furrymlarchy
    15·
    2 years ago

    Make “rich” “friends” if you can. There are plenty of children of upper middle class and petit bogie parents who have an awful consumerist attitude about everything and don’t have real friends. They treat everything as a competition to flaunt goods, and will be constantly getting rid of “old” stuff that is actually only a year or two old.

    I have a few that I mostly just drink and play videogames with. Once you find one you start to find more.

    Feels a little psychopathic when I put it like that but eh.

  • panic
    11·
    2 years ago

    People suggesting used electronics don’t get the point. People wish they could afford stuff they need to use with the money they earn.

    • whoami
      3·
      2 years ago

      I understand where you’re coming from. I think it’s just a habit of people to offer solutions when they something like this

      • panic
        5·
        2 years ago

        I’m sure it’s with the best intentions. And used and refurbished electronics are the best options for most people. But it feels different when it’s the only thing you can afford vs one of your many options.

        I don’t want users reading this to think they’re being frivolous for having a normal reaction to high costs of living.

  • whoami
    10·
    2 years ago

    can you buy used? computers/laptops especially. Buy used thinkpad, put linux on it, should run well for everything besides gaming really intense tasks.

  • Munrock ☭
    7·
    2 years ago

    But how can you be an informed and educated voter if you can’t independently access information?

    oh

  • Breadbeard
    6·
    2 years ago

    get a pinephone. cheap, linux. not the fastest or nicest camera. but linux NO NFC IN THE BATTERY. battery removable. wifi, bluetooth, gps, microphone (silverlight XSS!!!) seperately off-switchable with physical switches in the device. best 160~ you ve spent on the best mix of computer and phone at the moment. sure it doesn’t run minecraft or your vr googles, and you won’t have that fluid android feel but it disempowers these privacy disablers…

  • holdengreen
    5·
    2 years ago

    but I thought capitalism means iPhone? 😔 what price range and performance/features are you looking for?