Early Retirement Extreme Forums

My buddy I had driven some 60 miles, after he had just swapped out the transmission, to pick up some car parts being sold off Craigslist. While we were getting off the freeway, the axle unbolted itself (6 Alan bolts on a 1989 VW GTI) and ripped a hole in the manual transmission spilling gear fluid a...

Trash > Second Hand > New Likewise. I get really lucky when it comes to trashed and discarded items. Some of my best finds were within walking distance from my apartment. My greatest hits include like-new Subaru BRZ rims and tires, 2012 Apple MacBook Pro, 4 video game consoles, a 1990 Yashica T4 Ca...

Jin+Guice wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 10, 2023 6:00 pm

Wait, is this mostly a dumpster diving log?!?

It would appear that way

Another move out. It was working a few weeks ago when I went into his place so I assume it works now. Great finds Ego! Your assumption on this new TV is likely correct. I've come across many electronics lately, including TV's, that all still work perfectly. I've learned to just wait patiently and m...

@Sclass Great fault finding and fix! I've fixed a few electronics lately and it's amazing how a whole device can simply stop working because of a simple component. Admittedly it can be a little challenging finding the fault but once it's narrowed down, it's usually a simple swap. I can't say the sam...

I've been spending some time repairing and restoring video game related items. I recently bought an untested release date Xbox One from a thrift store for $25. It was dirty and scuffed up but it didn't have any major damage. I decided to take the risk and bring it home. I modified a power supply fro...

I ended up with all kinds of strange things including a variety of unopened La Croix drinks which should last through Christmas. The entirety of our holiday potlucks were covered for under $1. I find it refreshing that someone else approaches the holidays in a similar fashion. I regularly find item...

After the success I had polishing the hood of my DWs car, I decided to do the same thing with my car's hood and headlights. I had major success implementing the same technique (i.e. wash, claybar, rubbing compound with a stiff foam pad, polishing compound with a soft foam pad and paint sealant). I b...

Great work M2S! That invoice is pretty clever. I may steal that idea and use it with my DW. Repairs and services like that really add up.

Wow Ego! Nice score on the grocery goodies. I showed my DW and she responded with "we need to go to this swap meet!" This is coming from someone who generally dislikes rummaging through swap meets items

The past week has been interesting. I'll start with the not-so good news. I applied for a per diem position at a local hospital as a Clinic Specialist, Exercise Physiologist (my background and college degree). My good friend, who initially told me about the position, thought I'd enjoy going back to ...

That was your friend?! I wonder how much he can get in return. Good on him for having that kind of liquid cash at age 23.

I sold a backwards compatible PS3 (model CECHE01) today for $250 today. I found this console and 2 controllers about 6 months ago in the alleyway next to my apartment. Although the console turned on, the controllers were sporadic without any physical input. It seemed that the previous owner assumed ...

One thing I've been pondering lately is the fruit and veg markets. My theory is that large grocery stores and food delivery services are competing for perfect, unblemished produce. They lured the most profitable customers away from the markets that sell the less-than-perfect apples and odd sized sw...

I sold two portable AC units that were taking up space in my apartment. One of them was previously installed in my living room but there were too many issues associated with running it. I decided to cut my losses (mostly my time making the custom window for the exhaust hose) and get rid of it. https...

M wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 26, 2022 5:04 pm

Not sure if this qualifies.
Did not do anything else. Have been enjoying grape tomatoes for the past couple months now for no cost and minimal effort.

I'd say it does! Nature finds a way. Good stuff

Many of my neighbors have fruit bearing trees in their backyards that have many overhanging branches. Over time, they tend to drop a lot of fruit in the alleyway streets. Lemons, oranges, apples, pomegranates, figs, avocados, etc. During my daily walks, I regularly pick up whatever is salvageable. A...

I am going to check mine right away. Thanks! Hey Ego! Good idea. It seems it's more likely to happen if the plugs have previously been changed. My first set lasted 120k miles and I never had any issues. The second set started giving me problems after 27k miles. Honda eventually updated the torque s...

For the past few months, I've noticed a huge decline in my cars average mpg. City driving mpg has particularly been bad although highway mpg hasn't changed much. For reference, my 2011 Honda Fit has an EPA rating of 27mpg city and 33mpg highway with an average of 30mpg. I've been getting around 15-1...

@ertyu Exactly! I've seen videos of people doing that exact thing and the return is usually very good! One of my favorite YouTube car detailers started doing a series on this type of flip. He's made a pretty good return on a few of his most recent barn find restorations. Granted he does have years o...