Things not to buy in 2014

[REWahoo]

In keeping with a number of discussions going on at the moment (getting rid of cable, dying technologies, extra legroom when flying, etc.) I thought this was a timely article:

10 things not to buy in 2014

Here are the CliffsNotes:

1. Cable TV
2. Landline service
3. GPS devices
4. DVD and Blu-ray players
5. Hotel rooms
6. Two-year phone contracts
7. Desktop and laptop computers
8. Extra legroom in economy
9. Credit cards with points or miles programs
10. Digital cameras

 

[NW-Bound]

5. Hotel rooms
...
8. Extra legroom in economy

Don't pay for hotel rooms, and stay in your RV? Couch surfing?

Do not buy economy plus, and spring for business class? Just suffer economy? Stay home?

I guess I need to read to see what the alternatives are.


PS. OK, the author was talking about Airbnb, and private rentals. For airfares, she recommended upgrading to business class.

I have not tried "alternative" tourist housings, but wonder about its availability in some places. My daughter just booked a hotel room in Boston downtown, and paid close to $300. Gosh, I remember paying a bit more than $100 for a hotel in Copley Square, but that was 10 years ago and with DW's megacorp super discount.

For upgrading to business class, my wish! For international flights, it costs a heck of a lot more than the $100, $200 that the author wrote.

 

[ls99]

11. Pickup truck - Typically $10,000.- profit per.

 

[powerplay]

The author makes some pretty big assumptions. I could buy a laptop, digital camera, and GPS and still have $$ left over compared to buying a smartphone and 2 year service contract or even no contract with phone purchase and month to month service.

 

[timo2]

The author makes some pretty big assumptions. I could buy a laptop, digital camera, and GPS and still have $$ left over compared to buying a smartphone and 2 year service contract or even no contract with phone purchase and month to month service.

Correct. the value you can get for a desktop these days is amazing. I recently bought a powerful ASUS tower for much less than the trendy tablets. I still have an older Toshiba laptop and a smartphone, so no need for an expensive tablet here. when the laptop becomes obsolete, then I'll look at the newer tablet devices which hopefully should be a better value by then.

 

[travelover]

11. Pickup truck - Typically $10,000.- profit per.

True, most people would get by very well with a minivan if their pride would let them.

 

[kcowan]

Buy all your hotels off hotwire or priceline. Check red-flag-deals before buying anything.

Check eBay and craigslist for gently used items.

Buy special purpose items: GPS to leave in the car, good quality zoom camera for trips.

 

[Midpack]

We all have our individual preferences, but it looks like a good general list to me (with good explanations). We've done many of them, and we're working on others.

 

[Sirka]

1. Cable TV
2. Landline service
3. GPS devices
4. DVD and Blu-ray players
5. Hotel rooms
6. Two-year phone contracts
7. Desktop and laptop computers
8. Extra legroom in economy
9. Credit cards with points or miles programs
10. Digital cameras

My vote would be (if we vote):

1. Cable sucks in our area - must have Dish TV
2. Cut the cord many years ago - use NetTalk for 'house' phone
3. We have one GPS we move between car and RV. It's getting old!
4. No more DVDs for us - streaming works OK
5. We go RVing
6. No contracts - Republic is the way!
7. His & Hers Laptop on on our desks
8. Economy if we must fly
9. Cash reward cards only
10. Digital camera is getting old - get a 2nd smart phone

 

[Ready]

I would love to get rid of my Verizon FIOS this year. Verizon is just a dreadful company to do business with. I'm on hold with them now trying to cancel the service, but every time I try to call and speak with someone I'm put on endless hold and never get to a live person. I guess that's their strategy to avoid losing customers.

 

[robnplunder]

My list is simple. Don't buy things I don't need or will regret buying.

DW/DS just signed a 2 year Verizon contract ... But it was one of those "it's better to have her way than facing her wrath." So, I don't regret it.

No DVD/Bluray but I am on the fence with buying Roku 3.

 

[aja8888]

DW just *Finally* cancelled her Verizon contract she had for 12 (yes, you heard me) years. I have been without a cell phone contract for 3 years (PagePlus @ $29/month).

So I got her on PP also. Same towers, same texting/calls/data, 1/4 the price.

 

[NW-Bound]

11. Pickup truck - Typically $10,000.- profit per.

True, most people would get by very well with a minivan if their pride would let them.

Eh, I have not had a pickup for 20+ years now. Been keeping the minivan that I used to haul my kids to haul bags of manure with the rear seat moved. With rear windows wide open and fan turning on full blast of course.

Hey, this geezer is not out to impress any chick.

 

[bssc]

True, most people would get by very well with a minivan if their pride would let them.

I bought a used 2003 Ford Windstar in 2008 for $8K and am very happy with it. It is still worth $4K or so, my friends lose that much driving their Beemers out of the showroom.

 

[travelover]

...... Been keeping the minivan......

I bought a used 2003 Ford Windstar in 2008 ........

Gold stars for you both!

 

[calmloki]

RE: #5 Hotel rooms

Avoid paying for them (ultimately) by getting a Barclays Arrival card. $440 statement credit toward travel expenses like hotel rooms after spending $1000 on the card. Oughta be good for several stays at least... (for our normal stays more than 4)

Oh, and my last two Bimmer wagons grew trailer hitches and haul bigger stuff just fine - big stuff gets stuffed in the back. Of course buying them when they have over 200,000 miles means my depreciation hit isn't very bad..

 

[Ready]

Finally got through to Verizon's customer service department, or should I say customer termination department. I told them that if they bill me one more month for the set top box I returned in November, I'm done.

I also let them know I was planning to file a complaint with the BBB on them, but in looking them up on bbb.org I found they have a rating of "F", so I decided not to even bother filing it, since it is clear they don't care about their relationship with BBB or the negative image associated with having an F rating.

I also turned to social media, and found them on Facebook. I posted my complaint, but within a short period of time, numerous others posted complaints as well, and mine doesn't even show on the first screen any more. I let them know it's clear they don't care about their image on social media either, since nobody on Facebook has bothered to respond to any of the complaints.

They used to have pretty good service, but now they are just another lousy utility company that provides bottom of the barrel service like all the others. And every time I call it's usually at least 30 minutes before I can get to a live person. So they are either reducing their workforce, or complaints are rising significantly. We certainly know it's not because subscriber numbers are up.

 

[ziggy29]

They used to have pretty good service, but now they are just another lousy utility company that provides bottom of the barrel service like all the others. And every time I call it's usually at least 30 minutes before I can get to a live person. So they are either reducing their workforce, or complaints are rising significantly. We certainly know it's not because subscriber numbers are up.

"We don't care. We don't have to. We're the phone company."

 

[travelover]

.........They used to have pretty good service, but now they are just another lousy utility company .........

Psst- PagePlus. Same network.

 

[Ready]

Psst- PagePlus. Same network.

I was actually referring to Verizon FIOS, not Verizon Wireless. FIOS provides internet, television and telephone in a bundle, similar to the cable companies.

I got rid of Verizon Wireless years ago. Same bad service issues. Surprisingly, I've had excellent service with AT&T wireless, so I've not been given a reason to look for alternatives. And I get a 24% discount because my partner works for a megacorp with a corporate deal, so it really wouldn't save me anything to switch.

 

[NW-Bound]

I am going to give away that minivan to a needy family. The cost to keep it just to haul something once in a while is getting to me.

Besides ...

Oh, and my last two Bimmer wagons grew trailer hitches and haul bigger stuff just fine - big stuff gets stuffed in the back. Of course buying them when they have over 200,000 miles means my depreciation hit isn't very bad..

... I have trailer hitch on my 2 SUVs. The problem is I have only one trailer and it's up in the boonies home to haul my dirt bikes to the forest trail heads. Pulling the thing back and forth between two places is a chore. Buying another trailer is out, of course.

 

[aja8888]

Truck story

Two years ago, a work associate was going to donate his 2002 RAM extended cab, long bed truck to charity as it had over 200,000 miles on it, needed brakes and two tires, and was overheating badly. Plus his son was driving it and used it for a rolling garbage can. I bought it for $500 and gave it a good cleanup. I changed a leaking heater hose, put two tires on it, changed the oil, filters, put on new front brakes and two universal joints. I put about $900 in it and have been using it frequently since then.

Since owning it, we have moved the kids (three apartment moves) and moved us into the newer house. I have used it to haul loads of mulch, lumber, new doors, new toilets, and a motorcycle or two. I have lent it to the kids for various similar purposes. It took me to work when one of our cars were down.

All in all, we put about 20,000 miles on this truck and never went on a long trip (never left Texas)!

Best $1,400 I ever spent and still runs fine and looks good. The bad thing is it's a 5.9 liter V8 and uses fuel like a drunken sailor who just hit port and went to the shore bars.

 

[travelover]

.......... Buying another trailer is out, of course.

My solution is a Harbor Freight trailer that folds and stands on end in the barn for storage.

Utility Trailer 4'x8' - Heavy Duty Folding Utility Trailer

 

[NW-Bound]

I am thinking of the smaller trailer that HF has, which is 4'x4' I think. It is enough to haul said bags of manure, bricks and blocks from Home Depot, plus the occasional new fridge or appliances.

 

[travelover]

I am thinking of the smaller trailer that HF has, which is 4'x4' I think. It is enough to haul said bags of manure, bricks and blocks from Home Depot, plus the occasional new fridge or appliances.

Be sure to use the ubiquitous 25% off coupon. They will usually apply it to the sale price.