freqflyer Posted September 2022
The old ways were much easier.
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I noticed as I have become older, that one would think new thingamajigs and whatchamacallits would be easier to use..... NOT so. What new and improved items have you thinking the older items were much simpler to use important data For me, one item is the washing machine. When searching for a new machine I found way too many models that had controls that looked like the inside of an airliner cockpit. No wonder older relatives may bulk at doing their own laundry.It took me a while to find an easy to use machine. Bravo, found a well known machine brand that was pretty much on/off, hot/warm/cold, with 4 washing cycles. Works like a charm.
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Seniors are targets for all types of scams unfortunately. Dating/foreign love interest, sweepstakes and money transfers from some Nigeria Royal are popular scams.
Seniors with mental decline are perfect targets for crooks. Very sad.
Too many well known celebrities and sports figures are harking such deals. To which many forget for those who are multi-multi-millionairs/billionaires, losing $20k-$60k is just a drop in the bucket.
Everyone knows that it's a high risk, speculative type of investment unless they've been living under a rock. People don't invest in it for safety. They do it for the high returns knowing it could mean high losses. For now, it's not YET ensured the way stocks and mutual funds are, but as it becomes more mainstream, it will be in the future.
Bitcoin carries different risks and responsibilities compared to traditional investments of stocks, bonds and funds. Bitcoins can drop in price in one year at a much greater rate than other investments. Last Nov 2021 bitcoin was at $68k, today it hovers around $18k-$20K.
We don't mind but, we don't have any televisions, so no remotes except the mini-splits.
Edit: we were told that closing registers affects the efficiency and performance of the whole house unit.
Isthisrealyreal, rooms we don't use we just close the floor or ceiling registers.
Polarbear, before investing in bitcoin, please note: U.S. Federal Insurance Deposit Corporation (FDIC) protects regular checking and savings accounts against losses of up to $250,000, no such protection exists for cryptocurrency. You would need to purchase your own insurance to protect it.
My PC is aging so I'm getting a refurbished one and updating to Windows 11 so I've been proactively checking for some tutorials. Remember when we had Windows for Dummies books?
When we 1st installed them we monitored the AMPS, consistently pulling 2-3 AMPS vs 15 AMPS for the energy efficient unit we have. Huge savings seen immediately. Not to mention the comfort level is awesome.
Send, you can add a pinch of salt to cut the bitterness in coffee. I find the water I use makes a lot of difference and I grind my own beans but, I load and push the button and let it sit on the counter.
I know how to use it, but dH is fascinated and cannot help himself (OCD) when I start a load, he goes after me and changes the settings to suit his imagination.
Hours later, I walk by and it is still washing! On a special setting.
What I would like to get is an old-fashioned coffee grinder to prevent bitterness by over-grinding the beans. The one we have is small, and you hold it on. Dh holds it on, while shaking the grounds inside. He does not listen, and has not read on the topic, thinking he knows e v e r y t h i n g.
I just let him do it himself, but don't want coffee anymore.
My newer LG washer weighs the clothes and only puts in the amount of water necessary for a thorough wash, so saves on cost and resources. Same with my dryer. They are also very quiet. Yes, it's true that older appliances can last longer but they also cost more to run and use more resources.
I agree that watching tv is a challenge, but once you get the hang of streaming the options for better programming -- on demand -- is enormous and satisfying. I watch a lot of Korean romcoms and dramas on Netflix. No commercials, uniique plots and clean content. I mostly love love love no commercials. That's what the subscription fee is for.
I got rid of my own programmable thermostat a decade ago, and had the HVAC service install a simple to use. Temp up, temp down, large numbers to read.
I've heard that one can now use their cellphone to adjust the thermostat. All I can say, heaven forbid if the cell service does down for any length of time.
I forgot to mention that I do most of my shopping online. Love it! Grocery shopping online with delivery in the winter or when I don't have much energy is a real help. I can get drugstore items on line, minor hardware, batteries etc. and clothing. Shoes I have to try on in person but if I find a pair that fits well I can often order another colour online. Clothing is easy for me but it is difficult to find shoes and boots that fit well.
I remember doing my dd's diapers in a wringer washer in the basement of one house where we rented the top floor. There was only an outside staircase to get down there which was no fun in the winter with icy steps and carrying loads of laundry, The diapers were the kind you had to fold and my hands were rough from all the folding. We did some drying on the old radiators. The next convenience was prefolded diapers, then a diaper service, then disposables which made life much easier. The old ways were not easy in that regard though more environmentally beneficial.
I also have a lot of love for my older washer/dryer set. At over 35 years old, I just put them in my lake bath house. Didn't use them much over the years (mostly just laundry for one), never overloaded them and basically retired them to the basement about 12 years ago when I purchase a new set of front loaders for my new home. I had to replace one heating element in the dryer about 20 years ago and I've replaced the washer hoses a couple of times as insurance against the mess a busted hose causes. I'm expecting solid performance washing mostly towels, sheets, and blankets at the lake.
My nephew says I never get rid of anything and in some ways he's right. The older washer/dryer set was moved to the basement and not discarded, now it gets a new life at the lake. The living room table set I purchased when he and his brother were children (with its sealed surfaces to tolerate water and toys) has also been moved to my little lake house. They still look new and I liked the functional style when I purchased them 30 years ago; proven durability and it thins out the stuff in my house! Guess I learned this trait from my mother: she only purchased two living room suites in my memory, when the older one wore out she purchased the replacement. She preached buy quality (for a good price) and take care of it. When the grandkids were little, she put covers on the sofa and chairs and shook out the crumbs and/or washed out the spills and the set was in good order when we emptied her house. My nephew is on his 7th set in less than 20 years...
BTW, Mom's wringer washer tubs are on my back porch, with drain lines attached and a seasonal cold water setup via an outdoor faucet. They make lovely quick dry locations for umbrellas, quick cleanup for little boys muddy bare feet (and sometimes baths), and a good cleaning location for garden produce and sometimes paint brushes.
CWillie, you make a very good point. We see things from the perspective of being American, while many countries are far from the level of appliance sophistication that exists here.
I'm still using my 40 year old Maytag washer and dryer.
I've had friends give away their 6 month old washers on craigs list as they did not clean.
We still use her washer. It's in my nephew's working garage and we use it to wash out VERY dirty clothes used in takedowns (tear downs) of old structures and septic repairs . After going through the wringer (one cycle with soap, drain and second cycle with water), we take them to the house for a normal laundry cycle. We might get rid of it when it breaks but it's hard to imagine another washer easier to clean out the gunk than a wringer tub.
Awesome store.
The medical encyclopedias that we got in the 70's had an emergency first aid section with a whole page devoted to wringer injuries.
OK according to a quick web search speed queen was the last American company to make a wringer washer and they stopped in 1990. But I wonder if they are still made in countries where people have less abundant water resources and disposable income.
I think the old wringer washer is still in the basement; I'm hoping Henry Ford Museum might want it. The mangle's there as well.
Oh and I think I've mentioned before that I'm still using the Sunbeam toaster they got as a wedding gift!
Had to use my daughters one time. Those front loaders. I had to call her at work to find out how to use it. She doesn't use most of the buttons. And the washer takes 2x longer to wash. My Mom was told by a repairman years ago, more on the washer, more repairs. Like you, next one is going to be basic.
I think TV was much easier. You turned it on you turned it off. We had 3 VHF stations and 3 or 4 UHF. Programs were lots better. I would not have to stream if we had some decent TV.