Saving money Archives

Toner vs drum unit: Laser printer consumables

Dave Farquhar Saving money July 26, 2017September 18, 2018hp

Someone asked me about laser printer consumables, specifically toner vs drum unit. That’s a fair question. The drum unit is the gotcha consumable that people sometimes forget about.

Dave Farquhar

David Farquhar is a computer security professional, entrepreneur, and author. He started his career as a part-time computer technician in 1994, worked his way up to system administrator by 1997, and has specialized in vulnerability management since 2013. He invests in real estate on the side and his hobbies include O gauge trains, baseball cards, and retro computers and video games. A University of Missouri graduate, he holds CISSP and Security+ certifications. He lives in St. Louis with his family.

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What salary do I need to buy a house?

Dave Farquhar Saving money July 19, 2017July 3, 2018college education, computer security, estate sales, interest rates, IRS, mortgage, oakville

What salary do I need to buy a house? I struggled with that question in my 20s and it probably kept me renting a year or so longer than I really needed to be. Then again, considering the housing crisis of 2007-2008, renting a year or so longer was a small price to pay to avoid potentially making the biggest financial mistake of my life.

One of the reasons for that financial crisis was not enough people asking that question. A second reason was banks being dishonest about the answer. For the record, I think buying a house is a good idea and it’s worth it. But you have to be sane about it to keep from getting into trouble.

Dave Farquhar

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Is it worth it to buy a house?

Dave Farquhar Saving money July 12, 2017August 1, 2017estate sales, mortgage, real estate

A lot of people will say if you are asking is it worth it to buy a house, the answer is automatically no. As a homeowner and landlord, I think the answer is more complicated than that, so I’m not going to be quite that cynical.

Is it worth it to buy a house? Frankly, it depends.

Dave Farquhar

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Are LED light bulbs worth it?

Dave Farquhar Saving money July 4, 2017March 13, 2021CFL, Compact Fluorescent, curtains, home depot, home improvement, incandescent bulbs, led bulbs, lumen, lumens, philips, thermal curtains

I’ve been buying modern forms of light bulbs for almost 15 years now. So when someone asks me, “Are LED light bulbs worth it?” or “Do LED lights really save you money?” I can answer the question. I was more accepting of CFL bulbs than most, but I had some reservations about them. On the other hand, I really like LED bulbs.

LED light bulbs have saved me a lot of money over the years, and they have quite a few advantages besides the money they save you every month on your electric bill. I thought LED light bulbs were worth it five years ago, and I really think so now.

Dave Farquhar

dfarq.homeip.net

St. Louis thrift stores

Dave Farquhar Saving money, St. Louis June 29, 2017June 25, 2017collectibles, kingston, saving money, Value Village, vintage computer, watson

St. Louis has a number of good thrift stores. They’re good for saving money, and if you’re looking for collectibles, there’s something more thrilling about finding it in a thrift store than a collectibles shop. Here are my recommendations for St. Louis thrift stores.

Dave Farquhar

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Fix kitchen light bulb flickering

Dave Farquhar DIY, Saving money March 14, 2017March 13, 20211960s, incandescent bulbs, insurance company, kitchens, led bulbs

Flickering lights can be a sign of a serious electrical problem. But kitchen light bulb flickering often is due to other issues because a kitchen provides challenges you usually don’t find elsewhere in the house. Let’s look at things that cause kitchen light bulbs to flicker and burn out more quickly than other rooms and things you can do to prevent it.

And yes, flickering usually does go hand in hand with reduced lifespan.

Dave Farquhar

dfarq.homeip.net

Fix bathroom light bulb flickering

Dave Farquhar DIY, Saving money March 7, 2017March 13, 2021CFL, conductivity, extra mile, led bulbs

Flickering lights can be a sign of a serious electrical problem. But bathroom light bulb flickering often is due to other issues. Let’s look at things that cause bathroom light bulbs to flicker and burn out more quickly than elsewhere in the house and things you can do to prevent it.

And yes, flickering usually does go hand in hand with reduced lifespan.

Dave Farquhar

dfarq.homeip.net

Wash an electric toothbrush in a dishwasher

Dave Farquhar Health, Saving money February 24, 2017November 28, 2018philips

We bought our kids electric toothbrushes. They aren’t expensive and they seem to help our kids get fewer cavities. But how do you clean them after they’ve been sick, or one of them uses the wrong one? You put a regular toothbrush in the dishwasher. But what about an electric? Here’s how to wash an electric toothbrush in a dishwasher.

Dave Farquhar

dfarq.homeip.net

A 4inkjets review: recommended

Dave Farquhar Saving money February 2, 2017August 3, 2018

It’s not as easy as it could be to find a 4inkjets review, so I thought I’d write one myself. I’ve been buying from 4inkjets.com for more than a decade and I recommend them. Here’s why.

Dave Farquhar

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Bathroom lighting ideas: bar vs fixture

Dave Farquhar DIY, Saving money December 15, 2016March 13, 2021led bulbs, lumen

When you’re looking for bathroom lighting ideas, there’s more to consider when looking at bar lights vs fixtures than just the up front cost. A fixture may look nicer, and it’s likely it can save you money in the long run. New light fixtures can solve flickering issues too.

Dave Farquhar

dfarq.homeip.net

The Silicon Underground

Saving money

Toner vs drum unit: Laser printer consumables

What salary do I need to buy a house?

Is it worth it to buy a house?

Are LED light bulbs worth it?

St. Louis thrift stores

Fix kitchen light bulb flickering

Read more

Fix bathroom light bulb flickering

Wash an electric toothbrush in a dishwasher

A 4inkjets review: recommended

Bathroom lighting ideas: bar vs fixture