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gadgets and gizmos
One of the best items I have ever bought was a solar battery charger. I picked it up for about $35 from radio shack before I left for peace corps and have used it with out fail for 5 years. It is simple to work and even came with an adapter that plugs into about 6 different pieces of equipment including my computer. I could run my computer, or charge the battery all from the sun when i was gone, great for when the power went out which was pretty frequent with summer storms. I love this little gadget and have used it for playing my all weather radio, my computer, charging batteries and radios, when camping, when working outside in the garden and so much more. It charges batteries in about 2-3 hours in the summer and about 8 hours in the winter with diret sun light. It is one of the items on my list form my grab and go kit in case of emergencies and has a permanent home in one window of my room. i cannot even estimate how much in batteries it has saved me in its life time. Does anyone else have a little gizmo that they just love and was a good idea?
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It's not cheap, but my favorite gadget is Tivo. It lets me be a much more efficient TV-watcher, which is particularly important since I have a young child. -
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a 20$ hair stick
but it isn't high tech (polished carved wood, litterally a three pronged stick) a lifesaver for a mom with kneelength hair and 3 little ones)
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I got an all purpose pocket tool a few years ago and I always have it with me. It has been a lifesaver at times. I believe it is a Leatherman.Comment
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oh i bought one of those and a swiss army knife when i left for peace corps. (they are a life saver in a thrid world country!) the leatherman stays in my car consul and the swiss army knife in my night stand. i love them both and use them allt e time too.Comment
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Where did you serve? DH and I considered it, but kids intervened.Originally posted by debtfreeme
I have a swiss army knife that got used a lot when I worked for the forest service. It actually has my thumbprint melted into it from me picking it up with acetone on my fingers (cleaning a paint gun nozzle).Comment
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hey debtfree - i tried going to radioshack.com to look for the battery solar charger - is there a brand new involved? Do you know where one like your can be found? I have sun all year long and 12hours each day!Comment
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well, i really like my pepper grinder, nothing high tech, but it's fun to use and i like it better than pre-ground pepper.
I also think the $50 or so i spent at Wal-Mart for a cordless weed whacker last summer was a great investment. I've got 1.5 acres and it's always supplied all the power i needed to weed whack everything, plus no smelly/messy gas/oil or cords to contend with, just put it back in the battery charger when i'm done and it's good to go next time. It's also not as noisy as gas powered trimmers.Comment
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I am a long time devout PDA user. It allows me to track my money down to the last cent, set up a budget on the fly, and troubleshoot my spending habits so I can be more efficient with money. Anywhere, anytime.
Yes, they're expensive, but to me, it's worth every penny.Comment
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The one that I bought looks like the one pictured here on this website (not endorsing the website just an example of what I bought)
Trying to remember back 5 years, I think I had the model numbers and Radio Shack ordered it for me. I love mine and use it all the time although I think it is going and I might need to get a new one. I like it because I could even charge my car battery back up if I needed to, although I never take it with me in the car unless on a ling car trip. It has charged my cell phone when traveling, when camping (ok, I know stupid to take it camping but one never know what happens and I don’t keep it on all time nor do I use it.) I don’t let it sit outside unless it is sunny, it just sits in my windows.Comment
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Same brand name? I am very interested in acquiring something like you first said.
I'm just looking for the adapter to allow 6 diffferent kinds of equipment.... I dunno... I just think that you got yourself a great gadget!
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yep, what i pictured is what i bought through radio shack. i love being able to quietly play my radio when i am outside with out havign to pay for electricity.
it is just the neastes little gadget and sure has some in handy in some tight spots.Comment
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oh, and i was a trainee in moldova (small country inbetween Romania and the Ukraine) before i had an accident at the bus station a week before swearing in. I would do it again in a minute! Especially there.Comment
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We have motion/light sensitive light switches in many rooms in the house. The light will turn on and off without you having to think about it! The bathroom fan is also on a timer switch. No lights left on accidently in our house!Comment
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I put one of those in the laundry room so you don't have to hit the switch while your hands are full. You can't forget to turn it off because as you noted, it does so autiomatically!
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