Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

m0nkeypox t1_j65jvk1 wrote

It really depends on the product.

I’m super picky about materials. I know the difference between durable leather and the cheap stuff.

Other than that, I look for brands I trust. I use Google and Reddit.

If it’s made from cast iron or other solid metal, that’s a good sign.

Some things are better when they’re disposable. Sponges, for example. These items, I order in bulk.

2

Fantastic-Alps4335 t1_j65u0q7 wrote

I like the sponge example.

1

m0nkeypox t1_j6660lv wrote

Amazon sells magic erasers by the hundred. Worth it.

1

m0nkeypox t1_j667gpa wrote

I want to mention that I have enough money to buy nice things.

There’s so much talk on this sub about the advantages of buying expensive things. Ultimately, bifl is a way for people with extra money to buy nice things. That’s it. We consider quality and durability a justification to spend our extra money. Other people care more about brand names or resale value. It’s a personal choice rich people get to make.

My grocery shopping bags are bifl. They’re Filson totes. There are more than a dozen of them stuffed in my trunk and another handful in the closet I use just for bags and briefcases. To top it all off, I have all of my groceries delivered.

I’m probably going to get a bunch of flak for this. I just wanted to be clear why we do this. None of us are living on food stamps.

2

Fantastic-Alps4335 t1_j66zf1b wrote

That’s one view point. It sounds like your grocery bags are overkill, but you can afford nice things and that’s great.

Everything is a tool for me. I prefer to get as cheap as i can while still accomplishing the task with a significantly low failure rate. And if it’s visible all the time then aesthetics come into play. Such as furniture.

3

m0nkeypox t1_j670ecf wrote

Funny you mention overkill. I bought the totes after intending to buy a bunch of bags from a brand called saddleback. I wanted leather. But when I saw the leather bags in real life, they looked too fancy and adorned. So I gave them to my mom to use as log carriers.

Years ago, I saw some incredible full grain shopping bags that looked a lot like regular paper grocery bags. I wish I would have scooped them up.

2

rushmc1 t1_j66lzdw wrote

Speak for yourself.

1

m0nkeypox t1_j66ysw7 wrote

Bifl on a budget is hard to reconcile. I just don’t want to give anyone the impression that we are average joes who are casually interested in quality. Or that spending countless hours searching through the shelves at a second hand shop is worth the time spent.

Bifl isn’t a standard that can be applied for most people or most people’s things.

Example: pencils- Troika or Kaweco and 5.6mm 8b leads. They work. They also cost 45 dollars. Bifl.

Other pencils work, too. It doesn’t mean they’re buying substandard product because they buy Blackwings or whatever brand of wooden pencil they can afford. They’re just pencils. Can we please stop larping as regular people who only care about quality?

4

Responsible_Emu3601 t1_j67o2dc wrote

Can I have some?

1

m0nkeypox t1_j67qh30 wrote

You want some food stamps? Filson bags?

1

Responsible_Emu3601 t1_j67r30c wrote

Filson totes if you’re not using em

1

m0nkeypox t1_j67s3hh wrote

I love those dumb bags. When I’m away from home, I take them into health food stores and fill them with Hildon. Handing a black Filson tote full of black Filson totes to the cashier is a strange flex, but a flex nonetheless.

Have you seen their pullmans? I don’t think they make them anymore but they’re so nice people stare.

1

complywood t1_j672xpf wrote

A very fine chainmail scrubber (example) can replace a lot of what you'd use a sponge for. Not everything, but it's surprisingly gentle. The seller says not to use on enamel or polished stainless steel, but I absolutely would, you just need to be careful not to push too hard. It's like the back of a spoon. Possible to make scratches with just because it's hard, but if you're gentle, in practice you can rub it over things without scratching.

Still worth having a sponge or similar alongside it, but you won't need to use it as much, so you won't go through them as quickly.

0

m0nkeypox t1_j676cf2 wrote

I use melamine sponges. I eat off of this really cool, super thin. bone china and it’s pretty easy to scratch. If I cooked at home or had pans that I used for cooking or washed dishes, I’d still use melamine sponges. But chain mail sounds cool af. I wonder if I can buy chain mail towels for the beach or just to throw around.

0