That's why, for example, I didn't buy the expensive drill. I use it more as a power screwdriver for bike repair and for doing little repairs around the apartment (my landlord is a fussy sunufabitch who always gets hypercritical about my housekeeping, so I try to avoid any reason to let him in). The mixer, however, with its attachments, does the work of half a dozen appliances and lets me make things at home that I'd have to buy at a supermarket. In making decisions on what to buy, the first question is, "Do I need it?" If the answer isn't an unqualified "yes", then I deal with "Why do I want it?" and go from there to "Can I get along without it?" The low question on the totem pole is, D...

That's why, for example, I didn't buy the expensive drill. I use it more as a power screwdriver for bike repair and for doing little repairs around the apartment (my landlord is a fussy sunufabitch who always gets hypercritical about my housekeeping, so I try to avoid any reason to let him in). The mixer, however, with its attachments, does the work of half a dozen appliances and lets me make things at home that I'd have to buy at a supermarket. In making decisions on what to buy, the first question is, "Do I need it?" If the answer isn't an unqualified "yes", then I deal with "Why do I want it?" and go from there to "Can I get along without it?" The low question on the totem pole is, Do I want to get along without it?". Some are no-brainers - my health requires using air conditioning in hot and humid weather. I suppose, for example, that I could do without internet service, but then I wouldn't be able to read your exquisite clips.