Mike S.'s Profile

Display Name: Mike S.
Member Since: 6/11/09

Latest Comments...

I own the Z bar. It's a great color of light, but it does have a few downsides. One, is that it throws off 6 individual light sources, so everything can have 6 shadows. It works best bounced off a wall. Also, for LEDs, I was surprised at how hot the last bar got. You also can't put it on a lightswitch because it doesn't maintain it's previous setting.


Five Best Energy Efficient LED Desk Lamps
1/14/11 2:16 PM

Got rid of Netflix a little over a year ago.
Got rid of Cable TV about 2 years ago.
Got rid of the television in December.

If I can't watch it through the web or computer, I really don't care.


Have You Considered Canceling Your Cable Service? | Apartment Therapy Unplggd
4/14/10 8:37 PM

Saved an iphone that went through a washer and dryer by using the expensive silica gel only cat litter. Wifi was busted.


How To Dry Out (and Hopefully Save) Wet Electronics Home Hacks | Apartment Therapy Unplggd
2/4/10 5:46 PM

Magic Erasers clean a tub of soap scum with no other chemicals. So easy and a pro trick. You don't have to do it when you move out, they work even when you live there still. :D


Renters: 7 Things To Do Before Moving Out | Apartment Therapy Los Angeles
1/26/10 1:05 PM

After getting out of credit debt and reading Ramit Sethi's book, I learned how to make credit cards work for me. Like you, I don't buy anything I can't afford in cash, but my big purchases are done on credit card to be immediately paid. It's what I did when I bought my Intuos4 Large from Amazon (granted, it's no Cintiq). This gives me more consumer protection in cases like this, or even if I need to make a return.
The few times I've needed Amazon Customer Service, they've immediately credited my account or sent me replacements with no hassle.


The Online Order That Made 72 Hours Feel Like Forever | Apartment Therapy Unplggd
11/30/09 12:38 PM

Ratio book is FTW. I can't believe how many quick things I've done spur of the moment simply because I've mixed up quick ratios. That includes using the 3-2-1 for a quick tart or pizza dough or ... well you get the idea.


Apartment Therapy The Kitchn | Chez Pim's Mix-on-the-Counter Flaky Pastry Dough Recipe Reviews
11/9/09 12:00 PM

A lot of other blogs (Techcrunch being one) are refusing to follow embargoes, you should do it, too.


Apartment Therapy Unplugged | Dyson Air Multiplier Table Fan Unplggd Test Lab
10/13/09 2:27 PM

Not sure cutting the interwebs would be smart. For one, it's the primary way of finding new jobs and can replace most of your other lost entertainment types. I did go from a 10MB connection to a 6MB when I was cutting costs. When I called up TW, I mentioned moving to AT&T DSL so they put me into the retention queue and I got down to $35 per month. I don't get cable TV. In fact, my TV will stop even working tomorrow. I'm looking forward to tossing it. :D

Got an iphone when my 5 yr old phone died in March, so I don't have many options cutting that down further. I only have the 450 minute plan.

Haven't had a land line in years. No video game subscription. I suspended NetFlix when I went unemployed in January. I got a job 2.5 months later, but never felt the need to go back, so that just got canceled.

Other cost cutting measures include being out of debt, using mint.com to help w ith budgets, using Costco to save (but only after price comparison), using Amazon subscribe and save for 15% off (Prime = 'free' shipping), making homemade foods!, buy generic foods, buy things used when you can, too.


Apartment Therapy Unplugged | Which Home Technology Service Would You Cut First?
6/11/09 7:23 PM