Internet: What's useful, what's contradictory, and what saves money?

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

Internet saves us money. My husband fixed our refrigerator, stove, dryer, door-bell, computer, car all through the internet. If I was smart enough to google "picture of athlete's foot fungal infection", I would had realized that's exactly how my RIGHT hand looked like. Instead I went to the doctor twice, and wasted $$$ on prescribed medications that didn't work. My having 3 siblings who are M.D's, plus one M.D. brother in law didn't help.

It's a FUNGAL infection, since it went on for 3 yrs (after constant friction in garden's gloves) & only on right hand. What stopped the itch was $1.29 of apple cider vinegar and 50 cents of hydrogen peroxide, both are anti-fungal & anti-bacterial. I learned that from eczema sites.

Lots of contradictions on the internet, esp. in health. I broke out laughing when I saw a government site on kidney stones: One statement says to avoid anti-acids with calcium. The next statement tells people to get plenty of calcium in their diet. It used to be "You should take calcium". Now, "calcium is bad for your heart, should take magnesium".

Amazon reviews are a zoo. There's this pants with 30 FAKED positive reviews, except for the newest one: the person complained that it shrank. I was dumb enough to buy the pants, yes, it shrank !! I write lots of reviews for Amazon, and update them according to their performance over the years. But lots of Amazon reviews are faked, and very amusing, see the below:

Fresh Whole Rabbit
by Cloverdale
337 customer reviews

3,668 of 3,892 people found the following review helpful
I know what it's like to be a feral dog
By M. Rosen on August 6, 2007

"Like many suburban homeowners, I like to kill and eat the wild animals that populate my backyard. To keep it sporting, I hunt naked, with my teeth and long sharpened fingernails as my only weapons. I've feasted on squirrel, raccoon, vole and numerous songbirds. But no matter how long I lay spread eagle and motionless in the hot noonday sun, I have never been able to outwit and catch any of the plump and juicy rabbits that hop just outside my reach and then bolt for the woods when I leap forward with a blood-curdling shriek. I have chased them at a dead run through the yards of the many unoccupied homes that surround mine but the pursuit always ends in frustration. But no more, thanks to Amazon. Every week, I order a fresh whole rabbit and affix it to a remote control car that is operated by one of my children. This way, I get the thrill of the hunt, and when the car's batteries are exhausted, I can leap upon it, bury my teeth into the rabbit's soft flesh and perform my ritual victory dance right there in the Walgreen's parking lot."

Here is a link that might be useful: Fresh whole rabbit on Amazon

Featured Answer

rob333 (zone 7b)

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

I do a lot of reviewing before buying. And I do a lot of car repairs if I watch and/or read, if they seem easy enough. I'd never try to adjust the timing on a Miata (do it wrong and you've ruined the engine), but to replace the radiator? Three hoses, and a bunch of bolts. No biggie. Obviously, you have to drain and replace the fluid, but that's a given on most any mechanical repair on a car. I'm about to overhaul the gear shifter on it next (the bushing breaks pretty easily, and I'm buying a replacement metal instead of plastic).

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Comments (7)

Sue_va
9 years ago
I save $$$ with coupons that I print off. I save $$$ by researching for what I'm planning to buy so I can read the specs and pros and cons before I go out looking for it. I pay no attention to the reviews. And I love the little quip that is popular these days: "It must be true, I saw it on the Internet."
Oh, and fried rabbit is really good. Ate a lot of it, freshly shot back in the Depression days.
Sue
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
9 years ago
I always check Google for coupon codes for any site I am ordering from and frequently save a good deal by using the codes I found. I do check reviews and go mostly on the ones that are from verified buyers that way I know they are real reviews of the item and not faked. I also do reviews and include pictures if they are helpful. I also check forums dedicated to the particular items I am researching, from things to purchase, types of medical treatment, specific drugs, and medical conditions like the diabetes forums etc. They are a wealth of information.

You tube videos can teach how to replace, repair and rebuild all manner of things. When we first started RVing we didn't know anything about how to do the things that you have to do when hooking up and un hooking as well as how to handle the tanks. I looked on you tube and found excellent resources and information step by step videos that taught us everything to get started.

Knowledge is power and we can get direct and knowledgeable information at our fingertips, I enjoy that aspect of the Internet. Of course just like in real life you have to wade through the quacks and craziness.
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nicole___
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I watched a U-tube video then made two $896ea Sunbrella Roman shades(96x46) for $40ea.

Saved a ton shopping on Ebay! WOW! I pay 10-40% of the original price on open box plumbing items for instance...
socks
9 years ago
The comments on the rabbit are very witty.

I always check with retailmenot.com for coupons. Also ebates.com--if you shop through them, you can save percentages, and they send you a check.
strawchicago z5
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
HI socks: thanks for the tip on retailmenot.com and ebates.com. We printed out coupon for $36 off from Vision Works, but didn't bring it along, since thought our kid's glasses would be covered by insurance (can't use coupon). When we were ready to pay, our insurance didn't go through, and we had to DRIVE ALL THE WAY home, just to fetch the coupon. I don't like shopping at Bed & Bath Beyond since it's a hassle to take the 20% coupon along. I forgot one time, and the store clerk won't give me one.

What I love about the Internet is it ENABLES the average person to take care of themselves better, without paying $$$ to "experts" who don't give a damn. My husband is "one" with his car, so when it broke down, he knew immediately that's the generator. He took his old generator to the auto-shop to be tested. They tested it WRONG, and told him it's OK. So he took his car to the dealer. The dealer charged $$$ for diagnostic tests, but could not find anything wrong with his car. HIs car broke down again !! He got mad and took it to his friend, a mechanic. His friend agreed that it's the generator, put a new one in, and it WORKED !!

Same with my sister, a retired Internal Medicine doctor with decades of experience. My period stopped at menopause (51) for months, then it came back ungodly heavy. My M.D. sister told me it's cancer. I disagree, and told her it's from the pumpkin seeds I eat for months. She didn't believe me until I dug up researches from government website that prove the potent estrogenic effect of pumpkin seeds. My 12 year old daughter was also eating tons of pumpkin seeds, and had 1-month-long period. Both of our bleeding stopped when we stopped the pumpkin seeds, with the Internet confirmed our suspicion.
maddielee
9 years ago
" We printed out coupon for $36 off from Vision Works, but didn't bring it along, since thought our kid's glasses would be covered by insurance (can't use coupon). When we were ready to pay, our insurance didn't go through, and we had to DRIVE ALL THE WAY home, just to fetch the coupon. I don't like shopping at Bed & Bath Beyond since it's a hassle to take the 20% coupon along. I forgot one time, and the store clerk won't give me one."

If you carry a smartphone, you always have access to your coupons.

ML

Internet: What's useful, what's contradictory, and what saves money?

rob333 (zone 7b)

Comments (7)

Sue_va

ravencajun Zone 8b TX

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Internet: What's useful, what's contradictory, and what saves money?

rob333 (zone 7b)

Comments (7)

Sue_va

ravencajun Zone 8b TX

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