this post was submitted on 27 Jan 2024
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Asklemmy

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278
What are some things you can/should cheap out on? (self.asklemmy)
submitted 10 months ago by LunchEnjoyer to c/[email protected]
352 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

I often hear, "You should never cheap out on a good office chair, shoes, underpants, backpack etc.." but what are some items that you would feel OK to cheap out on?

This can by anything from items such as: expensive clothing brands to general groceries.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 29 points 10 months ago (3 children)

I "just" moved and now taking care of the garden. I want a small vegetable garden (again) in raised beds.

You have a lot of raised beds kits the cheapest ones are โ‚ฌ40 and more expensive ones are โ‚ฌ90. I however used pallet collar's at โ‚ฌ5 a piece. You don't even have to screw them together just put them down. For some custom size beds I use free pallets. They do take some work however.

Give them one treatment with linseed oil and you can use them for years. They live longer then the cheap kits and just a bit shorter then expensive ones. (Hardwood probably out life them)

Kits for vegetable gardens are most of the time really overpriced. Raised beds kits, tool kits and so on.

If you want high quality tools buy them of course, but starter kits are most of the time just the cheapest ones at a premium. Want hardwood raised beds, just buy wood and not a kit.

I suggest start on the cheap side, see if it your hobby. Buy cheap tools they already least long enough and if they break you know that you maybe want to invest in a premium one. Because you use that tool really often. (Second hand old tools are sometimes a better option of course)

[โ€“] [email protected] 18 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (4 children)

Cheap/free pallets are used pallets and these have been in contact with so much shit that they should never be used with anything you'll put in your mouth and shouldn't be used indoors either (not relevant to you, just saying)

[โ€“] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago

For this use, maybe add a liner then

[โ€“] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

Thanks for you comment, didn't think of that.

I bought the used pallet collar's for a company I know and it shipped and stored stainless steel. I'm fine with that. But if someone isn't comfortable with used new pallet collar's are about โ‚ฌ15.

The free pallets I used only moved pavement stones once, so I also think it fine. But yeah don't just pick something on the side of the road to grow food in.

A other comment mentioned chemical treatment of pallets. I didn't think of that. Most pallet in the eu are not allowed to use chemicals to treat the wood. Only heat treatment. That covers eur/epal pallets and single use pallets. Basically the only ones that are free or cheap. And it most be printed on the pallet how they are treated.

That being said be careful especially in countries without laws against using chemicals on pallets.

So I'm fine using them also understand other people are not. Then buying new are just wood for the store is always a option.

[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

Just be sure those pallets were not used with toxic stuff. I'm damn sure that those that lay behind food stores are just ok.

[โ€“] PoliteGhost -4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

"shit" even humans', is used as fertilizer all over the world.

So tell me you have no idea about farming without saying that you have no idea about farming.

[โ€“] [email protected] 11 points 10 months ago

I don't think the comment you're replying to was referring to shit as in fecal matter, but rather shit as in unknown potentially toxic substances.

[โ€“] blanketswithsmallpox 10 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Do not use free range pallets for anything that isn't strictly decorative with lots of coating on it. Those things are treated to high heaven with loads of chemicals and you never know what they had on them.

Woods preservatives and methyl bromide are known carcinogens and they're not even recommended to burn, let alone grow food in.

https://aaapalletco.com/are-pallets-safe-to-burn-answers-from-the-experts/

[โ€“] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

It's forbidden to use chemical treatment on Eur pallet/epal pallets. They are only heat treated. Single use pallet are also forbidden to use chemical treatment, but are normally not heat treated. So for the eu the treatment is not the problem. Of course didn't think of the rest of the world. Sorry for that.

For the stuff that's was on the pallet collar's stored and transported stainless steel and the free pallets I got where form work and shipped some pavement stones.

If you don't feel safe buy/getting for free used. New epal pallet collar's are about โ‚ฌ15. They are only heat treated by law.

[โ€“] LunchEnjoyer 8 points 10 months ago (1 children)

This is a great one for sure, enjoy the gardening! ๐ŸŒป

[โ€“] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

Thanks! ๐Ÿ˜Œ