• Blackberry ($100+)
  
  
  
  The Blackberry 8700, with a full QWERTY keyboard and internet access has been amazing. When I'm away from my office or out of town I just forward my business line to my cell, and I'm still available via email, AOL Instant Messenger, yahoo messenger, and Skype (and can make skype calls from my phone). Google maps has helped me out so many times.
  



• Mini Air Compressor ($10)
  
  
  Plugs into a cigarette lighter and pumps air up to 250psi. Used it this week at 11pm in sub-freezing temperatures to rescue my wife who had a flat tire.







• 2GB Thumb Drive ($15)
  I can now run all of my essential programs off the USB drive on my key chain. This means that I can now work from any computer with an Internet connection without installing any programs onto the computer.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Mini-Greenhouses ($10)
  
  These little greenhouses are really cheap, come with dirt, you just add seeds and water, and plants grow. This got me motivated to get our vegetable garden started this year (lots of cucumbers, some corn, snow peas, tomatoes). I've even got one going now getting some indoor veggies started.
  
  
  
  
• Kitchen Shelf Drawer Slides ($50 per drawer + labor)
  
  Getting on my hands and knees reaching into the deep recesses of one of our lower kitchen cupboards to try to find sesame seed oil was too much. I bought the wood and the sliders and build these shelves, which have saved us tons of time and back-ache.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Adoption Costs (around $500)
  Adopting the way we are is surprisingly affordable (under $500 for the fees, court fees, training, etc.), and we've started our family with a beautiful little boy.

Read More 2 comments | Posted by Jon the legal immigrant |

2 comments

1. Jen on 1/18/08, 4:40 PM

   Fantastic post. Very handy/how-to -ish.

    
2. Anonymous on 1/21/08, 2:41 AM

   Wow, I didn't realize you were adopting. That's awesome!