The modern five and dime
Ah, the wonder of the five and dime. Try that line on your children and they’ll be convinced that you’ve come in via time travel, but the same hodge podge and degree of quality is still out there. Locally we refer to such bazaars as the Dollarama; your local label will vary. Sometimes, the best solution is the cheap one.
Consider the USB extension cable. At a local electronics shop, I’ve seen such necessities approaching the $20 price point. At the dollar store, well, they cost a dollar. Or how about a small pair of pliers, needed to repair some object around the house. In the hardware emporium, be ready to shell out a tenspot. Here, again, you can save the day for a dollar. Wonderful!
Right now, I’m getting set to build an electronic keyer (the Picokeyer-Plus from N0XAS). Not to replace; rather, to supplement my Vibroplex bug and the small collection of hand keys. My HF transceiver has only ONE jack for attaching whatever device I use for keying, so rather than plugging and unplugging my way to distraction, I picked up a box made of some sort of pressed wood. At one dollar, I can afford to botch the job, or to replan things. Meanwhile, I’ll have enough places to plug in my hardware, and the speed control for the keyer will be close at hand.
No pictures, yet, but I thought I’d make the point that the dollar store is alive, and well, and necessary for those who have to respect a budget. Besides, you might find a real bargain or two, over in the next aisle.
