Macy's is having a Black Friday sale (even though today is Wednesday). There seems to be a lot of women's boots to choose from.

Then there is DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse) that has this ad on its site: Last Day (!) 30% Off Boots

Thanks. I'm going to make a note of those and keep it. India is a decent mfg. place of clothing.

Which brands produced in China would those be?

Definitely one that covers your hips. Know that at some point you may have to have it dry-cleaned so probably not one filled with real down (feathers).

Puffer jackets are popular but I think they make people look like The Michelin Man.

If there is such a thing, look for jeans made in the U.S. Stay away from "Made In China" if you can.

Very little made in China is durable. They manufacture as cheaply as they can with the cheapest of fabrics to maximize profits. On the other hand, China uses polyester extensively and since polyester is basically a plastic made form petro-chemicals it never breaks down.

Go with 100% cotton or other natural fibers, & brands that use those.

I remember when the Oral B battery toothbrushes could be bought at Walmart for about $2.99. That was right before Covid and the supply chain problems. Still, $6.00 now is still a great bargain for a toothbrush that will last years & years.

That's a beauty!

Right there with ya'.

Go with natural latex, not memory foam.

"What is memory foam made of? Memory foam consists mainly of polyurethane with additional chemicals that increase its viscosity and density. It is often referred to as "viscoelastic" polyurethane foam, or low-resilience polyurethane foam (LRPu)."

"What is polyurethane? Polyurethane is a plastic material, which exists in various forms. It can be tailored to be either rigid or flexible, and is the material of choice for a broad range of end-user applications such as: insulation of refrigerators and freezers. building insulation. cushioning for furniture."

In other words, memory foam is basically a petroleum product.

I understand what you mean.

OK

Wow, that's not very long at all. My previous washing machine, a Kenmore that I bought in 2000, lasted almost 15 years before needing anything. And that was just an easily swappable timer.

The matching dryer lasted about the same amount of time before needing a heating element.

5 years and 3 years would scare me.

How long is a SpeedQueen warranty?

The older appliances are easier and cheaper to repair. Of course, "older" means different things to different people. To me "older" in trems of large appliances means made in the 2000s or earlier. People will think "oh, that's too old, I need something much newer" and my thought is "why"? If it still works well why not use it?

Right now there is is an awesome Whirpool washer & matching electric dryer set on my local Facebook Marletplace for $450. An upscale top-loading washer and a dryer with a door that drops down from the center (important!) Lots of dials & settings which means a deluxe model. If had room to store them I'd buy them myself, I just don't need either one right now.

I have a Kenmore 700 set and it does not have electronic controls, which I avoid like the plague. Or the Covid. I bought it used many years ago and it's still performing wonderfully. Never a single issue. I bought the matching set for $150 from an elderly couple that was going into assisted living.

>"Same w the washer. Basic top loader. No frills , no fancy display just knobs for controls. The more basic you go the more reliable it tends to be. All those fancy bells and whistles are nice until they fail."
>
>100% truth. Well said.

I don't know if any very modern appliances could have BIFL applied to them. I'd strongly advise you to stay away from any that have elctronic touchpad control*, except for microwaves. The circuit boards run nearly $200 to replace. Look on your local Facebook Marketplace for used. People "upgrade" and put perfectly good working items up for sale.

*I say this from having worked in the semiconductor industry my whole career, with hands-n experience making the circuitry that goes into those boards.

I've ben using a battery Oral B for about 15 years. Not the same one. Two, I think.

Oral B battery powered. $6.00 on Amazon and Walmart. Takes one AA battery. Use the lithium kind.

The chrome could use some sprucing up.

But it deserves to be made beautiful again.

Honestly, Idon't think they make anything like they used to

Restore that sucker!

I've had a close relative of the Panasonic since the 1970s. Still working perfectly.