Eight bucks for a Le Creuset is the kind of luck that makes you want to check every sale within 50 miles. I hit one last month where the folks running it clearly looked up prices on the good stuff, but the kitchen boxes were still full of cheap finds because nobody bothered to dig. Look for Pyrex with the old stamp on the bottom, the colored mixing bowls go for way more than people think, and old cast iron skillets with a smooth cooking surface instead of that rough sandpaper feel. Just do not expect to score a $350 pot every weekend or you will end up driving to sales in the rain for nothing.

Man, I always figured a spot was just a spot and lighting didn't matter much. But a warm lamp and a power strip? That would totally get me to show up at 7am too, not even gonna lie. Guess the little stuff really does change everything.

9,000 miles ain't exactly a lifetime, but I guess peace of mind has a price.