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I carry a roll of the Velcro Plant Ties (see right) in my tool bag, but also keep One-Wrap Velcro strips in the shop. While they’re much more expensive, I’ve found the larger kind to be substantially bulkier and stronger. Here in Toronto, we have alternating weekly garbage, recycling, and green waste pickup. We also have rapacious raccoons. I found if I add a simple loop of One-Wrap, screw it into the side of the green bin and loop it over the locking bail of the bin, the raccoons cannot open it. I first tried Plant Ties. They just wouldn’t hold. For my purposes, a One-Wrap is good for about a year, after which it is easily replaced. It’s available in various colors and sizes. The lower-end of the One-Wrap line is a similar size to the Plant Ties, which are 13 mm wide; however, the One-Wrap also come as large as 22mm. It has deeper loop Velcro (thicker and fuzzier), and as the width of the tape increases, the size of the loops and their grip strength increases. Plant Ties really are great for handling all kinds of tasks, but One-Wrap is strong enough to bundle thicker rope, heavier hoses, and most importantly for me, they keep raccoons out of the recycling. – David Keldsen
To me, as a commuter, one of the most impressive parts of the EZ Pass toll-paying system is the hardcore industrial “velcro” tape they give you to attach your transponder to your windshield. It’s not really velcro, though – instead of hooks and loops, both surfaces have these tiny hard plastic mushroom-shaped things that grab each other by the hundreds and don’t let go. Both sides are the same, so there is only one tape (called selfmating). And unlike the loosy-fabricky velcro connection, the Dual Lock surfaces don’t join until you’ve positioned them exactly, and then pressed them together with a satisfying “chunk.” They’re primarily used in industrial applications as a replacement for mechanical fasteners, but I use mine to attach my iPod to my dashboard, and tools to the wall in my workshop. – S.S. Flanders
Parachute cord isn’t only light and strong (550lb. rating) for its size (5/32” diameter), it’s also more versatile than other types of rope because it can be dissected and parted out, cut and used for its braided nylon sleeve and/or seven separate core strands.
You can get an enhanced grip and a little added padding by using paracord to wrap tool handles. It’s also used for making lanyards. I recently inserted a length of ball chain into a parachute cord sleeve to make a hands-free flashlight for late-night dog walks. The nylon is a lot more comfortable around my neck than a ball chain, and the fit is perfect. – Spencer Starr
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From the bestselling author of The Psychology of Money, The Art of Spending Money explores the overlooked side of personal finance — arguing that true wealth isn’t about what you accumulate, but how you use money to build freedom, meaning, and joy.
Core Principles
Use Money to Buy Freedom
Wealth is not about luxury — it’s about control. The highest form of wealth is the ability to wake up and do whatever you want. Money is a tool that buys you time, allows you to make choices about where and how you live, and provides peace of mind. As Housel puts it: “I’d rather wake up and be able to do anything I want than try to impress you with nice stuff.”
Comparison Is a Losing Game
There are two ways to use money: as a tool to live a better life, or as a yardstick to measure yourself against others. Many people aspire for the former but spend their lives chasing the latter. Spending to impress others rarely leads to happiness because there’s always something more to strive toward — and disappointment is often the outcome.
Experiences Over Possessions
Spend on things that either resist adaptation or that you can repeatedly rediscover. You adapt to your new couch almost immediately, but a meaningful trip creates memories that bring pleasure for years. The best spending often looks invisible — living in a modest home you love, cultivating friendships, preserving mental health — things you can’t display but deeply feel.
Spend Extravagantly on What You Love
The goal isn’t extreme frugality — hoarding money for its own sake is another trap. Instead, spend extravagantly on the things you truly love while mercilessly cutting the things you don’t. Think about spending in terms of minimizing future regret: no one gets a prize for dying with the highest account balance.
Try It Now
List your top 5 purchases from the past month. For each one, ask: “Did this bring me lasting satisfaction, or was it forgotten within days?”
Identify one recurring expense that doesn’t actually improve your life. Cancel or reduce it this week.
Think of one thing you’ve been denying yourself that would genuinely increase your daily happiness. Permit yourself to spend on it.
Write down what “enough” looks like for you — the point where more money wouldn’t meaningfully improve your life.
For your next purchase over $50, wait 48 hours and ask: “Am I buying this for me, or to impress someone else?”
Quote
“There are two ways to use money. One is as a tool to live a better life. The other is as a yardstick of status to measure yourself against others. Many people aspire for the former but spend their life chasing the latter.”
