Just fine" is the key part of what max388 said. That's a pretty low bar to clear, and it makes me wonder if we're all just getting used to things being kinda broken. The real test isn't if it works for you, it's if the design choices actually make sense for what people need to do. I bet max388 could get by, but that doesn't mean the newer stuff is well made. We're settling for less and calling it a win.

It's more common than people think, especially in older buildings. I always check the outlet and power strip first with a cheap voltage tester, it saves so much time. @paige986 has a point about simple fixes, but a bad outlet isn't just a loose screw, it's a real hazard. Do you keep a tester in your main toolkit?

Come on, that sounds like a huge waste of time! I just keep one giant toolbox for all that stuff. Half the fun is the treasure hunt when you need a random screw, and honestly, my system works just fine. Labeling every little bin is what you do before you give up and toss everything back into the big bucket anyway. It's like sorting Legos by color, totally pointless in the end lol.

My multimeter skills are so bad I once checked for voltage by testing my own finger. I spent ten minutes convinced a live wire was dead because I had the dial set wrong. Nothing beats that click when you find the real problem though, right? What’s the dumbest mistake you’ve made that still got fixed?

My old boss made me check every roast by hand, @thea515, and the feel just clicks after a few weeks.