Trickle Charge
Over time, as we can afford it, we buy a little extra of this and that. A little food, a little water, a few supplies of one kind or another.
We don't have a budget that would tolerate funding "survival" as a one-off expense.
What we
can do, however, is sprinkle "barter currency" among the things we put aside. One of the things in the barter currency category is extra inexpensive but decent quality, knives.
No, I don't need any more for my own personal use. I have enough of them that I have to use the word "hobby" to maintain any credibility. However, once a month or so, I pick up another $10 or $15 knife. Maybe a Mora, maybe a Buck, maybe a cheap Chinese ceramic knife (I can get those locally for less than $10, surprisingly good quality). When I find a real bargain (like a Kershaw Northside for half off) I'll pick up two or three.
These aren't really intended to be part of a "collection"
per se, but they fill the role of knives I'm willing to lend, swap, or simply give away.
There's no guilt there.
They cost very little today. They'll hold their value tomorrow. They can be used to create good will, grease wheels, or just convey value.
Think of it as a kind of trickle charge.
Guilt would be if I ran off and bought a $200 knife without the wife's blessing. It would also be called "disharmony."
I prefer to have her on my side.
