These are some of the tools I use and recommend. You will also find some tools that I’ve used/tried to use and don’t recommend. I personally try to buy used, then I try to buy local and then I resort to online when those avenues are not viable or present a severe inconvenience to me or what I am doing at the time.
Some of the links I provide are “affiliate links” that provide me with a source of incremental income if you click on them and happen to decide to make a purchase. Others are not sponsored in any way. Regardless, you’ll be getting my honest option about how I use them and how I feel about them.
Artifical Intelligence
I don’t classify AI in the Software and Technology bucket because it seems to be a “breakout tool” at the moment and I believe it should be prominent in this list. Not because I think it’s “great”, I just believe it to be a “different animal”, in many respects.
Claude.ai:
From the Source: Tackle any big, bold, bewildering challenge with Claude.
From CTC: I don’t like that they do not give you an option to try it without signing up.
Construction Materials
I tend to buy my construction materials like dimensional lumber, wire, pvc, insulation, etc… based on price and from various sources. I have not found anything exceptional and anything to be too wary of to mention. I use sources like Lowes, Home Depot, Menards, Carter Lumber and the local sources in the small towns where we live.
I will say that I’ve been disappointed on several occasions having made the trip to any given Lowe’s and them not having what I need.
Random & Useful
Software & Technology
GeneratePress – Build your perfect WordPress website.
From the Source: Focused on speed, stability, and accessibility, our lightweight WordPress theme and suite of tools lets you build beautiful websites that work. Whether you’re a hobbyist, freelancer, or agency, you can make just about anything with GeneratePress.
From CTC: I have been using this for a couple of years now and plan on using it exclusively as my WordPress theme/framework moving forward for any WordPress sites that I build, like this one. I highly reccommend GeneratePress One.