In defense of mail-ordering.

Except for a few trips to Target and Ikea, chauffered by some very generous friends, everything else that I've bought since moving to New Haven has been ordered online and delivered to me.

Although it costs me a few bucks more, I figure it's basically the same or cheaper as if I owned a car and had to drive to get there (if you count the car price, insurance, gas, etc.). In environmental terms, there's more packaging, but the fuel used by the delivery trucks is probably the same as if I drove myself to the store. (There could be an argument about diesel vs. unleaded, but let's not go there.)

As much as I hate being limited in the distance that I can travel without a car, I have to admit it makes me a much savvier buyer. I have to think a lot harder whether I want to carry the junk home with me. Even my online orders are thought about twice, because I'd still have to carry and walk to a post office/shipping store with my return items.

I'm sure I'll be learning much more about costs and value in school, but for now, this works.