Luxuries we think we can't live without but find we can with practice

Luxuries we think we can't live without but find we can with practice (Full Version)

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erieangel -> Luxuries we think we can't live without but find we can with practice (2/23/2013 11:12:08 PM)
The idea for this actually came from another thread. Many of the items in our day-to-day world truly are luxuries, but we think our world will cease to exist if we were made to live without them. I'd bet with practice we could find live just as enjoyable and satisfying, if not more so, without all these things. In our fast paced world, one can barely go anyplace without one's cellphone, I pad, I pod, Tablet or some other device to ensure we stay connected to the world. Many know that I bought a new car a year ago. What most don't know is that I traded in a fully loaded 2000 Saturn (I even had a remote start) for a stripped down 2012 Toyota Yaris that doesn't even have power windows. A year ago, on cold winter mornings, I was able to point the remote out the window and start the car to warm it and begin melting the snow and ice off the windows a few minutes before I was ready to leave the house. This winter I had to trudge through the snow, clean the door windows before I could even open the doors or else the entire interior of the car would be full of snow. Power locks? forget it. I don't know how many times my locks froze this winter. I thought I'd die without all those luxuries. I LOVE my Yaris!! Other things we think we can't do without: The internet. My recent absence from this site was due to a self-imposed disconnect. My agency is beginning computerized reporting and I'm on the computer far too much, so I took a break from it and did some real living for a change. I'm going to do more and more of that in the future. Cable/Satellite TV. I spent several years with only local channels. These days I have satellite TV, but no major movie channels. And honestly, I've thought about having it turned off, but I am under contract and I have been advised by my payee not to violate that contract if I want my credit rating to improve. Cell phones. I went for years without one of these as well. Actually, I went for about 2 years when I was very poor and fighting for SSI without even a land line. These days I carry 2 cells--my work phone and my personal. I have my work phone on me at all times. My personal phone is a luxury item in the truest sense of the word and I will often leave the house without it. I have 3 phones on my account--my own, my son's and my sister's, which I pay for because I feel safer with her having a cell phone and she can't afford one of her own. Carrying her on my account was not that much more than I was paying for just my son and I. Notebooks, Tablets and other electronic devices. I have wanted these items in the past and have come to realize that I really have no desire to be that connected to the internet world. I'll spend my money on something far more worthwhile, thank you very much. What are some of the things you guys use, think you can't live without or have found that you can in fact do without in your daily lives despite their popularity?

Kaliko -> RE: Luxuries we think we can't live without but find we can with practice (2/23/2013 11:28:42 PM)
I no longer have a microwave. It's been almost two months now and I love not having one. There's something satisfying about using the oven and stove for reheats. I believe the internet is no longer a luxury, at least in my circumstance. I have a child, and if I were to deprive her of the internet, I would be doing her a disservice. So much in school now requires internet and computers - as well as probably just about any field that she ultimately enters. So internet service is not a luxury, but a necessity - much more so than a microwave. :) But the breaks from the internet I can surely understand and embrace. I do, though, have heated seats in my car. This is not, I repeat - not - a luxury. It is so a necessity. :)

jlf1961 -> RE: Luxuries we think we can't live without but find we can with practice (2/23/2013 11:29:12 PM)
Canadian Whiskey, Scotch, and some family made stuff that can either be drunk, or if you are so uncivilized, mixed to provide fuel for a car. Internet, broadband. Central heating and cooling. My garden and the land I graze steers on for beef. My guns. My cable tv, for the history channel, sci fi, science channel, Military Channel, food network and Investigation discovery, and oh yes, chiller. No movie channels. My dogs. My library I refuse to own a cell phone... If I am not at home, I dont want you calling me. My computer My wok, electric skillet, commercial size crock pot and my chiefs knives, and my commercial grade pots and pans... and my cast iron.

Toppingfrmbottom -> RE: Luxuries we think we can't live without but find we can with practice (2/23/2013 11:29:59 PM)
Sweets my mom was Always trying to get me to eat, as much as I loved them I do not miss most of them.

TheLilSquaw -> RE: Luxuries we think we can't live without but find we can with practice (2/23/2013 11:40:51 PM)
quote: What are some of the things you guys use, think you can't live without or have found that you can in fact do without in your daily lives despite their popularity? I didn't own a microwave for years. I much rather re-heat on the stove or in the oven. I had a family cell plan at one point and cancelled it. I simply couldn't justify the expense. At one point, I had a truck payment. Now that I can drive again I refuse to finance a car. We rarely eat out or order in, today was the 2nd time in 8 months. I don't do credit cards, the only time I did was when I had a business one for my store.

Phoenixpower -> RE: Luxuries we think we can't live without but find we can with practice (2/24/2013 1:01:02 AM)
Without my cats.....now....I had a time where I had none...which was during 2005 and 2006....partially due to taking responsibility for my date at thate time as well, who is allergic to cats....but once it was clear that it is not gonna work out....I was looking for a flat which allowed cats and got them in 2007 [:D]

Muttling -> RE: Luxuries we think we can't live without but find we can with practice (2/24/2013 1:02:11 AM)
I know this sounds a bit arrogant and I apologize in advance.... There's really not a lot that I can't live without. The more I age, the more that I discover how little I need and how much these things add more complication my life. I thoroughly enjoy my internet, but I can live without it. Apart from that, I enjoy simplicity. I haven't had cable in close to 10 years. I didn't do this out of choice, I lived in an apartment where it was out of service for a couple of months and I found that I didn't miss it so I never got it reconnected. 10 years later, it's still the same. I haven't had a car payment since 1999 and never intend to have another. I could drive a much nicer vehicle if I wanted to put up with payments and full coverage insurance, but I like my older pick up truck that starts every time and gets me where I'm going. I spent most of 2004 in Iraq near the town of Taji. I was already starting to get the idea that simplicity is better when deployed, but that experience changed a lot for me and I am now of the attitude that "if I don't truly need it, it better be damned good for me to put up with the complications that come with it."

LadyPact -> RE: Luxuries we think we can't live without but find we can with practice (2/24/2013 1:23:13 AM)
I almost feel like calling My response "welcome to Alaska". Middle of bum f*ck nowhere and many months of winter/icy roads pretty much require the cell phone. From here to the city is a hundred miles. When there can be up to twenty hours of dark, moose that don't really think they have to give you the right of way, and so many areas that nobody would ever see you if you went off of the road due to ice, you've just got to have a way to contact somebody quick if the vehicle is damaged and/or no longer runs. Since that was necessary, we decided the land line was not. Cable. We have it, though we keep it rather basic. Since we have this expense, we don't do movies. That means the theater and pretty much DVDs. We bought exactly one movie in the past year. Of all things, it was "The Muppet's Christmas Carol." Watching it has been a family tradition ever since I first bought it for My son as a little boy. No matter where we are in the world, My daughter, My son, MP, and I watch it on Christmas Eve. Internet. Probably the main form of entertainment. There's really nothing else here. Again, most of our friends live a hundred miles away. Creativity in food. I have learned to make all kinds of things since living here. The grocery bill is a little higher, but unless we're at a munch or it is a necessity because we have to be in the city the entire day, we don't eat out. No fast food. No pizza joints. I do have a thing for pizza, so we make it at home probably about one time a month. The big one for Me........ I stopped purchasing impact toys. My collection really is rather extensive and for as much as there are always new things to buy, I just made a decision that I don't need any more. Where some money did go instead was the new dungeon. That was all done on reworked furniture, free carpet, and thrift store finds. What would have cost thousands if we bought it all new was completed on just a few hundred dollars.

LafayetteLady -> RE: Luxuries we think we can't live without but find we can with practice (2/24/2013 2:36:20 AM)
Well, let's see... There was a time I would have thought I couldn't live without a vehicle. Haven't had one in a couple of years now, and much to the chagrin of my son and a couple of friends, I have no desire to own another. I have found a way to get all of my transportation needs met without one, and the freedom from the rising cost of gas and car insurance is wonderful. I have lived without a microwave and easily could again. The one I have was given to me, and yes, I do enjoy the convenience, but it is on its last legs. I have to keep it unplugged or it will mysteriously start all by itself, and also if I leave it plugged in, it often won't work when I want it to. I would love to be able to live without cable television, but where I live, if you don't have cable, you don't have television. I don't have movie channels, never have since I think they are basically a waste. But I do have cable. A phone of some sort, preferably a cell phone these days. My son and my granddaughter's mother communicate with me primarily by text, so if I want to be in contact with them, and I do, a cell phone is necessary. I don't have a contract plan, but a monthly deal with Virgin Mobile, which I keep at the lowest possible, since I do need to be able to schedule doctor's appointments and transportation. These days, I work as a writer, so the internet is actually a necessity. It is also how I keep up with local news. I have a kindle, and I use it to both read and play games. I get free books mostly and since I subscribe to the service I use their "library" which I wish they would increase to more than one book a month, which is ridiculous. Soon libraries and books with pages will become harder and harder to come by, so some kind of tablet/e-reader is going to be necessary.

MissBlueangel -> RE: Luxuries we think we can't live without but find we can with practice (2/24/2013 2:59:49 AM)
Well I used to think I couldnt live without expensive jewellry and watches, bags and shoes. Then I had a life changing event and realised nothing is more important than the 'luxury' of health. I think I could pretty much live without most other things

AthenaSurrenders -> RE: Luxuries we think we can't live without but find we can with practice (2/24/2013 3:31:12 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LadyPact Of all things, it was "The Muppet's Christmas Carol." Watching it has been a family tradition ever since I first bought it for My son as a little boy. No matter where we are in the world, My daughter, My son, MP, and I watch it on Christmas Eve. Us too! It doesn't feel like Christmas until we watch it. It's also essential that we watch it in PJs, with the tree lit up, whilst eating cheese and crackers. We've never had any sort of cable so I don't miss it. But, (I'm ashamed to admit this) in my household of two adults and a toddler we have three computers, a tablet and two smart phones. We had a fourth computer that we recently gave away. My husband is a huge computer nerd and he would really really feel hard done to if we had to give those up. I mostly use mine when he is busy with his so I think I'd have an easier time, but I would miss the convenience of quickly looking something up online - phone numbers, opening times, buying things of amazon. I would struggle if I had to give up the car and I think I'd go mad if I didn't have things to read. I could live without TV. We buy a lot of brand-name foods and meats which are expensive, though I think I could feed us all on more basic stuff if I needed to. Heh the more I think about it I am spoiled for luxuries. In some ways we live an indulgent lifestyle (the computers and food) in other ways we're pretty sensible - we don't drink or smoke, don't go out partying, haven't been on holiday for years, don't eat out. We live within our means though.

LadyPact -> RE: Luxuries we think we can't live without but find we can with practice (2/24/2013 4:05:42 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: AthenaSurrenders Us too! It doesn't feel like Christmas until we watch it. It's also essential that we watch it in PJs, with the tree lit up, whilst eating cheese and crackers. We've never had any sort of cable so I don't miss it. But, (I'm ashamed to admit this) in my household of two adults and a toddler we have three computers, a tablet and two smart phones. We had a fourth computer that we recently gave away. My husband is a huge computer nerd and he would really really feel hard done to if we had to give those up. I mostly use mine when he is busy with his so I think I'd have an easier time, but I would miss the convenience of quickly looking something up online - phone numbers, opening times, buying things of amazon. I would struggle if I had to give up the car and I think I'd go mad if I didn't have things to read. I could live without TV. We buy a lot of brand-name foods and meats which are expensive, though I think I could feed us all on more basic stuff if I needed to. Heh the more I think about it I am spoiled for luxuries. In some ways we live an indulgent lifestyle (the computers and food) in other ways we're pretty sensible - we don't drink or smoke, don't go out partying, haven't been on holiday for years, don't eat out. We live within our means though. Don't let anyone know that I'm the one who let the secret out, but there are a bunch of us on this site who are MCC fans. Next December, we'll have to remember to start a thread on our time spent watching it. We'll call it "Twenty Four Hours of A Muppet's Christmas Carol Around the World". [;)]

Lucylastic -> RE: Luxuries we think we can't live without but find we can with practice (2/24/2013 7:38:49 AM)
Unless there's an EMP that destroys computer technology, its not something I will go without ever Its my bread and butter, my way of keeping in touch with family over the pond and friends in america, I use it for tv, reading, movies, most of my socialising hours are internet based, and thats the way I like it. Work and research is most of my day. I dont have a car, hell I dont even drive, I only watch tv, for the local news/weather and sometimes a hockey or football game. At one time we had the move channels, now I get mine from online. I dont do jewellery or fancy schmancy gear, altho I do like my corsets, boots, floggers and BDSM gear, I dont need it to play, my mind is fertile enough. I dont do vacations unless its to see my pet, and I travel on the bus, and have more fun. I dont have an expensive cell phone, we dont have a landline anymore, and I spend 15$ a month on it, altho I might update it being as its five years old. I use skype to call family and friends, even for the businesss, to keep making long distance too expensive. I got a kindle as a gift , which is rapidly becoming a favourite. We rarely eat out...or even home delivery, we all like to cook, one of my sons is a chef, and I love it when he uses us a s guineapigs. I like the microwave and the dishwasher, but have certainly lived ok without them. I tried living without a dog, or furry critter/cat/rabbit/hamsters, but my dog brings so much happiness..its one thing I refuse to give up :) We are pretty frugal, but I refuse to live without a computer... when the internet is down, I have a kagillion things to keep me occupied, I can walk away from it when I choose. I can now fix most computer problems, ..of course in a power cut... all bets are off and I start chewing my knuckles

lmpishlilhellcat -> RE: Luxuries we think we can't live without but find we can with practice (2/24/2013 8:12:42 AM)
I have two cell phones one for work and one for home. I could easily get rid of my personal cell phone. In fact, it's really rare that I use my cell phone. I spend so much time on the phone at work that when I get home I have used all my words for the day. Kindle: I absolutely love my kindle. I carry it every where. I read all the time. It drives my husband nuts, usually because he's talking to me. I could do without this and go back to paper books. I have a ton of books in boxes in storage. It is already purchased and it seems ridiculous to get rid of it now. Cable: Before my husband and I moved in together, I only had very basic cable. The cable company was insistent about charging me more for internet if I didn't. Netflix: I could do away with netflix, without a problem. Internet: This I would have to keep. I do some work at home. Some of that requires sending emails and things of that nature. Grocery store: I cook a lot and I like to try new things. I seem to have an issue making the recipe sizes fit us. I could be more conscious of that and save quite a bit of money in that area. We don't live a very extravagant life. I would certainly like to travel more, but my hubs is a homebody. While it's a possibility that I may make more trips without him, we really don't spend a lot of money. So it seems to me that the little things we do spend the money on are worth it.

cordeliasub -> RE: Luxuries we think we can't live without but find we can with practice (2/24/2013 9:03:45 AM)
I could definitely do without digital cable - it is mainly part of our house because everyone else thinks they need it. Don't think I could do without internet but that is mainly because of how it relates to parts of my livelihood. I don't need fancy eating out or fancy clothing, jewelry, etc. It suits me just fine to shop at Overstock, Cato, and Target. I "feel" like our cell phones are a necessity since I have teenagers and we go in all directions, but then again my parents did just fine. As far south as I live, I can't imagine not having central air conditioning, but I definitely don't need state of the art appliances everywhere. In fact, I just moved into a house without a dishwasher, and I think our kitchen is cleaner now! Basically, if I know I can eat throughout the month, pay my bills, and take my kids to the doc if they need to go, I am good. Well, I would like a haircut every three months because I have a LOT of hair.

jlf1961 -> RE: Luxuries we think we can't live without but find we can with practice (2/24/2013 9:19:16 AM)
Hehehe, I am evil... You see I live in an all electric home, which means if the power goes, nothing works.... Being the grouchy old geezer that I am, realizing that due to aches and pains that come from being stupidly brave while in my younger years, I took it upon myself to insure that I will never be without electricity... In west Texas you hardly have a day with no wind... So, I installed a pair of wind turbines that could supply the house's peak needs in the event power went bye bye. For the few days that there is no wind, solar panels. And for the worst case scenario, a diesel generator with a five hundred gallon tank... good for about two weeks. If the cable and internet went down, I have over 2100 movies and complete tv series stored on my computer. I have insured that I will have my creature comforts regardless of what happens. Now if I could just get all of the Suicide Girls to fall madly in love with me and move in.....

TheHeretic -> RE: Luxuries we think we can't live without but find we can with practice (2/24/2013 9:42:14 AM)
When you really start peeling it down, it is amazing what you can live without. I think the one that shocks a lot of people we know is that we use a swamp cooler on our home, instead of air conditioning. We have a central air unit, and it works just fine, but we don't turn it on. Our electric bills are literally hundreds of dollars a month less than if we were using the a/c.

slaveluci -> RE: Luxuries we think we can't live without but find we can with practice (2/24/2013 11:46:04 AM)
My first thought was that, though I can and have lived with virtually no luxuries, I simply don't want to do that anymore. Master and I both work very hard and make good money and we don't have minors to support. We are both kinda of the mindset that to squirrel it all away when we could be enjoying ourselves with some of it today is just silly. We do help my mother out financially every month but, as our house is paid off as is his truck, we only have utilities and my low vehicle payment to pay each month. We both enjoy using our hard-earned money for: eating out live music events *books/movies/music He buys musical instruments occasionally and I hit thrift and discount stores for clothes and purses (my addiction). We have DirecTV with HBO, Netflix, Amazon Prime and Spotify. It's what we enjoy and we never overspend. As I said earlier. I CAN live with virtually nothing. I no longer choose to do so. Life's too short for that kind of deprivation[:)] luci

Spiritedsub2 -> RE: Luxuries we think we can't live without but find we can with practice (2/24/2013 12:47:20 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: slaveluci My first thought was that, though I can and have lived with virtually no luxuries, I simply don't want to do that anymore. Master and I both work very hard and make good money and we don't have minors to support. We are both kinda of the mindset that to squirrel it all away when we could be enjoying ourselves with some of it today is just silly. We do help my mother out financially every month but, as our house is paid off as is his truck, we only have utilities and my low vehicle payment to pay each month. We both enjoy using our hard-earned money for: eating out live music events *books/movies/music He buys musical instruments occasionally and I hit thrift and discount stores for clothes and purses (my addiction). We have DirecTV with HBO, Netflix, Amazon Prime and Spotify. It's what we enjoy and we never overspend. As I said earlier. I CAN live with virtually nothing. I no longer choose to do so. Life's too short for that kind of deprivation[:)] luci This is a refreshing and against-the-tide point of view. I'm glad I read this today. Thanks.

OsideGirl -> RE: Luxuries we think we can't live without but find we can with practice (2/24/2013 1:06:14 PM)
I own two businesses and himself and I are working on a third. The internet, computers and cell phones are essential for my income. I'm with luci. I've fought way too hard to get to where I am, to not enjoy it. Right now, the only thing that I'm trying to do without is processed foods. I'm actually going to start canning from our garden this summer, simply because that means that I know exactly what is in every jar. I've been making our own bread without all the crap added. Cooking steel cut oatmeal rather than instant. Cooking my own beans from dried rather than relying on canned.

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