What Can You Live Without?

[Kevin]

Just scanned this article about things that Americans apparently cannot live without. This list does not surprise me as I see penniless people who still have cell phones and such. If things got rough financially around su casa, where would you begin making cut backs and what would you hold onto til the end?

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-Thin...

[Sarah]

I'd hold on to my dog, computer, phone, and internet access. Could cut the booze, coffee, movies, and downloads easily enough.

[Kevin]

this is an interesting topic as people consider differently what is a necessity versus a need.

[Jonathan]

I would never, ever give up my dog. I really couldn't earn a living without my internet access (dsl). I could easily give up cable and any other form of TV, would be happy to ditch the cell phone, and could save a fair amount each week by cooking at home more and eating out less.

[Sarah]

Huh. Now that you say it, was "dining out" on that list? Cause it should be.

ETA: I had a neighbor I tried to help when she was in a bad situation: foreclosure, cancer diagnosis, heart attack...but she wouldn't give up her two dogs (understandable), and she wouldn't give up her HBO (less so). The foreclosure ended up going through.

[janine]

i think i'm already living pretty cheap. i have a cell phone, but not a real phone, i have no car, i cook, i get my books used or from the library, i only have basic tv, i have not bought a single dvd and only one cd this year, i can stream new cd's online for free or listen to my old ones.

[ms.petra]

I so agree with you Janine... I have not purchased a book, CD, or movie for years and neither has my teenage daughter! We use the library and internet. I might be able to lose my satellite because all the TV shows are on the internet, however being a sports junkie I need my TV. Don't have a home phone, but do have cells. We try to limit going out to eat and try to do things that are free. Being in Denver, there are always trails to be hiked and mountains to climb nearby!

[Mary]

I could live without a cell phone, satellite TV, going to movies (all ready do), music downloads (don't own an iPod), and probably booze. Coffee is a must and I need my pets in case of an Apocalypse (gotta eat something, right?)








Just kiddin' about eating the pets.

[Kevin]

in the event of the apocalypse, crazy cat lady is going to have many new friends

[Sally, la reina]

We've become hugely poor in the last three years. I gave up new clothes, fancy hair products, haircuts, name brand foods, fast food and ready made food, trips to the movie theater.
I would give up my phone but others demand I have one.

But I can't/wont give up the internet, netflix, or coffee.

[ms.petra]

Misha wrote: "I plan to live without TV once the Lost finale airs on Sunday. I didn't watch TV at all for almost a year until someone gave me an antenna that would work with my HDTV to pick up broadcast channels..."

Misha, I might just join you in your boycott of TV except for my Rockies Baseball. I also won't give up my cats, Stryker and Mama Mia. Today I will gladly give up my teenager!

[Joshua]

I'd be willing to forfeit cable/dish. Not my TV though, movies are too important. I'd gladly get rid of my microwave, it promotes me eating things that I loathe but are so simple. I really don't have much left to get rid of, I've abandoned most things already aside from the internet, laptop, coffee and books. If hard times hit I'd easily start a garden. I've wanted one for some time anyway. As far as that list goes, I don't even LIKE smart phones.

[[deleted user]]

Misha wrote: "I plan to live without TV once the Lost finale airs on Sunday. I didn't watch TV at all for almost a year until someone gave me an antenna that would work with my HDTV to pick up broadcast channels..."

Well there's an idea... Hmm, I think after the Supernatural season finale next year I can officially go without TV. I suppose I could also stop buying books all the time. And Chick-Fil-A. That place is just so tempting.

[Heidi]

Gabby81 wrote: "can let go anything , would just want to hold onto my family, each and everyone of them"

Awww, that's sweet! :)

[Julie]

Aw, maaaan. Now I have to choose between my family and coffee?
Well, crap.

[Jackie "the Librarian"]

I like coffee, but I can live without it. I'm a tea person. I can live without tv, but I can't live without tea.

But if I don't have a tv, I've got to have a radio.

[Sally, la reina]

I can live without guilt.

[RandomAnthony]

I hear ya.

[Sally, la reina]

There you are! Back on the grid for a flash?

[Kevin]

i can live without TV especially LOST

[Heidi]

I can live without mosquitoes and chiggers.

No, really. I can.

[Félix]

I can live without obnoxious neighbors in the next condo unit who have parties long past quiet hours two nights in a row with screaming bitches and bellowing bulls all with hard shoes on the wood floors so that it sounds like Riverdance is being performed on the other side of my bedroom wall.

[[deleted user]]

I can live without TV, as long as there are plenty of books!
I can live without coffee, but not tea!
I can live without leeches and mosquitoes, (I think I can cope)!
I can live without pets and family, except my kids!
I can live without alcohol, but it might be a struggle.
I can't live without my smart phone!

[Jonathan]

Gail wrote: "I can live without coffee, but not tea!"

I love coffee. I love tea.

Not giving up on either, as the song goes (although I think they may actually be talking about something other than coffee):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP6IUq...

[RandomAnthony]

Sally wrote: "There you are! Back on the grid for a flash?"

Yep. Then off to see Tad...I feel like I'm blowing off some threads, but I'll catch up tomorrow. Hope you're sleepin', Sallers...

[Heidi]

RandomAnthony wrote: "Yep. Then off to see Tad...I feel like I'm blowing off some threads, but I'll catch up tomorrow. Hope you're sleepin', Sallers..."


Give him a big glompy hug from me, please sir. And then ask him to return the favor...

[Lobstergirl, el principe]

Couldn't live without caffeine (coffee, but in a pinch could substitute diet Pepsi), laptop, highspeed internet, electricity, running water, roof over my head, toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, fingernail clippers, all my books.

Would be painful, but I could live without TV and microwave if necessary. I guess I could ditch my landline.

Could definitely live without: booze, meat, washer/dryer, movies (I hate most of them anyway), restaurant eating.

[Sally, la reina]

RandomAnthony wrote: "Hope you're sleepin', Sallers..."

Oh, I'm not.

Sweeter held Leah while I "slept" from seven to nine this morning, and I had some amazingly vivid dreams, but that's about it.

[Sally, la reina]

Oh, and also: I keep trying to read the original article this thread was based upon but it kicks my attention span's ass. Repeatedly. Why is that?

[Jackie "the Librarian"]

Because it's pretty obvious stuff, Sally. Yes, we are all addicted to high speed internet now...

[Sally, la reina]

Which reminds me of this:
http://presurfer.blogspot.com/2010/05...

[Jackie "the Librarian"]

Ha! I've done that, Sally, with Google Earth. Why is it so cool to see the street online, instead of just looking out the window?

[Denise]

I can live without cable, but probably not netflix. I can live without my cell phone-hardly ever use it.
I can live without standardized testing and AYP.

Can't live without my dog, food, water, toilet paper, or wireless internet. Oh, and my boyfriend. He'd be pissed if I left him out.

[RandomAnthony]

Welcome to TC, Denise!

[[deleted user]]

I second the welcome Denise.

[Phil]

Jim wrote: "I second the welcome Denise."

All those in favor?

Aye!

[Kevin]

hey denise

[[deleted user]]

Sarah Pi wrote: "I'd hold on to my dog, computer, phone, and internet access. Could cut the booze, coffee, movies, and downloads easily enough."

coffee? (Coffee!!??) blasphemy, I tell you, blasphemy.

[[deleted user]]

I could live without TV (it's one of my 'Things Straight from the Thrown of Satan' list), internet, booze ( I hesitated at this one. Does that mean I have a problem and am in denial?), movies, smart phones (it's a phone. It should make calls-- nothing more, nothing less) and personal computers ( without the internet, what do you really need a computer for?)

I couldn't live without music, not that I download much. I generally buy used CDs or go to the library.

Education: since I work for a university, it doesn't cost me or my family anything.

I will always have a dog.

My wife does this thing called Coupon Sense and saves an unbelievable amount of money on groceries. She went shopping last night and got six 3-pack packages of ivory soap and six containers of dial hand soap for free. She also got several boxes of cereal for under $1. She also got a bunch of deodarant, for both of us, for free.