Things you can live without

[lsm1066]

We moved into our house in March of last year and haven't had reliable hot water or heating in all that time. Lots of oil in the tank. Just a 1794 boiler (sorry, 1974) that didn't work. Eventually, in November, it died completely. Happily we had an electric shower so we could at least use that, but with two boys to deal with, it's not been that much fun and lots of boiling of saucepans and kettles was required if ever they decided to go exploring on The Wash.

So today, our brand spanking new boiler was finally finished and we now have hot water and heating (just when we don't really need it any more), along with a new shower and a new oil tank (turns out the old one had sprung a leak, luckily right on one of the supports, so it didn't actually leak that much but being metal it had rusted through).

I'm not sure how long it will take me to get used to turning on a hot tap rather than putting up with the cold. But being realistic, we've done without all this for over a year (although we don't have open fires so had to use a combination of electric heaters and our 25' by 10' conservatory to heat the house). So it probably doesn't matter.

Which brings up the question, what have you done without that you would have taken for granted in the past?

[ocailleagh]

For a good two or three years after I moved into the flat I'm in now, I didn't have a fridge or freezer. Luckily I did have a nice cool larder type thing. It worked quite well for most stuff, except for in the hottest weather. My parents then gave me their old chest freezer which, though it didn't exactly freeze as such, served me for a couple more years til it became quite useless. This coincided with my parents getting a new fridgefreezer so they gave me their other one. I have to admit, having a freezer is a boon, but I think I could live without a fridge. Though not here, as since I was forced by my tiny kitchen to put the fridge (and the freezer when I had that) into the larder, it no longer stays cool.

[Ellendra]

A house.

Lived out of a tipi for almost 7 months (part of which was during winter), back when I was healthy. Hoping to do so again once my back gets stronger, only this time it will be on MY land!

[Clara]

Fridge. Car access. 25K a year.

I´m so much better off now.

[Stonehead]

........

[The Riff-Raff Element]

A job. Oh, and I don't have a mobile phone and have not had one for five-and-a-half years.

[ina]

I'm not really doing without things that I used to take for granted; I've never had them, or only had them reluctantly, so that doesn't really count! I have no microwave, no TV, no mobile phone. I could quite happily do without landline phone, too, and have done in the past; I do without fridge half the year, and will try extending that half into summer. Always creates a bit of a problem when I have visitors, and consequently more food in the house that doesn't keep.

And I'd love to be without car of my own - but I realise that having no access to a car at all would make life a bit difficult around here.

[Wombat]

£70-80k a year and stress. Can definitely do without either!

There's a lot more I could do without, but I'd probably end up divorced. TV for a start.

Yup on all counts!

Nev

[Sky]

Money ... boy did I take that for granted in the past lol.

[Clara]

I should have added that I can live without mains anything (water, leccy, gas etc), but take away that box on the side of my house that connects the internet beams from the ether and you would break me!

Oddly, I never had internet until I gave up all those other things.

[ina]

I should have added that I can live without mains anything (water, leccy, gas etc), but take away that box on the side of my house that connects the internet beams from the ether and you would break me!

I second that!

The internet has given me life outside work - well and truly. Can't imagine now not knowing all those people I met through it.

[Russian Doll]

heating believe it or not...we have one oil radiator in the flat which is primaly used to dry clothes in the winter as it doesnt give out a great deal of heat...yes it was cold in the winter but the kids and me and the oh loved snuggling under blankets etc in the evening

[Annpan]

Hot running water, central heating, TV, plaster on the walls car (well, not my own), local shops...

But I couldn't give up the internet....it is one of my few ties to the outside world and 'ish is just to precious... everyone here has given me the emotional support that I need to do without the rest of the stuff.

I lived without a piece of land and a home to call my own... that was much worse... I lived without a home at all for about 4 months... that is certainly worse...

[Busy Bee]

For a few years I lived in a couple of rooms in a half-converted barn. One of the rooms had a sink with a cold water tap and that was it. No shower or anything and there was an outside loo.

My only real problem was the heating. I had to use a plug in electric heater but only in one room because I couldn't afford to heat two. Other than that I was very happy there.

I didn't have a pc back then so didn't have anything to miss. I was in a beautiful location in the middle of the countryside and paid a tiny amount of rent; one of the happiest times of my life.

Another was living in a caravan which had more or less the same amenities; that was for a few months, but again being in the country was what I loved.

[contadino]

Mortgage, salary, job, TV, mobile phone, shops. My job wasn't that stressful - I just hated it.