I worked with a woman several years ago who was trying to buy a bigger house but couldn't get approved. She probably earned $55k a year, and her husband around $30k with a military pension to boot.

She said that they had looked at their credit card bill and discovered that they had spent $1500 eating out in the first three weeks of that month. We probably don't spend that much eating out in a year - especially if you remove vacations.

I love...

* Buying entire albums instead of singles, because I appreciate artists who write for a cohesive album.

* High quality leather boots that can be resoled instead of replaced.

* Making coffee through manual pour over methods instead of a machine and buying beans from roasters who have a direct connection with the farmer as much as possible.
It's
* Making my own tomato sauce from scratch in large batches with seasonal ingredients instead of jarred stuff.
O
* Supporting local restaurants whenever going out instead of chains that are a known thing.

* Actually talking to my neighbors physically instead of through a screen.

* Real paper books. I read a ton, use my Kindle a little, but mostly purchase used paper books because I love the tactile feel, the scent of the paper, and taking notes in the book by hand. It means I have to carry more weight in books, but it's worth the effort.

* Life with real relationships and no social media. I killed Facebook recently and it's awesome. I only worry about the people I see and contact through real mediums. It is weird how much I'm unaware of with groups & events planned through FB, but the important people in that stuff will adjust to me not being on, otherwise there's nothing for me to miss just for the sake of having fake connections.

i'm spending a week in a hotel. went out and got some woolite, washed my running clothes in the bathtub.
wouldn't say i 'like' doing that (if there was a machine i'd've used it) but it was pretty satisfying once it was done.

I love this thread, even though I'm late.

- manual transmission! (and female) self taught at that.
- raking, shoveling snow. I used to have a reel mower but my boyfriend flipped out and replaced it with a gas powered one.
- depositing checks at ATM. yes, atm's are a modern convenience but I don't frequent locations with ones that accept deposits, so I end up carrying paper checks around with me for weeks until I can get to a bank when open. I have never deposited a check by taking a photo of it. This is a modern convenience I want no part of.
-definitely take stairs when it's a viable option. (currently rehabbing from hip surgery and climbing tall flights in industrial buildings with the step then meet method is brutal on my non-op leg).

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To breathe, to feel, to know I'm alive.

Loose tea. (I hate teabags.)

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"Human existence is based upon two pillars: Compassion and knowledge. Compassion without knowledge is ineffective; Knowledge without compassion is inhuman." Victor Weisskopf.

Fly fishing with bamboo fly rod

Deer hunting with flintlock muzzle loader rifle

/r

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Steve

I like to use a pencil and sharpen it with my knife.

I mop the floor with a bucket and a rag.

I've been known to spend hours fixing something rather than spend $20 to replace it.

I wish I had the discipline to do that.

Shaving with a double edge safety razor and shave soap / brush to make lather (followed by a splash of old school aftershave, e.g., old spice, brut, clubman....). It takes me 10-15 minutes to shave each morning, but I enjoy the ritual.

Home made pizza crust & bread. Tried the bread machine for both but it's so over done. We also make our own salsa, dill pickles, sausage, soups etc. Just having control over what goes into what we eat seems to make sense.

I never park in the reserved veteran spaces (despite being a US Navy veteran) because I feel like those are for older, "real" veterans. Drives my kids crazy when pass up the open spots near the store.

people seem to believe that the process of sharpening a pencil is much more complicated than it actually is.

I love baking bread. Hard to beat the smell of freshly baked bread. Foccacia is my favorite, corn bread, beer bread, pane del muerto etc, all shapes and sizes. Bringing home a loaf in a plastic bag is not even close when you make it and eat it too. And that smell of freshly baked bread....ahhhhh :-)

I never park in the reserved veteran spaces
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I've never even seen such a thing.

To the OP: I will always cut my own grass instead of paying someone to cut it for me.

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Take a short break from ST and read my blog:
http://tri-banter.blogspot.com/

What cars are even still manual? I mean, aside from a high-end sporty cage or an older truck. How many trucks are even manual these days? I think it's near impossible, but I've not gone car shopping these days.

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Gnothi Seauton.

GMC, Chevy, Ford, Ram ... are any of them making a manual even at the heavy duty level? Like you saw, Toyota still has em, but who else? Certain Jeeps, Volkswagen, and some expensive BMWs?

Do you like the new Tacomas?

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Gnothi Seauton.

It works like a real book. They can only loan it to one person at a time. The authors would be getting cheated otherwise.

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“Read the transcript.”

Singlespeed/fixed cycling count? My bikes never miss a shift!

There are quite a few but a lot of times dealers don't stock them so you have to order one. Somehow my WRX didn't make this list.

All available manual cars

Button flies instead of zippers

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Brian

Gonna buy a fast car, put on my lead boots, take a long, long drive
I may end up spending all my money, but I'll still be alive

Driving a manual transmission.
Washing and ironing my bedding and clothing. I never use dry cleaners.
Cleaning wood floors with a bucket and rag.
Cooking my own meals or for friends. I never understood the concept of a potluck when food comes from a supermarket deli or restaurant.
Washing my cars. I have not gone through a car wash since I started to drive.
Replacing small parts on my cars.
Clearing out the yard and pulling weeds.
Washing dishes by hand instead of using an automatic dishwasher.
Handwriting letters and sending them by post.
Hanging laundry to dry when it is warm outside.
Reading a paper book instead on electronical ones.
Having and talking to real friends.
Writing checks to pay bills. I do not do online banking or use an ATM card.

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_____________________________________
DISH is how we do it.

prior: 1990 nissan 240sx, 2000 audi tt.
current: 2013 volvo c30.
The last is the only car I purchased new and they had to search inventory in alternate states to get it b/c, 1) few people want a stick and 2) model was discontinued right before I bought it. shame too b/c I was looking forward to picking it up in Sweden.

oh, and i have 3 friends (all female) driving honda fit's with manual transmissions. (gutless underpowered cars, those fits!!)

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To breathe, to feel, to know I'm alive.

Handwritten political rants mailed to strangers, written under a pseudonym. Lavender room the way it was in the 50's.

Hand polished shoes and mechanical shifting. Honest machinery!

My wife doesn't care for it either.