Things we 'think' we can't manage without

needmoney

I have always said I can't manage without my tumble drier but it has been out of action now for two weeks..........and I HAVE managed and find myself missing it less. I now realise that it had actually made me lazy as regards to clothes etc. Something a bit creased - chuck it in the tumble - a less than perfect weather day - don't bother with line - chuck in tumble.

I will get it repaired but have vowed not to abuse the use of it.

My little Braun blender/mixer was a different story though it fell and broke and I straight away bought a new one which is even better than the old one.

What would you think you would not manage without?

elona

I love my breadmaker and slow cooker and they "earn their keep" but I do not miss the tumble drier at all!:j

moggins

I know I couldn't live without my tumble dryer, although I am using it a lot less lately. I have three kids and a husband and only two radiators that I can use for drying things. I do at least one load of washing a day and on bad weather days I would have baskets of wet washing hanging hanging around going musty and smelly.

margaret_3

needmoney wrote:

What would you think you would not manage without?

My fridge!
It broke down last week and we needed a new one but the soonest a new one could be delivered was 8 days. Well, it has been terrible. I've had to shop for fresh milk etc. each day. Yesterday our new fridge arrived and I could have wept with joy!
:T
Margaret

culpepper

We didnt have a TV for 6 years. There was so much time :A
OH couldnt last out though,he said he was missing too much good stuff,so now he spends hours watching War documentaries and westerns
When the last microwave broke we did without for about 3 years.Only got the new 2nd hand one because OH's dinners were getting cooked to the plate when he put them in to heat through in the evening.
When the dishwasher broke we shared out the washing up between the 4 of us.
I could easily do without the car (I hate driving) but I love my food processor good thing we dont have to do without electricity isnt it?

catznine

I wouldn't be without my large indoor airer (hidden behind a wardrobe) for my laundry but then my family is quite small now kids have left home!

I have recently gone from 1 old slowcooker gathering dust in cupboard to 2 slow cookers in very regular use so would't want to lose those!

I love my breadmaker also but I think the next most used gadget I have is my food processor, used almost daily now, I hate having to hand grate anything and using a slicing blade as well I can knock up coleslaw etc in no time. Also use it to make Banana bread (from all those frozen bananas ) and cookies.

MATH

I've been there with the tumble dryer thing and although I still use it when necesary I line dry/airer as much as possible.

I've not had a food processor for 2 years now and only miss it very occasionally. I couldn't live without my big kenwood or hand mixer tho and use both almost daily.

The family MATH has decided we cannot live without a printed TV guide. Although the daily guide on satalite/freeview is good you can't draw spectacles and a mustache on the person on the front cover Even more sad is the fact that we deface this unkowing celebrity by rota so that every family member has a fair crack at the whip else arguments break out. It is not uncommon to hear accusations like :-

"But DAAAAAAAAAAAD, He put a beard on Ann Diamnond last week"

"Yeh but no, but yeh, but no, He put glasses and a beanie hat on Judith Chalmers the week before and if he said he dint he's a big fat lier"

Lillibet_2

I have proved to myself that I can happily live without a mobile phone:j , we now live as a one car family despite not having any public transport links locally but I must admit I would change this back & get a cheap-to-run car if we could afford it:rolleyes:, so we CAN live without a second car but it is far from ideal. I lived without my washing machine for 5 weeks whilst our new conservatory was being built last year but that was the height of summer when it was easy to drip-dry sopping wet hand washing (no tumble dryer & I don't want one), doubt I could get by in winter or with Spud on the way & plans for washable nappies, although my Mum was fine in exactly this situation 30 years ago:o . I could survive without my smoothie maker & food processor as long as I still had my Braun stick blender. I know I could also survive without the microwave if I had too but would prefer not too.

We have been surviving without central heating since 5th March, which is our annual cut off date (goes off on 5th March & doesn't go on again until after 13th October unless temp drops below freezing is the rule in our house!) but we did continue using our log fire in the living room until just after Easter for additional heating on cool evenings. In fact, several times in the past our antiquated central heating has broken down, including in December, and we have survived fine whilst waiting upto 2 weeks to get it fixed, with just the open fire & using the emmersion over-ride for hot water but obviously this should only be treated as a short term solution really:cool: .

My big thing that I CAN'T live without is the internet. Until now I have always used it at work (nice employers;) ) & not had it at home but with impending maternity leave I know I can't survive without you guys & got broadband at home this month:D

needmoney

Interesting replies.
I started pressing the 'thanks' button and now feel compelled to continue for fear of offending the next poster:D

Is this site painfully slow for others as well as me today!

Bit of useless information
I am currently working my way through a big bag of Lidl's toffees three at a time (in my mouth that is:D )

catznine

I'm finding the site very slow as well - thought it was me with 2 windows open but closed one down and site still a bit slow!

Chipps

My 25 year old kenwood chef needs repairing, so have been without that for a while - didn't think it could be done, but needs must.
I always claim to be able to live without the drier, with the washing line for good weather & a huge airing cupboard I can hang things to dry in .... but so often fail in good intentions.
I could live without the breadmaker - if the kenwood was working
I could live without the slowcooker - if I really had to
The internet? hmmmm, it could be done, I suppose - again, if I really had to
Ok, let's be honest, in desparate circumstances there are very few things that are essential for survival - but for the most part I prefer to do more than just survive.
On the other hand, one of the advantages of Old Style is that we have the skills needed & could probably manage with very little if absolutely necessary!