Over the course of my career, I’ve learned that we often accumulate things simply because somewhere along the line we were told we should. Turns out you don’t actually need to own anything you don’t truly want or need - and if you pause to question the items that surround you, you might just find you can dramatically lighten your load.
I love reading about how other people live! Team dishwasher and toaster oven! Both are workhorses in our kitchen.
For what we go without, we just sold our 2nd car last week (Bye Tesla). My husband and I both work from home, and our kiddo walks to school, so we didn't feel like it was necessary for our lifestyle to have two.
We used to be a one car family and I would love to get back there - super tricky with our careers and all of those kid pick ups in opposite directions!
Being a one-car household is my dream! But for now, we both work outside the home and our kids go to school across town with no bus option, AND we live in a very hilly, hot, and humid area. I feel stuck!
Gosh, I love a "no longer buy" post! Thank you for sharing!
I no longer buy dryer sheets or specialty kitchen gadgets such as an as an apple slicer or avocado slicer...if a knife can do it then that is all I need. I also no longer buy individual hand soaps. I bought a nice glass soap dispenser for each bathroom and a big jug of a hand soap refill.
Ooh yes! Ditto for dryer sheets and kitchen gadgets. We also have glass dispensers and I love going to our local refill shop for soap and other basics. x
we don't have a dedicated fridge, but a whole shelf is ususally dedicated to coffee. It's my husband's idea, i drink one decaf coffee a day, but if I miss it it's not a big deal.
We’re the same on a toaster—haven’t owned one for years. We also don’t own a microwave and have been so pleased with how much more space we have without it. Another thing we’ve given up is extra sets of sheets. We all have one pair for our beds and then on weekly change out day, we just wash & dry the sheets then put them back on. It frees up a traditional linen closet to house our dog food bowls and dog supplies. The dog bowl is tucked nicely into a closet that we just open up when it’s time to feed the dog.
I've been cooking since I was 10 years old, and my cooking style has gotten much simpler over time. (I'm 73.) I used to buy all kinds of spices, condiments, and sauces, but I've stopped doing that. My main spices are Tony Chachere's Creole seasoning, kosher salt, black pepper, smoked Spanish paprika, and mixed pumpkin pie spice. I put New Mexican green chiles and chopped tomatoes in lots of dishes, and condiments are basically ketchup (Heinz), mustard, olive oil, and butter. That's about it. I buy good quality meat and produce and enjoy things tasting like they're supposed to taste. Haven't gotten any complaints from the troops, and my kitchen is comparatively uncluttered!
No microwave, haven't used a hairdryer for 30 years (although I still have it and it still works!). Lived without a dishwasher for years but prefer living with one. I have an oven I never use - I bought it only to fill the 'oven-specific space' in the kitchen, but I have a smaller toaster oven/convection oven that I use for everything - including toast. My workplace offers holiday gifts twice a year, and I realized how easy it is to succumb to "this [air fryer/magi mix/mixer/indoor grill] looks interesting" (cue unopened steam cleaner from last year) but I love clear counters more so I opted for the cash.
I could never live without a toaster...my favorite way to start the day - both the smell and taste. I do agree living without the other items on your list.
I live in France, and have noticed that the kitchens here are much more minimal than the American designs (and gadgets) I grew up with. No toaster, no dishwasher, no dryer...we get along just fine :)
Thanks so much for sharing your perspective - traveling abroad has helped open my eyes to different ways of living and greatly inspired the way I set up my home. x
Spring is traditionally a time to deep-clean and let go. You've inspired me to, as I empty cupboards and drawers this month, release items I haven't or won't used. Thanks!
I love your weekly emails. I am finally going to get rid of my inherited Wedgwood china set of 16! I found out tonight online that any bone china made before 1970 has really high levels of lead in it. This was new to me and I don’t use it and nobody wants to purchase it. Hoping I can recycle it but it doesn’t seem likely. I don’t want to donate it because it is not safe for children to eat off of. Shira’s classes are in invaluable and I bought her books as well.
Wedgwood stopped using lead in their glazes in the early 20th century. Well before the ‘70’s. There are test kits to verify your particular dishes. They are likely safe to donate
That is awful news for anyone with old Wedgwood china, you should get hold of the company and find out if they have some kind of recycling/dispossal program to deal with a problem that they created.
I happily live without a television or a microwave! Have never owned one in my adult life (I'm in my 40's).
I LOVE toast and I also use the oven to make it each morning (on the broil setting).
I'm torn about the dishwasher. We have a really small "apartment" sized dishwasher and for the first few years I only used it to hold washed dishes as they air-dried. During the pandemic, when we started cooking 3 meals a day, I started using it. It's definitely convenient, but I don't think it really gets the dishes all that clean, and sometimes they smell like a dishwasher afterward, and I hate how my glassware gets cloudy over time, despite using a rinse aid. I've been thinking about stopping using it-- thanks for the inspiration!
I love washing dishes by hand, so our dishwasher remains untouched and I’m not sure I’ll ever go back! It seems like even at home when I was a kid we’d end up having to rinse them or re-run them through the dishwasher anyway. Happy to be a hand washer!
Love your content so much Shira! Always so thought-provoking, and beautifully written. Also great to dig into your reader comments here...my kids LOVE to eat off old bone China they collect from vintage shops--now I'm concerned about the lead!:(:(:(
Like several others have said, we’re down to a single vehicle in our house and it works so well for us: more room in the garage and no car or insurance payments. We also don’t have an iron, a hair dryer, or formal china or glassware. When we moved three years ago I had a serious reckoning with the amount of things we had that we’d never used and most of them were donated to a local resale shop without any regret. There is more that can go and I tackle small projects every quarter to reduce our possessions down to what we actually need and use, which feels very sustainable and simple for me.
We moved countries almost 6 years ago and gave away, sold and donated a lot of stuff. We sold our tv and have not bought another. No wine glasses either, we have regular glasses that get used for everything. Most of our books are on audible, but our 10 year old daughter has a big collection of books, she has always loved reading and we never say no to a book if she asks for it.
I haven't had a toaster for years - probably since I lived with a roommate who liked to use one. I make toast on a griddle pan on my stovetop, which is also what I use to warm up tortillas. It's much more functional for my kitchen.
Love this list, and I had to read to see if Toaster was on your list! We ditched having one after ours died, and went a good five years without one. I think it is so important to really take stock in what you have and how you use it, AND give yourself grace when you realize maybe you change your mind. We got back on the toaster train since heating up our gas stove seemed to use more energy and was less kid-friendly. We literally have no other appliances on our counter, other than the toaster, which just makes sense for us in this phase of life
I love reading about how other people live! Team dishwasher and toaster oven! Both are workhorses in our kitchen.
For what we go without, we just sold our 2nd car last week (Bye Tesla). My husband and I both work from home, and our kiddo walks to school, so we didn't feel like it was necessary for our lifestyle to have two.
We used to be a one car family and I would love to get back there - super tricky with our careers and all of those kid pick ups in opposite directions!
Totally get it. Depends on the stage of life!
Being a one-car household is my dream! But for now, we both work outside the home and our kids go to school across town with no bus option, AND we live in a very hilly, hot, and humid area. I feel stuck!
Gosh, I love a "no longer buy" post! Thank you for sharing!
I no longer buy dryer sheets or specialty kitchen gadgets such as an as an apple slicer or avocado slicer...if a knife can do it then that is all I need. I also no longer buy individual hand soaps. I bought a nice glass soap dispenser for each bathroom and a big jug of a hand soap refill.
Ooh yes! Ditto for dryer sheets and kitchen gadgets. We also have glass dispensers and I love going to our local refill shop for soap and other basics. x
We did the same about 5 and a half years ago, so easy .
We don't have a full-sized coffee maker. Just a moka pot. Small. Ideal. A bit sexy, as coffee should be.
This made me laugh. My husband just has a small grinder and a chemex instead of a large coffee maker and he swears by it.
Had to comment! Serious coffee guy Jordan! Coffee is a serious subject..🥹My father had a smaller fridge just to house his coffee beans!
Your father would get along well with my husband - ha!!
we don't have a dedicated fridge, but a whole shelf is ususally dedicated to coffee. It's my husband's idea, i drink one decaf coffee a day, but if I miss it it's not a big deal.
We’re the same on a toaster—haven’t owned one for years. We also don’t own a microwave and have been so pleased with how much more space we have without it. Another thing we’ve given up is extra sets of sheets. We all have one pair for our beds and then on weekly change out day, we just wash & dry the sheets then put them back on. It frees up a traditional linen closet to house our dog food bowls and dog supplies. The dog bowl is tucked nicely into a closet that we just open up when it’s time to feed the dog.
Love this!!
I've been cooking since I was 10 years old, and my cooking style has gotten much simpler over time. (I'm 73.) I used to buy all kinds of spices, condiments, and sauces, but I've stopped doing that. My main spices are Tony Chachere's Creole seasoning, kosher salt, black pepper, smoked Spanish paprika, and mixed pumpkin pie spice. I put New Mexican green chiles and chopped tomatoes in lots of dishes, and condiments are basically ketchup (Heinz), mustard, olive oil, and butter. That's about it. I buy good quality meat and produce and enjoy things tasting like they're supposed to taste. Haven't gotten any complaints from the troops, and my kitchen is comparatively uncluttered!
No microwave, haven't used a hairdryer for 30 years (although I still have it and it still works!). Lived without a dishwasher for years but prefer living with one. I have an oven I never use - I bought it only to fill the 'oven-specific space' in the kitchen, but I have a smaller toaster oven/convection oven that I use for everything - including toast. My workplace offers holiday gifts twice a year, and I realized how easy it is to succumb to "this [air fryer/magi mix/mixer/indoor grill] looks interesting" (cue unopened steam cleaner from last year) but I love clear counters more so I opted for the cash.
Amen to cash and clear countertops!
I could never live without a toaster...my favorite way to start the day - both the smell and taste. I do agree living without the other items on your list.
ME either! My sister gave up her toaster too, and I was like, "HOW?"
Ha! Doing fine without over here ;)
I live in France, and have noticed that the kitchens here are much more minimal than the American designs (and gadgets) I grew up with. No toaster, no dishwasher, no dryer...we get along just fine :)
Thanks so much for sharing your perspective - traveling abroad has helped open my eyes to different ways of living and greatly inspired the way I set up my home. x
Spring is traditionally a time to deep-clean and let go. You've inspired me to, as I empty cupboards and drawers this month, release items I haven't or won't used. Thanks!
Yes! A perfect season for reflection and release. x
I love your weekly emails. I am finally going to get rid of my inherited Wedgwood china set of 16! I found out tonight online that any bone china made before 1970 has really high levels of lead in it. This was new to me and I don’t use it and nobody wants to purchase it. Hoping I can recycle it but it doesn’t seem likely. I don’t want to donate it because it is not safe for children to eat off of. Shira’s classes are in invaluable and I bought her books as well.
Thank you for sharing! I had no idea about the lead!
Wedgwood stopped using lead in their glazes in the early 20th century. Well before the ‘70’s. There are test kits to verify your particular dishes. They are likely safe to donate
That is awful news for anyone with old Wedgwood china, you should get hold of the company and find out if they have some kind of recycling/dispossal program to deal with a problem that they created.
I happily live without a television or a microwave! Have never owned one in my adult life (I'm in my 40's).
I LOVE toast and I also use the oven to make it each morning (on the broil setting).
I'm torn about the dishwasher. We have a really small "apartment" sized dishwasher and for the first few years I only used it to hold washed dishes as they air-dried. During the pandemic, when we started cooking 3 meals a day, I started using it. It's definitely convenient, but I don't think it really gets the dishes all that clean, and sometimes they smell like a dishwasher afterward, and I hate how my glassware gets cloudy over time, despite using a rinse aid. I've been thinking about stopping using it-- thanks for the inspiration!
I love washing dishes by hand, so our dishwasher remains untouched and I’m not sure I’ll ever go back! It seems like even at home when I was a kid we’d end up having to rinse them or re-run them through the dishwasher anyway. Happy to be a hand washer!
Love your content so much Shira! Always so thought-provoking, and beautifully written. Also great to dig into your reader comments here...my kids LOVE to eat off old bone China they collect from vintage shops--now I'm concerned about the lead!:(:(:(
Thanks, Lauren - the whole family loves your foot pedal so much - and so popular with the teens!!
Like several others have said, we’re down to a single vehicle in our house and it works so well for us: more room in the garage and no car or insurance payments. We also don’t have an iron, a hair dryer, or formal china or glassware. When we moved three years ago I had a serious reckoning with the amount of things we had that we’d never used and most of them were donated to a local resale shop without any regret. There is more that can go and I tackle small projects every quarter to reduce our possessions down to what we actually need and use, which feels very sustainable and simple for me.
Love all of this!! x
We moved countries almost 6 years ago and gave away, sold and donated a lot of stuff. We sold our tv and have not bought another. No wine glasses either, we have regular glasses that get used for everything. Most of our books are on audible, but our 10 year old daughter has a big collection of books, she has always loved reading and we never say no to a book if she asks for it.
I haven't had a toaster for years - probably since I lived with a roommate who liked to use one. I make toast on a griddle pan on my stovetop, which is also what I use to warm up tortillas. It's much more functional for my kitchen.
Love this list, and I had to read to see if Toaster was on your list! We ditched having one after ours died, and went a good five years without one. I think it is so important to really take stock in what you have and how you use it, AND give yourself grace when you realize maybe you change your mind. We got back on the toaster train since heating up our gas stove seemed to use more energy and was less kid-friendly. We literally have no other appliances on our counter, other than the toaster, which just makes sense for us in this phase of life