What have you given up that you don't miss?

[lucille]

Originally Posted by bconversant

I decided to not hook up cable or rabbitears when i moved into my place 4 years ago. Initially it was for a trial period, but i found that i became very sensitive to how much garbage was on the air waves when i would see TV while visiting a friend or on the hotel tv when traveling. So i do not miss it and doubt i will ever hook it up again.

I wish we could buy cable TV in some sort of pay as you go (for what you use) or pay for just the channels you use. I find that more and more everyone is ignoring the TV when it is on or we put it on something like Ninja Warrior as something that gets half watched. Other than about an hour of morning news, 30 minutes of an exercise show and some weekend TV watching nobody is paying much attention to it. I think what adds to that is there is so much nobody here finds worth watching and it seems like most channels are now 50/50 tv to commercials.

[Mary Webber]

I've given up spoiling my three cats. And believe you me, this is not inconsequential! Oh, sure I feel like a bad mum now that I don't drop treaties for them, but there's fresh catmint in the garden, and I can't believe how much their treats were costing. I haven't switched the cedar kitty litter but I'm buying it in huge bags which is a big savings.

[khorrell]

I absolutely love the idea of pay-as-you-go cable. We've just moved and find that we don't have three of our favorite channels (one kids', one dad's, and one mom's). However, seeing as I only watch TV about once a month, Dad would rarely want to watch that one channel, and the kiddos TV is extremely curtailed once school reopens, it hardly seems worth bumping up to the next higher package for the once or twice a month we might watch those channels.

Plus, if it were pay-as-you-go, we'd be motivated to watch even less. Maybe we could get separate account cards for each child and they'd have their account docked for their viewing time. My mind is spinning with the possibilities (probably doesn't help that it is nearly midnight.)

[Skyscraper]

My wife Vickie is setting me straight.

For years I have been a packrat holding on to things for way too long. She has a wonderful gift of "letting go" to things that are not up-lifting and healthy. That goes for keeping (or throwing away) things already owned as well as deciding whether to acquire something new.

Some decisions are easy: the raw clutter that obviously needed to be thrown out a long time ago; the gratuitous purchases that, going in, you know will never be utilized very much or at all. Fair enough.

But some things are more difficult. The question "does it lift you up?" or conversely "does it weigh you down?" helps immensely.

So if the thing is uplifting, keep it. If not - recycle, donate, or throw it away. (The landfill only gets abused in the early stages).

Please visit my blog - the New American Village - where the discussion is about sustainability and livable communities from a green architect's viewpoint. Green issues are a common thread. Currently, a series of Frank Lloyd Wright posts.

http://newamericanvillage.blogspot.com/

James Polk, Architect

[happiegrrrl]

I gave up working for others in the fashion accessories business(handbags) to become an entrepreneur, and though I DO miss creating designs when I get an idea for a bag, I sure DON'T miss the rest of it!
- Getting let go as soon as the line was done, only to be hired by someone else at the last minute needed to get out the next season's line
- Being required to come to market meetings on Saturday mornings only to have the sales manager either not show up or be 2 hours late
- Fights over Pantone colors for sample yardage in nylon(which can't be ordered in sample yardage; they have to run production which is something like 600 yards)
- Bosses who make you punch a timeclock so they know if you are coming late or leaving early but don't take into account the time you spend in the orient, traveling for client meetings, pouring over designs at home, and the frequent inspiration that comes at the least opportune moments(almost always after office hours)

Oh, I could go on. And on. hahaha


I make less money now, and don't have the bennies, butr I am so much more happy. Well worth the sacrifice!

[lucille]

Originally Posted by happiegrrrl

I gave up working for others in the fashion accessories business(handbags) to become an entrepreneur, and though I DO miss creating designs when I get an idea for a bag, I sure DON'T miss the rest of it!
- Getting let go as soon as the line was done, only to be hired by someone else at the last minute needed to get out the next season's line
- Being required to come to market meetings on Saturday mornings only to have the sales manager either not show up or be 2 hours late
- Fights over Pantone colors for sample yardage in nylon(which can't be ordered in sample yardage; they have to run production which is something like 600 yards)
- Bosses who make you punch a timeclock so they know if you are coming late or leaving early but don't take into account the time you spend in the orient, traveling for client meetings, pouring over designs at home, and the frequent inspiration that comes at the least opportune moments(almost always after office hours)

Oh, I could go on. And on. hahaha


I make less money now, and don't have the bennies, butr I am so much more happy. Well worth the sacrifice!

I used to work in the creative side of big business so I feel your pain.

Something I did from time to time was to add up all that time used for work, normal office hours, taking work calls on my off time, having to attend evening industry events for work etc. I took all those hours and divided my annual salary against the true hours I was putting in. It was horrible. It looked like I was well compensated. When I added in all the other work things I was doing other than showing up 8am to 5pm, I was making peanuts.

[happiegrrrl]

Yup! And the employers are well aware of that fact.

On the last job I had in that industry, I was sick one day and called in to take the day off. Mind you, I had only been there a few weeks, but(as usual) I had been hired to "save the line!" at the last minute and was working my butt off, AND the guy was already seeing fantastic results. The Target buy had been to our showroom and seen the crochet bags I'd done and declared "This is the strongest crochet line I've seen this season." And - it was only the first portion of the line! I had easily 5 times the amount on it's way.

I knew I did good work, and I had a solid reputation as a "savior." My boss was well aware of it.

Yet, I got my paycheck and he had docked me for the sick day.

I went into his office and said "I am a salaried employee. I work in my sleep for you. You don't dock my pay if I call in sick for a day."

He insisted it was what he would do, because 8 hours had gone by that I wasn't in his office. I said. "Well, take some time and think if that,s really your stance." I explained about all the hours worked in the orient - 24 hours in transit coming and going, evenings with the buyers, blah, blah, blah. Then I said "If you really insist on docking my pay, I will not be going to the orient for you, nor traveling to buyer meetings, nor staying one minute past 5pm."

The next week, the money was added back on, and it was never mentioned again.

But. I had had it with the industry by that time. I knew their MO was to hire people, suck them dry and then discard, and I wasn't accepting it any longer. I have a friend who is still doing it, despite have gone to school to get an MA, in an attempt to get out. I talked with her yesterday, and she still deals with the same old crap.

Nope. I don't miss it! I may not be financially as rich, but my life is much more abundant, and the truth is, I don't feel my standard of living has decreased in the slightest.

[lucille]

Originally Posted by happiegrrrl

Yup! And the employers are well aware of that fact.

On the last job I had in that industry, I was sick one day and called in to take the day off. Mind you, I had only been there a few weeks, but(as usual) I had been hired to "save the line!" at the last minute and was working my butt off, AND the guy was already seeing fantastic results. The Target buy had been to our showroom and seen the crochet bags I'd done and declared "This is the strongest crochet line I've seen this season." And - it was only the first portion of the line! I had easily 5 times the amount on it's way.

I knew I did good work, and I had a solid reputation as a "savior." My boss was well aware of it.

Yet, I got my paycheck and he had docked me for the sick day.

I went into his office and said "I am a salaried employee. I work in my sleep for you. You don't dock my pay if I call in sick for a day."

He insisted it was what he would do, because 8 hours had gone by that I wasn't in his office. I said. "Well, take some time and think if that,s really your stance." I explained about all the hours worked in the orient - 24 hours in transit coming and going, evenings with the buyers, blah, blah, blah. Then I said "If you really insist on docking my pay, I will not be going to the orient for you, nor traveling to buyer meetings, nor staying one minute past 5pm."

The next week, the money was added back on, and it was never mentioned again.

But. I had had it with the industry by that time. I knew their MO was to hire people, suck them dry and then discard, and I wasn't accepting it any longer. I have a friend who is still doing it, despite have gone to school to get an MA, in an attempt to get out. I talked with her yesterday, and she still deals with the same old crap.

Nope. I don't miss it! I may not be financially as rich, but my life is much more abundant, and the truth is, I don't feel my standard of living has decreased in the slightest.

I was discussing this same concept with a friend who worked in a creative capacity in another industry. She had been in a salaried situation like I had where we she was being paid peanuts based on the actual hours she was putting in. Her job before that one paid salary but also either paid overtime on an hourly basis or gave the employee the option to bank those hours as additional time off for person use at a later time.

I had also worked a position where the situation was salary plus overtime pay or banked time off and found it the most equitable. Regular salary on some of these jobs ends up being a total abuse of the employee and ironically end up with frequent turnover.

If I was to go back and work in that capacity again it would be either straight hourly pay for the actual hours put in or it would be the salary plus OT situation. I will never accept a flat salaried position again.

[shrimptastic]

I do not miss my cell phone. I hate the idea that having a cell phone makes you "available" at all times no matter what you're doing or where you are. Hated the damn thing, so that was an easy "buh-bye".
Also: the YMCA membership. I loved the summer workouts, when I was actually able to use the exercise machines, pick up a spare hand weight, and have only my own sweat on me... but the winter/spring workouts were murder: Waaaaay overcrowded and not worth the monthly fee or gas to get there. Instead I stocked up on different workouts on half.com, a good set of comfy hand weights and an elliptical machine that was on sale on K-Mart - still well under the yearly Y fee. Extra bonus: no snotty college kids at the desk.. :-)

[happiegrrrl]

cel phones! I do not understand how some people seem to need to be plugged t the things 24/7. There's a world out there that they're missing!

About the "always available" thing - I run a small business(companion animal care) and when I got the cel phone, my clients all did seem to think that meant "always open!"

People who had previously respected a 9 to 5ish M-F calling frame began calling me at 9pm, weekends, a half hour before sessions to cancel...." It took me about 2 days to figure out the phenomenon, and I realized I needed to begin training them pronto!

Their names are, of course, all in the data bank and show up when they call. I RARELY answer, and let it go to message. This not only teaches them not to expect instant gratification, but gives me time to process info. Sometimes they have called to tell me something I may not like to hear, but if I have time to think about it, I realize it can be worked around. So, when I get back to them, I'm in a more positive frame of mind than I might have been on the spot.

It also gives me the record so I can jot down the notes at my leisure instead of having to do so on the spot, when I might be out on the street, or try to remember.

Plus it trained them to accept that they couldn't just cancel last minute on me. before the cel, they accepted the "5pm day before, or else you pay" policy. But for some reason, the cel phone changed that thinking.

I think a lot of small business people can easily fall into traps if they don't manage that cel phone. And it is the same with just regular people in their personal use, too.

I view my cel phone as a replacement to my home phone. Meaning, just like the landline, I am not always available to answer it! I cut the long distance on the landline, to save on that respect. But I have the feeling I am not on the most economic plan in doing so.... Oh well. In 4 months, I intend to go on the road for a 2 year road trip. At that time, I will be giving up a LOT of things - rent, utilities payments, 4 flights of stairs, LOUD New York City - hahahah.