Living on Less Than $28,000 A Year: How our family of six survives (and even thrives) on an income that is less than half the national median income, and what the government calls “below the poverty line” (less than $29,990 annually) for our family size. [Read other posts in this series here.]
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Our recent move brought a few changes for us, one of which was the need for a microwave. I wanted a larger size microwave because I like to defrost meat in my 11 x 13 glass baking dishes and those dishes don’t fit in the smaller models. I checked the prices in several stores and found that the price range was $89-$209 for the size I wanted.
Spending $100 or more just didn’t make sense with our budget. I could have purchased a smaller, cheaper model but I decided instead to conduct a little experiment: How long could we go without a microwave?
You might think that I’m crazy, and at first my family did too. There were immediate complaints:
“How will we make popcorn?”
“How will we heat up food?”
“How can we live without a microwave?”
Well, we’ve been without a microwave for two months now and we’ve learned a few things. (Update: We have been without a microwave for several years and we are doing very well.)
You don’t always “need” what you think you need.
I was unsure how my experiment would work out and I was fairly confident that I would be buying a microwave by the end of the week. After all, we used it multiple times a day for melting cheese, cooking instant oatmeal, heating food, etc.. How could we live without it?
As it turns out, there are other ways to cook food. 😉 When we have nachos for lunch I place them on a cookie sheet and broil them in the oven for two minutes. It actually takes less time than it did for each of us to individually microwave our plates and the cheese tastes better too!
Instead of buying instant oats I cook whole oats on the stove. Sure it’s less convenient than letting my 11 year old cook her own oatmeal but we end up eating breakfast together rather than her eating while I do something else.
We make our popcorn in an air popper (purchased for $3.00 at a yard sale) and add our own seasonings. It actually takes less time to make more popcorn and we avoid consuming the chemicals in the microwave bags.
Rather than steaming my frozen veggies in the microwave I cook them in a stainless steel colander set inside a large pot with an inch of water. Steaming the vegetables makes them taste better and they retain more nutrients.
A little planning can save a lot of money.
In addition to using the microwave for convenience foods I also used it to defrost meat and other food. If I didn’t think about dinner until 5:00 p.m., it was no big deal.
Going without a microwave forces me to think ahead and put the meat for the next night’s dinner in the refrigerator to thaw overnight. This planning ahead results in dinner actually getting cooked rather than us buying “emergency” fast food because I didn’t have anything ready to eat. Eating at home saves hundreds of dollars each month.
Life doesn’t have to be lived at the speed of light.
Sure it’s more convenient to cook a frozen meal in the microwave or have popcorn in 2 minutes and 30 seconds but is it better? Does everything have to be done faster?
After the first few weeks of adjustment we now enjoy our slightly slower pace of life. We eat together more often because no one wants to take the time to reheat food in the oven. We have learned to be more patient because we can’t just pop something in and push the 1 minute button — and I happen to think that’s a good thing.
Our culture demands everything NOW. If we have to wait 30 seconds for a video download we feel frustrated. We no longer have time for a phone conversation so we send a text. We want our food ready in five minutes or less, and the drive thru attendant better not make us pull over and wait. Speed is convenient but is it necessarily better? What if we slowed down and took the time to enjoy some things in life?
So how does this apply to saving money?
Am I telling you to get rid of your microwave? No, but I am suggesting that if you have financial problems or you simply want to save more money you might want to take a look at the areas in your life where you have “microwave mentality”. What are the things in your life that you think you must have and you must have now: a second car, a bigger house, cable television, a weekly shopping trip, dinner out on Friday, drinking coffee daily?
Try a little experiment of your own and see if you can manage without one or two of these things in order to achieve a more important financial goal. Keep an open mind and you may discover that your “needs” are really “wants” after all. If your “wants” are keeping you from fulfilling what is really important in life, it may be time to re-evaluate.
If you do decide to make a change give yourself and your family some adjustment time. It took us several weeks to get the hang of life without a microwave. Change is not easy or comfortable at first but eventually you adjust.
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So what do you think? Leave a comment and let me know.
next post: The Great Cash Debate
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My husband and I haven’t had one since we got married 7 years ago…and haven’t even noticed…sure my coffee gets cold but a pot on the stove works just as well…that is truly the only time I have ever felt I wanted one…so that I didn’t have to wash the pot afterwards, lol!! Microwave mentality is all over our lives but if we choose to stop and slow cook our finances, you find that your money almost goes further then it ever could have!
My family did not trust microwaves, so I never used one growing up. I never quite understood why, but this was their crazy belief. It was actually kind of funny since we had one in the basement that was given to us as a present. I personally believe that a lot of gadgets, no matter whether they are kitchen gadgets or some other type of gadgets, are completely unnecessary. I make popcorn in a regular pot and I re-heat food on the stove. When I first got married, we didn’t have a dishwasher for a couple of years and it also was not the end of the world. I think that you are absolutely right that we should always look around for things that might be ‘microwave mentality’ type of things. I don’t mean to deny that some things are useful; for example I use a slow cooker quite often, but I don’t think that I couldn’t survive without them.
I think you are right that there are many items that we don’t need and they just clutter up our spaces. Thanks for taking the time to comment Paula!
My family did not trust microwaves, so I never used one growing up. I never quite understood why, but this was their crazy belief. It was actually kind of funny since we had one in the basement that was given to us as a present. I personally believe that a lot of gadgets, no matter whether they are kitchen gadgets or some other type of gadgets, are completely unnecessary. I make popcorn in a regular pot and I re-heat food on the stove. When I first got married, we didn’t have a dishwasher for a couple of years and it also was not the end of the world. I think that you are absolutely right that we should always look around for things that might be ‘microwave mentality’ type of things. I don’t mean to deny that some things are useful; for example I use a slow cooker quite often, but I don’t think that I couldn’t survive without them.
I think you are right that there are many items that we don’t need and they just clutter up our spaces. Thanks for taking the time to comment Paula!
I have been looking at my microwave for a few weeks now and thinking I really need to get a new one as it’s getting a bit old but your blog has inspired me to get rid of it and not bother. I think removing meat from the freezer the day before I want to cook it will make my life so much more organised as I will have to plan meals for the week in advance. I’m really looking forward to this. thanks 🙂
Also my contract for the TV package runs out next month and gave been thinking for a while now that I’m not going to renew it and see if we can manage without it. Fingers are crossed 🙂
Really enjoyed reading through this
That’s great Laura! Good for you for! Thanks for letting me know that you were inspired. 🙂
We haven’t had a microwave forever. Then our coffee maker broke and I made coffee in a pot. We were fine. My latest idea was to stop using the dryer to save on electricity. I didn’t follow through with it. Yesterday my dryer broke (God?). It’s amazing how much we think we need and it’s simply not true!
We got rid of our microwave last year and we have all been healthier.
We steam our veggies, bake or stove top cook and we eat better quality food as a result. I am so excited that you wrote this post. I hope it gets people to reconsider some of our unhealthy modern conveniences.
Thanks Gina!
My family and I recently downgraded o a smaller rental house. We sold our microwave when we moved to our previous home because it came with one. But the new house didn’t have one so we went without for a few months until my husband bought me one for my birthday.
I hardly noticed though! I use it primarily to reheat my coffee and to warm up my milk when I make bread.
I also noticed that I ate less when we didn’t have the microwave because it took more effort to prepare food. (Especially hard with a newborn)
People wonder how you can make it without a microwave but it really doesn’t make much of a difference in daily life.
That’s what we found as well Lydia. We used it mainly for re-heating food, and we could easily do that on the stove or by turning on the oven for a few minutes. I love the point about eating less. Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
I didn’t have a microwave for over 2 years. My house had all of the appliances built in but when I moved the new place did not and I just didn’t purchase a new one. A few years ago it would have seemed completely unthinkable but I barely missed it after a while. These days I do have one but only because my mother thought not having one was crazy so it was her Christmas gift to me LoL.
I came across your blog from a Pinterest post. I think out of all the posts I’ve read, this is my favorite. I grew up outside of the US and in a culture where people took the time to slow down and enjoy things. Living here in the US for the past 10 years have changed me from that to someone very very “I want it NOW”… This post reminded me that I need to take the time to slow down and enjoy, that its okay to wait. Thank you so much! You write such an inspiring blog!
I am so glad that you were encouraged Liz! Thank you for taking the time to let me know. 🙂
Great tip! I could definitely go without a microwave, but I doubt I could convince my fiance! lol. But I found this tip on pinterest that I wanted to share with you on defrosting meat quickly, in case you forget to take it out the night before, like I often do! This woman shows you how to defrost a portion of meat in a pot of water on the stove without cooking it.
Here is a link to the video: http://www.americastestkitchenfeed.com/super-quick-video-tips/2012/04/how-to-quickly-defrost-meat-video/
Thanks Tori. Great tip!
Ha! I love this. We just moved and have found ourselves without a microwave for 4 weeks now with no spending money to buy one. It has been a completely different experience reheating leftovers 🙂 The idea of not getting one as soon as we can had not entered my thoughts until I just read your blog. My husband and I also love to live more simply and intentionally. Maybe this will just be part of our lifestyle now 🙂
We are a family of 4. I am disabled and my husband stays home to care for me, so we are living on 16,600 plus food stamps. It’s amazing to me what we can do with that, and the luxuries we have that wohm people are missing. The time we have together is especially nice, even though we get clothes at the local church most of the time and don’t have TV subscriptions. We don’t get any local channels in either – too rural. We do have netflix and internet, those are our financial luxuries. I use almost all cloth instead of paper products. I even use family cloth instead of toilet paper myself, but I don’t push anyone else in the house to use it. It really cuts down on paper, and therefore how often we have to service our septic tank which is expensive. I am inspired by how you are drying your clothes, I think I may try it that way, we don’t have a clothesline up but it never occurred to me to do it the way you have. We keep our thermostat low, don’t have air conditioning, water heater low etc. Actually a friend of mine turns hers off every other day, but there are only 2 adults in her house. There are programmable water heater timers available though! I want one, it’s on the list. I don’t buy prepackaged products much, but again I have time. I do buy mustard and Kale chips, tortilla chips, things like that, but mostly I stick to whole ingredients because they just taste better and once I got the hang of cooking, it’s no more difficult than following directions on a box and it costs a lot less. I’m actually able to buy about 50% organic with the way I carefully spend our money. Thanks for the blog!!!
I just discovered your blog today and have spent the last two hours reading it. Several months ago my microwave crapped out and as a natural thrify person I decided to wait until Black Friday sales to purchase a new one. Most of my kids are away at college so they did not notice much. I however quickly realized that not having a microwave made me buy/eat more nutritious things. Many times when I think I am “starving” and normally would have popped something into the microwave, I re-evaluate and decide I can either wait for dinner or grab a piece of fruit (a much healthier option) to tide me over. I honestly do not miss my microwave. One son lives at home to attend the local college and he misses it but even he has adapted. In fact the other day I made him a pot pie from the oven instead of the microwave and he was amazed by how much better it tasted. I doubt I will ever have a microwave again. The convenience is not worth the unhealthy behaviors it encourages.
Welcome Enilla! It’s funny that you found this today. I was just thinking about our “microwavelessness” as I was buying popcorn kernels. Truly the only thing we miss is the convenience of making popcorn in it, but making popcorn in the air popper isn’t really all that bad. I know that we are eating healthier as well.
we havent had a microwave in years and my teens friends think we are weird, lol.
Welcome to the Weird Club April! 🙂
We had a microwave in our old place because the landlord left it for us to use. Since living here for the last three years, we don’t have one and have never needed it. 🙂
While i understand and agree with the “microwave mentality ” concept that you discuss, microwaves are actually much more efficient in cooking and heating food than a stove or oven. If you are pinching pennies it makes more sense to use a microwave because the stove & oven use more energy thereby costing more.
Ha! Thank you so much for this post! My husband and I have not owned a microwave for a number of years and in no way, shape, or form have we missed it. When I tout the ease of life with out it, people look at me like I’m crazy! But seriously, between the savings on our electric bill and our inability to “nuke” crap food with out some serious consideration about the hassle, it has been a God send to both our financial well being and our physical waistlines. Keep up the good work! 🙂
I managed to live without an oven for three months last summer! When my 40 year old oven finally died (the stove still worked), it took us a while to replace it because the one we ordered arrived damaged, then the company didn’t refund our money for several weeks, and when we finally got a replacement, we had to modify our cabinetry because apparently 30″ stoves in 2012 aren’t the same size as 30″ stoves were in the 1970s.
Since the stove still worked, and I have a nice toaster oven, I was able to make it without an oven pretty easily. First of all, it was summer, so we grilled a lot. Secondly, there are only two of us, so I’m able to cook smaller portions. It was challenging, though when I volunteered to make 100 cookies for VBS before I remembered that I didn’t have an oven (I used my mother-in-law’s oven that time), or when I mixed up a cake and remembered that I can’t bake it in a 9×13 pan (I used 2 round pans and cooked them separately).
I just discovered your blog today and I have been really enjoying reading through this series. I am blassed to be finacially comfortable but I am alwyas looking for ways to save money. I’m single and live alone so my grocery/ulitlty bills are not too high, however I’m a graduate student facing a fairly heafty studnet loan burden after I finish school so anything I can do to put money into savings is a big help.
I really appreciated this post because it is amazing how something you didn’t think you could live without can become forgotten in such little time. A few years back when my mom and I were living together our microwave died (I should mention both of us have an ongoing struggle with out weight)- we decided to forego buying a new microwaved because we figured the things that had to be cooked in the microwave were generally processed convenience foods, and left over could be cooked on the stove, if we were to impatient for something to heat up in the oven or on the stove we probably weren’t that hungry! Our no microwave experiment ended up lasting 5+ years and sure enough we no longer bought frozen meals and we were eating more fresh fruits as snacks instea dof reheated lasagna or a hot dog. Even after we decided to purchase a microwave I still find myself melting butter on the stove (for baking) or reheating in the oven. I’m not anti-microwave by any means, i have one and use it fairly frequently but that “experiement” has had a lasting impact on my eating habits!
I also wanted to thank you for your series generally, I appreciate the way you post without passing judgment on anyone elses decisions. And I very happy to see that the comments seem to be positive- i’m always shocked when I see super negative comments on what I would think to be “non-controversial” posts. Where do these people come from that get all bent out of shape over how someone else spends their money? Nobody is forcing them to follow the suggestions. Sorry, tangent. My point is: you are awesome, keep it up!
Thanks so much Whitney!
We have a family of 6 on a $25,000 income. We’ve NEVER had a microwave since we got married. (I grew up with one, so I had the initial panic: “how will we eat? I can’t cook on a stove.” Eventually I figured it out and we’re doing fine with it. I took my 5 year old to a convention, and there was a microwave in the room. I made popcorn and he was shocked!
I completely agree with this one! When I was a kid, our ancient microwave from the 1970’s died and it was more than a year before my dad replaced it. Being 11 years old and having popcorn as a favorite food, I thought I would go insane without a microwave. Not only that, we lived twenty miles out into the country, so fast food was never even an option! But we made it without a microwave for over a year and even that young it was life changing. I learned how to cook more things on the stove and to bake more often. Food just tastes better when it’s oven baked or cooked over a flame. Now at 24 years, I remember this piece of childhood, and the most I use my microwave for is to act as a timer:)
A very big timer, right? 🙂
We don’t use paper towels or paper napkins at all. After the first spill we cleaned up with a dish towel, we realized that cloth washes easily. Now we save tons of money not buying these paper products, plus it’s good for the environment, too. (Actually, when we’re out and I need to clean up my two year old with a paper towel instead of a washcloth I get a bit frustrated that it’s not as effective!)
Similar idea to what Lori said, I use home-made (crocheted cotton) dish clothes instead of sponges, and when an old T-shirt gets too ratty, I cut it into rags for cleaning. They’re washable and reusable!
Hey I just wanted to let you know that we have lived without a microwave for almost a year now. My husband done some research online and found out that when you heat your food in a microwave it obliterates all of the molecules in the food. So you might have something nutritional before but once it has been heated it has lost all its nutritional value. We bought a toaster oven and even though it might take an extra 5-10 minutes we heat up everything in it.
I love this Microwave Mentality. I’ve lived for 5 years without a microwave and the only thing that has suffered is my laziness when cooking. Using the stove/ oven/ rice cooker/ eating raw has limited my food choices to the fresher and often healthier option. Although I still utilize the work microwave, I recognize it as the 2nd rate way to prepare food instead of the only way.
Ask me to give up a dishwasher however, and you might get hurt. 🙂
I know exactly what you mean about the dishwasher–haha!
You’ve just given me a reason to make more counter space. Out with the zapper!!!
Really enjoying this series!! I just wanted to offer also a way my mother taught me to defrost meat on those days that you forget to take the meat out the night before…. we stop up one side of our kitchen sink and stick the ziploc bag of meat in it, then we fill the sink with COLD water. (If you use hot water it cooks the meat). This is also healthier than using the microwave and is quicker than leaving it in the fridge. Sometimes I put my meat in cold water while I’m chopping up the vegetables for dinner just to make sure its unfrozen… just thought this might help you if your forget until a couple hours before dinner. Depending on what and how much I’m defrosting it can take anywhere from 30 min to 1 hour and 30 min (although I’m only defrosting meat for 2, so a portion for 6 may take longer)! Thanks for sharing all your wonderful ideas 🙂
Great tip–thanks Jessica.
We have been eating “real food” for a while now and I realized recently that I only use the microwave to thaw the homemade frozen baby food and occasionally melt butter. It is funny to think back to last year when our microwave started peeling away layers when my husband went to clean it and I scoffed when he suggested not buying another one. Two weeks ago I was blessed with being able to go from working an 80 hour+ week job to becoming a stay at home mom to my 10 month old so now I pretty much make everything we eat from scratch. I would totally be happy to be able to get back my almost $200 (for the big one we got) and the counter space!
We didn’t buy a microwave either in our latest move. We had read about a lot of health problems microwaves escalate and thought we could do without. Not having a microwave actually has helped us to eat healthier because I don’t buy processed food that can be zapped in the microwave like microwave popcorn etc.
When my microwave stopped working a few years back I made the decision to not buy another based on research that food cooked in the microwave is “zapped” of its nutrients. My family went nuts! My mother-in-law bought us a new microwave which I kindly refused (and she didn’t appreciate, by the way). However, it only took a little getting used to and now my kids actually forget that it is an option when visiting grandma. My middle child, who was about 13 at the time, even lost 8 pounds because he was unable to just cook something in 2 minutes flat. Not to mention that most items we “nuke” are processed crap that’s loaded with empty calories and TONS of salt.
When I started the HCG diet I read a lot about getting rid of the microwave. The number one reason was microwavable food is usually unhealthy food. And thinking of the boxes of hot pockets in my freezer at the time I had to agree. So when a coworker was getting her first apartment I gave her our microwave. We bought a kettle for our instant coffee and teas and we had an air popcorn maker from Christmas… The only thing I miss about our microwave is being able to reheat certain leftovers… but I LOVE having my counter space back 😀
My husband and I have been with out directv since October. it is nice because we have more time to do other things. We still have netflix and watch or dvd’s. but it is suck a big savings!
We too cut out cable a couple years ago and we can’t imagine every spending so much money on tv again!
We have netflix streaming and rent DVDs from the redbox machine for just over a buck
Four years ago we decided to give up television and I’m so glad we did. My husband had been wanting that for years, but I just didn’t think I’d be happy without it. It’s been exactly the opposite. Our lives are so much more peaceful and calm. When I’m around a television now, I’m very aware of the demanding nature of it and the negative influence it’s exerting over our culture. We watch our own collection of DVDs and VHS tapes and check them out from the library. Many places are selling VHS movies for .25 – a great bargain. It always puzzles me when I’m criticized for spending money on our movie collection by people who spend $600 a year on cable/satellite. My husband receives amazon gift cards from his job at Christmas and we’ve bought several sets of 1950s/60s television series. The production values and morals are generally much higher.
I’ve gone without a microwave for three years now. Due to lack of counter space in our tiny apartment there just isn’t room for one. My roomate and I haven’t missed it at all. One trick we love is using the coffee pot. We use it to heat up water for our tea, instant hot chocolate, and even for soup.
Our old microwave died a few months back and I thought my husband was crazy for not wanting to buy another one. Turns out we have saved SO MUCH MONEY on our electricity bill by not having a microwave! We knew that it was an energy sucker and tried to keep it unplugged when we weren’t using it but I had no idea that our bill would be so drastically changed by getting rid of it altogether! We just use our stovetop or our toaster oven to heat our leftovers and it’s worked just as well!
PS. Love your blog!
Thanks Michelle. I don’t have any specific “data” on the effects on our electric bill because we moved at the time we ditched the microwave, so I have nothing to compare too, but I am sure we saved too.
As I was reading this post, I was wondering, hmmm….but wouldn’t using the stove and oven all the time eat up more energy and heat the house too much? Thanks for sharing your story Michelle!
I wondered the same thing Lauren
My dad hates using his oven because of the energy costs but perhaps it is different for a family of one vs. a family of 4, 5 or 6
We heat up things on the stove or turn the broiler on which heats up really quickly and we use it for about 2 minutes so I don’t think there is that much electricity being used. I haven’t noticed any increase in our bill since we got rid of the microwave.
We use a toaster oven in lieu of a microwave for reheating food without heating up the whole oven–works fine. We have a slightly larger model that can handle something as deep as a 12″ pizza. It was worth the extra $15 or so for the larger model. Since we don’t have AC, and summers here are brutal, not having to turn the oven on is a life saver!! (Incidently, we got rid of our microwave less for money reasons, and more for reasons of feeling like it wasn’t benefiting us as a couple/family–there seems to be something inherently unhealthy about standing in front of a microwave that is going for 30 seconds saying, hurry up, hurry up, hurry up!) But I do like to use it when I visit my mom!
We had a toaster oven for a while, but sold it before we moved. It did come in handy. 🙂
I remember when I was younger, our microwave died and we were without it for about a week. It seemed like an eternity because you are so used to it. I would love to not have one when we buy a house (I’d rather have a double-oven than microwave/oven combo). Here’s to hoping the hubby feels the same! 🙂
Our dishwasher broke. Rather than putting a new one one a credit card, I decided to put my little “dishwashers” to work and learn how people “used” to do things. They actually don’t mind… and I certainly do the last bit to make sure everything is really clean 🙂
I’m not saying I’m never going to replace it though. I just want to replace it at a time when it makes sense. And it really is one of those appliances that is a want, not a need.
I’m a little less than 1/2 way to the savings goal of buying a new one…but I think – I’m going to wait until I’ve saved 2x the cost – so I have a bigger savings ready for the next “disaster” at the minute I purchase the item.
That is awesome Joy! Way to go for using “delayed gratification” to make your money work for you. 🙂
We could easily live without a microwave. We have an air popper for popcorn. We don’t do tv dinners or the like. The only thing I really use it for is to soften butter. Which I “could” do over time if I would just simply be patient rather than pull the butter out at the minute that I get the urge to bake something and expect to start baking right then.
I have a friend who uses her toaster oven for everything.. which I won’t buy because in college I set a building on fire with a toaster oven, lol! Call me paranoid but apparently I am unskilled at toaster oven use if I managed to do that.
My microwave (above my stove) hasn’t worked for about 3-1/2 years now. I only miss it when I have mashed potatoes to heat up, but someone told me to serve mashed potatoes in a crock pot, it keeps them warm – and now it’s all clear sailing. I use it to store stuff now; it’s become just another cupboard to me. I can’t get it down because cabinets were built around it, but oh well. 🙂
LOL Honey, you don’t need a microwave to make instant oatmeal. Most instant oatmeal has directions for stovetop making, you just boil water and pour it into the oatmeal. I’m downright shocked you didn’t know that since instant oatmeal has definitely been around since before microwaves were common household items.
Anyway, I’m in college and making plans for living on my own and paying back loans and I found lots of your tips helpful for keeping on track with my budget.
I do a lot of research on nutrition & home remedies and other health- nutty stuff 😛 I was always curious about the controversy surrounding microwaves but was a little afraid, I guess, as our culture is obviously very attatched to them. but I finally broke down and did the research. I won’t get into all the great facts I found becuase I understand the accepting and nonconfrontational tone of your blog which I LOVE, but I’ll just say I definitely encourage others to look into it, cause I’m so glad I did! and I agree with your decision to ditch the microwave. after learning about it, my fiance and I decided the same thing; we had just moved so we didn’t have one, and we no longer wanted one! it’s actually been really rewarding! the whole human population lived for centuries before us with out them and they seemed to manage 😛
when it comes to pop corn, we just buy the stove top krnels. they’re really cheap and a bag lasts an eternity! They’re also so much more fun to make over the stove! just splash some oli (we use olive or coconut) in a covered pan & shake it over the burner until it’s all popped! And it’s a blank canvas! you can season it how ever you want!
reheating leftovers on the stove is easier than I thought too! again, just splash some butter or oil in a small pan and let your food warm up a minute or two. and it’s great because none of the flavor or nutrients are lost! (my favorite part ;] )
oh and GREAT reminder to ditch the “microwave mentality”!
Thanks Kaitlyn. I really do want to have an accepting tone on the blog, but I encourage others to do research as well. We just had someone offer us a microwave, but I turned them down. I’m happy with our decision, but understand that others may not want to get rid of their microwave. That’s the great thing about America, we can make our own decisions for the most part. 🙂
I moved into my house 2 years ago and when I moved in I didn’t have a microwave, and now, 2 years later, I still don’t have one! I have actually had people I work with offer to buy me a microwave, but honestly, I see no need for it, and it is all for the same reasons you stated up above. Microwave food may be more convenient, but it isn’t healthy and it is actually usually more expensive than what you can make from scratch. (and air popped popcorn is so much yummier than the chemical laden stuff out of the bag in the microwave.
I don’t think I could go without my microwave. I’m a pampered chef consultant and I have a few tools that I can use to microwave cook and it turn out just as tasty. I make chicken in the microwave all the time and because I do so in my Pampered Chef stone baker it turns out delicious without turning the oven on and heating up the house. I think it would be nice to make popcorn some other way though to avoid the chemicals and such.
I really like your blog! It is full of useful information. Right now we are a family of 5 making around $15,000 and it is tough! I really like your microwave mentality blog. I agree with you that it is not always needed. I actually use the microwave more in summer months though. The way I figure turning on the oven is going to heat up the house dramatically and cost more in the electric bill. Needless to say we do a lot of sandwiches at my house haha. Again I love your posts and look forward to learning more!
Thanks Christina! Using the microwave does keep the kitchen cooler. 🙂
I use my microwave to heat up water and melt butter for my fave biscuits. When it dies, I doubt we’ll buy a new one. We just don’t use it often enough to justify spending that money. We also never use our dishwasher. We’re two people, and God willing we’ll eventually add a third, but even that’s not enough to use one. When his dar comes in September he offered to remove it for us and help is build shelves there instead.
I dumped my microwave years ago. Something about “cooking” in it made me really uncomfortable! Amazing how much more counter space I ended up with too! And I agree, food tastes SO much better coming from the stove/oven. Yes, it does take a little more time sometimes.
I love this article! This is putting into words the mentality that my husband and I have been cultivating over the past 10 years or so
: ). For us, its as much about freedom as saving money. Having the attitude that yes we can go without enabled him to take months off after the birth of our first child. And we haven’t had a microwave for 9 years either! Popcorn tastes awesome popped in a pot on the stove.
Excellent post. There are many times when waiting has resulted in saving for my family. For instance just recently my daughter outgrew 70% of her wardrobe in 1 week! I thought about going out to buy her new clothes, but saw that even basic shorts were going to be $12 each, instead, I did laundry more often and waited till I hit a few rummages sales with shorts in her size for .50 cents to $2 a pair, and saved our family a bundle, and she is just as content as she would have been had they been new.
Way to go Victoria! I know exactly what you mean about those growth spurts. Two weeks ago my 11 year old out grew most of her clothes. I bought her the bare minimum to get us through until we could find something cheaper too. 🙂
The only thing I NEED my microwave for is to reheat my tea 8 million times. Once I no longer have kids under 5 I suspect I’ll have a chance to drink a whole cup while it’s still hot.
And, if you ever decide to get rid of the air popcorn maker, you can pop popcorn on your stove in a dutch oven with a grease screen over it 🙂 That’s how hubby likes his
Love love love this article!!! Last time I told someone that we don’t use a microwave they looked at us like we had 10 heads lol. It wasn’t about needing to buy one (we actually have 2 in storage), food just simply tastes better cooked in the oven or on the stove!! And I love how you can apply the metaphor to other things in your life….after a while it gets easier to live without things that you “think” you need!
We have a microwave and I’ve never been one to cook in it. I’ve used it mainly to heat up left overs for lunch, etc.
What I really love is our toaster oven. It’s great for quick heat/quick cook stuff and doesn’t need to heat up the large oven to do it. I really do think it saves a lot of time and money in the long run. I realize you aren’t trying to buy anything else, but if you ever run across a decent one at a yard sale it’s a great investment.
We had a toaster oven and really enjoyed using it, but sadly it was part of our downsizing last year. I may get another one if we can find a cheap one.
I did the same thing, but I downsized my kitchen “gadgets” – those things we receive as gifts or purchase because they are cute 🙂 Kept my blender and food processor and everything else went to a consignment shop!
Now if I could only get my husband to give up the cable LOL 🙂
Thanks for this!
That’s funny cuz we recently went without one also…we knew it was on its last leg but we just let it go. Then one morning…it just wouldn’t turn on. I have to say we cant remember how old it was. We went two weeks before we just couldn’t make it another day.
Love your post. Because of my son’s allergies, I have been popping popcorn the old fashoined way, on a pan on the stove, for years. I am used to it now, don’t mind the extra time, and my family actually likes it better without all of the oil!
Yes! I’ve only started reading your blog, I didn’t know you’ve heard of Nourishing Traditions. Way cool! 🙂
I have read most of what I know from the Weston A. Price website which I believe the book is based on, but with everything we have had going on in the last year I have let a lot of things slide. We no longer have an affordable source for grains or grass fed beef, so I have just been trying to eat the best we can with what we have available. Thanks so much for the reminder about soaking the oats. I had forgotten about that. Blessings!
Our microwave went out last year and I was surprised how easy it was to do without. We only went a couple of weeks without it because my father in law came to look at it and realized it had just blown a cheap fuse. I was “almost” sad it started working again! Although I do use it very rarely still.
One hint on the oatmeal… soak stone ground oats in water and a splash of raw apple cider vinegar (braggs brand or similar, it has to have “the mother”) Soak them covered, overnight on the counter. The longer the better, so if you actually set to soak them the morning before it’s good too. (so up to 24 hours.) This makes the oats only cook in about 5 minutes (normally stone ground oats would take 40 minutes) AND it makes them healthier for you. It breaks down some of the enzymes that are not digestible to humans, making them bio-available for you. Pretty cool, right?
Thanks Amanda. Did you get this info from Nourishing Traditions?
I think another aspect that you forgot to mention is the fact that you’re using less electricity- especially if you had a model with a clock in it. So not only are you saving money, you’re being environmental! Kudos!
Have not had a microwave for 14 yrs. Love cooking, toasting, roasting, slow cooker, popcorn popper..like the taste, like the colour, like the space in my kitchen, and there is enough study to suggest our bodies like the nutrients better from non microwaved food….so going without one can be done..it can also be enjoyed..love the analogy though of our instant lifestyle.
Thanks Jan!
Hi from South Africa! I love your blogs and when Iread your book on shopping, it was as if I had written it! When reading your microwave blog I noticed how ‘convenient’ people’s lives have become. I stay at home and deliberately try to make everything from scratch. Jam, yoghurt, cheese spread, sandwich spread, real oats, fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, dinners cooked from scratch. Although I live in SA, we live a first world life. But what I have noticed is that we do not nearly eat as much convenience foods as Americans. It is so much heathier and cheaper (in SA) to eat this way. We do have all the procossed and pre-prepared foods available, but they are not as popular as in the USA. It is great for me to see, when I read the comments, that there are still people out there who want to live a simple life and enjoy food, life and family the way God intended. 🙂
Wow, welcome from South Africa Lizette! It is interesting to hear a perspective from a different part of the world. I have a friend who works with refugees and he said that people come here with the idea that it’s better with all the conveniences we have available, but they soon find out it’s not necessarily a better way of life. I am thankful that we have them available for when we need them, but also very thankful to be able not to use them.
We decided to get rid of our microwave after learning about some of the health issues. I knew I couldn’t have one just for emergencies, I could have an “emergency” daily, so . . . gone. It’s been two years and have had people offer to give us one. Happy without it. We do not have a dishwasher either. No space. Small home, happy family. Though I do admit a dw would be nice 🙂 Thanking God daily for our blessings and His perfect gift.
When my daughter was first born I was under extenuating circumstances. I had to quit working the last three months of pregnancy to be put on bed-rest and I had no paid maternity leave. I was in a serious financial crunch. I did not have a microwave until my daughter was about nine months old. A friend asked me, “how do you cook food?” I laughed and said, ” You do realize there haven’t always been microwaves, right?”
I love my microwave, having to do without was not the worst thing. It definitely does force you to plan ahead which I don’t do as much now. I may have to cut my usage back and start planning again!!
I grew up w/out a microwave! My parents didn’t get one until I had left home so know all about the benifits of not having one. I have went w/out since we’ve been married but personally don’t like too. The reason is the way our schedules are in the morning I would be cooking 5 different breakfasts some mornings, I make muffins, breakfast burritos, etc & we can each heat our own breakfast up & everyone is happy. Have did it differently & my stress level soars & no we can’t change schedules @ this moment unfortantly.
Good, thoughtful post.
I grew up before microwaves (Yes, I’m old!) and spent much of my adult life without one too. I got my first microwave in 2001, and have it still. Could I live without it? Absolutely! Old habits are deeply ingrained and I rarely cook with ours anyway.
As to the “microwave mentality,” you have a good point: There’s so much that we take for granted in day to day life that really counts as luxury. Just ask any recent immigrant from a developing country. We are a spoiled bunch!
Love your microwave metaphor!!! Makes you definitly think about what you really need.
My husband and I have been without cable for 3 yrs now. I remember everyone thought we were crazy for just having intenna tv. Now, a few of them have also got rid of thier cable too. And they even agreed that they don’t even miss it. It was the best thing we ever did and I don’t think we ever will go back.
Also, we defrost our meat in the sink, We fill enough to cover the meat with hot water. Let it sit for about 30 min or less and its completely dethawed.
When we moved our microwave stayed in NY with my husband. We lived a year without it and I loved it! We also left our toaster there and used a toaster oven, which I truly loved! Not only did food taste better, but my counters seemed less cluttered. Our favorite way to eat popcorn became “popcorn in a pot” as my kids called it, oil and kernals heated on the stove. It was perfect, no need for additional butter! We had an air popper on hand for when my kids wanted to do it independently.
We also went two years without tv or internet. That was when my three year old learned to play Monopoly and count! We played family games and watched more movies together as a family.
It truly is about learning to make changes and doing with what you have, not worrying about what you want. We have added tv and a microwave back into our lives, but we also know we can go without and are not prisoners of devices!
I’m so glad someone else feels this way! My microwave died about 3 years ago and I stalled for a few weeks on replacing it until I’d have a little extra money on hand. But after a few weeks, I realized I’d just been reheating leftovers in it. I didn’t find waiting 20 whole minutes for dinner to heat up in the oven was a big deal for me, and I’ve come to appreciate the slower pace. It gives me a chance to breathe before dinner.
I have already decided that when I move back out on my own (I am in nursing school and the end is in sight!) I am not going to get another microwave. I have read too many things about what is does to the molecules in our food and water. Food taste better when it is not microwaved. Wherever I have lived I have always had a small toaster oven, it is perfect for reheating leftovers. If I get a regular job at a hospital I might just buy one and take it to work 🙂
Great blog!
Thanks Joanne!
My hubby and I have been without a microwave for 3 years now, and we never missed it at all either. Right before Easter we challenged ourselves to a month without TV and I must say, it is still in the closet. The TV being in the closet has reduced my stress by a ton and I didn’t even realize that it was a source of stress in the first place! Anyways, I love your blog and it is encouraging me to really get my finances in line so that when we have kids I CAN stay home with them, before reading your blog I thought it wasn’t possible. Now I know it is 🙂
Your microwave metaphor is very similar to Dave Ramsey’s thought of getting out of debt isn’t quick like a microwave; it’s like a crockpot!
Also, we just moved as well and have noticed how much stuff we have that we don’t need – stuff I packed up a month before the move and was able to get along without it. Your microwave story is a great story to help with decluttering as well! 🙂
I am so glad Samantha. It has been worth every sacrifice we have made to for me to stay home with our children. The time goes much faster than you think!
My husband and I did away with our cable T.V. We were just talking tonight about how neither of us miss it. We would just have it on for noise in the background. And like you, our stress level has gone way down.
Truly the only thing I used the microwave for was heating water for jello and rewarming coffee. The house we purchased didn’t come with one and at almost a year into the house I have no intention of buying one now or ever.
Love this, I was thinking the other day how not that long ago people would just have had to warm everything on the stove or in the oven bc microwaves weren’t always around! I still warm up a lot more in the micro than I’d like but I do make “real” oatmeal on the stove now, and I’m def. not as bad as my husband’s mom who even “cooks” her scrambled eggs in the micro, yuck!
I remember when my mom brought our first microwave home and we cooked eggs in it. That didn’t happen again-LOL!
Yes, I was thankful for that! As usual, another good blog. I know I’m prejudiced, but isn’t that one of the perks of being a mother…but for real, I enjoyed this blog.
i’m sure i would miss
my favorite microwave popcorn
but i know we could live without
the convenience if we needed to
a few years ago
i decided to remove our dishwasher
and see if we could live without it
and 3 years later
we are happily hand washing our dishes
it’s all about
deciding what’s really necessary
and what’s just a ‘want’
thanks for sharing the tips!
alison
Now you’ve got me Alison! We did without a dishwasher for 5 months and I am so glad to have one again–LOL!
Our built in microwave busted last year. We were without it for several months before we could have it repaired. I found things to be pretty much as you described it. I was much better prepared when it came to getting dinners done. I have stopped buying the microwave popcorn at the store. The kids love it when we get a stock pot out and “do” popcorn that way.
Love the idea, but in the long run wouldn’t it cost more to heat up your oven so much more? Also in the summer time I avoid heating up the oven cuz it heats up the house, then we turn on the a/c, and that’s more money too. I like to do lots in my toaster oven:) love the idea though I would love to slow down the pace of life and make things simpler.
It’s true that using the oven heats up the house. We just don’t cook as much in the summer, but eat more salads and fresh food. I also tend to saute meat or do stir frys on the stove or use the crock pot. We may decide to get a microwave in the future, but I’m loving life without it for now.
If you have a grill, there are lots of things (including pizza) that you can cook on the grill and not have to heat up the house.
Great metaphor for those things we think we need “now” but really could wait a while for. You can still buy instant oats BTW. We boil water in our electric teapot for our dauthters oats & mix in the boiling water to the oats. 😉
Thanks for the tip Laura. I just figured that if I am cooking them anyway, I might as well go for the whole rolled oats since I read that they are better for you. I may keep some quick oats on hand for those rushed mornings though.
This is so very true! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I have been without a microwave for three years now and don’t miss it at all. We use one of those whistler popcorn makers that goes on the burner of the stove – you turn the handle and it’s ready in no time. We found it at a yard sale….I reheat leftovers either in a pan on top of the stove or in the oven. I have also defrosted in the oven…..
I just found you on Pinterest & this is the first post I read. It is actually funny because my hubby and I don’t have a microwave either. I was like you, I thought it was going to be painful without one, but actually it was MUCH nicer!! I don’t think we will be buying one any time soon.
Welcome Samantha! It’s nice to know that I am not alone. 🙂
We’ve actually been without a microwave for about 3 years now and are doing great!! I did break down this year and buy a popcorn popper for my 13 yr old daughter’s birthday. She loves it!!! All the kids have learned to work it, so the popcorn issue is solved!
L-O-V-E this! We really don’t always need everything we think we do!
Thanks Bethany!
but I also get your microwave metaphor 😉 thanks for the daily inspiration!
interesting….on the subject of popcorn however I still use my microwave daily,just put 1/4 cup kernels into a brown sandwich bag,micro for 2-3 mins- and yum!
That’s funny because I actually thought about the popcorn in a paper bag idea while I was writing this–haha!