Living Car Free - What else are you *-free with?

Drug free (straight edge)

Prescription free (just because I'm fortunate enough not to need any)

Job free (by choice while I'm finishing school and I can afford to be)

Girlfriend free (not by choice)

Jewelry free (well, I own a necklace somebody gave me a few years ago, but have never worn it and I don't wear any other jewelry)

Debt free


Caffeine-lite (I hate coffee and just don't drink much soda unless I'm eating out, never have any around the house)

Fast food-lite (Eaten almost exclusively while traveling, so it's actually kind of a treat)



I'm sure there are other things, but that pretty much covers the standard stuff...

TV Free
Drug Free
Fast Food Free
Soda/Coke/Pepsi/Whatever Free
Tobacco Free
Work Free (Retired)
Snack Food Free
Mortgage Free

Dogma free

tv-free
meat-free
dairy-free
fast food-free
s.o.-free (not sure if this is by choice or not)
soda-free
junk food-free
debt-lite
disease-free

soon-to-be tobacco-free (hoping it lasts forever this time)...

For a few years, I was Microsoft-free.

Here's a weird one.
I've been microwave free for about a year. I've decided that microwave ovens are the automobiles of the kitchen.

Here's a weird one.
I've been microwave free for about a year. I've decided that microwave ovens are the automobiles of the kitchen.

I've already got that one down. I just don't have the counter space plus food just tastes better cooked the old fashioned way. Try cooking popcorn on the stove in a big pot, then spinkle some olive oil and a little salt and you'll never go back to microwave popcorn, ever.

I've already got that one down. I just don't have the counter space plus food just tastes better cooked the old fashioned way. Try cooking popcorn on the stove in a big pot, then spinkle some olive oil and a little salt and you'll never go back to microwave popcorn, ever.
Micro popcorn is the crappiest food ever! It starts house fires too. People have literally died for their microwave popcorn even though it tastes so nasty.

Computer free. I use them at the library.
Why in the world would you do that? A used computer that is internet-capable can be had for next to nothing, and internet access has never been cheaper.

Why in the world would you do that? A used computer that is internet-capable can be had for next to nothing, and internet access has never been cheaper.

$400 for a decent used computer $120 a year minimum for slow dial up $360 for high speed...that is a couple of months groceries for me. And if the computer craps out you are stuck paying for the repairs and the internet. I did just what Roody is doing for a couple of years when my old 8088 died...used the ones at school and the library.

Aaron:)

.......when my old 8088 died...used the ones at school and the library.

Aaron:)

8088 ! I've still got one of those packed away in the garage. Was working fine too when I last checked :D Loved those old Dos machines and the sheer simplicity of using them. Until I started wanting to access the internet and do involved graphics work all I needed was an intelligent typewriter and my old IBM 8088 did that just fine. I had an XT-286 clone hybrid to replace the 8088 (8088 architecture 286 chipset) and that old computer could smoke more modern machines, - or at least for a while anyway. I was really sad when it finally died :(
What I want know is how come I'm now using a machine with 1Gb of RAM and a 1.6Ghz processor and I'm still having to sit and watch the hourglass on the screen :rolleyes:

$400 for a decent used computer...
$400? I've seen new ones advertised cheaper. What would makes any computer made in the last 5 or 6 years not decent for Internet access? I've seen loads of "old" Pentium computers at garage sales for $20 or so with all accessories.

I got one for free just by taking it away. With a 19" monitor. Another for $5 with a 17" monitor though I did have to reinstall the OS. Luckily I have the CD's for Windows ME which is not as license restrictive as the newer versions, and Office Professional 2000, also obtained cheap at garage sales.

Can't get the Internet access cheap though from garage sales.

That $400 was including allowance for software licensing. FWIW I have a couple of Win98 laptops, one is still a windoze machine, the other is converted to Linux, Open Office, Mozzila. Unfortunately it has an issue with either the power supply or the mother board so may not survive. Parts have become unobtainable for it...even from junk shops and ebay:( I was offered an entire office full of computer stuff the other day for $1200, but they could not find any software discs for the computers, so no go. Some brilliant brainiac at my company got a "great deal" on a nice HP Plot Printer for $200, it worked for a couple of months then went down, no parts available to fix...so no plot printer. Old computers are fine if you know how to keep them up and running. Otherwise a new one is the only way to go.

Aaron:)

Here's a weird one.
I've been microwave free for about a year. I've decided that microwave ovens are the automobiles of the kitchen.

Oh, me too! I forgot about that...I guess that's what happens when you don't own something. :p

Why in the world would you do that? A used computer that is internet-capable can be had for next to nothing, and internet access has never been cheaper.

It has little to do with money, although Aaron's right that it is a large expense in some ways. To me, a computer is like a noisy house guest--fun for a few days, but then it gets a little tiring.

Oh, me too! I forgot about that...I guess that's what happens when you don't own something. :p

That shows how worthless most of the crap we own really is....you forget all about it a couple weeks after it breaks.

$400 for a decent used computer $120 a year minimum for slow dial up $360 for high speed...that is a couple of months groceries for me. And if the computer craps out you are stuck paying for the repairs and the internet.

I make it pay for itself. No free ride. ;)

Here's a weird one.
I've been microwave free for about a year. I've decided that microwave ovens are the automobiles of the kitchen.

Strange that you say that. My car and my microwave are both just sitting. I've driven the car once in the past two years, and the microwave is still sitting in the box. I bought it in anticipation of moving into an apartment, and when I did find an apartment, I discovered that there was no room in the kitchen for the microwave.

Luckily, there is room in the dining room for 4 bicycles.

My car and my microwave are both just sitting. I've driven the car once in the past two years, and the microwave is still sitting in the box. .

If you're not using it, why not give it away (http://www.freecycle.org/) to somebody who will?

Can't get the Internet access cheap though from garage sales.

Find a used wireless card on craigslist or a garage sale and "borrow" your internet from a neighbor. Not that I would ever advocate "theft of communication services" :D

What I want know is how come I'm now using a machine with 1Gb of RAM and a 1.6Ghz processor and I'm still having to sit and watch the hourglass on the screen :rolleyes:

go microsoft free. My linux machines with 512 ram and six year old processors are faster than my new laptop with 1Gb and 1.6 processor running Vista. I'm floored that people put up with this MS garbage. Well not really floored I guess, here I am with the new laptop over a month old and I haven't bothered to take vista off it yet.

Find a used wireless card on craigslist or a garage sale and "borrow" your internet from a neighbor. Not that I would ever advocate "theft of communication services" :D

I've got wireless cards in all of my desktop computers so that everybody in the house can be wireless via a wireless router. Think I paid about $20 apiece on the average. No neighbor is close enough to "borrow" service from.

go microsoft free. My linux machines with 512 ram and six year old processors are faster than my new laptop with 1Gb and 1.6 processor running Vista. I'm floored that people put up with this MS garbage. Well not really floored I guess, here I am with the new laptop over a month old and I haven't bothered to take vista off it yet.

How powerful does any computer need to be to read/post on BF?

I make it pay for itself. No free ride. ;)

I have excellent high speed at home, work and the shop as well as the Verizon EVDO aircard...all are paid for by the business(es) that I work for:D We currently run 5.0 DSL at home, my work is a T1 line about to go T3, wife's shop is cable modem and the Aircard is for everything in between. As long as they pay I play!;)

Aaron:)

Here's a weird one.
I've been microwave free for about a year. I've decided that microwave ovens are the automobiles of the kitchen.
Why? I've never owned one myself. Why call it "the automobile of the kitchen"?
They seem convenient for heating up TV dinners and frozen food. You can cook the frozen vegetables in their boxes. I've used the one at work. They also seem to do baked potatoes pretty good. People at work use it to heat up leftovers.

If you're not using it, why not give it away (http://www.freecycle.org/) to somebody who will?


There are insurance reasons to keep the car. But I've contemplated dumping the microwave, so far that's taken more effort than I have available. It's easy to leave it in the closet. ;)

To me, a computer is like a noisy house guest--fun for a few days, but then it gets a little tiring.
If a computer is only fun for a few days, then why have you spent more than a few days on this forum?

tv free
thats all

I'm microwave free, too. I enjoy slow food.

Also car-lite, meat free.

I would say tobacco and drug free, but I drink alcohol regularly, coffee every morning, and I smoke a hookah occasionally. But no nasty cigarettes or needle drugs, not ever. I was Walmart free until I moved to this unfortunate town where there's few other options.

If a computer is only fun for a few days, then why have you spent more than a few days on this forum?

I get to interact with cool people like you. :)

My point is, clearly you spend more than a few days on a computer, so why not just get one so you don't have to go to the library all the time?

I think I would rather be stove free instead of microwav free.

I lived in a motel for quite a while... microwave, large toaster oven, crockpot, electric wok, and a hamilton Beach electric grill. I could cook anything I wanted. ;)

My point is, clearly you spend more than a few days on a computer, so why not just get one so you don't have to go to the library all the time?

I enjoy going to the library all the time. It really isn't a chore for me. (I usually don't spend much time on bikeforums, but every few weeks, like now, I visit my dad and spend too much time on his computer. Then I'm pretty much over it until the next time.)

If I didn't need my computer for work I wouldn't mind not having one. I spend way too much time on it. Sometimes I wonder what I did pre 90 when I got my first Commodore 64! It would be nice not to have to be constantly up-grading and maintaining. It would be strange not having computers. I could have one less room in my house!

tv
computer (i'm at work)
ipod
microwave
suit and tie

my *-free

-Alcohol
-Tobacco
-Land Animal Eating (if it gets oxygen from water then I will eat it, but I only do this once a month or so)
-Store bought water (have $10 filter pitcher)

my *-lite

-Car
-Electricity (way lighter then average, not sure about here)
-TV super lite (watch educational stuff from the library every once in a while)
-Eating in resturants

my *-heavy (just thought I would share some of my bad habits, I would like to see other peoples also) haha

-Food
-Coffee
-Long Showers (~10 min 2-3 times a week, and atlest 2 average showers a day, its my greatest relaxation time)
-Computer usage (damn bike forums)
-Clothes (though not new)

Im sure I will add more later.............
-

my * free-
debt
drug
barber
tobacco


my * lite-
deserts (if ever)
jewelry (only wedding ring)
tv (like the occasional movie)
car (still new to it, but i'm working on it)

my * heavy-
reading
wine (with dinner)
meats (I'm working on it)