I feel so much better, also its sometime to be thinking and breathing

I feel as though as Americans we are "taught" at an early age to consume as much as possible. Everyone here can relate to targeted ads if you watched television/movies, especially being highly impressionable as a kid. It's important to realize our own needs vs. wants and adjust accordingly.

I started keeping a list of every durable good I acquired (meaning I didn't include ephemeral things like food and paper towels) along with what it cost, if anything. I'm really amazed at what I've been able to salvage for free--especially furniture, like chairs, tables, and storage shelves.

Great point! Becoming more responsible with buying food comes with perks: not only helps it with food waste, but also create more opportunities to save money for vacations and new experiences.

Not trying to piggyback (maxed out on actions) but wanted to respond to the question, lol. No AC here so summers can be brutal at times but tolerable for the most part. I use my air fryer to do a lot of the cooking instead of the oven. In the winter, the heat is rarely turned on unless it's absolutely needed. Ambient heat from cooking/lights/tv and heavy blankets/warm clothes will suffice. It's easy enough to tolerate but I would probably change my tune if I lived with a roommate/family/etc.