Cheap Things That Make You Happy

[HappierAtHome]

Watching young people flirt with each other and remembering myself doing the same thing many years ago..:)

Similarly, seeing old people hold hands makes my heart sing :)

LOL, I am old. I am also FIRE, whereas DH is "only" FI. Every morning, I walk him to work. It's a short distance, but it's up a steep hill. We make it easier by holding hands. ♡♡♡

This is very sweet, but... You are so not old :-P

[HappierAtHome]

Spending time with other new mums, where we get to just chill out and talk about life and cheer each other on. And eat cashew brittle :D

[Astatine]

Signed up for the free digital magazine app from my local library. I now have access to 200+ magazines on my phone and have been enjoying reading a science magazine for free.


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[dandypandys]

I was gifted a nice diary by my sister for Christmas, it is lovely with sketches and watercolors all throughout. I don't have the need for a day planner as I use Ical. So now it is by the bed and every night I write in the small area.. something memorable about the day. So far all nice things - even if they are small things like seeing a flock of birds above us on our walk this morning.

[HBFIRE]

Walks on the beach, reading, playing the piano, playing Bridge/board games with family, bike rides, hiking, listening to music, various blog reading and podcast listening.  For 2018, one of my goals is to begin re-reading the St Johns Great Book list I studied in college.

[Carrie]

Snow days in the south- no school, no going anywhere, slept in, hot coffee, sewing on a quilt that was started 50 years ago (by a departed grandmother), hot Guinness stew in the oven, fresh baked bread.
Taking a short walk in 23° weather, snowflakes dusting my nose.
.....
Then this morning when school opens back up, delayed start, a blessing. Baking fresh bread for lunch, quiet, sun streaming through the windows.

[ElleFiji]

Little Percy snores

[HappierAtHome]

Coffee with friends! Not free, but cheap and an easy way to get out of the house with babies :-)

[Rowellen]

A trip to the beach with my kids on a beautiful summer's day.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

-Snuggles & conversation with my almost 12 year old at night. When he gets tired, he wants to chat & share everything. It's my favorite. I learned, for example, that a girl asked him to be "her boyfriend", and he said yes, but then ran to the bathroom & cried. Classic middle school. :-)
-The library. Despite my recent fine fiasco, it's a place where a community can just go. You see people using the free computers, others reading, and generally just taking advantage of shared services. 

[lemanfan]

Risotto.

[lifejoy]

Risotto.

Awww yes! I haven’t had risotto in forever!

[Linea_Norway]

Seeing 3 mooses when I open tje bedroom curtain at our mountain cabin.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

Risotto.

Awww yes! I haven’t had risotto in forever!

Yes! Love risotto. I make a cheater oven baked one. Not as good as the slow stirring kind, but much more practical for my life.

[mustachepungoeshere]

Risotto.

Awww yes! I haven’t had risotto in forever!

Yes! Love risotto. I make a cheater oven baked one. Not as good as the slow stirring kind, but much more practical for my life.

This is a great cheat risotto: http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/sweet-potato-spinach-risotto-lamb-cutlets/926795b0-2ccd-4eb7-a439-c784c05514af

Works with pumpkin instead of sweet potato, too.

[lemanfan]

I made my last Risotto with mushrooms.  Worked well. 

[HappierAtHome]

Homemade pizza! Especially when a friend brings all the ingredients over and makes it for me :-P

[Linea_Norway]

I made my last Risotto with mushrooms.  Worked well.

I made that sometime last week as well, with selfpicked and dried mushrooms. I totally forgot to add anything meaty or other protein source. I added some grated cheese when I noticed.

[lemanfan]

I made that sometime last week as well, with selfpicked and dried mushrooms. I totally forgot to add anything meaty or other protein source. I added some grated cheese when I noticed.

And todays food: Spanish Tortilla.  Eggs, unions, potatoes.  Added some grated cheese and some greens.  Nice to cook good to eat.  :)

[tomita]

-self-threading needle
-conducting a successful transaction decluttering
-fast commute on the subway

[lifejoy]

-self-threading needle
-conducting a successful transaction decluttering
-fast commute on the subway

I love all of those!!! And I’m impressed that after so many lovely posts, people are still coming up with new and exciting things to appreciate :)

[Exflyboy]

-self-threading needle
-conducting a successful transaction decluttering
-fast commute on the subway

I love all of those!!! And I’m impressed that after so many lovely posts, people are still coming up with new and exciting things to appreciate :)

I thought of you today Lifejoy so while DW and I were downtown this morning I decided to hold her hand as we walked along (not unusual for us) but make a note of of the college kids reactions that saw us.

Sure enough out of the 20 young people or so we saw almost all the girls looked at our holding hands and made a little smile. The guys almost universally didn't notice.

Shame about the guys but kind of cool to bring smiles.. so we have resolved to do this more.. Besides.. its very pleasant anyway..:)

[ElleFiji]

Doing nothing

[firelight]

Doing nothing

My favorite kind... especially zoning out with music in background

[Linea_Norway]

I thought of you today Lifejoy so while DW and I were downtown this morning I decided to hold her hand as we walked along (not unusual for us) but make a note of of the college kids reactions that saw us.

Holding hands with your loved one while walking is very nice and feels romantic. But in that case it is best to have the same pace. It feels a bit strange if one takes more steps than the other to cover the same distance. This is my challenge. ;-) DH is quite tall and his steps are longer than mine. When we are walking hand in hand, and more so if his arm is around my shoulders, I try to adapt my pace to his, which feels a bit unnatural, taking such long steps. So we often change back to walking hand in hand again. But even then it is nicer with the same pace.

[Astatine]

Yesterday I did a meal plan for this week for low effort dinners that are appetising and don't require any cooking or much energy to prepare in this heat. Yay!

Changing out of work clothes into comfy light clothes when I got home today.

[lifejoy]

-self-threading needle
-conducting a successful transaction decluttering
-fast commute on the subway

I love all of those!!! And I’m impressed that after so many lovely posts, people are still coming up with new and exciting things to appreciate :)

I thought of you today Lifejoy so while DW and I were downtown this morning I decided to hold her hand as we walked along (not unusual for us) but make a note of of the college kids reactions that saw us.

Sure enough out of the 20 young people or so we saw almost all the girls looked at our holding hands and made a little smile. The guys almost universally didn't notice.

Shame about the guys but kind of cool to bring smiles.. so we have resolved to do this more.. Besides.. its very pleasant anyway..:)

Hehe what an excellent experiment! Thanks for reporting back ;)

[lemanfan]

Doing nothing

My favorite kind... especially zoning out with music in background

May I recommend the music of estonian composer Arvo Pärt?

If you're really slow: For Aline: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmBrepbZji0
For normal relaxation: Spiegel im Spiegel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZe3mXlnfNc

It's amazing.  And I'm a hard rock fan. :)

[acroy]

these are cute little things that make me happy. Cheap silicon blinkey lights, $1 each on Ebay. I strap them on wagons, scooters, small kids. Keep a set in my backpack as backup for my bike and give-away for unlit cyclists.

[Just Joe]

Washed the car.

Helped DS fix his bike. Long bike ride for DS.

New chain for my own bike. 65F bike ride 'round the neighborhood.

Helped neighbor try to fix his chainsaw but I think he "unfixed it" b/c he did something else afterwards that resulted in parts being leftover. ;) I told him to take it to the shop b/c I think there were pieces missing too. In its present condition it is safe b/c it won't start.

[Linea_Norway]

May I recommend the music of estonian composer Arvo Pärt?

If you're really slow: For Aline: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmBrepbZji0

I bought this on CD many years ago. I was shocked to find out that the CD contained three times song number one and twice song number two, with small variations, and nothing else. I felt a bit betrayed, but maybe I just wasn't caught by the magic that you feel for this music.

[FR2000EE]

Getting something repaired under warranty.

Getting lost in a new podcast

Handwritten letters or notes

The feeling in your mouth after flossing/sonicare

The warm house feeling after a long satisfying winter night walk

Re-reading old journal entries and seeing how somethings stay the same and some things get resolved in time

Listening to the sound of someone who can type with skill

Catching a strangers eye just for a moment without saying a word

Discussing FIRE with someone who understands.

[ElizaStache]

Tongue scraper for continued minty fresh breath and oral health.
Baking bread at home with my sourdough starter named Rodger.
Watching my freshwater aquarium flourish.
Hugging my husband and running around the house like idiots.

[Mezzie]

Time with my wonderful students, Heck, I even get paid for that!

[lifejoy]

Getting something repaired under warranty.

Getting lost in a new podcast

Handwritten letters or notes

The feeling in your mouth after flossing/sonicare

The warm house feeling after a long satisfying winter night walk

Re-reading old journal entries and seeing how somethings stay the same and some things get resolved in time

Listening to the sound of someone who can type with skill

Catching a strangers eye just for a moment without saying a word

Discussing FIRE with someone who understands.

Wow, yes yes yes.

Reading entries in this thread and being reminded of special simple things in life that make me happy!!!!

[mustachepungoeshere]

Brightening someone else's day.

A work contact just sent me two dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts (for when excess isn't enough).

I gave them to the guys in the mail room.

Means more to them than me, and I believe in looking after the people who keep the lights on and make sure everything in the building runs smoothly. They have more power - and more information - than most of the managers in this place.

[firelight]

- Making a friend happy by showing him a ticket home is 1/3rd of the price he thought it was, enabling him to go home for two weeks in his semester break to see his parents after 2 years.

- Being invited by the same friend to come see him and his country when he's there. When I told him I was hesitant as he's only got two weeks with family and I don't want to take any of that time he replied "well just come at the end of the two weeks when my family isn't craving to see me anymore, I'd love to show you around". The trip itself won't be cheap tho

If he was an international student like I was, he would never forget your help! You've certainly made his day.

[Trifle]

Baking bread at home with my sourdough starter named Rodger.

This made me laugh out loud!  My mom had a sourdough starter named Herman.  I guess when those guys are around long enough they become part of the family. :)

[Linea_Norway]

Baking bread at home with my sourdough starter named Rodger.

This made me laugh out loud!  My mom had a sourdough starter named Herman.  I guess when those guys are around long enough they become part of the family. :)

I saw a TV program last night about a bakery store that had a female sourdough starter, that had her own living space in a fridge. She was somewhat like 160 years old.

The show said that sourdough tastes better than factory bread. I should also make one, and then use it.

[Gerard]

Getting back to my normal sleep patterns after a busy period.

Realizing I have no meetings scheduled and thus don't have to go to work today.

Hankering after a particular food, then realizing I have all the ingredients for it in the house!

When somebody says something very witty during an otherwise serious endeavour... the kind of thing where you remember it later and laugh all over again.

Bacon fried rice.

[ElizaStache]

Baking bread at home with my sourdough starter named Rodger.

This made me laugh out loud!  My mom had a sourdough starter named Herman.  I guess when those guys are around long enough they become part of the family. :)

He's a good pal! I've only had him for about 6 months, but his parent is 5 years old. He's my very favorite blob of flour, water, and bacteria. His farts taste amazing and I get giddy after feeding him when I see it gets all frothy and happy looking.

[Linea_Norway]

Finding fresh deer tracks very close to the front door of our house.

[Just Joe]

Listening to someone "tell on themselves" - telling us a story about some experience, usually a mistake they learned from and that we can learn from too. Sometimes these stories can be really funny. Then getting tickled and having the laughter/giggles resurface all evening.

One example was about a guy who tried to pet a squirrel on a camping trip. Another was DIY home improvement mistakes.

[Eurotexan]

Walking my dogs early in the morning when the streets are quiet, then having a cup of coffee when I get back home

[Rosy]

Baking cookies from the cookie mix in the mason jar, our friend's kids gifted us for Xmas. Today on a rainy, cold day with hot tea - indulgence. Mr. R. was happy to get a whiff of the cookie baking when he came home from work. Happiness:)

[HappierAtHome]

When I'm browsing the "what's avaliable" section of the library, and find a book I've been waiting to read. For free! It makes the library feel like magic

Ooooh that's a good one!

I love my library's reserve service. I get to choose my books online, they find them on the shelves and set them aside, and my husband grabs them on his lunch break (he works bear the library, I don't) - perfect! FREE books and then I don't even have to store them in my house afterwards :D

[lifejoy]

When I'm browsing the "what's avaliable" section of the library, and find a book I've been waiting to read. For free! It makes the library feel like magic

Ooooh that's a good one!

I love my library's reserve service. I get to choose my books online, they find them on the shelves and set them aside, and my husband grabs them on his lunch break (he works bear the library, I don't) - perfect! FREE books and then I don't even have to store them in my house afterwards :D

OMG I love placing holds at the library!!!

[firelight]

When I'm browsing the "what's avaliable" section of the library, and find a book I've been waiting to read. For free! It makes the library feel like magic

Ooooh that's a good one!

I love my library's reserve service. I get to choose my books online, they find them on the shelves and set them aside, and my husband grabs them on his lunch break (he works bear the library, I don't) - perfect! FREE books and then I don't even have to store them in my house afterwards :D

OMG I love placing holds at the library!!!

I'll add the ebooks to this list as well. So easy to check out from a couch, download and read immediately! All for free!!

[lemanfan]

Baking scones in the morning.

[lifejoy]

Baking scones in the morning.

My dad baking his famous lemon blueberry scones. Yum!!