Can you live without a microwave???

**TheRootedNomad** · 09-20-2007, 07:20 AM

My microwave blew up a couple of days ago. It was one of the very first pushbutton ones and was WELL over 15 years old. I still have it sitting on my counter at the moment because I'm contemplating if it really needs replaced. For the most part we use it to warm up leftovers and defrost meat. With any type of planning I don't think I'd truely miss it other than at holiday baking season when I use it to melt things for cookies and candies.

Then I also question environmentally. Does "the warm up you're food on the plate you're going to eat off of way" beat out "heating it on the stove or in the oven and then having to wash a pot too way"?

Anyway my questions for you are
Do you have a microwave?
Do you think a microwave is a necessity?
Would you replace yours f it broke?

**baxjul** · 09-20-2007, 07:29 AM

I have one, but if it would break I would have more room!!! Darn thing keeps going though. I lived without one for years. The only thing we use if for is my dh's popcorn. I wouldn't replace it.

**jenloveschip2001** · 09-20-2007, 07:37 AM

I have an over the stove microwave and I love it. It frees up so much counter space. I would deffintly replace it if it were to tear up but I use mine anywhere from 1 to 6 times a day. I have heard that it uses less electric than using the stove to heat stuff too. Maybe you could find a used microwave instead of buying a new one.

**3-boys-4-me** · 09-20-2007, 07:40 AM

Do you have a microwave? YES
Do you think a microwave is a necessity? YES
Would you replace yours f it broke? YES

With 3 boys it get used multiple times a day. Snacks, breakfasts, lunch, reheating leftovers, ect, ect, ect. I couldn't do without it. I am sure I could if I HAD to, but I wouldn't like it. If it weren't for the boys, then I would say that DH would do just fine without one. But, at this time, if it were to go we would replace it that very same day.

**YankeeMom** · 09-20-2007, 07:57 AM

We did go without a microwave for a few months. Ours, also quite old - 17yrs old - died a slow death. First the light went out, then it took forever to heat something. Then it just died. It was just before Christmas and we were in the middle of buying a house. It was just wasn't in the budget, nor did we have time to go shopping for one. We did without from December until we moved into our house in March.

It was the worst 3 months ever lol. I didn't realize just how much we use that thing until we didn't have it.

Want a cup of tea? You have to turn on the burner & heat it in a tea pot or pot of water.

Want leftovers for dinner? Put them all in pans & in the oven/on the stove - and have to wash not only all the leftover bowls but pans too!

Want to heat up a homemade pie from the day before? oven

Want to reheat a cup of coffee? Stove top

I could go on & on. It was just too much. Before we were even completely unpacked in the new house we went microwave shopping

**jamie79** · 09-20-2007, 08:18 AM

We use ours alot so yes I would replace it.

**rainbowgc** · 09-20-2007, 08:41 AM

I have a Advantium http://www.geappliances.com/products...advantium/that both micro's and bakes and I use it everyday.
Saves me from having to have both a micro and toaster oven, and since there are just 2 of us heating the oven for something small, just didn't make sense.

**Holly** · 09-20-2007, 08:44 AM

I could get along with out one.
I've had my small one for since 1982
still going ( knock on wood )

**FrugalMomof3** · 09-20-2007, 08:58 AM

We too use ours alot and I mean alot so I would say I "could" live without one but wouldnt want to, lol it's so quick and easy!

**HisDaisy** · 09-20-2007, 09:48 AM

My parents did not have a microwave until I was in college. So you can say that I grew up without one. However, I got use to one int college. I went without one for a few months my senior of college and I went nuts. I could not believe how much I missed it and how much I used it. I hated getting out multiple pans to heat up leftover. It took time to heat it up and it took time to wash them. I would look for a used one or a good sale.

**mommy4ever** · 09-20-2007, 10:14 AM

I could live without one, but I wouldn't want too. We did lots of camping this summer. No microwave, but lots of leftovers. Nothing like waiting 30-40 minutes to heat something up. BUt ours is an over the stove kind, and it'll be pricey to replace. It's only 8 or 9 yo so I have a few years. Need to make a note to save for a replacement..lol

**Neeley** · 09-20-2007, 10:23 AM

Ours is an above the stove mounted one and it died a few months back. I was very picky about the replacement and it took over a month to find the exact one I wanted. That was the most miserable month ever!!! My kids fix their own food on the stove on a regular basis so lunches and breakfasts were no big deal. Plus, we never have leftovers so no issue there. The main thing for me was warming up my drinks. I was so use to just pouring cold coffee in a cup and warming it up. I learned real fast to leave the coffee maker on.

I could go without mine, but I won't. For me it is just a part of life, like electricity, cable, phones and running water. One of those things I have to have.

**Jayne** · 09-20-2007, 10:34 AM

I could live without it, I did for many years, but I would miss it very much...

**Homekeepn** · 09-20-2007, 10:35 AM

Yup, I would replace it.

**monkeywrangler71** · 09-20-2007, 12:35 PM

I have one but could get along fine without it. I wouldn't replace it if it died, I'd be happy to have the space back. I can't think of much that I use it for besides melting butter and making rice - could easily do both on the stove.