I have never once regretted selling my microwave on Craigslist. I just realized that it served two main purposes in my life: 1. an appliance for quickly reheating leftovers, and 2. as a clock/timer with an absurdly large footprint. I bought a small timer and decided to be more patient in reheating things on the stove or oven. There was no reason I needed yesterday's pad thai in 30 seconds.

Hi Cambria. It's Sheena from Wheaton and WorkOut!

So what have I given up. Because of a lack of space, I've just given away a lot of clothes. I've gone without a tv for years now. Without a downsize in space, I've given up for many reasons purchasing a lot of body and cleaning products. So instead of having 10 products under the sink, I have the bare essentials like castille soap, baking powder, vinegar, shea butter and such...as use those to make all the things we use from toilet cleaners to my own deodorant.

http://sheenalashay.com/2010/04/homemade-deodorant/

Instead of buying a lot of facial products, I keep my cabinet pretty simple and when I need something like a face scrub, I just grab brown sugar and olive oil from the kitchen pantry.

http://sheenalashay.com/2009/10/homemade-all-natural-exfolianting-face-scrubs/

I gave away my coffee maker and switched to a french press.

We gave up our microwave when I moved in with my boyfriend (my roommates always had them) and have not regretted it once. I personally haven't owned a tv in 6 years, and although the boyfriend came with one we only ever use it to watch movies. OH and I sold my car two years ago and haven't regretted it once.

The second car, many small kitchen appliances and useless pots and pans, a room full of furniture, a complete set of wedding china, lots of extraneous clothes, and hobby materials for crafts I don't enjoy any longer.

We've given up household cleaners in favor of vinegar, baking soda, and Dr. Bronner's Liquid Castile soap. I also use Dr. B's and baking soda as a facial wash. Hair conditioner is also out -- replace it with a vinegar rinse when needed. We've done without a second car for 6 years, but it may be making a comeback. Recent job changes have put strains our commuting arrangements. This winter I definitely was irked without a second car.

Microwave and television. The first went because I had no good aesthetic solution for its presence, and haven't needed it since. The second because there's a lot of other stuff I could be doing, and I haven't missed it since.

We gave up our microwave too. It's been almost two years and I don't miss it a bit. We prefer to reheat items in the oven or on the stove.

We didn't have a microwave for a few years and it was fine. Now we do, that's fine too. Same goes for a bed, car, bike, laundry, health insurance. Just phases.

I have no TV and, until I scored one for free on freecycle, no microwave. Like mellon said, it was fine without, and its fine with. When the previous microwave broke years ago, I was really surprised at how minor the inconvenience was, so never tried to go buy a new one. As for the TV - haven't bothered cuz when I have that urge the internet has everything I need - Hulu.com, the news channels, when my mother was visiting in the midst of a big tennis tournament we found it streaming online no problem....

By the way, don't know how or why the accompanying photo relates to the subject, but I would love to source that blanket (And the pillows, AND the couch....)

@ marla2, and the coffee table...

Our blender just broke. I make a lot of smoothies but I'm just gonna use a food processor now. You don't end up with a frothy smoothie, but oh well.

Let's see, my wife and I have a microwave although I think we could live without it if we wanted.

No cable, so TV is movies and video games only.

I don't get to spend any of the money. Haha! But my wife is really good with the money (we're both really good with money, but it's a too many cooks thing) so things are really pretty great with no money.

We have given up being "grid tied" and are moving to solar living with the new home we're building. We have also implemented a number of green building techniques in the construction of our new home. We figured that if we are a green custom home builder, we probably need to have a home of our own that practices what we preach.

Hmm...interesting question. I can't think of anything I've actually given up, unless you count the dining room and second bathroom I wanted when house shopping, but didn't get. I've decluttered too, but mainly things like clothes and books, and there's still plenty more left.

There are things I've done without: digital cable, tivo, smartphone, big screen TV. Still nothing you'd consider a real sacrifice.

No microwave and I use my regular oven maybe 4 times a year. My little convection oven does it all-toast, rewarm, cook,etc. I love it. Have two bikes and a scooter. I do have a car but so rarely drive it. In fact, my friend has had it for the last few weeks (hope it is still our there somewhere); we are sort of car sharing. For years have used soda, vinegar and simple soap for cleaning. No paper towels for at least 15 years.Major reduction of body product-usually make my own.

So far, I'm happy not to have TV, but I'm not a fanatic. I'm waiting to be able to watch it on my laptop. For a long time, I was really proud of using dial-up and went without broadband. Still admire people who do this!

I stopped buying body scrubs: use coffee grounds to buff my body in the shower. It's more efficient. I use fewer paper towels, buy only one roll at a time. Used to buy 12 at once. Now I am more into using old t shirts and washcloths as rags. I feel more self-sufficient when I give something up and find an alt way to do it.

I'm flat hunting at the moment, seeking a significantly lower rent... I'm very willing to give up extra space. Right now I'm in a large two bedroom apartment, I'll very likely be moving into a tiny one bedroom. It's going to be worth it, because at end of the day I'll be able to afford to go on holidays, etc.

Second car, cable TV, meat, dairy, eggs, and processed food (for the most part I cook 95% of stuff from scratch). Changing my diet made me a much happier and healthier person and has certainly made the biggest difference in my environmental impact although I do love my hemp ice cream and beer that come from Oregon (I live in Texas) and my bananas and other Mexican and South American grown fruit.

I haven't had cable for at least 2 decades now. For a long time I was strictly a "watch what you own" kind of gal, and have still stuck to my guns. I also do without the bigger appliances: microwave, coffee maker, washer and dryer; and as mentioned before, the extra beauty supplies. The bare-bones lifestyle has made it very refreshing living!

I have given up money, by choice. I figured I was already good at being poor from when I was in school so why not. I did a year with AmeriCorps (subsistence living) and then I was unemployed for three months before taking a part time job. I figured I would just get another part time job to bring in more money, but then I realized how much I could experience.

I don't remember the last time I didn't work 40-60 hours a week.

So I crunched the numbers and figured out that my small salary will allow me to pay all of the bills and still have some fun and save a little. I am enjoying the time I now have to dedicate to hobbies, spending time with family and friends, and the lack of stress that comes with a full time corporate office job.

I don't think I can do this for an extended period of time, but this year I am going to spend more time and less money!

We sold our car in June 2008 when we moved to SF and couldn't be happier. We lived in walking distance to our offices, the grocery store, cinema, ball park, etc, so we were able to get by with ease and haven't looked back.

We moved to Hong Kong last fall and our flat doesn't have a garbage disposal, oven and a heater/radiator. It's been an adjustment, but one that I'm getting used to.

For the most part, we've pared down A LOT and are down to the essentials. Like many others, follow the "one in, one out" rule, which means clothing, books, linens, etc. Somehow, I've managed to get basic cable, but might upgrade since I can't get Hulu.com to work internationally. Otherwise, I don't miss a lot of the stuff I had beforehand.

Last time I moved the movers broke my microwave, I decided not to buy a new one. I has been a year and I have never missed the microwave. I think it is one of those things that you think you need but you don't. I cook all my food which is very healthy.
I have a dishwasher because it came with the apartment, but I never use it. It is unpractical to me.
I do not use paper towers and I only clean my place with white vinegar/water and baking soda.
I live in a 1 bedroom 900 square feet apartment with my husband and recently I decided to sell all the things we don't need or use on Craigslist. I was amazed on how much stuff I had that I did not use.

We got rid of cable, and that is really freeing! We have a small tv that we watch dvds on. We got rid of most of our furniture and ton of cloths and shoes.