We have a deep-freeze in our dining room. I don't think it was very expensive at all - less than $200 - and it's a lifesaver. It's one of the regular chest models, so it's pretty efficient. It has a larger footprint than a standing freezer would have, but doesn't require any space for the door to open, so it can sit pretty close to our table. If you really only need a freezer and you can possibly find anywhere to put it (does not need to be in the kitchen, and a lot of people keep these in their garage or something), I recommend getting one. I think they run very cheap.
I am a big fan of getting rid of crap you don't use. I recently got rid of about half of the books I owned - everything that I didn't specifically want to read over and over, unless the copy of the book itself had genuine sentimental value (e.g., the Beatrix Potter book my Kindergarten teacher gave me). I kept the kids' books I have that are in good condition. (Any of the books I used to own but now don't, if I want to read them, can be obtained from the library.)
It was wonderful. I've also gotten rid of tons of clothing from time to time - how many t-shirts do I really need? Will I ever wear these socks that are cute but are not the style of socks I ever wear? Out it goes.
One danger I find with objects is that the longer you keep them, the more filled with meaning they become. I think that meaning they develope is fake and just chokes up your life with crap. I mean, for instance, a job you don't even like can give you some little reward, like a small alarm clock with the company's logo, and you keep it for some reason, and then 10 years later you're like "aww, I remember Horribilus Inc." and you don't want to get rid of it even though it's a useless object and it never had any real meaning to start with.
Down with crap!
It also helps not to buy stuff to begin with. Mosch's technique for not buying stuff at a store is to remember the meaning of the word "store" - it's a place where they store things for you, so that if you ever need them, you can go buy them then. So you really don't have to buy a sewing machine, or a hacksaw, or a large beach towel until you have concrete plans to sew something, hacksaw something, or go to the beach. Leave it at the store!
Freezers
I am a big fan of getting rid of crap you don't use. I recently got rid of about half of the books I owned - everything that I didn't specifically want to read over and over, unless the copy of the book itself had genuine sentimental value (e.g., the Beatrix Potter book my Kindergarten teacher gave me). I kept the kids' books I have that are in good condition. (Any of the books I used to own but now don't, if I want to read them, can be obtained from the library.)
It was wonderful. I've also gotten rid of tons of clothing from time to time - how many t-shirts do I really need? Will I ever wear these socks that are cute but are not the style of socks I ever wear? Out it goes.
One danger I find with objects is that the longer you keep them, the more filled with meaning they become. I think that meaning they develope is fake and just chokes up your life with crap. I mean, for instance, a job you don't even like can give you some little reward, like a small alarm clock with the company's logo, and you keep it for some reason, and then 10 years later you're like "aww, I remember Horribilus Inc." and you don't want to get rid of it even though it's a useless object and it never had any real meaning to start with.
Down with crap!
It also helps not to buy stuff to begin with. Mosch's technique for not buying stuff at a store is to remember the meaning of the word "store" - it's a place where they store things for you, so that if you ever need them, you can go buy them then. So you really don't have to buy a sewing machine, or a hacksaw, or a large beach towel until you have concrete plans to sew something, hacksaw something, or go to the beach. Leave it at the store!
Tam