My husband and I moved after living in the same home for 38 years. After sorting through a lifetime of stuff we decided we could live without a lot of extra things. I no longer waltz through Wal Mart type stores letting things fall into my cart. I enjoy keeping a home thats less cluttered, especially those "buy me now" monthly holiday items that you use for maybe 3 weeks annually if you remember to get them out of storage. At Christmas time we only buy each grandchild one gift and then help their parents pay for piano lessons, sports fees, and ect. I cook for two as others have mentioned. Often I make extra when I find a bargin at the market and freeze ahead for those busy times or when we get delightfully unexpected company at meal time. I don't bake, but my sister bakes from scratch as those mixes often are expensive and there isn't much in them.