Affordable Pleasures

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By Martha Beck
O, The Oprah Magazine | June 09, 2009

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The best things in life...really are free.

What are the things that make you happiest—that don't involve a major transfer of currency? Six writers give us a new appreciation for ordinary pleasures, from supermarket pudding to zingy pop radio.

Paradise. 17 Cents a Spoonful
For Mark Leyner, it's a single sweet dollop of a pudding...

Antique teapot

Treasure Hunting
For Gillian Fassel, Saturdays navigating estate sales...

Bicycle

Two Wheels, No Waiting
For Saïd Sayrafiezadeh, riding his trusty bike...

Old fashioned radio

Tuning In
For Caitlin Macy, listening to the radio...

Kayaking

In My Element
For Farai Chideya, just being around water...

Scrapbook

Life on the Page
For Jessica Helfand, collecting day-to-day memories in her scrapbook...

Read the essays »

The books of summer

25 ways to save money

From the July 2009 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine

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Cathleen Medwick reviews When Skateboards Will be Free, a wry, lovely memoir about growing up with a deeply political parent.

Soul-Satisfying, Memorable Meals

A picnic with camels, a peppery, garlicky steak with sprouts...and would you believe pudding skin? Three writers on three soul-satisfying repasts.

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