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bucolic_frolic

(54,189 posts)

7. Be ever frugal

Sun Dec 21, 2025, 10:07 AM

Dec 21

I use pencils because there are some around my house. I inherited them mostly. But last week I salvaged a long pencil from the parking lot. It had been run over a few times, but after sharpening I've got more than 1/2 a pencil.

What do I use them for? The cost of pens is through the roof! What was Write Bros Dollar Tree package is $4.49. Gel $6.99.

So for making disposable lists, pencils are the way to go.

I too use a booklet calendar. $Tree version. I got the last one, buried beneath all the others. Two years' worth! Can hardly find them.

The paperwork of one's life troubles me. I have calendars going back to about age 12. What will become of them? I have relatives papers, some from the 1920s, 1950-the aughts '00s. My niece doesn't care about her parent's papers.

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Highlight:

Do you still use pencils? If so, for what? [View all] CTyankee Dec 21 OP

If my True Dough Dec 21 #1

Drawing, marking musical scores. Ocelot II Dec 21 #2

That hasn't been updated with computer technology? CTyankee Dec 21 #5

Yes, you can use an iPad and a stylus, but I'm old-fashioned. Ocelot II Dec 21 #13

I've never seen iPads on stands at the symphony, but Ilsa Dec 21 #39

It's fairly common in choirs, and I've also seen it in small instrumental ensembles. Ocelot II Dec 21 #40

I bet it's wonderfully convenient. Of course, I'd be scared Ilsa Dec 21 #46

Yes Thunderbeast Dec 21 #50

manual impact device. AllaN01Bear Dec 21 #22

I have a pencil attached at to my trombone for making notes on music. TomSlick Dec 21 #48

Calendar, crosswords, & artwork SheltieLover Dec 21 #3

Pencil for crosswords? BOSSHOG Dec 21 #6

Sometimes SheltieLover Dec 21 #15

Ah yes, the pencil for the NYT Sunday puzzle! My sense of worth depends on me finishing that puzzle, which I never do CTyankee Dec 21 #8

Crossing off completed rows in knitting patterns. likesmountains 52 Dec 21 #4

Be ever frugal bucolic_frolic Dec 21 #7

Doyou have a pencil sharpener? The old kind with a little handle for your real desk top which is now a computer desk for CTyankee Dec 21 #12

Yes, I have a hand crank grinder 1960s model, state of the art bucolic_frolic Dec 21 #14

Boston Self-Feeder 4 bucolic_frolic Dec 21 #21

I use pencils and a hand-crank Boston sharpener democrank Dec 21 #24

I need a pencil sharpener and can't PoindexterOglethorpe Dec 21 #37

They have them on Amazon. Haggard Celine Dec 21 #52

I looked on Amazon and was horrified at how PoindexterOglethorpe Dec 21 #68

Oh, yes, the booklet calendar! I have one which is the 8/2 X 11". It is a spiral notebook. CTyankee Dec 21 #17

Yes, I still do for artwork, and especially color pencils. Thank you CTYankee and have a great day. debm55 Dec 21 #9

4 and 5 star sudoku. I'm not that good Raven123 Dec 21 #10

drawing, mostly surrealAmerican Dec 21 #11

Yes, almost daily WestMichRad Dec 21 #16

This message was self-deleted by its author CTyankee Dec 21 #18

Making lumber for cutting, you know, 15 and 5/16s, take the line. dem4decades Dec 21 #19

Yes because I make mistakes or change my mind PJMcK Dec 21 #20

My older Rebl2 Dec 21 #23

Here's a pencil joke for you: True Dough Dec 21 #25

OMG, that's funny! Whatta sense of humor he has! CTyankee Dec 21 #42

I use them for drawing. Mr. Diamond uses them for crossword puzzles. Diamond_Dog Dec 21 #26

yes...always carry a few... ret5hd Dec 21 #27

Every day. Mechanical pencils on cryptograms & drawing pencils for sketching. -nt CrispyQ Dec 21 #28

Carpentry! Bobstandard Dec 21 #29

We still use them for that too, Bayard Dec 21 #57

Also old, but I use them, as you do, for things I might want to change karynnj Dec 21 #30

I like the logic of your creating a plan. It's "if this, then that" kind of thinking which I find helpful. After all, CTyankee Dec 21 #43

Yes Sequoia Dec 21 #31

oh yes markie Dec 21 #32

Carpenters pencils, yes. RockRaven Dec 21 #33

A world without pencils? I can't imagine!😁 I use them on my calendar, doing puzzles, KitFox Dec 21 #34

Sketching. GPV Dec 21 #35

Sewing..marking up patterns. BlueWaveNeverEnd Dec 21 #36

Yes, I use pencils mostly for woodworking projects. HappyH Dec 21 #38

Sketchng bif Dec 21 #41

BlackWing pencils Maninacan Dec 21 #44

I am a public librarian. intheflow Dec 21 #45

I use pencils everyday. I still write checks and doc03 Dec 21 #47

I didn't know you could write a check with a pencil! I always thought you had to use a pen. CTyankee Dec 21 #58

No I record my checks in the check book because I make mistakes, don't use a pencil on checks. doc03 Dec 21 #66

In a compass or other scribing tool... LuckyCharms Dec 21 #49

Yes, bamagal62 Dec 21 #51

Yes ! ShepKat Dec 21 #53

Winding cassette tapes. NT mahatmakanejeeves Dec 21 #54

for drawing. nt Trueblue Texan Dec 21 #55

I use a mechanical pencil for everything. Phoenix61 Dec 21 #56

Keeping score at a baseball game Rastapopoulos Dec 21 #59

I use them for my wood cutting projects. Emile Dec 21 #60

Mechanical pencils every day. I'm a list maker: grocery lists, to-do lists, menus, Christmas gift lists, chia Dec 21 #61

I have one that I got at the county fair this summer. Xavier Breath Dec 21 #62

I use them but not as often as I used to LogDog75 Dec 21 #63

Yes...I grab whatever is nearby when I write a list... Tikki Dec 21 #64

I find that the backs of envelopes make wonderful, if disorganized, note paper. CTyankee Dec 21 #65

Notes on Randomthought Dec 21 #67

Always. OldBaldy1701E Dec 22 #69

Sort Of ProfessorGAC Dec 22 #70

Sometimes for a reminder, a list, but Mostly for Drawing... electric_blue68 Dec 23 #71

I bite the wood! It helps calm me. All my wood pencils are branded with Ziggysmom Dec 23 #72