The paper plate discussion brings back memories for me. When I was 22 I got my first apartment. It was very basic to put it kindly, but it was my first real “place” and I loved it. It didn’t have a dishwasher so I lived on paper plates and plastic cutlery for the two years I lived there. My second apartment actually did have a dishwasher and I felt like I was living like a king! It’s all relative. That being said I would still rather eat off paper plates than do dishes by hand 😉
Same with us. Plus, we're not foodies or big eaters and often find the amount of food served at the specialty restaurants to be far more than we can eat.