1. Baking cookies, breads, apple crisps, etc., from scratch.
2. Making my own pizza (I can hardly eat takeout any more).
3. Growing basil on my patio. So nice to have fresh leaves at hand, to sprinkle on pasta or pizza, or make pesto.
4. Knitting hats, gloves and other accessories.
5. Handwashing said handknits, plus a few special sweaters.
6. Going home for Christmas, despite long travel days and high airfare costs.
7. Calling up dear friends to talk, instead of texting or emailing. (I do wish I did this more often.)
8. Writing real letters. (See above.)
9. Supporting independent cafes and bookshops.
What’s worth it to you, even if it takes extra effort/time/money?
cakes, tea and dreams 
Freshly grounded flaxseeds to sprinkle on my family’s morning yoghurt, then stir it in so nobody notices when they eat it!
Love #9. I wish I wrote letters more often too and that I received some. They’re really nice to have. I wish I knew how to knit…this has been on my list to learn for a while. Someday!
I do #1, 2, and 3 all the time and #9 as often as I can. I also wish I did #7 & 8 more often. I’ve been reading a bio of John and Abigail Adams that includes lots of extracts from their letters. Makes me sad that future generations won’t have treasure troves of letters to dig through!
Such a great list! All the things that spring to mind for me are food or home related! It’s worth it to make homemade granola and drink good wine, to sew and craft things that make my house feel pretty.
I love your sentiments about the cost (financial and time-wise) of visiting family. That’s definitely worth it, too!
Your list demonstrates, once again, how much we have in common!
I also would add “having friends over for dinner.”
Baking and cooking from scratch, definitely – cookies, pesto, ketchup, jam, chutneys, sorbets …
Spending time with friends, even when my introvert part wants nothing more than curling up on the couch.
Buying fair trade when possible.
1 and 2 and 3 and absolutely 9!
I’m so with you on #1, 2 and 9. It’s tough to eat a lot of things out anymore.
brewing my own coffee (but I still go to Starbucks for the pumpkin lattes now and then)