Do you need an electric mixer...no, is it handy to have one? Yes. I would go to yard sales, auctions, thrift stores and look for one. Let friends and family know you want one. Someone might have spare one kicking around. As s/one has already mentioned, you can download the manual on line. And, since Christmas is coming, you could do what I did when I was young, I gave my family a list of kitchen items that were on my wish list. My brother still buys me pieces of XMas Spode for Christmas and my birthday. I identified the brands I wanted, what I wanted, and made sure that there were things on the list that were inexpensive (a stainless steel "little" strainer--under $10, probably $5) to expensive (Spode, bread machine, knives). It took the challenge out of shopping for me, but also gave them a sense of what I would like and let them pick. I didn't get XMas presents I didn't want. Parents on the list (or grandparents/aunts/uncles/godparents) If you have kids in your life in their early '20s-30s who are not married, doing this is kinda like a bridal registry. Heck, even at my age, there are still things on my wish list! And, my list was used for YEARS. My godparents used it, my uncle, my aunts, my friends. It was great.