When I’m shopping…actually for anything, not just food and
household supplies, I have started asking myself this question…Is this a good or necessary purchase or use
of money? My husband is more
succinct…his question is “Where are you going to put it?”
We can afford more than we buy, but do we need it? Do I want to store it, care for it, use it up? More to the point…do I want to clean it or
around it? Would that money be better
used elsewhere?
After starting a decade ago to see our friends and
neighbors' adult children sell, donate or simply add their parent’s cherished
possessions to the landfill, because they are out-of-style or because no one
uses good china, silver and glassware anymore because they entertain more
casually, my husband and I made up our minds to only keep a very few inherited
items, and to not keep anything we had purchased over the years that wasn’t
something we used frequently or even daily. Often your family will appreciate things you pass on sooner rather than later. The holidays might be the perfect time to find out who might want some of those things you feel like you no longer can care for or store. What isn't claimed can be donated for others to enjoy. You might be surprised what people really would like to have as a remembrance and what they don't!
Myrna and I experienced preparing for our Grandmother's estate sale after her death; she had gifts from friends and relatives still in the original package because she had more than she could ever use. We have both asked our kids not to gift us with "stuff" on Christmas and birthdays because of that.
We have purged collectibles, dishware and glassware, pots and
pans, countertop appliances, cookbooks, other books, seasonal decorations,
furniture, linens, clothing, you-name-it. Myrna gifted my daughter-in-law Michelle with her pressure canner because she no longer uses it.
Luckily, because my husband was in the army early in our marriage and we
moved every time I would have had to really do some seasonal
housecleaning, we hadn’t accumulated as much as many couples do.
If you are thinking of buying more "Organizers", maybe you should just donate the things you were going to organize.
I haven't kept anything that I don’t use because it is “too
good” either. When will it not be "too good" to use at
our age? My teenage grandson asked for a
glass for water…when I got out a nice glass that belongs to my iced tea pitcher
set he said “Oh, that’s too good!”
However, that set of glasses is the only one I have saved…we use them
whenever we need them. Who am I saving
those "too good" things for if not us and our friends and family?
I don't even take free samples if it isn't something I use regularly. I no longer subscribe to magazines and newspapers; a benefit of the internet.
When I buy groceries, I ask myself
if I’m going to use the items more than once if they aren't my pantry staples or are they going to go stale or
out-of-date in the back of the cabinet.
Even
if something is a great buy at the thrift shop…do I want to clean it, maintain it and find a
place to put it?
Myrna is at this point too…and probably doing better than I
am. But, we can do better…if we think we need to replace anything, we are asking if we even really need to. And, as I am doing my fall housecleaning, I am passing on usable items and supplies we don't use anymore...while they are still good. Less to store and clean...what's not to like.
