|
Post by The Eliminator on Jul 27, 2014 3:23:05 GMT -5
Just another friendly neighbourhood reminder to use the "good stuff" now! Stop saving things for later... or at least don't forget about it. Was really shameful the other day, had to throw out over $200 worth of canned crab legs and canned scallops. Really angry with myself. I LOVE crab, and scallops, but I was "saving it for something special." Then, it was forgotten. Four years expired. What a waste. SO Bummed! And that was just the crab and scallops alone. There were several hundred dollars more of a stockpile of other stuff. Well, that stuff wasn't special or forgotten, but just not used. Utterly Shameful. But, I'm glad it's all gone now. Well, it's sitting on the runway ready for takeoff, and it will fly Out The Door tonight! YAY!!! But I feel so ashamed, I hid all of the cans of scallops, and crab legs under the other cans of cheap soups, and beans. When hubby comes with the truck to pick up this current haul, I don't want him to see just what I've wasted. I know he'd forgive me, but still. So, what do YOU have in your cupboards waiting to be appreciated? Not just foods, but anything: china... crystal... clothing... shoes... soaps... perfume... jewelery... stationery... linens... cosmetics... lingerie... candles... ... Whatever it is, take it out, and use it today! Yes, it's been said here countless times before at SOS, so this is nothing new -- it's just a heartfelt plea to take heed! I am so tired of feeling regret and remorse for wasting so much. Wasting time, money, food, clothing, LIFE, everything! Never again!
|
|
|
Post by messymimi on Jul 27, 2014 8:41:17 GMT -5
Thank you for the reminder!
A lot of times i pull stuff out, and it gets broken/ruined. It used to be that i would regret that, but now i just thank G-d that i have the memories of it being used, and let it go, and tell my kids they are more important than the things they break/ruin.
messymimi
|
|
|
Post by dtesposito on Jul 27, 2014 9:03:22 GMT -5
Yes this should be said over and over again. I did this for years and years. Now I try to notice when I put something "good" away for later, and instead take it out and use it now. All that good stuff will not help me when I drop dead, and it'll all still be carefully stored away in cabinets.
Diane
|
|
|
Post by Di on Jul 27, 2014 10:38:07 GMT -5
I have things that I "save" to wear on special occasions. But weddings and funerals arrive with regularity and the do get worn a couple of times a year. My other "saving" is the fact that I am not living in my own home. I have the bare bones of furniture necessities in storage. For many many years I saved "good stuff" for later. I ended up losing a lot of unused items.
|
|
|
Post by PaperGrace on Jul 27, 2014 11:10:05 GMT -5
The boys have been breaking my dishes (accidently, or through normal exploration, they're children after all) and someone IRL suggested packing them away. I did that 'sucking air through my teeth' thing and explained that I'd rather lose these dishes while enjoying them now than go down the slippery slope of hoarding anything that might be breakable until the stars align in some future scenario where everything is safe.
I can see why this wouldn't seem like such a big deal for people without hoarding/squalor issues or for non-perfectionists. Just put it away until the kids are bigger, no problem. It's totally a problem--one I am vigilant about, mostly thanks to here.
I also remember a discussion about this where someone (Maybe you Di?) pointed out that if you put away all the 'real' stuff and use only plastic how will the children learn to be more careful? I ran up against this all the time while running the cafe--parents so afraid of spills that their kids were still only using sippy cups or cups with lids and straws at school age!? As soon as mine had the dexterity to use an open cup I gave them tiny servings of drinks at a time and they quickly learned to use them.
|
|
Magenta
New Member
How many other squalor-sufferers have issues with animal waste? Cat or dog or other?
Joined: July 2014
Posts: 49
|
Post by Magenta on Jul 27, 2014 11:31:11 GMT -5
I was saving some fancy yarn to make a skirt with. Five years later the skirt still hadn't happened, so I used the lovely, soft yarn for baby clothes for friends due this fall. I've often had difficulty using things I felt were precious; I would feel so much pressure to use things the RIGHT way. No such way exists, because it's all just STUFF. One of the hardest lessons I'm learning is to let go of these plans of the future and using what I have now NOW. What's the point of waiting? This thread is great, thank you for starting it!
|
|
|
Post by Di on Jul 27, 2014 12:23:50 GMT -5
Yes, I am the one whose little ones always had Bunnykins China. I had to replace a few pieces (each child broke something) but they learned to appreciate and care for fragile things. A lesson well worth the price of a plate or bowl or cup. I purchased a set for each 2nd grandchild when they were born (firstborn got his or her parent's set)it breaks my heart that they only got to use them for birthdays and holidays. I asked my kids why and was told that the dishes were part of their childhood and they didn't want anything to happen to them. I'm sad that they are not a real part of their children's childhood. Don't save something for a child and then deprive the child of the fun of using it!! OK. End of rant.
|
|
|
Post by boyswillbeboys on Jul 27, 2014 13:11:06 GMT -5
Yes, I am the one whose little ones always had Bunnykins China. I had to replace a few pieces (each child broke something) but they learned to appreciate and care for fragile things. A lesson well worth the price of a plate or bowl or cup. I purchased a set for each 2nd grandchild when they were born (firstborn got his or her parent's set)it breaks my heart that they only got to use them for birthdays and holidays. I asked my kids why and was told that the dishes were part of their childhood and they didn't want anything to happen to them. I'm sad that they are not a real part of their children's childhood. Don't save something for a child and then deprive the child of the fun of using it!! OK. End of rant. My boys each have a blanket of mine from child hood, I have now had to repair the one several times, and it actually makes me happy, because it is being used, and loved, the one I have repaired several times is my son's favorite, just as it was one of my favorites, he is 7 and I expect he will get many more years of enjoyment out of it.
|
|
|
Post by nicole on Jul 27, 2014 13:32:40 GMT -5
I'm saving clothes I might fit into again
|
|
|
Post by PaperGrace on Jul 27, 2014 13:59:00 GMT -5
I'm saving clothes I might fit into again A lot of us do that. While ideally we'd just buy new when we lose weight, many of us aren't ready for that yet. If you're not ready to release it all what about at least purging the 'too small for now' category some? I realized recently that my 'pre baby' box of clothes had items in it that I wouldn't wear even if I magically got back to that size by the end of the year. Old bras and undies? Nope. Ditch anything with elastic in it or any other type of material that doesn't age well, and for sure any clothes with rips or tears. Anything that was a fashion trend when you were thinner isn't going to be 'in' by the time you're thinner again (Even if you're making great progress and will hit your target weight soon!) As I keep finding these little stashes I'm keeping only seriously timeless staples, real vintage pieces, the super sentimental and cool stuff like t-shirts from concerts or that I bought from favorite geek-culture sources (fandoms, comic artists, etc...). I hope to release some of what I keep again in the future, since sometimes I'm influenced by what something cost me in the first pass of purging.
|
|
|
Post by nicole on Jul 27, 2014 14:05:06 GMT -5
PaperGrace I have gotten rid of a lot of the things I was keeping. I am still holding on to a few of my favorites. I'm making progress at finally letting it go and knowing that new things to love will come in when needed.
|
|
|
Post by immaculata on Jul 27, 2014 15:17:07 GMT -5
I became aware how long a notebook had been in my stationery stash when I took it out to (finally!) use it, and found it had a price tag on it in Irish punts. We changed to the euro in 1999! I'm trying to take one box out of the attic or out from under the bed and declutter it every day. Yesterday I took out a box of incense and listed it for sale online. It was leftover stock from a shop I closed... in 1997! I realise neither of these things had expired and both can still be used - but, sheesh!
|
|
Magenta
New Member
How many other squalor-sufferers have issues with animal waste? Cat or dog or other?
Joined: July 2014
Posts: 49
|
Post by Magenta on Jul 27, 2014 15:22:26 GMT -5
I'm saving clothes I might fit into again ONE OF MY BIGGEST PROBLEMS! My weight fluctuates, and in the last two years I've weighed as low as 125 lbs, and right now am at a current high of 160. When I was on non-working meds for my bipolar disorder, I was 235 lbs! I actually DO have 3-4 sizes in my wardrobe, and because I always end up losing it, I hoard the skinny clothes (until they're unstylish, I bet)!
|
|
|
Post by dtesposito on Jul 27, 2014 16:23:53 GMT -5
I became aware how long a notebook had been in my stationery stash when I took it out to (finally!) use it, and found it had a price tag on it in Irish punts
Sometimes finding these old things can be fun--I usually find them in a paper stash, like a coupon for 10 cents off something that expired in 1970! The most recent thing I found was a little ad I clipped from a magazine, saying I could get 1,000 address labels from Walter Drake, POSTAGE PAID, for 25 cents! Now how old could that be?
It's fun, but sad, that I've had stuff that old taking up space in my home. Sure it's just a small piece of paper, but honestly!
Diane
|
|
|
Post by The Eliminator on Jul 27, 2014 20:29:25 GMT -5
OMG! I just found an address label ad, too! It wasn't walter drake, but something similar. And I haven't even lived in the States for 21 years! Yes, it is kinda fun to find that kind of old stuff! And sometimes a little bit funny and pathetic at the same time... In going through a pile, I picked up a purse I haven't used for a while. Looked inside, and amongst the tissues, gum, etc., there were also tampons. So I know that I haven't used THAT handbag for at least three years! I literally LOLed, all alone, while desqualoring...
|
|