By the time you get to my stage in life (early 60s), with a life of largely good fortune and hard work behind me, I already have most of the things I could want. I am (well, we are) in fact in a process of saying goodbye to many things acquired over many years but now unused.
For example, Malcolm recently gave away the photographic enlarger that was his 18th birthday present from his parents. Well used for many years, and then unused for many years, he realised that his photographic interests now lie elsewhere. He offered it on Freegle, where it was swiftly snapped up by a newly-retired couple who want to resume their earlier interest in processing and printing their photos.
One person’s trash is another person’s treasure, and all that.
As for me, I am finding that often when there is something I need want, I already have that thing somewhere in the house. Often if I sit with the thought for a while, as I go around I spot the very thing that is the solution.
I have two backpacks I regularly use. The smaller bag is big enough for my essentials pouch (money, glasses, diary, lipsalve etc; re-usables pouch (cutlery, cloth napkin); my box for food purchases (which itself holds my reusable bags and cheese wrap); my knitting; laptop if needed; reusable cup if wanted; and maybe a book. The larger one is big enough for all that plus whatever is needed for a night or two away, or for the weekly trip to town for food shopping. (I bought both pouches shown below in charity shops. All they needed was a good wash).
Constantly swapping between the two, I often find I forget to transfer something I need. So I began emptying the bags out after use, and repacking each time I go. Looking for a container to fit with them between the end of a bed and a wall, I came across the perfect thing – a basket that was my mum’s, sitting unused for many years on top of a kitchen cabinet.
And so it often goes. The moral of this is, once you reach my stage in life, look at what you already have before buying something new. The next step of course is to look second-hand (Freegle, charity shops, second-hand sales), and only buy new if all else fails and you really need (or want) something.
the magic jug 