Our thrifty parents

I do much of those things, why throw away what one can use

As grew my mum sewed strips on the bottom of my dresses to make them longer......and all of the above including ironed Xmas paper.

I have been learning the 'new reality' as in 'it is all in your mind and is never going to happen and you will never do xyz' and 'enough is enough'!

When we decided to move I started down-sizing, passing things on to the family or friends, recycled, gave to charity shops and took other stuff to the tip. I thought we had done really well but have continued clearing since the move and can see a very organised and clutter free home emerging now.

DH has been severely challenged in his man-cave, garage and shed and has started to clear these areas himself as he sees the time coming when his are the only areas which need attention. He knows what might happen then!

I just want everything to be organised, although still a comfy home, so that when we shuffle off the DC have the minimum to do.

There is clearly a line between being a careful manager and a hoarder. If you keep things too long they become of no use to man nor beast and just become tip fodder.
I had a friend who kept everything which just might be useful to the point that her home was a danger for her to live in and she needed help to make it liveable again. She no longer had a choice and it was very difficult for her, I think it hastened her end.

My house is so cluttered because I also save stuff- brown paper in case I need to use it again and clothes, just in case. I think we all had very similar parents. My new clothes drowned me because I wore them for years. My school clothes were bought when I was 11 and I was still wearing the same when I left school aged 17 in the July, to be 18 in September. Some were a tad tight, especially my tunic!

I recognise most of those things, mrsmopp. Except for the knitting, Mum couldn't knit. But she gave old woollens to my Dad's Mum, who could.
She never wasted any food. She put breadcrusts in the base of the oven to dry out when it was on, then flattened them with a rolling pin and used for crumbing fishcakes and meat rissoles. Both made from leftovers. She was an excellent cook.
New clothes were a rarity, but always bought 'too big', then hems takenup etc to be let down again as we grew.

Do all of that myself!!!!! Common sense I say. Also save seeds and make plant labels from yoghurt pots, etc., I could go on ...............

Mrs mopp I think we had the same parents.

And us - old habits die hard, and we still have jars of nails, screws, buts, bolts, together with some odd knives, forks and spoons, no idea why.

Us too!

still do most of that mrsmop, I dont waste anything.