Stopping saving things for best

I learned a long time ago that things are bought to enjoy.My friend had a holiday booked for her wee family and had bought loads of lovely things for her 6 year old to wear.The wee girl was so excited but nagged her mum every day to wear some of the nice new clothes.10 days before the holiday she hasd a dental appointment where thedentsit thought there may be some health issue and sent her to A and E.she was diagnosed with leukeamia and died before the holiday should have started.I was expecting my daughter who was born just 2 months later.We NEVER kept things for good.She wore things the day we bought them if she wanted to .Lifes too short to stockpile all your nice things ,enjoy them now .

What a lovely post that we recognise that this life is not a dress rehearsal.

I have friends who comment on my silver cutlery, crystal glasses and bone china and I tell them that my mam never got to use them as she died when I was a child - let’s enjoy things now in case there is no tomorrow!

We have a corner cupboard full of incomplete sets of cut glass sherry, brandy, cocktail, wine and whisky glasses. Lots inherited from my grandparents, via my mum and dad, from my parents, parents in law and our engagement and wedding presents. We use more modern (but fairly expensive) glasses that we keep in the kitchen.

Some of the cut glass is beautiful but I have no idea what to do with it as the children wont want it. We also have 3 decanter- what to do with those?

Rosiebee

Thank you such a lovely posting. Also thank you everyone else for your comments. Some very touching ones.

Well! not jewelry or clothes but a duvet cover lol.

about 3 yrs ago I decided to re decorate my bedroom, I hadn't much funds, but there was a sale on at Dunelm 50% off some curtains /duvet cover/pillow shams etc.

I bought the full set, the curtains were put up (still are) but the Duvet cover/pillow shams Im saving for " best" lol.

But after reading this, they are coming out this next week

I only have costume jewellery and cheap clothes so no probs for me. The only stuff not worn is that which is out of season. Dont hav3 posh china either. My mother has a houseful of lovely linen and clothes she will never wear. Im not looking forward to inheriting it

A colleague told me years ago that his mother had 'best' china and linens. She died young and his step mother used his mother's best china for everyday use. He never forgot that and neither have I.

The only items I don't use are a Susie Cooper coffee set. I would be distressed if they got broken, so they sit on a shelf.

bikergran yes you must put them on the bed. I can't believe you kept them all this time.

I doubt whether wine knows the cost of the glass into which it is poured and 10-1, neither would a blindfolded drinker.
I'm not pretentious. I like what I like but it's a far cry from corner cupboards stuffed with inherited bone china, crystal glasses and drawers groaning with canteens of silverware.
At least they can be sold when the AC inherit, unless they like that sort of thing.
My AC would use everything I own as I inherited nothing and my tastes are for the 'trends of the day', so to speak.
I fail to see the point of owning crockery, glass and silverware which only sees the light of day when other people visit.
I prefer to use everything all the time as appropriate, even using beautiful linen napkins at breakfast for myself. I'm worth the effort.

Sad story Paddyann and good advice.

I prefer to use everything all the time as appropriate, even using beautiful linen napkins at breakfast for myself. I'm worth the effort

Why is this worthy of note? And what effort?
We have always used napkins and napkin rings, nothing special about that.
And yes, they are linen. And the napkin rings are silver.
As for using silver/crystal/good china- nothing exceptional there either!
The point of all of this is not keeping things for “best” - not whether or not we use/wear nice things!

I have never kept things for best...ever since I had to clear out my Grandma’s house a lot of years ago.She had so very little, and yet I found nearly all the nice things I had bought for her
Safely folded up and stored to use for best.Except they hadn’t been used at all.They were all things that she had wanted and needed.
Use things now, save nothing for best!

Pantglas1......?I was hoping this was a dress rehearsal!
Then I may get the real thing done right next time around.

So sad, Paddyann.......

I don't have anything of value and tend to buy inexpensive clothes that I like. However I still keep certain things for special occasions when I feel really good in them. Last week I put on a pair of sandals and they disintegrated on my feet. I only bought them about 14 years ago, I think from somewhere like Shoe Express. I'll never find another pair like that!!!!

By the way my best (full set) of wine glasses came from tokens years ago in Iceland and they usually only come out at Christmas. I drink everything from a recycled Nutella glass which is stable and comfortable to hold. Actually have a sherry in it at the moment!!

When my sister died she left all her jewellery in such a muddle! Real, good, stuff thrown in with junk stuff - and all over the house - such a nightmare to sort out! And some valuable items, which I know she owned, we never even found. (eg. She wanted her goddaughter to have her pearls - we found the necklace, but not the earrings. Such a shame ...)

I determined then to 'catalogue' mine. Precious from paste! ('Cos my two daughters won't know the difference!) I started photographing all my 'good' stuff, and made a log, with the history of certain items, and who I would like to have it when I pop my clogs. It's turned into a momentous task! I don't have lots of very expensive jewellery, but quite a few bits and pieces that are gold or silver - and junk jewellery is so good now, that you wouldn't necessarily know the difference. (And I have loads of junk!!! I could open a shop!)

This 'log' of my 'precious' jewellery is something that I do spasmodically, then forget for months, but I didn't realise quite how long it was taking me, until ...

Talking to my son-in-law ... Me: 'Oh, I have lots to do - I must get on with my 'jewellery log!' SIL: 'You've been doing that since I first knew you!'

Um ... My daughter and he first met TWELVE years ago!

Will someone kindly give me a kick up the bum, please?

And I have lots of 'posh' clothes that I don't wear any more, but can't bear to get rid of. Lovely, floaty, dresses. Sparkly tops. Glamorous clothes that wouldn't even fit me now! But they hold so many happy memories for me.

Another kick up the bum please!

For those who interpret my post their own way - I do not own silverware, bone china or crystal anything.

I use my silverware, china and crystal every day now that I have decided to keep nothing for good. I donated my everyday crockery to charity and started using the “good stuff” a few years ago and I haven’t looked back. No more cupboards stuffed with boxes of unused stuff.
I wear all of those garments that I have bought for special occasions and don’t feel the need to buy something new if I am going to a ‘do’. I am past caring and it is very liberating.
I am going to copy the idea of cataloguing my jewellery for my lovely girls. It won’t take long.

Rosiebee, re your question about earrings, our local charity shop does take them. The clip on ones are not so popular, but others sell well. Good luck.

I don’t have any fancy crockery, glasses or the likes. I have one plain white dinner set (mostly matching but some not exact) that I use everyday and have done so for over 20 years, probably longer. No inherited “stuff” in our family with the exception of 5 little etched glass “shot glasses” that were my late grandmas. There were 6 but one was broken when I was a child. Not sure why but they have a special place in my affection and no one else wanted them.

I always wear my diamond stud earrings, and a "good watch" use my "good" handbags. I do not always wear my wedding band and/or engagement ring, not sure why it has just happened over the years? Fortunately Mr.Gravy hasn't taken offence. ( I am also writing a list to go in with my will requesting who should have what items)

I do use the bone china and crystal glasses when there are no GC around as they always clear the table after we have eaten and I do not want to be the "fussy Gran hovering over them".

I wear clothes that are appropriate for what I am doing on the day, somedays it is gym wear, somedays jeans and tops and if we are going out it will be something I feel comfortable in for the occasion/activity.

I have China from my Grandparents and parents which our AC will inherit and they know who it belonged to and will cherish it as I do.

Really enjoying reading all comments. I think it's the "getting older" situation that's spurred me on. We were going through our wills yesterday and it's brought it home to me that my lovely lovely stepson will be the one who has to sort through our stuff. If I'm not enjoying "it", "it" is on it's way. Yes there will always be some clothes for example that I'll keep for the memory (cheesecloth wrap skirt from 70s which no longer wraps round me) evening dress for a cruise. But I have lots of
lovely soft jackets which could be dressed down for everyday wear. I still have as a hangover from working, 2 wardrobes - everyday and best/holidays. Off on a jolly this week but will be coming back ready to start by sorting out the jewellery.

This summer I decided that after every wearing of an item of clothing I would wash and then temporarily store it in another room. This then forces me to pick something different and not keep wearing the same old favourites. Anything deemed not suitable to wear is either given to charity shop or stored properly (sentimental item). Now my wardrobe has only stuff I actually wear!!

What a great idea Esther1! I should try that - but what happens when I only have (say) tops left in my wardrobe? ?

kittylester I have been "using up" the odds and ends of both my inherited cut glass sets and my inherited tea sets in a mix-and-match way. My adult children have commented on how nice this rag-tag-and-bobtail looks!
Once we have broken a few more I will be able to move my own choices into the kitchen for everyday use!