Keeping things for best, I’ve turned into my mother! ?

Marydoll My daughter gave me the same lecture the other day because my mum, like yours, put away presents instead of using them, and made do with her really old stuff which was often reoaired whuch is fine, but! I was doing the same. Daughter was upset that the nice things we got her were not used.
Am now using Neals yard bath oil and its a real treat. Enjoy.

I have wardrobes in three bedrooms full of best clothes. I have the same things in two sizes for fat days and for days when I have not been such a porker.
I never stint myself on perfume though, good stuff gets sprayed liberally every day.

Oh dear! Mr P and I got married in 2004, moved in together in 2001.

We were given a dinner service as a wedding present.

Guess what, Marydoll ? We keep it for best!

silverlings, made me think that my children would be upset if they found the gifts unused. It's just that I think, they are too NICE to use!

My wedding china has neevr been used. It's 43 years old!

My mother never kept things for best and neither do I. So maybe we all turn into our own mothers.

I learned a lesson about keeping things for best many years ago.My friend bought loads of new clothes for her wee girl for ther first holiday abraod.The wee one pestered her mum for weeks to wear them and was always told no you have to keep them good.
The week before the holiday she had a dental appointment where the dentist thought something was wrong and sent her to hospital.She had leukeamia ...she died the day they were supposed to go away .My children wore anything they wanted when they wanted ,nothing was "kept for best".Use your nice things and enjoy them you cant take them with you.

My Scottish MIL was like that. She had a stash of the nighties and jumpers we had given her over the years!
My sister and I were remembering how as children if and when you got a new item of clothing you were NEVER allowed to wear it straight away and one of the joys of being grown up was buying something and wearing it at once !

Ilovecheese

My mother never kept things for best and neither do I. So maybe we all turn into our own mothers.

I know it’s an awful things to say but I strive not to turn into mine.

Must admit I used to keep clothes for best, but just reading marydolls post has got me thinking differently, I’m going to start wearing these so called “best “ clothes of mine, even though I’m isolating for second time, so the only time I can go out is for exercise, apart from tomorrow when I’m going for my long awaited ct scan abdominal and pelvic, where I will have to wear loose fitting trousers and tops and no jewellery, time to make use of all these BEST clothes

I do use my fancy soaps and lotions! I don't get a lot of clothing as gifts, but love to have sweets and lovely smellies.

China does not get used very often, but that's only because i think it's too floral for my taste. You should really not pick china patterns when you are 21!

We grew up using silver for daily use, since my mother realized we hardly had company for dinner, so may as well enjoy!

I decided not to keep things for ‘best’ last year.
I now have 5 aprons in the kitchen and so much stuff that my drawers are full, I don’t think I’ll live long enough to use things up or wear things out, but fat better than leave them in boxes in the spare rooms.

MrsThreadgoode, we could be twins.

I have told my children to phone the charity shop when I die and ask them to send their van.....or perhaps two.

I don't keep anything for best now. I decided to clear out lots when I downsized. If I haven't worn something or used something in a year, it goes. Wear those aprons, Marydoll! And use your lovely smelly stuff.

When first married, we saved up to buy a Wedgewood dinner service, piece by piece, until we had a gloriously full set. But it was always kept for special occasions only. 45 years later, I still have it, unused and in pristine condition. But it's so heavy and old fashioned and I can't see it ever being used now.
Marydoll you've inspired me to use that lovely tablet of Chanel 5 soap that I've kept "for best" for the past 10 years.

When my wee hoarding auntie died ( she had Tampax in her drawer. She was 94), I came upon beautiful embroidered sheets and pillowcases which her mother had received as a Golden Wedding present and never used. Auntie never used them either, so I fell heir to them. As I reckoned they were about 40 years old then I used them immediately. 10 years on, they’re still going strong.
I do, however, have a set of cutlery I ‘inherited’ from a friend which is too good for everyday, and I couldn’t even tell you where it is. If it turns up during my clearout I will start using it.

I had lots of ‘new with tags’ clothes, nightwear, bags etc then decided to use them now. I wouldn’t want them to go the charity shop brand new, I’ll get some use first!

I have beautiful delicate gold trimmed china from my granny.None of the kids will want it .Never used of course along with the lovely modern set I bought recently, also too nice to use.?

When my mother died, many years ago now, I found a lot of the presents I had bought for her still wrapped in tissue paper unused in her dressing table. I made a decision then that I would never keep things for best or unused. Enjoy using lovely things and wearing the gifts you have been given, life is too short.

I have (shock horror) decided to use my parents' fancy china in the kitchen. Lots of it is delicate and gold rimmed too.
I am even putting it in the dashwasher which I know is wicked... but, I've looked it up on Ebay and it's selling for SO little I might as well enjoy it and the happy memories it brings.

My Mum loved baking and used to say one day she would get a Kenwood Chef. I bought her one for her 70th Birthday but she never used it, she still mixed things by hand. She moved in with us when she could no longer cope in her flat and it was still in the box. We gave it to my brother’s older daughter who loved to cook. I was really sad that she never used it.

I have to laugh at the various sets of negligee's I've got with a couple of sets unworn and still have a gorgeous frilly nylon set from the 60's/70's, all with the intentions of " wearing them in the summer ". Well summer's been and gone a number of times and I've still worn sleeved pyjamas because I'm so nesh . I can't part with the darned things

My dear old Mum had a set of pink flannelette sheets and pillow cases still in their wrapper in a drawer from the 60’s. They were lovely quality and she considered them too good to use and was saving them for visitors. They ended up in my house, still unopened, after my parents died.

I eventually opened them for making a tent over the kitchen chairs for my grandchildren. She didn’t live to see her great grandchildren but I think she would be delighted to see the fun we’ve had with her special sheets.

Oh Marydoll, your op took me right back to my childhood. Literally everything my mother owned had a utility version and a 'best' version. We were not well off but I always had a 'best' coat for Sundays as well as school coat and play coat. Likewise brown practical t bar Clark's shoes for school and black patent leather ones for best. Summer dresses were always divided into everyday and best. When I look back at photos of Christmas I see myself in new outfits which were rarely worn again unless we were going somewhere special. What a waste! The result was that many of the more expensive items, especially Sunday coats, were passed on hardly worn.

Did I learn from any of this? I'm afraid not. Did something similar with my own daughter and myself. I well remember a far more expensive make of suit than my usual M & S bought for an interview. When I got the job, the suit languished in the wardrobe as 'too good' for ordinary work days and I returned to my usual standard M&S and the best suit was kept for rare important occasions at work. How silly of me! I well remember how much more sophisticated 'cool' and confident I felt in that suit, yet it was finally given to a charity shop, practically brand new, when it became too tight.

I do try not to do this now, but at aged 68 it has taken me far too long and I still think twice about opening expensive smellies gifts, with one exception. Dh always gives me Chanel scent as part of my Christmas present and he would be quite upset if I didn't use it, so this is always used. Mind you, there was still a certain element of 'best' about this as well before I retired as I would never wear it for work. It was always kept for going out. I really must try harder