Buying and saving for 'good'...why?

Susan Louise · ‎03-14-2010

I just don't 'get it'. I know family members that do this and it drives me crazy! Why? Well, it has reached a point that DH and I have to find other ways to give B-Day gifts, holiday gifts, etc...like taking them out for dinner instead. It makes no sense for us to buy stuff only for them to sit in the boxes and never get used.

It's not as if we get things they don't want or need...they are things they wanted and asked for...

An example about a family member we got a gift for a few yrs ago and it still has yet to be worn once.

I will get replies like 'I'm saving it for good'...(in this instance, it was a lovely Irish sweater) which has yet to be taken out of the drawer since it was 1st put away.

We are only on this earth for so long...and the coffin is only so big and she can only wear one set of clothes...

Oh, and yes, I know, folks can do whatever they wish with 'their stuff'...however, some things just make my head hurt

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

i don't get the point of this thread.

hnj

hckynut(john)

Julie928 · ‎04-08-2013

Hi Susan Louise! Yes, that seems a little silly. The whole gift-giving thing (I feel) has gotten out of hand. I just donated two car trips' worth of things to a wonderful wildlife rehabilitation place about an hour away from me. It felt so good to clear some things out of the house while donating them to a wonderful organization that I just don't want to accumulate any more "stuff." The reason I bring this up is many of the things I donated where things I just had to have (or yes, were gifts) only to end up in the donate pile. I love your idea of taking someone to dinner! The memory of a wonderful friend taking you out for a nice dinner is priceless to me. But saving a beautiful Irish sweater for "good'? That's crazy! I love my Irish sweaters, lol!!! Have a great rest of your weekend! :-)

september · ‎03-09-2010

I get the point, because my mom is that way. At her age, there isn't much I can buy her in the way of gifts anymore. I saw a dish towel at Anthropologie that had a Parisian scene on it, with a pretty crocheted edge. I bought it for her, thinking I might send it for Mothers Day. Then I realized she would probably decide it was too nice to actually use, and would stash it somewhere instead. I sent flowers.

Mz iMac · ‎07-26-2014

'I'm saving it for good'

"Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference."

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

My MIL used to save clothing items "For good." When she passed, we found beautiful lingerie still wrapped in tissue paper in her dresser in many sizes. Some was from when she first got married. There were also other pieces of clothing that she always took when She "went back home" to Europe. She took the same clothing every time she went and some of it must have been 20 years old and in new condition because it was worn very little.

She also had unworn jewelry that she was saving. Too bad she never got to enjoy her items.

I remember when I first started to date her son. She took me on a tour of her finest things she was saving. She was very proud of her nice quality beautiful items in new condition.

I very seldom buy gifts anymore unless the recipient is a child. I give money or sometimes gift certificates to a nice restaurant.

I don't get it either.

mstyrion 1 · ‎09-18-2014

I get the point of the thread.

I know people who do what the OP is talking about. I used to be that way to a certain extent. I would "save" perfume or lotions or even candles for an occasion. At some point I realized that saving things gave me no pleasure. Using them did.

I realized that putting things away waiting for the perfect occasion was nothing short of wasteful. I also realized that every day can be an occasion.

~Enough is enough~

Perkup · ‎03-09-2010

Apparently the OP isn't as old as me, or she might well understand. When I was young, money was very tight, gifts were very small, and you were very fortunate if you had two pairs of shoes - one for every day and one for 'good". If you were lucky enough to receive a nice gift - especially clothing - you would save it for "good". You might save it to wear to church, or for some special occassion. Sometimes I think you just saved it so that you would have something new. My former husband received a suede jacket when he was about 27 and had never worn it when he passed away at 78. He was saving it for a time when he wanted something special to use as outerwear. I know he felt almost guilty because his Dad had spent so much on his gift. I guess that special time never came. But it's how we older folks were brought up and still applies sometimes.

DiAnne · ‎09-22-2010

That is what my mother used to say when she did not like something to be polite.

september · ‎03-09-2010

I don't understand how never using something makes sense. Whoever purchased it..whether it was you, or a family member who was thinking of you...wasted their money.

But like I mentioned, my mom will do this.

When I get nice gifts, I use them! It seems more wasteful to me to let them sit, unused.