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Do you buy to last, and make every scrap of food count.

I cringe when I see good food thrown away, this happens on TV a lot, or perfectly good furniture dumped on a whim.

I don't think it's just an age thing, I know a few over 60's who are 'throwaways'.

Has the way you were brought up had any influence on the way you are now or is it circumstances, or part of your character.

2007-07-26 23:03:44 · 43 answers · asked by Florence-Anna 5 in Society & Culture Cultures & Groups Senior Citizens

It is a relief to know there are other thrifty hoarders out there. ha ha ha

It's been fascinating reading all your answers, although I must say I've never been called 'rabid' before! Can't say I've noticed my extreme madness, no frothing at the mouth, and haven't bitten anyone yet.

2007-08-01 04:58:45 · update #1

43 answers

You should see my house. The things we have bought and have no use for now or have got a later model. Have the attitude of well it is a shame to throw it away,it will come in useful one day. The spare bedroom,the loft,the garden shed,the cupboard under the stairs are all crammed with things we no longer use but are loth to throw away. We didn't have a lot in my young days and things had to last. A bed or a three piece suite were for life. Nowadays we can afford to replace things but it goes against the grain to throw things away. We keep saying we must have a clear out but never do. My kids on the other hand tend to discard things on a regular basis. I tried giving some furniture to charity shops and a hospice but they all declined it . ;It was in good condition but dated in design. In the end the council collected it for the tip. I felt it was such a waste. There must have been people somewhere who could have put it to good use.If any body wants them we have a spare washing machine,hardly used, two fish tanks , a parrot bird cage, two knitting machines,a 21" TV, A DVD player,a bread maker, two coffee percolators,a dining table,two spare electric kettles,a deep fat frier, a slowcooker, about 40 dolls from around the world in national costumes, a host of different ornaments and china pieces,a selection of collectors plates,complete sets which were quite expensive 30 years ago,two glass display cabinets,three standard lamps , a table lamp , and lotsmore bits and pieces .. What 's the difference between being thrifty and being a hoarder. Might get on the TV cash in the attic programme .

2007-07-28 05:16:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2 0

According to my dear wife this is my third reincarnation, the first I was squirrel, the second I was a magpie, now the third she has got me. I would not say I am thrifty more I always am sure that I can make a use out of what most would throw away. Hence getting into my garage is easy getting out is the problem. It stems I think from my youth, my father's favourite saying to me was 'ask you don't get, don't ask you don't want' so what I wanted I had to do for myself, and out of what was around me not having any money for anything you couldn't eat or wear, and there wasn't much of that. 70 years on I can still remember how to set a snare and skin a rabbit. From the age of about 11 yrs I fed myself on what I could catch, pick , taking empties back (you use to get 1d from the pub if you took an empty beer bottle back and my dad always had empties) or scrounge. Adversity and hunger are fine teachers I can assure you, you learn only take what you can handle and use not to waste.

2007-07-29 10:27:24 · answer #2 · answered by colinpeter 1 · 2 0

I learned in my 30s after much credit debt, to save, save, save money.

Others would consider me a throwaway person simply because I do not hang onto things that I can no longer use. I am at a point in my life where I prefer space to clutter. So I don't really get attached to many of the items I own, but rather give them to charities or have a garage sale. I do keep small sentimental items but they can be tucked away neatly in a storage box. I just don't buy anything I don't need.

My family members were pack rats so maybe that is why I crave "space" now.

As for food, I buy and prepare what I will eat and cook in small portions so there are hardly any leftovers to cast out.

2007-07-27 09:19:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2 0

I am not a hoarder- it makes me cringe when i see useless things taking up space in the house, and I have a huge problem with hand-me-downs. It just doesn't feel right to wear clothes that are older than I am. I hear people saying that they were raised to save what they could, but that is no excuse for being a pack rat.

I also am not a throwaway, but there comes a time when everything must say hello to the dumpster (or recycling bin, when applicable).

2007-07-27 01:06:07 · answer #4 · answered by Agent 007 4 · 2 0

I try not to throw away food but finally realized that when I save it it usually goes bad in the fridge. I do hate to see good furniture or clothes thrown out. I find one purse that is comfy and practical and I use it for at least a year. Except for a black and a summer one for weddings, funerals etc. I try to buy in bulk when I can or more than one item if it is on sale. I am a member of freecycle and use it often. I have saved money a few times and even gotten free plants. I love resale shops, yard sales and goodwill but I am very selective about items I purchase there. But I like to buy quality when I can. I think that it is mostly a persons character but more so with older than younger people. It makes me feel good to find a bargain.

2007-08-01 00:31:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

I'm not thrifty. I can go out on a spending spree now and again and then I buy books which I'm reluctant to pass on, but I do try to squeeze the last drop of nourishment out of a chicken. Ends up as soup usually - and that's after the curry! OK I live alone.
I lived in a house with 18 rooms as a child, so we didn't need to throw anything away, things just got stuffed in cupboards.
And in the 'after-war years' we had a vast kitchen garden with soft fruit and veg and an orchard with apples and plums.
Ah! I think I'm going down with a touch of nostalgia!

2007-07-30 09:36:11 · answer #6 · answered by cymry3jones 7 · 2 0

Sorry to say this, but if I have no use for it, I either give it away or throw it away. I used to be a pack rat, but the stuff kept piling up, and up, and... AS for food, it has a one way ticket..leftover all go into the fridge, but never seem to come out..what comes out is unrecognizable, so I no longer even make the effort. Regardless of famine in other parts of the world, I don't think my packing it up and sending it to them will help one iota. The idea of being frugal is great. The reality just doesn't work out that well. I see no reason to eat left over mystery dishes that don't particularly taste good, just to satisfy a need to be frugal.
And let's face it...the stuff we buy is made to be thrown away, not fixed...very frustrating. I cannot tell you the number of printers I ditch a year! I despise buying replacement tools...I get nothing for my money, yet year after year, new electronics come out and the old ones are no longer supported with supplies..some brands are worse than others about this. Samsong is one of the worst! I buy a 2 year old car (I cannot bring myself to absorb that 1st 2 year depreciation) and drive it until it is no longer financially sane to keep it. Cars get me to and from, but are not an extension of my ego. Houses are made to live in..one is like another, so I see no reason to move about unless a job forces me to do so. I am a nest builder, so I buy, then immediately destroy and rebuild to what I want (at that moment, at any rate.) Furniture? Used furniture is worthless, and tastes change over time...I get sick of the same couch or chair..so I trash (or give away) and replace. The one thing I have had no luck in replacing is .... ta da! MONEY! If you have a secret method of replacing money at no cost, please share :-) Oh, and there is this one tiny thing left in my mind that is irreplaceable...FRIENDS! That one I never discard unless I am forced to accept the fact that they are no longer friends..that has happened in my life very, very rarely. Thankfully. Friends are so damned hard to cultivate, they take so much energy, time, and investment of emotion (very costly investment)...Friends are NOT disposable. Love and peace.

2007-07-27 05:05:26 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2 0

I tend to be thrifty. I cook everything from scratch (no mixes) and we rarely have leftovers in the fridge. Lucky for me, I live just down the block from a good produce market, so I only buy in small amounts. Throwing away food is a rarity in my home. Since my husband and I grew up poor we learned to eat everything put in front of us. So that the food doesn't add the pounds, we eat smaller servings. :)

As for keeping things, I only keep what is used. If it goes unused, then I donate it or recycle. I do my buying with that in mind. If it's something I'll rarely use, I'll pass on it. The only thing I tend to hoard are my books.

2007-07-27 03:45:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2 0

I'm definitely thrifty!! I also find this throwaway culture AWFUL. I guess it came from my parents: cutting up old tshirts and using them as dusters, re-using all plastic bags, keeping zippers and buttons from old clothes – even re-using gift-wrap ribbons (although I must confess I don't actually do that myself...) etc. I find it really satisfying to go second-hand shopping, picking up furniture from the streets and refurbish it etc. I HATE throwing away food so I try not to buy more than I eat! Just imagine how many people that are starving in the world, I just find it an insult to throw away food.

2007-07-27 00:01:46 · answer #9 · answered by rockwife 2 · 2 0

I am not a hoarder. I learned long ago that if you try to hold onto too many things your house becomes impossible to live in; but, my parents lived through the great depression. They didn't believe in throwing away anything that was still of use. That is the way I grew up and it stayed with me.

I always try to find a use for anything that comes my way; and, if I can't use it, I try to find someone who can. My entire family is like that, a legacy of my parents and the great depression, I suppose.
We are always passing this and that between us. "Can you use such and such? Know anyone who can?"

It is a thrifty way to live and saves a lot of money for other uses.

2007-07-26 23:43:08 · answer #10 · answered by geniepiper 6 · 2 0

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