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AIBU?

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Original poster

Do you save stuff ‘for best’?

82 replies

Merryoldgoat · 11/05/2023 18:23

I used to but after some realising that best hardly ever comes I’ve stopped.

However I fancy a glass of wine and all I have in is a gift which is a £50 bottle of champagne. I’m thinking I could have two glasses tonight, the rest tomorrow and it’s all good.

But also seems wasteful.

WWYD?

YABU - wasteful bint - are you an alcoholic? Save for sharing

YANBU - crack it open and add a penguin for good measure (the only chocolate in the house)

Obviously a lighthearted thread!

OP posts:
TammyJones · 12/05/2023 19:43

Crack it open
Light the best candles
Ware the nice clothes
Remember- you are the best.

ICouldHaveCheckedFirst · 12/05/2023 19:35

Just back from a funeral - agree with PP that "now" IS the best time. Cheers, OP.

Howabsolutelyfanfuckingtastic · 12/05/2023 19:34

Don't save things for a special occasion, being alive is the special occasion.

mommybear1 · 12/05/2023 19:30

Another one who used to - realised life is way too short so I don't save things for best now and use them as and when I need to.

QueefQueen80s · 12/05/2023 19:23

I did when younger. Since 35 I use my best all the time otherwise it'd never get used.. What was I waiting for!? Real life passing me by waiting for a special time not coming.
Now all my pics I am wearing all my best stuff, using my best toiletries, drinking the good alcohol.. we may die tomorrow! Or at least the years will fly by.

Riapia · 12/05/2023 19:13

BarelyLiterate · 11/05/2023 19:04

My grandparents lived in a small terraced house which had a kitchen, dining room & separate lounge. The TV and two armchairs were in the dining room. The lounge was furnished with the ‘best’ carpets & furniture. It was used once a year, on Christmas Day. They also used it once when the priest visited.
I always said I would never live like that, and I never have.

Enjoy your champagne, OP.

My aunt had a room like that.
It was only for when she had “company”.
Apparently “company “ were the only people worthy of being entertained in that room.
😉😁😁

BlueAndGreen89 · 12/05/2023 19:01

I rarely save things for best after finding so many lovely things still in their packaging after MIL died. Expensive perfume, makeup, toiletries, all bought for her with love for her birthdays, Mother’s Days and Christmases, and never opened. Such a shame.

gamerchick · 12/05/2023 19:01

No. Tomorrow isnt promised.

GreatBigBoots · 12/05/2023 18:58

KohlaParasaurus · 11/05/2023 19:40

I'm glad you're drinking the champagne. There's plenty of champagne on the supermarket shelf if you need to have a bottle to hand.

I used to be a devil for "keeping for best". Then I married a man who, when he gets something nice or something new, just dives straight into it. New clothes are on as soon as he gets home from the shop, nice chocolate is open as soon as it's in his hands. I've become more like him.

I've done the same. If my DH buys or is given something nice he will wear/use it at the earliest opportunity. When we first lived together it irritated me- what was he thinking of using/wearing something lovely for no particular occasion! Then we discussed the fact that he never saves anything for best (I expected him to see the error of his ways) and he pointed out the 'special' scented candles, toiletries etc that I had in a cupboard that were now past their best, and all the 'best' clothes in my wardrobe that have barely been worn and now don't fit. I'm now actively trying to be more like him- it's quite liberating!

As an aside, whilst helping my parents clear their loft recently I found a box of 'special' things that I had been given as gifts (nice stationery, toiletries, costume jewellery etc) that teenage me had been saving for the right time to use them. All still in the packaging- quite a sad sight really as now (30+ years after I received them) they were all dated and never likely to be used.

Azealeasinbloom · 12/05/2023 18:21

Hi @JMSA , fellow Scot here. Let me tell you, there was a lot ‘saved for best’ in my mum’s house- whole rooms we never used, china etc that only came out when her mother visited.
She had some beautiful clothes , but rarely wore them, saving them for best…
Have to say, and I mean this with great love, she was very well dressed at her own funeral.

Anyway, it was bred into me, but I am trying very hard to let it go 😁

Jeannie88 · 12/05/2023 18:07

Go for it and enjoy 😉

Mojoj · 12/05/2023 18:02

Pop that cork 🤣🤣

Georgeandzippyzoo · 12/05/2023 18:01

A friend hated the effect her cancer diagnosis had on her body and ability to do things BUT it also made her aware there's no time for 'keeping for best'!
Use and enjoy it. She taught us that life IS too short (it was her funeral last week 💔)

33goingon64 · 12/05/2023 17:55

Agree with PP, except when it comes to clothes that require high levels of maintenance, by which I mean ironing or dry cleaning. I'm all for drinking the champagne, using the best crockery etc but I don't want to be ironing silk blouses or dry cleaning linen jackets every week.

90stalgia · 12/05/2023 17:48

Yes - wish I could break the habit but it's ingrained in me, sadly. I'd be nipping to the supermarket to buy some Cava, or at least some cheap champagne, rather than drinking a £50 bottle on a random Friday. But you go for it, OP, if it will make you feel good.

JMSA · 12/05/2023 17:47

No. I'm Scottish, and have only ever heard English people use that expression.

BigFatLiar · 12/05/2023 17:35

We used to have things fir best but I was sick and almost died. Made me realise that we deserve best now, every day. I drink wines I like, eat nice chocolate. Somedays we dress up and sit at the table just for our usual meal. We have crystal glasses and use them for our everyday drinks. We have no bests put aside.

DangerNoodles · 12/05/2023 17:25

My Nan used to save things for best. When we sorted out her things after she passed, we found so many things squirreled away 'for best'. Lovely expensive toiletries and perfumes that had gone off, dresses with tags on and nice bottles of booze. It's sad that she didn't feel she was good enough to use them and I now use my 'for best' stuff any time I want, even if it is fancy toiletries before I slob about in my jammies!

Enjoy your champagne OP, whoever got it for you wanted you to enjoy it, not leave it in the cupboard.

Floralnomad · 12/05/2023 17:20

We don’t save anything for best , what is the point of having stuff that you never use .

Original poster
Merryoldgoat · 12/05/2023 17:16

Daffodilwoman · 11/05/2023 20:15

I’ve voted YANBU BUT Penguins are surely the worst chocolate bar around. I appreciate if it’s all you have then it can’t be helped. Next time buy Kitkats 😂

If I buy Kit Kats then they’re will be no Kit Kats 🤣😂

OP posts:
Original poster
Merryoldgoat · 12/05/2023 17:12

I hate penguins but my son likes them so we have them for lunchbox treats.

I’m now properly supplied with snacks more booze and a friend.

OP posts:
Daffodilwoman · 11/05/2023 20:15

I’ve voted YANBU BUT Penguins are surely the worst chocolate bar around. I appreciate if it’s all you have then it can’t be helped. Next time buy Kitkats 😂

cherrypopsicle · 11/05/2023 20:12

Drink the champagne. We went to a lodge with our kids and my parents last October. They brought all the champagne gifted for their 60th's which were both during lockdown. We had the best week together, drinking fizz, eating lovely food and laughing. We lost my Dad very suddenly and unexpectedly at Xmas. Dont "save for best", tomorrow isn't promised. Drink the champagne

FunkyMonks · 11/05/2023 19:56

I'm terrible for doing this have bought lovely shoes clothes perfume etc and always said I'll keep them for best and then think what a waste they've been bought to enjoy and be used not to be stored away.
I now am getting into the habit of making sure I wear and enjoy my nice stuff.

Beaverbridge · 11/05/2023 19:56

Enjoy. 🍾