How to stop saving things for 'best'

[Nightlights]

I'm so terrible at this! I buy nice skin products and don't use them for ages for fear of running out and not being able to replace them. I buy nice clothes and don't wear them because I don't want to wear them out/waste them on the everyday. I am making a resolution to change and looking for some mantras to hold in my head to force myself to wear the nice things! Does anybody else do this or am I just bonkers?

I used to do this but now like others have mentioned, I buy nice things, try them out, if I like them and they work, look good, etc I order more and keep a stock so they don't run out. This includes beauty stuff, clothing basics, shoes, undies

Since I've been doing this my skin is fab, my make up lasts all day, I never feel scruffy even in loungewear comfies, my hair is nicer. None of that would be the case if I was still keeping everything for best and using the bare minimum items, or irregularly to try and save it.

I used to do this and then I got cancer and risked lose everything. Luckily I’m fine now, but there really is no certainty about tomorrow, so why wait to be happy, even if it’s about wearing a dress you like or drinking a nice bottle of wine for no special reason.

That applies to lots of things Foggyday - like getting in touch with someone you haven't seen or doing something you always wanted to do but never quite got round to. Glad you are better now.

When my DD1 was born 16 years ago, I was given so many beautiful outfits for her.
I was telling a friend who was pregnant with her 2nd dc and said I won't have a chance to use them before she would grow out and she gave me some great advice, which was just use the outfits, dress the baby in them even if you're staying home that day and no one will see her but you, she said you'll get the pleasure out of seeing them. And thats really good advice if you apply it to yourself as well which I have tried to do since.
My Dd2 always wears her brand new shoes out of the shoe shop and pulls the tags off new clothes as soon as she gets home and will wear her brand new clothes to jump on the trampoline, I don't tell her she has to save things for best and I love seeing her enjoying her new things.

God yes especially with kids clothes. (Wear them i mean). With Coronavirus I am not buying them a single thing apart from maybe a pair of shorts or two each before they go back to school in sept. I want their current stuff worn!

I think a generation ago where I am there was more ‘formal life’ and while my mum definitely kept things for best she really did have dinner parties and so on.

I got lured into having ‘best’ on some things for a bit.

I have now got one very practical nice evening bag (I mean not so nice that I couldn’t wear it to the pub) and one really gorgeous satchel that I can fit my laptop in so can use it every day. No point having a lovely expensive clutch if you go out dressed up once a year.

The other thing is really wanting nice things but not getting them as too expensive but spending the same amount on multiple crap things.

I’m now putting away £20-30 quid a month or when I remember it so I can buy myself a fab winter coat without feeling guilty.

I even save new books. Don’t ask me what for, I’ll reread old ones when I’ve got two or three new ones. Madness.

When I was growing up we never had 'best china' or 'best cutlery' there was no kitchen dresser or front room, everything that was bought was used.
So if I buy something nice I use it too.
I like pretty mismatched vintage china plates which I buy in charity / antique shops.

My mum did get given an expensive watch as a present from a family friend in the late 80s aged 40 which she saved 'for best', I recently said why not start wearing it as her cheap watch had broken & the expensive watch was very classic looking. So she's finally started wearing it aged 71!!

I wear the watch I was given got my 40th all the time, even to the gym.
I inherited a pretty gold antique medallion & chain which my sister says is 'too valuable' to wear but I wear it anyway as I really like it.

I've got lots of smart & stylish 'going out at night' clothes so I make sure I go out!! But not while on lockdown obviously.

I've started to mix my work clothes and home clothes as otherwise when do you wear half your clothes? The only items I have for 'best' are dresses for nights out, clutch bags, heels, etc.

My Grandpa used to make me laugh. I went to visit him with my brother when he was 99 and we were having drinks in his flat before we went out for a meal. He went to open a bottle of Cava and my brother said what about that champagne you have? I'm saving it for a special occasion says Grandpa. Bloody Hell, you're 99 and don't exactly have parties every weekend - what special occasion is this? says my brother.

We drank the Cava...

I’ve renamed them and it works for me great great great someone’s old wine glasses that were never used other than Christmas - I now use them for my Friday night drink. Posh bath stuff for my Sunday treat bath. They still get used but not every day and makes it feel a little special.

Thank you for your stories and suggestions :-) I love the idea of changing the purpose of an item and of renaming it! All of these responses have inspired me to start using it all. Interesting the earlier PP linking this state of mind to the 90s - maybe that's it. Or a less privileged upbringing maybe - you know, an awareness that things might not be achievable or could be taken away. And so glad you're ok now @foggyday124 - I'll raise a glass of wine to you tonight. And it'll be one of my 'best' glasses!

I do it with clothes but I use my expensive skincare every day.Ive also been using my "best" Armani foundation every day and look better for it.

Thank you!! Enjoy the wine 🙂

I would encourage you to use and enjoy too.
Some things will go off or out of fashion.

When my Auntie died we had to clear a lot of things she had been saving for best. What a waste when she could have just enjoyed them.

I've got more use out of some of her nice jewellery than she ever did.

Use them and enjoy.

When I was a student, I had a cleaning job. One elderly lady was very well off, but due to a series of tragedies, had nobody to share it with. She used to say to me "when you get your own house, dear, buy the best you can afford and use it all the time, because every day is a gift. Don't hide your beautiful things and make do"

When I married, we were given the most beautiful cut crystal wine glasses. I thought of that old lady as I was about to put the box away in a cupboard. Stopped. Took the glasses out and put them with the other glasses. Guess what I drink my £6.99 merlot out of now

I used to do this. Until I brought a very expensive nice leather jacket, only wore it a couple of times in 2 years, then thought I would start wearing it regularly.

It practically fell apart after a weeks wear. If I had used it sooner I would of noticed it was awful and fake and got a refund.

I’m exactly the same. I buy nice bath stuff and I don’t use it as they’re expensive and I want to save them. But then they all start going off and it’s a waste of money. Now I hen I buy things I try to open them straight away and use them.

No, I'm the complete opposite. If I'm getting something nice for my birthday or Christmas, and it's been bought before the actual occasion, I want to use it straight away incase I die the next day and don't get a chance.

I could have written this post OP. I'm exactly the same!!

Ok the skincare thing op, that makes no she's and you know it. The stuff won't keep, so use it, you deserve it.

I got an Advent calendar for the first time with loads of nice skin stuff. Have given some away that I know I won't use, but am using lots, why save it? It's really nice to use a £30 moisturiser.

Equally clothes, I make a point of wearing something new within the week if practicable. My MiL used to keep coats for best and then never wear them, so sad.

If I've not worn something for six months (apart from evening dresses) it has to go. I wear my best bra first every week.

Kitchen stuff tho, ah that's a point. I am bad for breaking stemware so tend to avoid using it. We got some Dartington crystal flutes when we got married which we've never used. hmmmmm

The trickiest thing for me is nice going out clothes - I just don't have the occasions to wear them to. So when we go out for dinner I'll wear a nice dress and smart shoes just because I like to, even if the rest of the family is in hoodies and trainers.

When my mum died, over 10 years ago now, I was clearing out her wardrobe and sending stuff to the charity shop. There were unworn items still with tags on. I decided right then that that wouldn't be me.

I'm like it too.

It's a throwback from my mum and the Victorian parlour syndrome when people didn't have much.

I must admit in lockdown I wear casual as I am wfh and doing a daily fitness video.

I always wear perfume and use nice toiletries

I do this with clothes, I wonder if it stems from being young when we had new clothes for whitsuntide and only wore them special occasions

I do this too. I love beautiful jewelry and dh has bought me some stunning pieces but I rarely wear them. Actually I only tend to wear them when he asks me to. I am worried about loosing them. I have lost a good diamond earing when the back came off and yesrs ago I lost a very expensive bracelet when clasp must have opened. I lost it when I had rarther a lot too drink so felt terrible when I realised I had lost it. I think these have made me worse. I am probably worse than you because I always buy myself cheap clothing and things but I buy expensive gifts for others. My dh says I am bonkers and should learn to love myself. He always is very generous with me and buys me expensive gifts.

There's a nice Nora Ephron quote about this ( sorry if someone's already mentioned it) - broadly: 'Always use the good bath oil', as life is too uncertain/short to squirrel it away and risk wasting it. I often have arguments with my DM about it as she can't help herself storing things away 'for best' where they go off/go out of fashion/get eaten by moths.