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Original poster

To pledge to not save anything for “best” in 2022!

62 replies

Diditopknot · 30/12/2021 18:59

I’m a scruff.
I have nice clothes, only cheap stuff, charity shops and some things from next.
I always, always have clothes for “best” and clothes for every day.
But no. In 2022 I’m going to wear everything in my wardrobe no matter what the day is.
This is mostly due to never going anywhere to wear my “best” clothing!!
😩
Do you do this or do you always look lovely in niace clothes?

OP posts:
carlygirly · 03/01/2022 21:42

Yes! Love this. I'm currently using all my good perfume, just to wear around the house. It's a lovely bit of everyday luxury.

thereisonlyoneofme · 04/01/2022 10:21

I used to do this, but then I used to have places to go! Now I dont, Im home except for dog walking and food shopping. I have a wardrobe full of "best" clothes. Im going to wear my best stuff even if Im sitting watching tv.

BangingOn · 04/01/2022 10:30

I started doing this last January during the hell that was lockdown and home schooling. I forced myself out of my yoga pants and dressed nicely every day, it made such a difference.

This year I am extending my thinking to cheese Grin and maintaining my Christmas cheese board all year round rather than reverting back to supermarket standard cheddar and brie.

Sedai · 04/01/2022 10:34

Love it! My husband and I went to a friend's house for NYE- there was 6 of us from 3 households, all with negative LFs beforehand and even though it was a small thing, myself and my friend wore our best party dresses and my husband his best suit! Yeah we were overdressed but we felt damn fine!

BettyfromBristol · 04/01/2022 10:35

When I emptied an elderly relations house it was full of stuff saved for best. Fabulous quality linen sheets from the 1950s for example, still in presentation boxes. A boil wash to freshen them up and they are perfect. We got rid of our supermarket cutlery and now use silver heirloom stuff every day.

TheSpiral · 04/01/2022 10:37

My mum used to be awful for saving things - a friend made her a beautiful cake for a special occasion, we weren't allowed to eat it for ages and when we finally cut into it it was mouldy.

When I was little I got given a soap in the shape of Snow White. It was so beautiful I didn't want to use it - and then it went cracked and horrible. Ever since then I have not saved anything for best!

DottyHarmer · 04/01/2022 10:39

I started doing this -based on a MN thread - last year and had some success… Us “saving for best” people are hard nuts to crack!

Dsis knew she had gone too far when she was moving house and came across a box marked “Best stationery: do not use” Confused

The trouble with wearing nice clothes round the house is that they do get stains etc on them or posh jumpers go pilly. Otoh it is a dreadful waste when tops sit in the wardrobe for 20 years - with the tags still on Blush

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 04/01/2022 10:40

I still have a little box of 6 (supposedly); Georgian silver ice cream spoons, that were a silver wedding present to my DM (she got married in 1939).

She never used them, I inherited them when she died in 2015 (or rather nobody else wanted them) and I still haven’t used them, either.

It’s not that I’m keeping them ‘for best’, but there never seems to have been the right occasion/food to use them with.

So that’s 64 years of non-use - is that a record?

Peregrina · 04/01/2022 10:43

Yes, yes, yes to this. My late DM was the same. The worst thing was that so much linen kept back 'for best' had become moth eaten and spoilt, and was only fit for the bin, when it could have given a decade's worth of use and pleasure.

GeorgiaGirl52 · 04/01/2022 10:47

I am 69 and have restricted mobility. I will not be going anywhere much for the rest of my life. I was clearing our drawers and found a new woven afghan that I have saved for 26 years. Got it out and hung it on the back of a chair. Trying to bring myself to use it. I don't want to be buried with it and it won't mean as much to any family member as it does to me because it's part of my history...so what am I saving it for?

ItsFuckingJuneDadQuickHide · 04/01/2022 10:55

@GeorgiaGirl52

I am 69 and have restricted mobility. I will not be going anywhere much for the rest of my life. I was clearing our drawers and found a new woven afghan that I have saved for 26 years. Got it out and hung it on the back of a chair. Trying to bring myself to use it. I don't want to be buried with it and it won't mean as much to any family member as it does to me because it's part of my history...so what am I saving it for?
Wear it @GeorgiaGirl52! I bet you'll feel fabulous and I think it's only fair you tell us the story behind it!!! Grin
Porcupineintherough · 04/01/2022 11:14

"Never save anything for best" was my grandmother's advice to me after losing everything but the clothes she stood up in when her flat was bombed during the war. I've always followed it

Suggestions2021 · 04/01/2022 11:25

Great idea, OP. I'm the same with toiletries and candles as a lot of PPs have said. Already made a dent in the lovely shower gel I got for Christmas. Enjoying it!

Suggestions2021 · 04/01/2022 11:26

Also, I'm the same with jewellery. I have a really nice pair of diamond earrings I was given for a significant birthdsy which I only wear a couple of times a year because I'm worried about losing them. This is ridiculous as the butterflies are so tight you risk losing an ear taking them off Grin

Elodeastar · 04/01/2022 11:36

@Diditopknot

I’m a scruff. I have nice clothes, only cheap stuff, charity shops and some things from next. I always, always have clothes for “best” and clothes for every day. But no. In 2022 I’m going to wear everything in my wardrobe no matter what the day is. This is mostly due to never going anywhere to wear my “best” clothing!! 😩 Do you do this or do you always look lovely in niace clothes?
I don't keep stuff 'for best' either, for various reasons. Clothes are for wearing and life is for living! Smile
Elodeastar · 04/01/2022 11:38

@Porcupineintherough

"Never save anything for best" was my grandmother's advice to me after losing everything but the clothes she stood up in when her flat was bombed during the war. I've always followed it
Great advice, I am sorry she lost everything, but glad you have her motto to live by! Flowers
velvetvixen · 04/01/2022 11:42

I had a good clothes sort out last year and was appalled by how many clothes I'd kept that no longer fit since piling weight on. Off to the charity shops with them! yes I may lose the weight - and if I do I'll trawl charity shops and supermarkets to replenish.

Was also dismayed by the amount of worn out round- the- house joggers etc I had. I bought new, cheaply, and felt much better about myself.

Same with baggy saggy knickers. In. The. Bin. Lots of new underwear which pleases me. I get to choose from well-fitting pretty knix now instead of all the depressing old tatty stuff. I actually did have a couple of decent bras and knix I saved 'for best'. Why? Confused

zingally · 04/01/2022 12:31

I don't have any nice clothes!

I should do this with my bag collection though! I tend to use the same old cheapy bag every day, until it falls to pieces. My current one came from Wish! Yet I have quite a few, perfect condition designer bags that I never use!

elastamum · 04/01/2022 13:39

I have a fabulous dinner set with crystal glass and we use it anytime we have folk round. Don't see the point of not using it. I even shove the plates in the dishwasher as I am not ruining my evening with washing up. We are slowly breaking the glasses, but I am old and but I can't take them with me.

nokidshere · 04/01/2022 14:03

I think it's a great idea. Otherwise what's the point In having nice things. If I buy something it's because I want to use it not look at it.

MIL died 4 yrs ago at age 96. I cleared out her house and found lots of beautiful things still wrapped or rarely used. She had sheets from her wedding presents still in the packaging, gifts that she had been given over the years, beautiful China that had only seen the inside of a display cupboard. Bags, shoes etc still in the boxes. Such a shame that she never felt 'best' enough to use them. Most of it ended up in the charity shop.

thereisonlyoneofme · 04/01/2022 19:34

I have a canteen of cutlery as a wedding present. 45 years ago. Its never been out of the box, I am still using knives and forks that were given free with petrol a thousand years ago! Im going to use it !

thereisonlyoneofme · 04/01/2022 19:35

Its strange because we buy things to give us pleasure but if they are stowed away we get nothing out of it

awaynboilyurheid · 04/01/2022 20:00

Beautiful cashmere jumper still in wardrobe never worn from last Christmas, not the one just gone!
I do this all the time oh I’ll just wear this… keep that for another time!
But since covid has restricted things so much once things open up again I’m going to fight this save for good mental mentality and wear my lovely clothes!

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 04/01/2022 20:15

Me too!

I do this with scented candles! I love them but I don’t burn them. Then they lose their scent. This is going to change!

MercedesBenz · 04/01/2022 20:15

@BangingOn
Excellent idea !
I love black bomber but only buy at Christmas , I’m asking myself why