Making It Last

**janelane** · 06-22-2008, 01:56 AM

Dear fellow villagers, just for the heck of it, I would like to hear stories of making things last far beyond how long they were intended.

I like to get the most out of my money. I'm also resistent to change and become ridiculously attached to things (I think I saw "The Brave Little Toaster" one too many times when I was younger.)

I love my Gertrude. She's an eight year old clamshell ibook, the special edition graphite one, a child of the millenium. I've had to have her brains switched out a couple of time, the back light twice, she's missing some keys in a cat related incident, and she's been maxed out for awhile now, but for my use, she works well.

*holds G's virtual ears* between you and me, I think this is the last real year for major use. I can't watch videos, and so many sites crash my browsers because she just can't take it. And heaven forbid I try to do anything else while using my overweight itunes. DH is going to need to upgrade this year, so I'm going to get his four year old g4 powerbook as a hand me down. I'm hoping I can keep it running for another four years at least. I'll still keep her for householdy back up kind of things, inventories and all, so she'll still be used. I'm still going to see how long I can keep her going.

I'm sure it's by far not the longest running, still-capable computer, but eight years of heavy use is still a pretty good run.

How about you?

**Domestic Gal** · 06-22-2008, 08:58 AM

We have a hoover canister vacuum that is at least 12 years old. DH had it when I met him. It still works great. We have had the power cord replaced, and the hose replaced twice.
Even took it in for a tune up a couple of years ago and the vacuum guy says it is one of the best built hoovers and has lots of life in it.

I also have my DH mothers (can't call her MIL as i never knew her) waffle maker she died in 1975 it still makes great waffles.

Dh still uses his golf clubs and bag from the 80's. He does get some comments from people that they have not seen his brand of clubs in years. He has no desire to get rid of them.

**ilovechocolate** · 06-22-2008, 11:33 AM

I have my grandmother's TV in my bedroom. She died in 1991. The TV works all right---it's big and bulky but I can watch it with no problem. I've never had anything done to it.

Bedsheets that were DH's before we got married in the mid-80s. They are still in use, even though rather thin in the middle and the trim has come off.

**peanut** · 06-22-2008, 12:04 PM

I'm still using towels from before we were married (28 years ago). But now they've been torn up and relegated to rags, or cut up, serged and in use as dish cloths.

We have DH's grandfather's slide projector. Yep, it's an antique almost! It still works. We have the screen too.

We have an antique upright grand piano. The piano tuner told us it would cost us $15,000 to get the same sound from a new piano. The main reason it's lasted the last 20 years is because the only person playing it was my daughter! And it hasn't been used at all the last 10 years. I'm learning this year. No point having an instrument like that sitting unused!

Jean

**mom2matty** · 06-22-2008, 12:23 PM

We have my MIL's Kirby vacuum! She got it in the early 60's. It still works but I don't use it because it weighs a ton and it is too hard for me to pull around the house!!

I have my Mom's singer sewing machine, she got it the year she and my Dad got married (1953) and it works.......love it even though I don't know how to sew!

I still use towels and sheets we got when we first got married 23 years ago.

**cissylu** · 06-22-2008, 12:34 PM

I`m useing dm freezer and it`s at least 35yr. old.

**Cricketlegs** · 06-22-2008, 08:32 PM

I am still using my 15 year old wedding ring to keep the boys away.

Well at least dh thanks me lolol!

Actually, most of my funature is antiques that were my Grandparents. I esp. love my buffet as it holds all my dvds and family pictures!

**MommyBliss** · 06-22-2008, 08:45 PM

I am still using the microwave we bought our first married Christmas. It's 10 years old now, a bit rusted on the inside, but working just fine.

**$hirley$aves~$$** · 06-22-2008, 08:45 PM

Still using silverware from my first marriage. It's almost 31 years old!

**Marie78** · 06-22-2008, 09:17 PM

My computer is at least 10 years old, it's a desk top that I got used from a friend that had also gotten it used or refurbished. My desk is a decade old or older (hand me down from my mom).

My vacuum and microwave were bought for me brand new, by my dad. They are 7 years old.

Most things that are faily new are a few new pieces of clothes for work ( a year old or newer). Many things in my life are nearing a decade old or older. Hopefully most of my things will last a lot longer than that even.

We just bought new bikes. My last bike was 20years old and I just needed an upgrade badly (it was a youth bike and it was pink and purple

.

**ironmaiden** · 06-22-2008, 09:29 PM

My bike is 20 years old.
My coat that I wear all winter long is 15 years old and looks great.
Gee, DH's winter hat is from his freshman year in college, so that would make it 30 years old. I have to tell DH that his clothes need to be retired - he'd be content to t-shirts with holes etc.

**Nada.Leona** · 06-22-2008, 10:15 PM

I have a knit sweater I've had for eight years. True, knits never go out of style, but this sweater is my trademark and we've been through eight moves, two funerals, 35 pounds, fifteen trips, three breakups, three college educations and two pet adoptions together. It's my baby and I love it. I treat it right by having it dry-cleaned on rare occasions, wearing it under bulky jackets and keeping it folded up instead of hanging so it doesn't stretch.

In all honesty, that is probably the oldest thing I own (outside of some furniture).

**missmanny** · 06-22-2008, 11:40 PM

My Great Great Grandathers grandfather clock which is 75 years old is sitting in our living room.

It still works but the veneer is comming off at the bottom.

One day when I have the money I will have it refurbished.

I love this clock it makes me smile everytime I look at it and generally I am a modern girl through and through

**Grayce** · 06-23-2008, 12:13 AM

I have a sweater from high school that I still wear. It's well over 20 years old.
Just today I used a video camera handed down from my dad, he bought it in the 80's.
My lawnmower is a 1970 lawnboy, another hand-me-down from my dad.
My clock radio is the same one I got for Christmas in 1982.
That's all I can think of, off the top of my head.

**hollyhill** · 06-23-2008, 01:27 AM

Great thread-
We have a Maytag washer and dryer which we got when we married in 1979 as well as a filter queen vacuum cleaner from 1979. So they are 29 years old and they all work fine.

My husband has two pairs of socks that his father bought on HIS honeymoon! They are 51 years old. They are the most amazing things and I don't know what they are made off but they DON'T wear out.

My husband has a pair of seal skin snow boots from when he was 15 years old, so they are 34 years old.

We have cross country skiis and poles that are 30 years old.

And those are a few of the things I can think of just now......