Are "nice" items your purchased not getting used?

[shoiji]

I have been slowly trying to upgrade clothing, shoes, purses, and bags, etc. These upgraded items to me makes them nicer than the other items I may have. So I put limits on when I can wear/use them. Such as not during a rainstorm for shoes or not when just around the house. Now I realize that I am not using the nicer items at all or rarely. Sure I have clothes that are just for around the house and hope no one sees you in.

So now I am trying to get myself to start using those items I consider to "nice". Take today. I bought these large canvas bags that look very similar to the llbean bags on clearance for around 3-4 dollars months ago. I purchased a couple for presents also which were well received. But since I have the reuseable grocery bags that were given to me I was constantly using them. Thinking the large canvas bags are to nice even though they hold more groceries and are more durable. So today I took two of those canvas bags with me to the grocery store.

Anyone else find themselves doing this type of thing. Realize that being frugal does not mean having the same thing at different price points but I can't understand why I can't use the "nicer" items and get rid of the older run down items.

[oheoh's momma]

me 2 I am carrying a leather purse and beautiful coach wallet. Running around in cut off sweat pants and a big t shirt with a bleach stain small one on the hip and flip flops and went to visit my 2 bffs. I don't know why hubby said I hoard my nice stuff.

[Spirit Deer]

I used to be worse. Then I realized how much work it was to maintain all my 'nice' crap, like some collections of stuff I had and other things. And how much room it all takes up. I'm slowly weeding stuff out. Now if I collect something, it needs to be useful first, decorative later. Like my cast iron cookware. I like how it looks hanging around my kitchen on the rack I built for it, and it's useful and practical, too.

If I have a craft or a piece of fabric or something that is going to be work to make and I don't absolutely love it, it's gone. I have too much to do to waste time with things I won't really care about even after they're done. I've stopped buying and keeping things to make and do just because I can.

If I find myself favoring one item over another, like a favorite cake pan or frying pan, then the others I have start looking like something for the hit list. If I'm never going to use an item because I'd rather use something else, why do I need to keep it?

If I have to dust it, wash it, and otherwise do something to maintain an item and it doesn't do any work for me in return, it's also considered for the hit list.

Of course there are exceptions.

Clothes are still a hard one for me though. I'm home almost all the time and wear some pretty tacky stuff because no one sees it anyway. I'm trying to do better about that. Wearing decent clothes does make a person feel better, even if no one else sees it.

[Libby]

I have things that *I* consider nice & higher end but compared to society's views - they're just the run of the mill average items. Not big brand names and I didn't pay a lot of $ for them, clearance rack or not. (not putting down those that do enjoy big brand name items either)

Example - I have 2 gf's who both LOVE Coach stuff. Stamp that name on it and they'll drool over it forever. One uses it daily w/o fear and the other forces it to stay in its original box in the closet.

Currently, I'm trying to purge the house of things I do not use - nice or not. I've done like you and pulled out something 'nice' - a purse - and now use it daily. (beats trying to find/hunt another purse that I like)

[Spirit Deer]

I've come to the conclusion if I have something nice and use it and it gets worn or damaged, something else nice will come along to replace it. If I don't use it, it's not doing me any good anyway, so it doesn't really matter if it's nice or not.

[ladykemma2]

I've come to the conclusion if I have something nice and use it and it gets worn or damaged, something else nice will come along to replace it. If I don't use it, it's not doing me any good anyway, so it doesn't really matter if it's nice or not.

yes, this.

if i die tomorrow i will have used my nice things.

i use my china, silver, crystal, beautiful things, coach purse every day and i put my feet on furniture and don't get upset if things get scratched.

[shoiji]

So last night I gathered the reusable grocery bags given to me and threw out the old ones and will be giving the unused ones to a charity.

Now, to tackle the closets.

[LuvMyHubby]

Not so much stuff that I have purchased myself but usually clothing that someone else has purchased for. Very nice articles of clothing, just really not my style, which often times makes me wonder if those who did the purchasing has ever really taken a look at what I am wearing.

[krbshappy71]

My mom used to have super nice towels that she would put out for when we had company. I never understood why they got the nice stuff for the 2 days they were here but we had to use the thin ratty towels all year long. It made me feel like we weren't worth the good stuff. I vowed not to do that with my own kids. We have nice towels, not super over the top but not thin and ratty and the guests have the same towels, same pillows, same everything.

If it's nice I use it and take care of it.

[Contrary Housewife]

I wear my nicer clothes when I go out. If it's a day of running errands, or the doctor, or meeting friends I usually put on something newer and pretty. I've been trying to wear my jewelry more, too. It's all real silver, gold and gemstones so part of me is hesitant to lose it, but I realize I can't enjoy it in a box.

[Sophiasmama]

i use the 'nice' items as well cause I'm worth it.

[cab54]

Like many people have said here, I used to do this----for many years.

Now that I'm getting older, I use stuff regularly. I try more and more to live like this might be my last day on earth.

[peanut]

I used to save the nice stuff too...if I had it. But I often didn't.

Then I inherited my Gram's nice stuff and my Mom's nice stuff. Suddenly I have a surplus of nice stuff. I use it. Sometimes too much. I damaged a hand crocheted tablecloth of my grandmother's that way. A friend is repairing it. I was going to put it away when she was done. She said 'no'. After all that work I'm to put it on the table and cover it with vinyl, so it can be seen and used, but not damaged.

Clothes...I will use the nice stuff if I can get it. Usually it's better quality even though more expensive. I usually buy that for a reason. But I try to buy it on sale. I picked up a leather Derek Alexander bag at Park Royal in Vancouver last fall for half price. Best purchase I ever made! I'll be using that till it falls apart...

Also, if you've been following me on FV, this spring I hired a personal shopper to de-clutter and rebuild my wardrobe on a budget. She did a phenomenal job, getting me prices up to 75% off on some clothing items. I have lost 10 lbs. and am busy taking clothes in at the waist, but I can still get over 60 outfits out of the clothes I purchased at that time. Yeah, I wear them.

[shoiji]

krbshappy71-now I know where I get it from. Growing up mom also did that with the guest hand towels in the bathroom. They were brought out but no one used them not even the guests, they were mainly there to look at with holiday decorations on them. That and the special little balls of soap that no one used either.

Sure can understand doing that when you have a household full of kids but since I don't I guess I can start using things. lol

[Mamaw]

Nope, if I own it, then I use it if I want to. BUT I do find myself with way more stuff than I have any desire to use. I am slowly but surley weeding it out, regardless of if it is nice or not....Not used = goodwill pile