Don’t Use It Now Keep it For Later
By YoghurtGal
@flapiz (22402)
United Kingdom
July 27, 2019 10:02pm CST
I know a lot of people who say this phrase! One of them is my mum. I used to have this mentality too but I’ve decided to discard of it and use things when I can instead of keeping them in the closet for special occasions and end up being forgotten and rotten.
Today she asked me to find a scarf to decorate the table and I found this pretty thing hidden away in her closet and told her to use this one and she said no it’s too nice to use. The same fate goes for bags, dresses, and purses gifted to her. They end up in the closet and stays there for years forgotten while she uses a tattered one. I explained to her that even if she doesn’t use it the object will still deteriorate and thus she should use it, sell it it, give it away instead of hoarding and hiding it.
How about you folks do you have this mentality? What do you think about this kind of thinking?
14 people like this
14 responses
@rsa101 (37952)
• Philippines
28 Jul 19
I saw that in my grandmother but I see where shes coming from because they experienced war that is why they have this scarcity mentality in them. During Japanese occupation, getting new things can be very rare thats why they keep things until theres special ocassions that they are brought out to impress visitors.
1 person likes this
@flapiz (22402)
• United Kingdom
28 Jul 19
@rsa101 Yeah that’s what I was thinking! We shouldn’t carry a chip on our shoulder for something that happened 400 years ago. We must move on. War has been over for a long time it’s time to forgive and let go so the world can heal.
But, my mum comes from a 12 children household and maybe that’s where she’s coming from. Like she had to inherit her siblings clothes and shoes till it is not usable anymore.
But then, we are now in the present and she doesn’t have to compete for things anymore. I can’t believe she’d still choose to keep things and not go ahead and upgrade. (Most of her stuff are gifted so it’s a FREE upgrade).
1 person likes this
@flapiz (22402)
• United Kingdom
28 Jul 19
Yeah I think it’s the traditional Filipino mentality. We have a lot of plates kept in the cupboard and only comes out for special occasion and special visitors. But hey aren’t we residents of the home not special too?
I’d rather use something and break it than never use it at all. Even expensive China have a life span too. I understand where they are coming from but times have changed. War is over. We must not continue on living like it’s war time still. We must not continue feeling like a victim.
But it’s probably hard to let go of it as it’s been inculcated to them for a very long time.
1 person likes this
@CookieMonster46 (13447)
• United States
28 Jul 19
Well that is my mom, she gets a lot of things, puts them away, I don't know if she just doesn't care for it, or saving it for something big. Then when she decides to use it, not the same as once was.
I use my stuff, I don't like to really put away for later, because later may never come.
1 person likes this
@flapiz (22402)
• United Kingdom
28 Jul 19
Exactly some people save for later, or for something special. And then life gets cut short and the things they hoard they haven’t used yet.
For instance why buy something you won’t use. If you buy something to reward yourself for a job well done then use it now. What better time to use it than the NOW. The most important part of life. The past we cannot change. The future we cannot see. It’s the now that we live in.
Well otherwise don’t purchase it if you’re just going to stuck it for later. Things have expiry dates too. Make up and perfume expires. The only thing we must keep for later is money, insurance, and coffin.
1 person likes this
@flapiz (22402)
• United Kingdom
28 Jul 19
@CookieMonster46 Same here. When I was younger I’d buy stuff by impulse now I learn how to keep money and only buy things I can use often. Until they are worn out and torn. Like I still have plenty of clothes in my closet and only use 5 sets most of the times so I put those I barely wear in a box to give to relatives and friends.
I think it is a way of honouring things, giving them the chance to be used, before they rot.
1 person likes this
@CookieMonster46 (13447)
• United States
28 Jul 19
@flapiz I don't buy a lot of things lately, I save, and usually wear things until I can't wear them no more.
I helped a friend, clean out her closet she was donating things that didn't fit no more and still had stuff with price tags on them, Never wore the clothes, I thought that was very wasteful, it was a lot.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
28 Jul 19
My mom and dad have the same mentality too! I buy them all sorts of new things and they don't use them until later. They tell me to use what you have first before using something new.
I am totally opposite. I use all the new stuff first and put aside the old. Eventually getting rid of my old stuff by donating, selling or giving away.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
28 Jul 19
@flapiz
Oh I love shopping. I am the opposite, I am quite the hoarder. I like to switch out my purses/wallets depending on the occasion or where I'm going.
I have been trying to be more thoughtful of each purchase nowadays since my move and found out I had so many things!
1 person likes this
@flapiz (22402)
• United Kingdom
28 Jul 19
@infatuatedbby Hmm that sounds like a really good garage sale if you ever come around on selling them.
1 person likes this
@flapiz (22402)
• United Kingdom
28 Jul 19
Well you see I’m the type of person who wouldn’t buy something unless I need it now. I will never buy a wallet if my wallet is still perfect. But if someone would gift me a wallet I might as well use it to show appreciation to the person who gave it. Or, if it’s not my taste give it to someone who would like it and use it.
We are the same I like to sell or donate stuff instead of it eating up space and looking like clutter. That’s a thing I learned when I moved to Australia.
1 person likes this
@flapiz (22402)
• United Kingdom
28 Jul 19
Well that is also a good application for keep it for later. But hey you don’t go out of your way to not use it because it’s too pretty right. You just don’t use it cause nothing to put in. But if presented a perfect time and reason to use it you would?
My mum keeps things we could use it now for later. That is totally bugging me.
1 person likes this
@florelway (23134)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
28 Jul 19
I have articles on hand which were never used and been with me for years. I just take them as collections lol but am sure there'll come a time when I can finally use them or maybe my nieces can use them.
1 person likes this
@flapiz (22402)
• United Kingdom
28 Jul 19
@florelway Oh are they current even articles?
1 person likes this
@florelway (23134)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
28 Jul 19
@flapiz They maybe outdated anymore lol.
1 person likes this
@flapiz (22402)
• United Kingdom
28 Jul 19
Well does that include newly gifted things? I mean this is a good mentality if used well and not in excess. Just imagine if someone gave you maternity clothes because you are pregnant and you decided to keep it and not use it because it’s too nice.
1 person likes this
@birjudanak (14319)
• India
31 Jul 19
yeah, most of the people want to save for right time but it also needs that we use it because sometimes what happened that we think that we will use it later and that later never comes. that thing my mom also said but it because something only needs to do at right time and my mom mostly does it with clothes but she also tells that now wear it haha before you use it.
1 person likes this
@Spontaneo (14703)
• United States
28 Jul 19
We never through things away, especially not food.
1 person likes this
@flapiz (22402)
• United Kingdom
29 Jul 19
Well that is true there are things that’s just for certain occasions. Like a wedding dress for instance or national costume for national holidays!
@flapiz (22402)
• United Kingdom
28 Jul 19
And do you agree with this then? I think it’s a very old way of thinking. I sent her a lot of things when I was overseas only to find out she hasn’t used them.
I know she’s trying to save it but it ends up as being wasteful. Like some things the materials weaken when it is unused. And then she keeps on complaining she doesn’t have enough bags and clothes. I’m like you have tons of them. You just refuse to use them.
If that’s the case let’s not buy nice things since you won’t use it if it’s too nice. 
1 person likes this
@flapiz (22402)
• United Kingdom
28 Jul 19
@sophie09 Hmm well money can be kept for later and emergency money is a good way of keeping things for later. But that does not mean you don’t spend on the now so you have something for later. It feels like we are not living if we keep on postponing things for later.
and emergency money is a good way of keeping things for later. But that does not mean you don’t spend on the now so you have something for later. It feels like we are not living if we keep on postponing things for later.1 person likes this
@aureategloom (8344)
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
29 Jul 19
the other way round. when i was little, whenever i got something new, mom would wash it the same day so i can wear it the next day and i'm living that way even now. but, of course, there are clothes for every day, for being home and for special occasions.
1 person likes this
@aureategloom (8344)
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
29 Jul 19
@flapiz well i couldn't wait for other people to see my new clothes haha
1 person likes this
@flapiz (22402)
• United Kingdom
29 Jul 19
@aureategloom Hahaha well that’s a girly girl thing to say :)
1 person likes this
