Waste Not, Want Not
By Ali Canary
@AliCanary (3373)
July 12, 2025 1:02pm CST
My dad was a packrat. Not a hoarder, just someone who would save things in case he thought they might be useful. He had a "project bench" and was very handy with gardening, canning, and various carpentry projects, having grown up on a farm. He also grew up during the Great Depression in the US (1930s), so that magnified the farm mentality's "waste not, want not" attitude by a lot, I'm sure. There's an old saying, "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" that I like.
Sooooo, I did not grow up on a farm, nor did I grow up during the Depression, but...I am my father's child, after all. I won't throw away anything that reasonably has some life in it, yet, because I don't like waste. I'm fine if I can recycle or donate things, so I'm not a hoarder, either. But "packrat"---yeah, that fits. We create VERY little garbage, here - my husband even has a compost bin.
Anyway, here is one of my pencils, in a pencil holder that I taped together because it came apart. And that is pretty much all the proof you need.
6 people like this
6 responses
@LindaOHio (199079)
• United States
12 Jul
lol I'm not THAT bad; but I am a packrat trying to downsize and declutter. My husband was a terrible packrat/hoarder, especially with food. I don't know if he was preparing for the apocalypse or what.
4 people like this
@LindaOHio (199079)
• United States
12 Jul
@AliCanary Cousin #3 has been trying to help me donate and throw out stuff. Throwing out things that can't be donated is really hard for me!!!
3 people like this
@AliCanary (3373)
•
19 Jul
@LindaOHio you'd be surprised what can be recycled, though. I work for a very eco-friendly company, and we have bins at work where we can drop old computer stuff (Goodwill won't even take it, even though it still works) and clothing that is worn out or stained. I used to try to save my worn-out clothing as rags, but some material doesn't make good rags. I'm very happy to use the clothing bin! Check online to see what places in your area accept unusual stuff for recycling.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (88403)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
12 Jul
You know there are times I look around my apartment and when I look at what I have I think WHY but then I realize I do not have a lot but what I have are things that have a history and special meaning for me
3 people like this
@AliCanary (3373)
•
19 Jul
I think as long as what you have brings you joy and not stress, then that is absolutely fine, and really a good way to live. It's when it affects your quality of life that it becomes a problem.
2 people like this
@kareng (78989)
• United States
14 Jul
I think that depression mentality stuck with a lot of people. My mother was like that and a borderline hoarder. The things she saved and kept got out of hand in her later years. We would have to sneak in and trash some things.
I don't believe in wasting things either. It wasn't that easy raising 3 girls, so have always been thrifty with spending and we use up what we buy.
2 people like this
@kareng (78989)
• United States
21 Jul
@AliCanary It is amazing how fast it will all accumulate if you let it!
1 person likes this
@AliCanary (3373)
•
19 Jul
My mom was the one who would get rid of things, typically, but she wasn't too ruthless. We still had a lottttt of stuff.
2 people like this
@luisadannointed (8197)
• Philippines
12 Jul
Same here I don't throw things that I might still use in the future, but i threw stuff that i know can no longer be use.
3 people like this
@AliCanary (3373)
•
12 Jul
Yes, it actually makes me extremely happy to throw away something that I know I used up completely. Like I won the game, lol
2 people like this
@AliCanary (3373)
•
19 Jul
This makes sense to me. Even if you have money, why not use things that you already paid for? They were meant to be used.
1 person likes this
