Making a Resolution 2012
Driving today, I tried to finalize my Christmas list. What to buy for people and what I wanted. What I could afford to buy and the fantasy if giving people more than they could ever wish for. And I decided that it’s way too easy to pick up some generic items and doll them out as needed. I want to give people things that wont go into a box in the garage. Or that they wont have to decide which item to get rid of in order to keep. Plus, I have more things than I know what to do with, as does my family. So I’d like to make 2012 a year of giving and getting less stuff.
So I will be writing about my re-gifting, donating, and hunt for more perishable items throughout the year. I find it is especially relevant to the holiday season though so I’ll start there.
First some ground rules:
1. I will never stop buying books, but…when I finish a book I will pass along the ones that I did not fall in love with. Books that I kinda-sorta liked have no place on my bookshelves. This will be the most painful thing for me to give away.
2. I will start by sorting though my clothes. anything unused for over a year MUST GO. Also, I will not, must not, buy items just because of the price. I will buy items I need.
3. While goodwill is the simplest option for donations I would like to be more specific in my giving. For example, any dresses that I have will go to Cinderella’s trunk, for girls without the money to buy retail prom, wedding, or occasion dresses. Habitat for Humanity has a re-store which is a great resource for all socioeconomic level families looking to furnish a home. There are many such specialized organizations like this and I will do my research to discover which is most appropriate.
Come back soon for Holiday giving advise that wont clutter those you love.
It’s so neat to see how much thought you’re putting into this whole Christmas gift giving/getting stuff this year. It’s so hard to let go of all the clutter of life once you have it, so it’s so much wiser to just not get it in the first place! (Kind of like smoking…)
And as you know, the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree… and I think you know what I mean. wink wink!
So, your post inspired me to do something. I realized I’m short some silverware when the whole fam is here for dinner. Someone always has to eat with a little fork, for instance. Well, I was thinking that before Christmas I’m going to buy a whole new set – and wouldn’t that be nice. Then I thought, “Wait. Didn’t I bring home a whole bunch of silver from Gramma’s?” Lo and behold, tucked in the back of my silverware drawer was a blue fabric bundle of, you guessed it, Gramma’s silver.
Granted, it’s not a whole set, but they are pretty and there are enough pieces that everyone would be able to eat with a ‘grown-up’ fork. And, there are a couple really cool serving pieces, as well.
Of course, as you might also guess, they were pretty tarnished and a little worse for wear. But, like I said, your post inspired me. I have decided not to buy new; I’ll use these.
I did the old “aluminum foil and baking soda” de-tarnish thing and they look really nice. Still not perfect, but I like that. They look old and well loved, which they were. And now, they are again. So I’m good with that.
Anyway, I like the idea of using something you have, or buying a previously loved item from places like the Re-Stores for Habitat for Humanity (got my favorite wicker chairs there!), and other recycling places.
So if your ears were ringing yesterday, it’s because someone was talking about you… it was me!