Thrifting and Compulsive Acquisition

A blog that I read regularly - Ivy Nest - gave a link to this article on craft consumerism on Friday night.

It fitted in nicely with some musings I have had recently on my own op-shopping experience, aka thrifting.  Actually, as a side note, when did it get a name change?  In Australia it was called op-shopping in my youth - which is actually, at 27, not in that distant a past. Perhaps it is further evidence of globalisation.  

Thrifting seems to have undergone a major facelift in recent years.  I don't know if it is the power of the internet which makes it appear very popular or if, in the face of the financial crises, it has actually grown in popularity.  One thing is clear, though, shopping for goods secondhand is very 'now'.

Ok, so this is actually one of my more useful finds, some small modern cloth nappies - we own a one-size-fits-all model and they don't actually fit a small baby.

But, I wonder if this nascent trend is very meaningful.  Surely when criticism is leveled at people for shopping as recreation it is just as valid if they shop for new goods or old.  To me, it seems that the issue at stake is the motivation behind the shopping - the need to compulsively acquire. After all, a secondhand piece of tat is still tat if you don't actually need it or really want it - it is just a more affordable piece of tat than something bought new; and its 'consumption' (good economist word there) has theoretically less of an environmental impact.  

There are certain blogs out there where people show and tell each week of their op-shop or yard sale finds.  Fine, this is a fun thing to do and certainly provides encouragement that the elusive item you are after can be found if you have sufficient persistence and luck.  However, I grow uneasy when I see the same person week after week posts their finds which seem - at least on the surface of it - to be purchases for the sake of it.  I mean, I like quirky retro kitchenware as much as the next person, but how many coffee cups and plates can one household reasonably use?

Honestly, haven't I actually heard of a library?

In recent weeks, I have found a compulsion on my own behalf to frequent op-shops in our area.  After some luck finding some lovely clothes for Ginger and a pyrex storage bowl, I felt like I was on a roll.  Rather than just popping into an op shop for a poke after completing other jobs in town, Ginger and I took a couple of mornings op-shopping.  We fitted as many in as I could before Ginger had a meltdown and we had to go home.  And, I bought items that were not in the greatest condition and were certainly not needed.  In fact, one pyrex bowl ended up in the bin upon my return home because it had a crack in it I hadn't seen at the shop.

Now, please don't think I am in anyway casting aspersions on people who op-shop regularly - the nature of the beast means you do have to visit frequently if you are going to find goods you need.  But rather, my own uneasiness comes from the fact that we don't actually need anything at the moment - well, a new coffee plunger would be useful to DH after the last one was Gingered - and these excursions were about the experience and, for me, the siren call of the 'what if'. 

I think I knew deep down that op-shopping was becoming a less healthy practice for me when I began to stress about the number of children's books we I had acquired recently, and had a re-read of my blog and realised that just about every second post was about something I had found op-shopping.  But, it was not until we were discussing budgets and DH made the point that all my 'little' op-shop spends - $3 here, $5 there actually added to something quite substantial, that it really hit home. 

DH and I have come to the conclusion that I need a little op-shopping budget.  After all, I do enjoy the thrill of the hunt and we have acquired some useful and beautiful possessions this way.  But, I am going to keep a list of items I am on the look out for.  For instance, at the moment that would be  - a coffee plunger, a table lamp, wicker baskets, the Brambley Hedge "Spring" book, pyrex food storage containers, and glass storage jars.  Anything else, I seriously need to weigh up the need versus want angle; and perhaps throw in a bit of William Morris -"Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful".

P.S.:  I hope I haven't offended anyone in this post.  It really isn't meant to, it is just where my thoughts are at at the moment and it is about my own journey with simplified and grateful living.

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

In the usual Thursday manner I am joining Like Mother, Like Daughter in finding contentment in everyday life.

{Pretty}

Little girls vintage dresses. 

I found these at my favourite op-shop last week when I took my Mum for a looksee. 

I didn't know if I should actually put these under "Funny" because just last week I commented on Ivy Nest that I had never found any vintage children's clothes in my travels:) 

There were actually four vintage dresses on the $2 rack.  Yes, the $2 rack!  But, try as I might I could not 'like' the remaining one.  It was very short and very wide.  It just looked wrong.  But, it was gingham and I do so love gingham.  Ah well, perhaps someone else will have a little girl it will look a picture on.

This is definitely my favourite.  The label says size 1 but I have held it up to Ginger who wears size 1 clothing, and this is much bigger.

{Happy}

I finally finished my lap quilt.  It has been in the WIP pile for over a year. 

I have had a great deal of satisfaction in seeing the project actually completed.

There was no-one to hold it while I took a photo so I had to resort to pegging it on the line.

The pieces don't exactly line-up and there were mistakes in the pattern which caused me untold annoyance, but it is done.

I learn something new each time I make a quilt.  This time chain piecing.

I have had the chance to snuggle under it for a few chilly nights now, and that is really all that matters.

Again, this could have gone in the funny category.  That backing is two single sheets I bought from the thrift shop - a much cheaper way to back quilts - but it was labelled as a double sheet.  I undid the package and spread it on the floor to see whether it was wide enough for the backing and, lo, it was two single sheets sewn together!

{Funny}

Up on my header you may have seen the Steiner doll I made for Ginger for her birthday.  She has become very attached to it of late and now sleeps with it.

But, since her Daddy has been out field the last few weeks her attachment has grown out of all proportion - the doll has joined us at dinner, in the garden and at the shops.

While she is very contented with the arrangement, I have been terrified that 'Big Bertha" is going to get filthy and I won't be able to wash her.  The incident in the garden on Monday where Ginger shovelled dirt on her didn't really help, nor did the incident Tuesday where she shoved dolly's head in a glass.

I decided it was time for action so I started a new dolly for her while she had a nap.  I got the head size a little wrong.

My Mum suggested she take Ginger for a walk for an hour so I could at least get the head done while I had the original doll for comparison.  I also took the opportunity to reopen her original doll and restuff it while she was out.  She hasn't blinked an eyelid at "Big Bertha's" increased girth so I think my chances of the new doll being accepted are reasonable.

I got the head the right size this time but I could not get the face right.  It looks rather like Bertha (2) has just had her wisdom teeth out and has a very swollen right jaw. 

I doubt Ginger will notice.

I will swap the dolls over while Ginger sleeps tonight.  Then I just have to surreptitiously wash, dry and replace Bertha (1).

{Real}

Our church has no creche so usually DH and I take turns taking Ginger outside during the service.  It is very rare that we actually hear a sermon.

But last Sunday, our lovely story-telling leader was on sunday school assistant duty and said she would take Ginger out for a while.

Ginger apparently enjoyed herself because she stayed out until communion.  Quite an achievement for a little one who cries every time I leave the house without her.

She came back complete with art work and rather dirty stockings.

Thinking on Frugality or Thrift

I while back I was really into reading blogs about money, and thrift - in particular The Simple Dollar.  Recently I picked up my reading of them again.  I am really enjoying Owl Haven and The Frugal Girl.  Rhonda's Down to Earth, an Australian blog, also touches on many of these issues.

However, I am coming to think that thrifty living comes quite naturally to me.  It must be how I was raised.  My parents have always been of the school that, if you can't pay cash, you don't need it.  Expenses were always saved for and there was always the make do attitude; also as my parent's garage testifies nothing that could possibly be of future use is thrown out.

So many behaviours that are identified on blogs as particularly 'thrifty' just seem par for the course to me:

-menu planning and working off a shopping list;

-minimising food wastage;

-hunting for specials, shopping around, and waiting to something is a good buy;

-buying secondhand - Mum and I love thrifting.  You can get some great buys.  DH and I went to a church fete on the weekend and picked a Fisher-Price ride-on lion for $10, they are going for $30 on ebay, not sure of their new price.  Also picked up a big box of trains and tracks (ikea brand) for $5 - I think that is actually for DH:);

-accepting hand-me-downs.  Ginger has got a lot of her clothes either handed down or thrifted.  Recently we got given a whole pile of size 1 clothes and leather shoes by one of the Mums at playgroup.  Big saving on the shoes, as they are brand new.  Lots of our tools, kitchen utensils and furniture around our house are hand-me-downs too.

Passed on by a Mum at playgroup

- eating-in, and taking food and water on excursions - I even pack food and water for trips to town.

-cutting the top of bottles and tubes to get the last of the product out.

What particular thrifty habits are second nature to you?

Thrifty Thursday - Cup of Tea Anyone

Not related to the title but a couple of great posts I have read in recent days:

A Home Blessing on Taking Time

On cleaning tools on Like Mother, Like Daughter

A poem on Beauty that Moves

Back to the title now....I have been reading Paul Lonergan's Little Book of Thrift.  He has something interesting to say regarding tea (p. 36)..........

The main difference between loose teas and bagged teas is the size ofthe leaves.  The bigger the leaf, the better chance the essential oils and flavours have of coming out.  Tea needs lots of room to expand and swirl in order to get the best flavours out of the leaf, so by definition, a loose tea is superior.  Typical budget tea bags are filled with the tiniest pieces of broken leaves, called fannings.

I far prefer loose leaf tea, and though it only works out marginally cheaper than pre-bagged tea, I think the flavour and fun of going to a tea shop and picking my tea makes it worthwhile.

Cup of tea, anyone?