Wanting, but not needing, new canisters
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
Rockingham, Australia
August 7, 2021 7:22pm CST
When I was growing up, our family weren’t well off and my parents had come from frugal ancestors. Nothing was wasted and frivolous spending was frowned on. Much of this type of thinking is still within me and now of course more and more people are keen to do what they can for the environment by consuming less of the world’s resources and by recycling what they can.
In a previous life, some of my canisters were coffee jars. They are glass with plastic lids. You can see one on the left of the photo. I also have some metal ones which I bought soon after we were married. I needed a couple more so I bought two glass ones like the one on the right. I’m tempted to buy a couple more and get rid of the coffee jars but really there is no need other than that I’d like to.
Do you find yourself tempted by stuff you don’t really need?
38 people like this
39 responses
@DaddyEvil (137461)
• United States
8 Aug 21
We still use the clear plastic storage canisters I bought when I got divorced from my first wife... when Pretty was 5 years old. 
I don't see a reason to buy new stuff as long as the old stuff still works well.
I don't see a reason to buy new stuff as long as the old stuff still works well.5 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137461)
• United States
8 Aug 21
@JudyEv You've got a new house and friends who'd notice if your stuff doesn't match. I don't.
2 people like this
@patgalca (18390)
• Orangeville, Ontario
8 Aug 21
I am dying to by myself a book cart but know dang well I don't have a place for it. So my TBR bookshelf is overflowing.
I think when you love to be organized you love things that help you organize. I love containers as well and hold onto them even though I don't use them. God knows my house needs some organization.
3 people like this
@patgalca (18390)
• Orangeville, Ontario
8 Aug 21
@JudyEv It's one of the reasons I DON'T want to move. Too much stuff. Maybe when my daughters move out and take all THEIR stuff there won't be so much stuff for me to deal with. I have boxes filled with things for donation but at this time I don't think anyone is taking them. Don't want to throw good stuff out or fill a landfill with them.
2 people like this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16784)
• China
8 Aug 21
I like keeping metal tea tins which are exquisite and airtight.Some of them are not so much tea tins as art works.
4 people like this
@Juliaacv (51458)
• Canada
8 Aug 21
Like you, I find that the old tricks that I grew up with to be so comforting, and practical.
I remember my mother used to cut the top part of the bleach bottle off so that she would have a funnel for in the house. The bottom of that bleach bottle was used for holding clothes pins or something else.
My Gramma used to cut the bottom of her dish soap bottles about 3 inches from the bottom and she would produce them at 3pm when my cousins visited and she would fill each dish with cheesies for us kids. Some of the bottles were cut crooked on an angle, and if you got one of those bottles you always felt like you got a few more of the treats then your cousins did-of course you probably did not, as Gramma was frugal. 
5 people like this
@GardenGerty (160879)
• United States
9 Aug 21
@popciclecold I have a hard time turning loose of a good glass jar.
1 person likes this
@popciclecold (39461)
• United States
8 Aug 21
I remember days like that. People didn't throw away hardly anything. I still don't throw out jars, with the lids. I use them for mixing, and shaking.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Aug 21
@GardenGerty I keep small glass jars and eventually I find something who wants them for making jam.
@rakski (125761)
• Philippines
8 Aug 21
I still have some old canisters that I use for storing spices and condiments. And just like you I bought some for some spices so I will just have to refill them and not buy the whole pack with their own bottle (more costly). I am tempted also of buying some more so they will all look the same. BUT. But the old one works for me, so it might have to wait
3 people like this
@kaylachan (71519)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
8 Aug 21
Sometimes, but I have strong willpower most of the time.
3 people like this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
8 Aug 21
Always! I try not to go overboard, though. Most of the time they're just small things that aren't very expensive. I recently bought a new set of spice jars to replace the plastic ones we had. They come with a spoon attached to the lid, so I find them very practical.
I try not to go overboard, though. Most of the time they're just small things that aren't very expensive. I recently bought a new set of spice jars to replace the plastic ones we had. They come with a spoon attached to the lid, so I find them very practical.3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (107859)
• Marion, Ohio
8 Aug 21
I usually resist. But some things are nice to have
3 people like this
@xFiacre (13117)
• Ireland
8 Aug 21
@judyev I too came from humble beginnings and I remember my grandmother using the luke warm water from the previous night’s hot water bottle to wash in each morning (I’ll bet you thought I was going say she made her tea from it!). Ironic thing of course is that water was free so no savings were made but nor was anything wasted. I think her concern was using electricity to heat water to wash in.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Aug 21
I've read similar, and other varied, stories here from others that resonate with me. Like bathing once a week one after the other in the same water. Water was free for us but in scant supply Mum loved her garden and all the laundry water was bucketed out onto the garden or the fruit trees. In summer, even the dishwater was poured on her precious plants.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
8 Aug 21
Always but I manage to be disciplined about it. Like you, I grew up in a simple family and we are not well-off.
2 people like this
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
9 Aug 21
@JudyEv true.
That is why I'm doing my best to downsize right now. I put items for sale. The rest I give away and donate.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Aug 21
@allen0187 I will be trying to sell more stuff soon.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80635)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
8 Aug 21
I used to but now I keep a tight watch on my money and have not bought anything in a long time
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (181315)
• United States
8 Aug 21
Not really except for kitchen stuff. I can't cook anymore; and I don't go out and shop; but when I did, all that shiny kitchen stuff was a constant temptation!
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (181315)
• United States
8 Aug 21
@JudyEv See? That's what happens. I used to get all kinds of kitchen gadget catalogues. They were sooooo tempting.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (181315)
• United States
9 Aug 21
@JudyEv They sure do. And women seem to naturally like all those bright and shiny things!
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
8 Aug 21
sometimes I am tempted by things I don't need. My in-laws (and my parents) grew up in the great depression. They would often use things until they no longer could be used.
It is a balancing act. I always figure if it saves me time, it is probably worth it!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Aug 21
@DocAndersen Really?? Ours gets a lot of use. Having said that, some tools haven't been used much but the job would have been much harder without them. When you need a specific tool, nothing else works half as well.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
8 Aug 21
@JudyEv there are - i heard a statistic that the average drill in a home, is used a total of 13 minutes ever.
1 person likes this
