Truly her mother’s daughter!
By Fleur
@Fleura (30391)
United Kingdom
September 6, 2023 4:59am CST
As most of you know I am a great recycler, saver of waste, and believer in repurposing anything and saving any useful items. And I very rarely buy new things, almost all of our furniture and household items, for example, have either been bought second hand, picked up in charity shops, donated via Freegle or inherited from family.
Luckily the girls are not embarrassed by this but see it as a badge of honour. A few days ago Big One was proudly telling me that she had realised that almost all the clothes she was wearing (except underwear) and her shoes, were all second hand.
Mine were as well!
Anyway she has obviously embraced this ethos because last week she proudly arrived home with a very nice pair of long black boots in just her size that she had seen left outside someone’s house as she was cycling home. And at the weekend, as we were all driving through the outskirts of another town, she suddenly announced ‘There’s a lap tray!’ (we had these on our ‘wanted’ list as the girls and I all use a lap tray a lot for writing, drawing etc.) so my partner pulled over and she ran back to a house she had spotted with a pile of items outside and a sign saying ‘FREE’ and came back bearing two nice lap trays – I hadn’t even noticed them!
So I guess we have another generation of keen re-users in the family!
20 people like this
19 responses
@BarBaraPrz (47308)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
6 Sep 23
Yes, you've mentioned this before, so I guess you're recycling discussions...
All my shoes are second-hand but I recently bought new underpants. 
All my shoes are second-hand but I recently bought new underpants. 4 people like this
@choijungeun (2631)
• Hangzhou, China
6 Sep 23
You set a good example,it's rare to see people live so economical now.
3 people like this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16763)
• China
6 Sep 23
You set an example to them with your own conduct ,so they have taken hardwork and thrift as an honour from childhood.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (79858)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
7 Sep 23
I think that is great to get things you can use when others no longer want them. I have not shopped for clothes in a long time but my favorite shopping was always done in second hand stores.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37453)
•
6 Sep 23
I have always tried to repurpose, reuse, and I buy nice thrifted items of quality that I love. My children do the same. Last week my daughter and I bought a huge box of Legos--literally thousands of pieces, for $10. Many kits, etc. in the box. They are in perfect condition and new would have been literally hundreds of dollars. Her boys love Legos!
It's good to teach our children to not be wasteful and to use things that are still good. So many people waste so much stuff!
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37453)
•
7 Sep 23
@Fleura
We need to get back to basics more.. Simpler things, the old adage of ''use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without'' could apply to many of us.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (92711)
• United States
6 Sep 23
That is another thing to add to your future blog. You know, since you’re not incredibly busy or anything. 
I love that! I am thankful they don’t have any inclination for used underwear though. I draw the line at that. 
I know you would too.
It’s fun to me to look for used clothes at thrift shops. And, I love being able to donate to them. I try to find the worse thrift shop around to donate too so to try to give people access to nice things. I don’t have anything expensive, but I buy quality.
I love that! I am thankful they don’t have any inclination for used underwear though. I draw the line at that. I know you would too.
It’s fun to me to look for used clothes at thrift shops. And, I love being able to donate to them. I try to find the worse thrift shop around to donate too so to try to give people access to nice things. I don’t have anything expensive, but I buy quality.2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (106241)
• Marion, Ohio
6 Sep 23
That is great that she enjoys doing that
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (82798)
• United States
6 Sep 23
Passing down the recycling gene is admirable. There are so many ways to save money and I see lots of almost new things on our towns Facebook "for free" site
2 people like this
@BACONSTRIPSXXX (14351)
• West Haven, Connecticut
6 Sep 23
My moms like that, I try to be but I'm a neat freak and like minimalizing as much as I can
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Sep 23
We need new lap trays but we're probably going to buy ours, unless I see some on the side of the road! We were at a barbecue the other night and a young lady was wearing the more gorgeous fluffy coat. She'd picked it up in an op shop.
We were at a barbecue the other night and a young lady was wearing the more gorgeous fluffy coat. She'd picked it up in an op shop.1 person likes this
@Fleura (30391)
• United Kingdom
8 Sep 23
@JudyEv Most people do have too much money. They don't think they do, but that's because they feel they have to buy so much tat!
No we don't have a dog, but our friends do and they were just telling us a couple of days ago how they had to rig up a shelter for him from a sheet and a couple of chairs, so they are happy to have it!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Sep 23
@Fleura Sometimes I think everyone has too much money! (Everyone but us that is. 
) But some buy eg new Christmas decorations every year. Or they suddenly decide they need to change their dinner sets just because they're a bit tired of them and want a change. So much waste out there and so much going to landfill. Have you got a dog? Or maybe it can be shelter for your chooks.
) But some buy eg new Christmas decorations every year. Or they suddenly decide they need to change their dinner sets just because they're a bit tired of them and want a change. So much waste out there and so much going to landfill. Have you got a dog? Or maybe it can be shelter for your chooks. 1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (178568)
• United States
6 Sep 23
How cool is THAT? It's very good that your family uses someone else's castaways. Less in the landfills. Hope you have a good day.
2 people like this
@Fleura (30391)
• United Kingdom
7 Sep 23
When she was a tot I used to say she was a bargain (because you see those studies that say 'raising a child costs £30,000' or some such - well maybe it does if you buy brand new designer everything). But she took that as a great compliment
1 person likes this
@sharonelton (28846)
• Lichfield, England
6 Sep 23
I'm also a great believer in recycling and I recycle as much as I can. I also like to buy clothes and books from charity shops an and get some other books from the Tesco book swap, which I will be doing today.
2 people like this
@xFiacre (13014)
• Ireland
7 Sep 23
@fleura we’re going to move house in the new year and we’ve been in furniture shops and everything available is bland and boring. My wife is a bit despondent because she wants old fashioned stuff that reminds her of her 1960s childhood, even if it is a bit worn and tatty. Most of her clothes are second hand.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Sep 23
That's great that you and your family are minimizing your environmental footprint by reducing, reusing and recycling! Kudos to you!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Sep 23
@Fleura I try to do the same thing. I hate to see anything go to waste, when it can easily be recycled or re-purposed into something else.
1 person likes this
