Use It Up, Wear It Out

[lukebuz]

How have ya'll followed this phrase lately?

I just moved to a new state, and been blowing money like it's going out of style (unavoidable expenses with moving, housing, etc).  So, I figured, why not just blow more money while I'm at it?
Then, I stopped that faulty thinking, and changed my attitude.

I was about to toss 22 CFL's that were perfectly good during my upgrade to LED's.  Well, I am just as happy with spiral CFL's when they are hidden behind enclosed glass, and they use basically the same energy, so why not use them up?  I saved $5 x 22 = $110!

Then, we needed new hand towels and bath rags, and I figured we should just upgrade our perfectly fine, but faded and splotchy, large bath towels.  So, instead I used $15 with of RIT Dye (which by the way, is AWESOME) to make the old worn towels look brand new (Royal Blue and Pearl Grey) again!  $11 x 14 = $154.

2 simple choices, which help the environment, also helped me save $250!

[Bracken_Joy]

Oh, the dye is a great idea! Let us know how it holds up to washing.

I've been embracing "wear it out" with my trail running shoes. I have a 4 year old pair of barefoot merrels that I got at a Ross. These ones are made with neoprene, which keeps my feet a bit warmer than I prefer. But they're perfectly usable, and I'm committed to wearing them out instead of replacing them. I made this choice hundreds of miles ago though, and they're still holding up! Impressive shoe, but I'm determined to keep them until they're worn out. No tiny detail exaggeration syndrome!

[karmatroll]

I was about to toss 22 CFL's that were perfectly good during my upgrade to LED's.

I saved $5 x 22 = $110!

Then, we needed new hand towels and bath rags, and I figured we should just upgrade our perfectly fine, but faded and splotchy, large bath towels. 

 $11 x 14 = $154.

2 simple choices, which help the environment, also helped me save $250!

I'll definitely sell you some new CFL's if you're willing to pay $5 a piece! Even hundred watt spirals can be had for <$3 these days.

And  14 towels? do you run a laundromat?

[lukebuz]

$5 for a replacement LED, dork.

Plus, yeah, the 14 towels were from my pre-mustache days.  I was super dumb.  Like $110,000 in debt dumb.

[nobodyspecial]

I made this choice hundreds of miles ago though, and they're still holding up! Impressive shoe,

Pair of Teva sandals I bought >15 years ago.
They have consumed their own weight in glue repairing the soles but other than that are great.

[iamlittlehedgehog]

This is a wonderful phrase. The non-consumer group I follow on Facebook lives by it.
1 - you spend less money
2 - it forces you to consider higher quality choices because you can't just run out and buy a new one when it breaks often

[skunkfunk]

Being under 30 I've hopefully still got enough time to use it all up. Then again, many things don't really get "used up" as much as "I'm tired of it," such as furniture, razors, cars...

Aside from footwear and clothes I haven't really been around enough to use up a good portion of non-disposables.

[shelivesthedream]

Being under 30 I've hopefully still got enough time to use it all up. Then again, many things don't really get "used up" as much as "I'm tired of it," such as furniture, razors, cars...

Aside from footwear and clothes I haven't really been around enough to use up a good portion of non-disposables.

One of my best-worst moment recently was when I realised that the actual fabric was wearing through on the hem of my favourite shirt. I bought it when I was around seventeen - I'm 24 now. I felt so badass! (And then sad - I love that shirt. And then I mended it and feel badass again! Can only wear it tucked in now, though, as the mend is pretty obvious.)

[skunkfunk]

Being under 30 I've hopefully still got enough time to use it all up. Then again, many things don't really get "used up" as much as "I'm tired of it," such as furniture, razors, cars...

Aside from footwear and clothes I haven't really been around enough to use up a good portion of non-disposables.

One of my best-worst moment recently was when I realised that the actual fabric was wearing through on the hem of my favourite shirt. I bought it when I was around seventeen - I'm 24 now. I felt so badass! (And then sad - I love that shirt. And then I mended it and feel badass again! Can only wear it tucked in now, though, as the mend is pretty obvious.)

Does putting big ol' iron-shaped burn marks in my favorite shirt count as using it up?

[iamlittlehedgehog]

Being under 30 I've hopefully still got enough time to use it all up. Then again, many things don't really get "used up" as much as "I'm tired of it," such as furniture, razors, cars...

Aside from footwear and clothes I haven't really been around enough to use up a good portion of non-disposables.

One of my best-worst moment recently was when I realised that the actual fabric was wearing through on the hem of my favourite shirt. I bought it when I was around seventeen - I'm 24 now. I felt so badass! (And then sad - I love that shirt. And then I mended it and feel badass again! Can only wear it tucked in now, though, as the mend is pretty obvious.)

Does putting big ol' iron-shaped burn marks in my favorite shirt count as using it up?

Not unless you wanna paint them green for Christmas trees during the holiday season.

[shelivesthedream]

Being under 30 I've hopefully still got enough time to use it all up. Then again, many things don't really get "used up" as much as "I'm tired of it," such as furniture, razors, cars...

Aside from footwear and clothes I haven't really been around enough to use up a good portion of non-disposables.

One of my best-worst moment recently was when I realised that the actual fabric was wearing through on the hem of my favourite shirt. I bought it when I was around seventeen - I'm 24 now. I felt so badass! (And then sad - I love that shirt. And then I mended it and feel badass again! Can only wear it tucked in now, though, as the mend is pretty obvious.)

Does putting big ol' iron-shaped burn marks in my favorite shirt count as using it up?

Have you considered burn-marking the whole shirt and pretending it's supposed to look like that ?

[Dicey]

This is a wonderful phrase. The non-consumer group I follow on Facebook lives by it.
1 - you spend less money
2 - it forces you to consider higher quality choices because you can't just run out and buy a new one when it breaks often

Oh, c'mon, let's give Katy Wolk-Stanley of The Non-Consumer Advocate the credit that she so richly deserves.

http://thenonconsumeradvocate.com/

The full saying is "Use it up, wear it out, made do or do without". It was popularized during WWII as a conservation motto. Katy is part of a group called The Compact wherein believers pledge to buy as little as possible new. Katy talks the talk and walks the walk and generously helps others achieve the same level of enlightenment. Plus she's a good writer and damn funny. Her daily doses of inspiration certainly helped me achieve FIRE. Plus, she posts way more often than Pete.

[iamlittlehedgehog]

This is a wonderful phrase. The non-consumer group I follow on Facebook lives by it.
1 - you spend less money
2 - it forces you to consider higher quality choices because you can't just run out and buy a new one when it breaks often

Oh, c'mon, let's give Katy Wolk-Stanley of The Non-Consumer Advocate the credit that she so richly deserves.

http://thenonconsumeradvocate.com/

The full saying is "Use it up, wear it out, made do or do without". It was popularized during WWII as a conservation motto. Katy is part of a group called The Compact wherein believers pledge to buy as little as possible new. Katy talks the talk and walks the walk and generously helps others achieve the same level of enlightenment. Plus she's a good writer and damn funny. Her daily doses of inspiration certainly helped me achieve FIRE. Plus, she posts way more often than Pete.

I was waiting for someone to call it :)
She has really helped me (and countless others) look at consumerism differently. At the very least sometimes you gotta get creative to save/refurb/remodel something to work for your intentions or needs.

However I draw the line at a used dumpster mattress!

[Rural]

This weekend I cut off and saved the buttons from an unstructured linen jacket that has finally dry rotted through in several spots due to age. Then I gave the fabric to my husband to use as a rag while repairing the backhoe, thus wearing it out and using it up some more afterwards, as one does...

[Playing with Fire UK]

Oh, c'mon, let's give Katy Wolk-Stanley of The Non-Consumer Advocate the credit that she so richly deserves.

http://thenonconsumeradvocate.com/

The full saying is "Use it up, wear it out, made do or do without". It was popularized during WWII as a conservation motto. Katy is part of a group called The Compact wherein believers pledge to buy as little as possible new. Katy talks the talk and walks the walk and generously helps others achieve the same level of enlightenment. Plus she's a good writer and damn funny. Her daily doses of inspiration certainly helped me achieve FIRE. Plus, she posts way more often than Pete.

Thanks, hasn't heard of this and loving it already.

[Bracken_Joy]

Oh, c'mon, let's give Katy Wolk-Stanley of The Non-Consumer Advocate the credit that she so richly deserves.

http://thenonconsumeradvocate.com/

The full saying is "Use it up, wear it out, made do or do without". It was popularized during WWII as a conservation motto. Katy is part of a group called The Compact wherein believers pledge to buy as little as possible new. Katy talks the talk and walks the walk and generously helps others achieve the same level of enlightenment. Plus she's a good writer and damn funny. Her daily doses of inspiration certainly helped me achieve FIRE. Plus, she posts way more often than Pete.

Thanks, hasn't heard of this and loving it already.

Ditto! And it's in my neck of the woods no less.

Enjoying her blog.

[ClassyCat]

I love following this line of thought with pajamas. I like to wear them until they literally won't stay on my body anymore due to holes or other issues. It's mostly entertaining but still ends up saving some money.

[powersuitrecall]

There is a real satisfaction that comes with using something until it wears out.

Yesterday I noticed that my beloved commuting bike had developed ax "X" shaped crack in the bottom tube.  It is now quite unrideable.  I was ecstatic!  This frame has taken me through 7 years of commuting, including winters.  It literally owes me nothing.  Time for a new (used) frame!  Actually, there is a chance the manufacturer will replace the frame on warranty, which would be cool.