American commerce is a big thing. I do not usually like to discuss money, but it seems like when I have too much stuff, I do not have enough money, and when I have less stuff, clothing, blankets, CD's or you name it, I can pay my bills with more ease.
When I was growing up in the sixties and seventies, we had so few clothes, one jacket, one pair of jeans, one pair of shoes, shorts were cut-off jeans, and you wore hand-me-downs. This was because 1) clothes were more expensive then, and 2) I grew up in a rural area without any nearby stores. You picked stuff up at a Sears pick up place, and there was one major department store about thirty minutes away called 'Chapin,' which is today closed. They had everything from food to hardware to clothing for every member of the family.
When I was in my early twenties, I lived in Los Angeles, was married, worked and had a baby in daycare. However, we were really poor, and I had very few clothes. The ones I did have were outdated and out of style. I must have looked like such a small town girl.
Once, however, I received fifty dollars from my mother for Christmas in the mail. I went down to Melrose Avenue, and I bought a pair of black stretch skinny jeans. Believe it or not, they were a size three. I wore those pants a lot. But, back to present.
I guess I cannot seem to balance my obtaining and purging process. Just when I think I have it down to a science, I think I need something. However, I can go a long time with things falling apart before I break down and get another. Part of that is transportation, and the other half is financial. I am still wondering who I will get to do carpentry around here.
I guess the thing to think about is, 'do I need this?' I guess need is more important than want in the big picture.
So this has been a big project for me. Not only finally did I get a new bed thanks to family members, but I have been getting rid of stuff I do not need or want.
I read numerous blogs to help me figure out the best ways to do this. Some of the minimalists were just too minimal for me. I mean for me, one pair of jeans is so not enough.
I did learn the basics of clothes purging though. 1) If it does not fit now, it is probably not going to. 2) If you have not worn it in a year, out it goes. 3) If it is worn out and pilled. 4) If it is too trendy or young for you now. 5) If it is just good memories, take a picture. It will last longer, lol, except something like my son Teddy's wolf cub shirt with all its badges. I even bought a little box just for this and the ascot as well. I also saved my other son David's swim team sweatshirt and tee-shirt, as well as his North Myrtle Beach High School icon patch for being a senior athlete. That is different however. I did keep a leather jacket that my ex husband bought me as a birthday gift more than twenty years ago, as well as a Victoria's Secret fuchsia bathrobe, given to me by a long term boyfriend, because they were in perfect condition, really nice gifts, and very expensive and hard to replace. Back on the list, 6) If it has bad memories or a vibe you do not like, 7) you just do not like it, 8) it does not look good (you have to try things on), 9) It is not your style anymore, such as a suit when you no longer work in an office or a million yoga outfits if you do not teach yoga anymore, so you only need a couple, and 10) you just have way too many and have to part with some of them, whether it be tee-shirts or leggings. Just keep the ones you really like.
Now I want to talk about the things that can go wrong. You sometimes can get carried away and give up something you really like. I have been known to ask the Goodwill if they had seen a certain thing I wanted back. Never any luck. I have even practically dived back into a giveaway bin to retrieve a blouse I did not mean to give.
Recently, I did not go this far, but I was doing this great job of getting rid of stuff, and I got rid of a baby blue hoodie, a men's one, small. I really wanted it back, and could not find one, but I ultimately found one like it, only it's a pullover rather than zip up, and a different brand, but cheap and same color and size, also from the men's department. Sometimes women can buy certain unisex items cheaper like a hoodie, in the men's department, that are really nice.
Usually I just forget about what I part with, but I had this whole experience with one other item, and I suppose it was just attachment or the grass greener. I had to get rid of some long sleeve jersey tops, because I had so many. I got rid of a couple of shirts I had worn and worn for the last ten years or more, one burgundy and easy to replace, which was really worn out, and one navy and gray striped sweater with very elegant navy ribbed cuffs that were very long. It had a plunging V-neck. It was pilled and I was sick of it, and had been slightly annoyed and bored with it every time I tried to wear it in the last two years or more. Still, I got in my head, that it was just the greatest shirt, and if I could only have that one thing, I'd give away everything, not really, lol, but practically.
Long story short, I found one just as nice on Body Central, and my sister took me to the local shop here, and I was able to get one, and it is actually nicer by far than it said on the website in terms of material. I love it.
So, I hope this was interesting, although a bit light weight. I guess clothes can be interesting though. The moral of the story is, 'it's all good.'
