USE IT UP AND WEAR IT OUT, SAVE MONEY AND BE SHABBY CHIC
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Use it up, Wear it out, And be quids in
Over the last decade or so, with the help of easy credit, higher wages, we had become a nation of spenders, wanting to keep up with latest trends in clothing and household goods.
We have become a throw-away society, with no regard to the finanical and environment implication this has caused. Millions of tons of food and household items are thrown away each year, which are still totally edible or useable.
In recent years, whether it is due to the recession or a 'trend' people are getting back to what our parents and our grand-parents used to do, 'use it up and wear it out', Me included.
First of all i was doing it to save money, and to bring us back into living within our means, so we could pay off our spirraling debt. But as the time went on, i really got into and injoying it.
USE IT UP....
they say the average family throws out approx 1/3 of their weekly shopping, because it has gone passed it sell/ use by date. Which is not only a wicked waste, but a heck of alot of money to throw in the bin. Now whether this is down to impluse buying when you are in the supermarket, or whatever... the best thing to do is meal plan, so you use everything up.( i have a hubpage called the savvy shopper)
This not only goes for food, but everything else to,
WEAR IT OUT....
How many times have you bought a new household item because you have seen something else you like more, or want a bigger size. Furniture, T.V'S the list is endless, but all these items were not broken.
Trends are now changing, there is a whole new era of people re-vamping old furniture in the shabby chic style, kissing new life into a retro old looking bit of wooden furniture with a splash of paint, and a bit of imagination. One of my first ever 'projects' was an old writting desk/cupboard which was just about to be thrown into the landfil tip, luckily i was there at the right time to save it..... It now takes pride of place in my living room, the satisfaction i had doing this project was great, and i appreciate this bit of furniture more than something i actually bought, as it is something i spend time on and not much money.
This also goes for clothes and old vintage material, it is so easy to turn an unwanted bit of clothing into a cushion cover, or be used for a patchwork project.
Re-vamping your old clothes is all the rage at the moment, cutting a bit here, adding a bit there, and there you have it, a new upcycled item to weat out, and the good thing about this, you know its unique, and you are not going to bump into someone wearing the same item...
If you search the internet there are loads of forums and websites dedicated to re-vamping/ upcyled ideas and you never know, not only will you save money, help save our planet, you might even like doing it so much you can turn it into a business. There are lots of small cottage style business, which do this and sell in handcrafted fairs, markets and have websites.
If on the other hand you dont want to, or cant be bothered to re-vamp your items and would much rather keep spending money on credit cards etc to buy the latest trends in furniture etc ( thats what good marketing does for you) then instead of throwing your useable items away, advertise them for free, or give then away so they can still be used.
there are various websites where you can advertise your items for free, or try advertising in oyur local area...
