I will be writing in a few weeks about the outcome of the challenge Mr. PiN set himself to reduce spending.
However, I thought this Thanksgiving week was an excellent time to write about a lesson we learned (or were reminded of) during this time: how fun it is to find out that we already have what we need. And then to use it.
I have found an unexpected bonus to being forced to stay home in this pandemic: a deep satisfaction in using things that have been kept “just in case.”
We are fortunate to have a comfortable home that would be a blessing to stay quarantined in for weeks or months, if needed; which is stocked with food and amusements to keep us occupied. Also, lots of stuff which hasn’t been as well-organized as I would wish.
Minimalists will recommend against keeping things for just in case, pointing out that you will seldom need them, and that keeping clutter just makes your life less comfortable while you wait for in case to come. I have struggled with my tendency to keep things, so I have been very excited that I was actually able to find and use these during this pandemic.
To wit:
- Early on (March/April), I winnowed my paperback collection, and thus brought to light a number of favorites that had been buried in the back of the bookshelves for nearly a decade. These were old favorites I had been keeping to read again, someday. During our very stressful Spring–when COVID-19 was really new, PPE supplies were low, and no one knew if we could slow the spread–someday came. Rereading these old friends was a great way to relieve my stress.
2. I’m that lady who likes to take home soap from her hotel room, as a souvenir, and because it could be useful, someday. People also give me fancy soaps as presents. These all pile up in the bathroom cabinet, accumulating faster that I can use them.
This year, I have pulled out and used up soaps from Athens, Washington DC, and multiple road trip stopovers. I’m currently working on a gift soap that was never passed on to the recipient. I am so happy that these in case items are finally getting used. As a bonus, our bathroom cabinets have a little more space than they did in the Spring.
3. And last week, while Mr. PiN was gung-ho on his spending challenge, he needed to send some very belated thank you notes. Rather than going to the store, he was able to shop the card collection that I have been struggling to organize for years (I finally finished that in March).
I was so excited that my plan worked: letting the cards fulfill their destiny by going out into the world, with minimal time spent finding (or shopping for) them.
Really, though I called this finding joy in using what we have, another name might be: the fun of being frugal.
Of course, I am very thankful to be in this position. I realize that not everyone can enjoy frugality, especially when it’s practiced out of necessity. If you haven’t been working or paid over the past 8 months of the pandemic, hunting through your possessions for things to use may be more an activity of desperation than a joyful treasure hunt.
Nevertheless, I think Thanksgiving is a good for me to appreciate how rich my situation is, and how good it feels when I can finally get full use out of my belongings.
Is there anything you are particularly thankful for this year?