Never again

I often do a stock check on my food cupboards and freezer to see exactly what I have got in there, especially before I go shopping. It's so easy to push things to the back and then think you have run out of something. I don't write a shopping list because I always know in my head which items I am running low on and need to be purchased. If I come back from shopping and discover I have forgotten something it isn't the end of the world, I just make do with whatever I have and try to remember it next time. Sometimes being forgetfull can save you money. I never dash out to the local shop to buy something I have forgotten, I just manage without it.

Food stocks need replenishing on a regular basis but then I got to thinking what about all the other things in my house. What about doing a stock check on those things as well. Sometimes when I am walking down the High Street and see something nice in the window I think, oooh, that would be nice in the kitchen, or the bedroom, or wherever. It's a nice colour, it would match the wallpaper, or, wouldn't it be nice to have one of those sitting on the kitchen worktop.

As this blog is about not spending money I very rarely post about non essential items I have bought, because quite simply I very rarely buy anything that isn't useful or I don't need. So instead of me telling you about all my lovely finds in charity shops, clothes shops, shoe shops, bookshops, toiletries and bath product shops, and homeware shops, I'm going to tell you exactly what I don't spend my money on. In fact as I go through the list There are some things that I will never have to buy again, because I have enough to last me for the rest of my life.

Here is my pile of towels. In this picture there are 3 bath sheets, 6 bath towels, and 10 hand towels. In my car I have two more bath towels, I like to keep my front seats covered, and behind me on my office chair is another bath sheet. Some of these towels were given to me, the rest I have had donkeys years. The colours may not be very appealing to some folks, but hey, they are not worn out and will last a good many years more. I may never have to buy another towel again.

Here is my pile of bed linen. There are duvet covers, bottom sheets, pillow cases, and throws. These were in the airing cupboard, there are two duvet covers and four pillow case on my bed at the moment. Some of these were given to me, some of them are quite old and faded, and some will get cut up into dishcloths and dusters when they get too tattered. I have had three throws for over twenty years, they will probably last me another twenty years. I will never have to buy any more bedding, I have enough to last me.

How many pairs of socks? There are 60 pairs in this pile. From thin cotton ones to thick chunky knit ones. If a favourite pair of socks starts to wear under the foot I turn them over and put the sole of the sock on the top of my foot, thus getting extra wear out of them. I will never have to buy any more socks, I have enough.

My boys pants, ha ha. I have spoke about these before. At one point I was up to about 70 pairs a few years ago, my pile has dwindled a little and now I'm down to 35 pairs. Why do I wear boys pants? Because they are so strongly made they last years longer than womens knickers. I have had some of these at least ten years or more. Unless I see some packs of five for a very low price, I may never buy pants ever again.

Some of my clothes are very old. Fashions go round and round and I don't care if my clothes are not fashionable now. I am lucky that my size hasn't changed very much since I was a teenager. There was a time when I did pile on a couple of extra stone, because I was pigging out on convenience food, but that has all stopped, I stay just over eight stone now, so my clothes last me years. I generally wear them untill they look that scruffy I have to cut them up for rags.

Not on these pictures, I have twentyfour pairs of trousers, from jeans, jog bottoms, smart daytime trousers, dressy evening trousers, and walking trousers. I also have in another cupboard twelve jackets for all ocassions, most of them bought from charity shops. I do not need to buy any of these for a very long time. The only clothing items I might have to buy are teeshirts and sweatshirts, because I wear them every day.

These pans are enough for my needs, I used to have more but when I had a new kitchen a few years back I dumped a lot of them. The four red Tower Brand I've had for about nearly thirty years. The big one at the back and the big one in front of it I found in a skip. The little black one in the centre was a gift, and the two at the front I got from a car boot sale. So that's it, these will last me for the rest of ly life, I won't need to buy any more.

I have scaled down my crockery a lot as well. Eight mugs is more than enough, and my plates and bowls are more than thirty years old. I have other matching items for this set which don't get used, because I don't drink tea, and I don't entertain. Every plate and bowl is chipped, but I don't mind. These will last me forever.

I have too many glasses, so I won't be buying any more. I only ever use a small one for wine, or a large one for squash drink. That's all I need.

Cutlery lasts forever. I have enough kitchen tools and cutlery, and I will never need to buy any more.

I have enough pencils and pens to last me for the rest of my life, so I will never buy any more.

My toilet roll stock stands at 154, a bit low at the moment. I buy them cheaply from a wholesaler. With my self imposed limits on useage, 2 for a pee, 3 for a poo, I reckon these will last a couple of years. So I will be buying some more eventually, when I am passing the cash and carry at Sheffield, Lincoln, or Leeds. I will not be washing my fanny with a rag every time I pee, I can afford toilet rolls, they are included in my budget :o)

Another thing I wont be buying ever again is jewelley. The few bits I have are old and cheap. I have nothing of any value, but it is enough for me because I hardly ever wear it. I also have enough bags of every kind, enough shoes and boots, enough ornaments. enough curtains, enough fabric for sewing, enough wool for crochet, enough furniture, tables, chairs, and cupboards. I wont be buying books, I borrow them from the library. I won't be buying cd's or dvd's, I have the radio, and computer for the catchup channels.

That's my stocktake done, there's a whole list of things I won't ever be buying again. I must say it makes shopping a lot easier if you remember all the things you don't need. It means you only have to go in the shops which sell what you do need and bypass all the others.
Toodle pip