I’m continuing to simplify and reduce our belongings and now I’m faced with something I haven’t really thought about before; why, when I’m clearing our house of unnecessary items, am I keeping something that I only use once or twice a year?
In our house I’m talking about the crockery set that I bring out mainly for Christmas dinner and gathers dust the rest of the year. Why do I hold on to something that hardly ever gets used? Yes it’s nice to have a lovely table setting that day, but it makes no difference to the family arguments over the bread sauce! Also I’m not even sure if anyone else in my family notices the plates. This is all down to my former consumer self who had to buy things to make everything look nice!
So I need to decide, do I use this dinner set all year round and get rid of everything else. Or do I sell this one, make a little money and keep the one I already use everyday, after all when I’m in Portugal, am I ever going to use a gravy boat?
{photo credit: catface3}
{ 1 trackback }
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Will really look forward to the decision you make on this as I am facing the exact same dilemma. I’ve just inherited a crockery set that was traditionally only used on Christmas Day! I’m not sure I should have taken it and now it needs a home. ..Sigh..
Good luck with your decision, I have a feeling you are going to get rid of it and put some money into your moving fund
[Reply]
I love a nicely set table…so I would say keep it! BUT, if it really IS once a year, then I think that is too little to drag it over there. If it´s valuable, maybe better to sell it and once you are settled in Portugal, if you feel like it you might like some local crockery to jazz up your festive table
.-= RML – Being More Through Having Less´s last blog ..These are my Salad Days… =-.
[Reply]
Well, my mum brings out a certain crockery set just once or twice a year and it’s just beautiful and the stories over the years that we have shared about that set…
As someone who previously de-cluttered etc I would just say that don’t get rid of too many things that are precious to you in some way. Yes it’s great to not have ‘stuff’ but equally it’s lovely to have certain things that evoke feelings, memories, stories etc. I think your set would look lovely in Portugal and when you get there, you might find yourself missing a good ole English gravy boat
[Reply]
If it’s your best set why not use it year round? Don’t save best for one day a year if the alternative is getting rid. You deserve the best year round
Kat
x
.-= kat´s last blog ..Oh, Fudge! =-.
[Reply]
We got rid of the cheap stuff and started using the good stuff all the time.
.-= Philip Brewer´s last blog ..Resources for Freelancers =-.
[Reply]
Kat is 100% right!
.-= RML – Being More Through Having Less´s last blog ..These are my Salad Days… =-.
[Reply]
I agree! Why aren’t you using it every day? if it gradually all gets broken – no need for a decision on decluttering! That’s what I did. After my husband broke a few bits of it – I one day threw the rest overarm down the back garden – was wonderful!
[Reply]
I love the last sentence!!!!
.-= Frugal Trenches´s last blog ..You Simply Can’t Do It All =-.
[Reply]
This is such a tough decisi0n. On the one hand, it is lovely to have a set that may have extra plates, etc. that accomodate a larger gathering. Is it possible to incorporate parts of it into your everyday dinners? If it’s truly a once-in-a-year setting, you may not need it after all.
.-= OlivAmor´s last blog ..Quentes e Boas–Chestnuts and St Martin’s Day =-.
[Reply]
Hmm dilemma. It does depend on how much the ritual of the christmas dinner and those plates being part of that actually resonate I reckon. I love the idea of special occasion stuff. But as it happens do not have any such dinner service. I haven’t yet done my own christmas dinner. We never had a special dinner service at my folks (still dont) but there are special glasses which get polished up and look very pretty on the table. Mind you my parents are as far from minimalist as you could possibly imagine and have enough space to store – well – they have enough crockery to serve a dinner to 90…
You need listen to your heart about it. I think you do know your answer.
And then maybe you just need to keep the gravy boat?
.-= mo´s last blog ..manifesting – the how to =-.
[Reply]
Wow! Thank you for all your comments
I’ve decided to use the ‘best set’ all year and sell the others. the decision was easier because its not a family heirloom. If it was an heirloom then I perhaps would of kept it! Thats a v. different decision to make. I would always keep something that I love, but I don’t need to have over 20 everyday dinner plates, I hope this makes sense.
.-= Laura´s last blog ..Simplifying and Reducing: Keeping for Best? =-.
[Reply]
As I start minimalizing my life I realize I do it because it is setting me free. A burden is lifted in having less things to take be responsible for. Even if it does sit in a shelf or a box. I am free to live and widen my horizons by letting stuff go. That is why I do it.
I was going to say you should keep it the set is a heirloom. I have one that sits in a box and doesn’t even see the light of day for years. The family connection makes it worth keeping.
.-= Money Funk´s last blog ..Buying a New Home =-.
[Reply]
Use it every day! Get rid of the other stuff, and really enjoy the nice set
.-= chaotic kitten´s last blog ..Drawer =-.
[Reply]