Saving stuff for best.

louisa_

Like most people on this thread, I don't save stuff for best. Sure, I've got some clothes that I won't use for cleaning out the chicken coop but that's to avoid excess washing rather than because I want to save those things for best.

Similarly, I don't buy anything that needs dry cleaning or any other type of special care - because I'd automatically use that less to avoid the extra cost/faff.

And on the crockery note - we've got mostly matching stuff, but it's all vintage. We got the core of the pleasantly ugly set from my mum & dad (there is a picture of me using some of it on my second birthday!), but then whenever we see the same design in charity shops etc, we pick up additional pieces. Having a 8-piece from the supermarket set would be very bland in comparison!

hotcookie101

I have some crystal wine glasses, they don't go in the dishwasher-too tall, even if they were dishwasher safe (and OH broke 6 out of an original 8, 4 more bought, so now have 6 in total-they are precious :cool: )
And a set of 1000 thread count egyptian cotton bed linen-it's delightful, but really should be ironed, and takes about 10 hours to dry on a sunny, warm, windy day, so it's kept in the cupboard

I replaced my cracked ikea crockery with Denby everyday from tesco-and I love that-fits in dishwasher and looks good
My global knives aren't kept for best-they are worked to within an inch of their lives

katieclampet

Apart from a few smarter "special occasions" clothes, parties, weddings etc, I dont save anything for best. Life is too short, so I make sure I get the pleasure of enjoying nice things now. You cant take it with you, but you can sure as heck enjoy it now!!

Katie

meritaten

What makes me so sad is the thought that for all those people they NEVER had an occasion they thought 'special' enough to bring out the 'good stuff'!

I have a 120 year old tea service with dinky little cups of porcelain so fine that you can see your hand through it! mostly it lives on the dresser - but, I absolutely love using it when I have visitors, it provides a talking point and I make a point of not telling them it is worth in the four figure mark! The one and only time I did the visitor dropped the cup in amazement! no damage fortunately (they are a LOT tougher than they look, which is reassuring as I have actually dropped more than a few of them while washing them). but to my mind - it wasnt made to be just looked at and admired - its also very functional!
Use it, enjoy it, care for it but it isnt the end of the world if it gets broken!

MandM90

maman wrote: »

To turn the thread a little:

Is anyone else surprised when they see people buying crockery in the supermarket with their Christmas shop?
.

What kind? We have modern supermarket plates etc. (I'd never bother with a high maintenance/nice set with a three year old and limited time) and sometimes things get broken and we just replace that bowl/plate as they still stock bits. Also in the past we have had more guests than we'd ever anticipated so we've bought a couple of extra plates (though they always seem to just disappear again!)

Also we're both only in our early twenties there's some things I didn't have at all, such as a gravy jug and a big platter for the goose, which I picked up in the supermarket last year in preparation to host my first Xmas dinner.

seraphina

Yes, I have some stuff for best. For me, it adds to the sense of occasion when I dig out the Wedgewood for special occasions, and polishing up the silver for a special meal. I have fond memories of the run up to Christmas as a kid - my mum would go and get the silver from its hidey hole, and we'd dig out the Spode serving dishes and the best linen. The table, once it was all set, looked utterly magical, and it was really special to see it done so as it only happened for Christmas, Easter and a few other high days and holidays.

There's various degrees of special though - Christmas gets the full works, down to special anniversaries such as first meeting each other.

luxor4t

I have 'best' china - because it is a p.i.t.a to wash - and it is on a shelf too high to reach! Must get it down for 'special' weekend meals ... that will scare DH!
I also have seasonal china aka the Wedgewood (?) (seconds) with christmas trees on.

candygirl

I don't have anything for best anymore:D:D

Northern_Princess

I have loads of things I save for best. My grandmothers, hubbys grandmothers and my mothers wedding china is on display in a cabinet in our dining room, I'd be far to scared to use it, I'm nervous enough cleaning it! My engagement ring is only worn occasionally as is my original wedding ring (I have a cheaper wedding ring I wear every day). I muck out our horses every day and my rings would get ruined wearing them if I did. I have horse clothes, work clothes and good clothes as well as horse boots, work boots and good boots. Last pair of good boots I bought was 4 years ago Good boots eventually get used for work boots. We have crockery and cutlery we only use for special occasions like Christmas, Easter, etc, the same goes for special table linen and glasses. I have good towels I only use if we're having guests to stay as well as good bed linen for the guest bedroom. I do have one pair of extremely special shoes that cost a fortune (they were a wedding present from my husband) and I only ever wear them if we're going out when I don't need to walk far due to the soles getting ruined.

Rummer

I think you should enjoy the things you own every day