Before I buy something these days I stop and think: Do I really need this and What will happen to it if I decide to get rid of it sometime down the road? Meaning, can it be passed on to someone else to use for years to come or will it end up in a landfill somewhere where it will remain for the next thousand plus years?
Since we’re currently getting rid of a lot of stuff so we can move we’re realizing we have a lot of junk. And by junk I mean things we bought because they were cheap. Things we’ve ended up having to replace at least once already. We’ve always had a tight budget and buying things like new furniture isn’t something we can do on a whim. It’s something we have to decide on and then spend a year or two saving in order to be able to afford.
Most of the things we’ve bought in the last twenty years is broken or poorly made or at least it seems that way. That’s most of the stuff we’re getting rid of. The things we’re keeping are things that belonged to his parents, his grandparents, my parents, my grandparents, etc. Things that were well made and have been around for fifty years and will probably be around in another fifty. They are dishes that look brand new even though they’ve been used at every meal for the last fifty years. They are furniture pieces that look like they just came off of a showroom floor and are as solid as they come.
The pieces we’re keeping are all well made and vintage. Our kitchen table and chairs are a midcentury modern set that was given to us several years ago. Our entertainment center is a midcentury modern piece that Hubby grew up with. The grandfather clock matches the entertainment center. The bedroom suit belonged to Hubby’s parents and again is midcentury modern.
While the couch we bought a year after I moved in with him, back before we were married, is falling apart. It’s uncomfortable and we’ve tried everything to fix the cushions but nothing seems to work for more than a few weeks at most. We’ve finally stopped trying. It wasn’t super expensive, but it’s Italian leather and wasn’t exactly cheap either. But things just aren’t made to last these days.
Once we finally get moved and get the new house built we plan to furnish it with quality pieces that will last for the rest of our lives. Since we both really love the midcentury modern style we would love to find a couch and a couple other things to compliment the pieces we already have. We’ll be searching local secondhand stores and antique shops.
We are fine with taking our time to find the right pieces. The ones that we both love. Even if it means spending a little more money. Even if we have to take the time to save a bit more. Because we’ve realized that quality really is important and worth the price.