Out of Chaos an organizing newsletter
Ask Not What you Need
Camp, travel, entertaining—summer offers plenty of opportunities to buy stuff. People make packing lists of clothes and toiletries for camp, they buy “packable” hats for trips and red, white and blue votives for holiday festivities. I say, resist.
We have a What do I need? mindset. I understand it, it’s what we are taught: Good, responsible people make sure that their families have what they need. It starts with food and shelter— but where does it end? With insect repellent clothing from L.L.Bean?
What if we flipped it around, and instead of asking ourselves What do I need? we asked ourselves What can I use? Can you tie red Christmas ribbon around mason jars for Fourth of July décor? Can you wear your not-packable hat on the plane? Won’t Cutter’s cut it?
I’m big on making do. It may be because I’m cheap, and because I have this career, but I also find it satisfying. I find it a little more creative to find solutions using what I already have than to run to the store. When I use my nylon tote (that I always keep in my handbag so I don’t take plastic bags) to coral our water bottles in the car and make it my beach bag once we arrive at the shore, I feel like I love it more, because it’s so flexible. When my daughter uses a ribbon as a belt to make her outfit red, white and blue, I think she is unique and creative.
So this summer, try to develop your What can I use? mindset. You’ll save money, and you might just have fun.