Still Smarter

I have been environmentally friendly for years.

Recycling & reusing things. Saving commercial jam jars for chutney. Re-using old fence posts. Cooking a chicken twice. Thinking "that kindling might come in handy"... That sort of thing.

But I do wonder if perhaps there is a point when "you are just a tight wad". Sitting here picking the paper wrapper off a cough sweet, from a packet I vac packed last year

Have you done the same (and I don't mean cough sweets)?

Yes, I have a load of Decent Pork in the freezer, been in there for 3 years. Its for sausages, but need to make some more.
Also have some plums in there that have been in there 10 years or more. We used to camp in a friends orchard, so naturally picked a few... Well rather a lot.
They are still good, and stew up nicely.
Lately We have had access to another friends orchard, as with Covid, he couldn't get the labour to pick them.
They go well with the Plums in an Apple and Plum Crumble.
I have a shed full of stuff... "That may come in handy"
Trouble is, Its a lifetimes collection, and I am now at the stage where I'm tired, ache, and have difficulty with my enthusiasm.

Even the 'stilling, I have 20 litres of Corn Whisky, and think it may last me a lifetime!
It tastes pretty good, and is really quite smooth, some of the best stuff I've made.
I'm just not a big drinker!

I suppose its down to enjoying making things and stuff, and the junk in the shed gives me the bits I need when its 4pm on a Sunday and the shops or junkyards are closed!
But then I come from an era when I was born there was still rationing from WW2, and my parents saved everything as many things were in short supply after the war. Then my dad got Multiple Sclerosis in the late '50's and we had no money, as it was only state sick pay then, and none of these other benefits. So again, threw nothing out, as it would come in handy later.

Can't change a lifetimes habits, and am beginning to think I am a borderline hoarder!
Most rooms in the house are full of stuff, and its hard for me to throw it out, and even harder for the wife to throw her stuff out too.

I'm not a tightwad... I do spend my money, but buy useful things like bubble plates and Far Eastern "Sanitary Fittings" God knows what the postman thinks!
Anyway... Looks like you are not alone!

Ele.

Ditto . . . . . . . must be a certain mindset.
I too have a large double garage and workshop stuffed full of crap that I can't bring myself to chuck out 'in case it comes in handy' - and it's funny how, when you've got a bit of space, you end up babysitting your mates' crap as well!
I sometimes get a bit envious when I drive past someone's house, the garage door is open and it's all neat, clean and tidy - but then I wonder . . . . . . . . . . how the hell do they get through life with just a bike and one jar of screws?

At the old age of 29 I'm also the same. I rent the box room from my best friend. I can only open the door and get to my bed to sleep in due to the amount of stuff I've got that I just save I mean i bet if I looked I'd find a tee shirt from when I was 15 and slimmer in there XD. I also now have other bits and Bob's in the other back room as well as a dedicated bit in the kitchen for brewing, 2 cupboards one for food as well as equipment and one for just shite tbh and now I'm putting stuff in a already full garage. And best thing of all I'm still getting more stuff. Honestly I drive my friend mad with it. I see something in the shops and go "ohhhh I may need that at some point" then buy it. I also hit up face book regular to get cheap brewing equipment. And I recently got told by a nice chap who's wife has a horse on the farm i go to that he can get me as many hdpe drums as i want for free.

So yes mash ur not alone here.

Wait till you're 69 & see how much 'useful shite' you've got then!
Sad thing is, when you do clockout, it will probably all end up in the skip.

GinGenie wrote: Tue Jan 18, 2022 7:24 pm . .. . . . . . . . . . how the hell do they get through life with just a bike and one jar of screws?

Mash wrote: Wed Jan 19, 2022 11:46 am

GinGenie wrote: Tue Jan 18, 2022 7:24 pm . .. . . . . . . . . . how the hell do they get through life with just a bike and one jar of screws?

Simples.
They don't try and fix something, they junk it and replace it.
Welcome to the greener world, filled with greener people.
And yes, they are totally f'ing green.
They know nothing.


Robert.

We have all been there tbh. Trying to understand the logic of an idiot. Now I'm not the brightest penny out there but at least I know how to do a lot of stuff my self where most people my age couldn't.

Once when I worked in a call centre (it sucked I'd stay on the phone to the oap's got fired for it) I was getting cans of sugar free monster for 50p a can got like 40 of them XD. A co worker asked why I wasnt drinking normal ones and he says he would rather pay the full price instead of walking 5mins to a different shop to pick the cheaper ones up. The logic there baffles me.

Tbh though I dont have a bike or a jar of screws XD rob can u get them things in waitrose by any chance

GinGenie wrote: Wed Jan 19, 2022 11:20 am Wait till you're 69 & see how much 'useful shite' you've got then!
Sad thing is, when you do clockout, it will probably all end up in the skip.

69?? you're still a young-un Genie.... wait till you hit the mid-70's and you are so right, all these beautiful bits of tat, pipe, timber, boxes of nuts & bolts, will all go to the scrapyard in the sky.

I did spend an hour yesterday having a tidy up in the garage, well more moving bits about to make more room, I'm thinking now about either an attic or cellar to build...

Ice.

Why dont we all go out Viking style. Put all our stuff with us in a boat and burn it XD least ur beloved jars of bits and Bob's can go with u then

Easydrinker wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:47 am Welcome to the greener world, filled with greener people.
And yes, they are totally f'ing green.

and on a positive note . . . . . . . . . . . they've all got room to get their 5 series beamers in the garage!!

Philm192 wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:34 am Why dont we all go out Viking style. Put all our stuff with us in a boat and burn it XD least ur beloved jars of bits and Bob's can go with u then

Because that would be ostentatious, shouting about our wealth of bits that might "come in handy".
Would puzzle the F*** out of future historians.
And not very "green".
Although how many of our executors would sift through our Earthly leavings is another question.
Prolly just call for several skips.

Robert.

Only several skips rob XD.

I must admit the thought of a time team digging up some one with jars of screws and old broken bikes around about them as well as stills and every thing else we have seems quite comical to me

Philm192 wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:34 am Why dont we all go out Viking style. Put all our stuff with us in a boat and burn it XD least ur beloved jars of bits and Bob's can go with u then

You would be able to see the big blue fire from space

Is that from all the alcohol going up mash

That would help!

Robert.