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Family Life, the Universe and Everything with a Latte on the Side

Love the Things You Own and Spend Less

Monday, 19 March 2018

This is our coffee tin.  You can just about see it's a bit battered and dented and bottom is a tiny bit rusty.  Not surprising when you learn it's 18 years old this year.  Rev T and I bought it back from our honeymoon in Florence.  The original coffee is long gone and I've been refilling it ever since with Fair Trade stuff from Sainsbury's.

Coffee and mug

I love interior design posts and blogs, but if you read enough of them, it's easy to start believing you need to spend loads of money and an endless stream of new things to love the contents of your home. This may be partly true.  There is only so much you can get for free.  But ...

Instead of wanting an endless stream of new things, wouldn't it be better to value and enjoy the things we already own?  Perfectly functional items just not as fashionable as what we're eye-ing up.  I've shared my most treasured processions before.  The coffee tin is never going to make that list, but looking at it the other day got me thinking.  There's a lot to be said for just making do with what you've got.  A more stylish coffee container isn't going to make me happier or do the job any better than the one I currently have.  Owning more or different things isn't going to make me love our home any more or less.  

Does that sound familiar?  What processions do you love and why?  

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Posted by Tubbs

40 comments

  1. The Tale of Mummy Hood19 March 2018 at 13:43

    I'm a huge believer in loving what we have! #bigpinklink

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    1. Tubbs20 March 2018 at 21:41

      So are we. It's so easy to get sucked into the New, New, New black hole. Thank you for commenting

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  2. www.emptynestmummy.com20 March 2018 at 11:16

    I have a Yorkshire Gold tea tin that I got free, years ago. And I love it so. I can honestly say that it makes me smile each time I make a cup of tea. (I also have a measuring jug that I bought 17 years ago when moving in with my boyfriend, now husband. I love it so. The jug. Also the boyfriend, now husband!) #DreamTeam

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    1. Tubbs20 March 2018 at 21:42

      This did make me laugh as I know exactly what you meant! Thank you for the smile

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  3. Tracy Albiero20 March 2018 at 11:44

    I have some cooking wear that my grandmother used. I count these as treasures. They don't make things like this any more! #dreamteam

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    1. Tubbs20 March 2018 at 21:42

      They don't. I have some bits and bobs from my mother that I feel the same way about

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  4. Karen Dennis20 March 2018 at 12:16

    I have a needle case that I made in school almost 40 years ago #mg@_karendennis

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    1. Tubbs20 March 2018 at 21:43

      Respect!!! I don't have anything from my needlework class, but I am so grateful for those skills now even though it seemed like a total waste of time back then

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  5. Unknown20 March 2018 at 15:06

    Your tin has served you well. I love that we have these things that can be continually used and the things we can share around the house when they become tired in one room. I'm quite a clutter free person so unless it's something I adore, it has to go through the practicality process before it comes in. Thanks for sharing with #tweensteensbeyond

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    1. Tubbs20 March 2018 at 21:44

      We don't have too much clutter as the house is only a borrow and we'll move on one day. We don't want to cart loads of crap with us.

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  6. Unknown20 March 2018 at 19:13

    Definitely, love what you have and don't get sucked into the whole insta-perfect-must-buy-must-have-new syndrome! I can't think of my most treasured possession but I doubt it'd make a flatlay. #pocolo

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    1. Tubbs20 March 2018 at 21:44

      I doubt if I could make a good flatlay!

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  7. thisiswhereitisat21 March 2018 at 10:18

    The cup would be perfect for me in the mornings. Keep doing your thing, why be a sheep when you can be unique X

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    1. Tubbs24 March 2018 at 18:47

      Love that phrase! Thank you for sharing

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  8. Welsh Mum Writing21 March 2018 at 17:17

    Love this. I decluttered recently, only keeping the things that sparked joy. It’s amazing to see something you love that makes you smile, and not have stuff hidden by things that don’t or by the latest must have item. #mg

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    1. Tubbs24 March 2018 at 18:48

      True. We do the same but we always end finding something

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  9. Claire - Life, Love and Dirty Dishes22 March 2018 at 11:39

    I'm one of those people that money burns a hole in my pocket! I don't spend what I don't have, but if I get money for my birthday it will be spent in no time! Luckily I am also a bargain hunter! I now have one little area under my stairs where I change the accessories seasonally. But at the same time I don't spend more than £5 on any one item for it. I agree with what you are saying because I possessions that I love and would never replace. But at the same time I do love a bit of retail therapy! #bigpinklink

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    1. Tubbs24 March 2018 at 18:49

      I do too, I'm just trying to be more focused otherwise I'd be even more broke than I am

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  10. Nicole - Tales from Mamaville22 March 2018 at 16:51

    I'm like that with a lot of things, if it does the job, why replace it? And often, most things have a memory attached to them and it just becomes all the more precious because of that.
    #fortheloveofBLOG

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    1. Tubbs24 March 2018 at 18:50

      True. The tin would be nothing without the memories :)

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  11. FancyPaperBlog22 March 2018 at 22:03

    I love shops like Tiger..that is where my problem lies! But my tea caddy was my mum's so that is a bit of a treasure.

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    1. Tubbs24 March 2018 at 18:50

      Tiger is lethal! I try not to go in that often

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  12. Musings of a tired mummy...zzz...23 March 2018 at 11:11

    I hate throwing things away and try to teach the children to value possessions. I am also quite sentimental so we have kept all of the children's clothes and they take up an entire wardrobe! #bloggersbest

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    1. Tubbs24 March 2018 at 18:51

      I've kept a few things but not all the Tubblet's clothes as our house is too small. We passed them onto friend's children. :)

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  13. Unknown25 March 2018 at 07:14

    I love my home to be filled with memories, and things like your coffee tin will always have far more sentimental value than a brand new clinical set. I think that makes me happier than new and shiny anyway! Love your point here. Thanks for linking up with us x #DreamTeam

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    1. Tubbs28 March 2018 at 20:11

      Thank you for the lovely comment and for hosting each week :)

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  14. chickenruby25 March 2018 at 12:52

    i have a battered pg tips tins that now acts as a first aid box, when we move we spruce our home up with new cushion covers and that's about it #tweenteensbeyond

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    1. Tubbs28 March 2018 at 20:12

      We're similar. We don't do much as each house is only a borrow

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  15. Sharon25 March 2018 at 20:16

    Yes yes yes!! I have a real problem with consumerism. One of the worst phrases is 'must have' as in 'latest must have xxxx for your home' It's not a 'must have' at all!! Most of the time your life will be absolutely fine without it. Let's start a new trend for keeping things as long as possible! Thanks so much for sharing with us at #TweensTeensBeyond

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    1. Tubbs28 March 2018 at 20:13

      That drives me nuts ... Along with "this thing will change your life ...". It's a thing ... Things tend not to change your life. People and experiences on the other hand ...

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  16. The Queen of Collage25 March 2018 at 21:19

    I'm not one for following the trends but following your own path. Loving and staying loyal to the products I have. Those with negative memories attached are parted with. #bigpinklink

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    1. Tubbs28 March 2018 at 20:15

      True. We try not to not onto things that make us sad or remind us of unhappy times

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  17. Carol @Comfort Spring Station2 April 2018 at 12:26

    I love to be surrounded by old friends. If I do need something, I first look at thrift stores to reuse someone else's treasure. #goinggreen

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    1. Tubbs3 April 2018 at 10:15

      We do this more now. Sadly the charity shops near us are quite expensive.

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  18. Anonymous4 April 2018 at 16:15

    Memories and experiences are far more important than things, I am coming to realize. I still have the pots and pans and wooden spoons I was bought or given (so some of them were my mums) to go to uni, which is well over 20 years ago.

    I love that you kept the coffee tin. We do that sort of thing too!
    #goinggreen

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    1. Tubbs4 April 2018 at 22:26

      It's so obvious but it has taken me years to work it out ... I've still got my mum's cake stand. I don't do tea parties and rarely serve up cake but it's not going as it's one of the few things I've got of her's

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  19. Kids of the Wild6 April 2018 at 20:22

    Lovely post and so true, I have lots of stuff from my very first house 26 years ago!!! #GoingGreen

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    1. Tubbs12 April 2018 at 12:54

      We still have loads of stuff we bought when we first got married. It does the job so why change it?! :)

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  20. A Green and Rosie Life6 May 2018 at 16:54

    I much prefer old things that are still functional both from an aesthetic point of view and from an environmental one. Our house if full of things that many other people would have throw away and replaced for new ones. To pick a favourite would be hard but my kitchen table would be high up there on the list. It definitely belonged to my grandfather and maybe even his father. It is topped with Formica when that was first trendy and the stories it could tell would make for some great reading. It's scruffy but but works for me. I love it to bits. Thank you for adding this post to #GoingGreen and I am so sorry it took me so long to get around to visiting. The next linky opens tomorrow (May 7th) so I hope you will join in again :)

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    1. Tubbs6 May 2018 at 19:19

      Don't worry! I know you've been super busy and it's always great to see you :) I'll pop in tomorrow as I have a few posts that fit :) Have a great weekend

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