Use It Up, Wear It Out, Make Do, Or Do Without
Have you heard this saying before?
When I read this quote for the first time, I kept thinking about how this defines simplicity. This defines how to live a life with less. This too, can be your reality.
But what does this saying even mean?
This quote came out of the Great Depression and also was used in the WWII era, as material goods were sometimes harder to come by. As a result, you learned to “use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without.”
Let’s break it down into each saying so that we too, can live out this old saying:
USE IT UP:
- If you own it, use it
- Don’t let anything go to waste
- Be creative in using it up
- For example, eat your leftovers, use up the last little bit of lotion, toothpaste, mustard, etc.
WEAR IT OUT:
- This is where quality verses a thrift buy might be a good investment, if you plan to wear it out
- Take care of what you own, so that you can wear it out
- Choose to repair the item so that you can wear it out even more
- For example, wear out your t-shirts so you can use them as rags – same goes for your towels
MAKE DO:
- How can you make the item last longer?
- Much like wearing it out, be okay with repairing and fixing the item
- Learn HOW to fix something and learn a new life skill
- What home remedies can you find – ah, the joys of the internet to find some!
- Be okay with “okay” and with “enough”
- Even if it is not perfect, are you still comfortable using it?
- For example, are you okay washing dishes by hand? Not having cable? Using a sheet as a tablecloth?
DO WITHOUT:
- The needs vs. wants dilemma. How are you doing?
- Be okay with “good enough”
- Be content with what you have been given
- Delay your desire to have it and have it NOW
- For example, do not shop if you know you will be tempted to buy. Start doing the hobby projects you already have supplies for instead of making the latest-greatest project. Be content to have friends over instead of going out.
What is all boils down to is to NOT BE WASTEFUL. I find it ironic that often we think we are “improving” our lives when we buy something, but instead, we are cluttering it with discontent. We tend to buy more so that we enjoy more, but instead, we enjoy less, and end up buying more.
What part of this saying impacts you the most? What area is the most challenging?
Thank you so much Tara! I appreciate your kind words and honestly, I LOVE to write and share my own personal experiences when it comes to organizing :). We all come from different backgrounds, houses, and experiences, but what I hope is that we are all trying to live at least semi-organized lives :). Thanks again Tara and I hope you continue to enjoy this blog! Let me know if you have any suggestions – I am always open to them!
"For example, do not shop if you know you will be tempted to buy. Start doing the hobby projects you already have supplies for instead of making the latest-greatest project." Oh my gosh — did I need to read this post! There are so many projects I've bought supplies for that I just can't find time to finish. I work full-time, and I have one child in two after-school sports activities that take up a bunch of my time — plus all the homework and other stuff that comes with middle school. My husband and I both work full-time, so I just really need to realize that I don't have the time to do every craft project I see on Pinterest or Craftgawker! My other issue is organization. If I lived here alone, my house would be organized — but I live with a tween boy and husband (and 3 dogs) that live to undo any attempts at organizing the house – it's an endless battle PLUS I feel the need to go buy every new organizational item that I see/hear about thinking that just buying the product will magically transform my house. So all of that, plus the fact that I never have time to start AND finish a project really sabotages my efforts at achieving my goal of organization and peace/calm in my house.
(Jill)
Jill, you are so right – it's often the "others" that can hinder our desires to live this organized and clutter-free life. Yet, that is reality and it's not like they are all going somewhere anytime soon :). It is all about explaining to them YOUR dreams and maybe see if they can support you in them as well. It is easy to just let others dictate how the house will be run, but don't be afraid of sharing with your family the real reasons WHY you want to live an organized life. It can be contagious! Like you said, trying to find the "right" organizational system is almost dangerous because they often seem to disappoint, only adding to the clutter. But leaving open projects unattended, coupled with items in our homes that we never use, equals clutter. It sounds like you are on the right track Jill, and I encourage you to keep wrestling with these thoughts (as frustrating as it is) because you will see change if you keep making a point of it. It sounds like you are desiring change and simplicity, so I hope you are able to keep at it :). Thanks for sharing your challenges and personal experience – so helpful!
This is really interesting NIcola! I never thought of the saying this way! Though, I think there is much good that can come out of the framework you were used to – often times, we replace so quickly, without even thinking "do I really NEED this item?" So I say both mindsets are good to have. Thank you for sharing your experience and thoughts – they have been through-provoking for ME :)!