How long do you keep & use things

[Nammer403]

I still wear some clothes I have gotten 10 years ago - More expensive at the time but quality before quantity for me

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Technical Wear seems to last long for me:

- 2003 era North Face Nuptse Puffy Jacket / Russian BASK puffy down jackets are still going strong (especially the latter, which I thought would self destruct in a year. I see NF has 'relaunched' Nuptse this year, bringing things full circle)
- Early 2000's North Face Summit Series Gortex shell / pants still works great.

Admittedly, I don't wear this stuff daily, but other than getting fatter sizing up it still sheds water well.


- If you don't game, Windows PC seem to have plateaued for computing power in basic productivity uses. I'd still be running a Q6600 quad core from 2006 as a home PC if the mobo capacitors didn't crap out.

- Luggage - My early 2000's Atlantic or Tumi bag sets are still going strong, if a bit heavy.

- BBQ - Buy a Weber, Napoleon, or something from OMC (i.e. Broil King) so that parts are readily available, and you should be able to use one for 20+ years. Avoid those Nexgrill disposable ones.

[Vox]

Still wear my Ditrani ski pants from 1984(ish), but I think they will be replaced this year.
Got rid of the matching jacket last year as it embarrassed my whole family. And finally replaced my old Rossi ST Comps from 1984 a few years ago! Can conclusively say it all should have been replaced 25 years ago. Gear is just a tad better now . . .

[The Yen Man]

I treat my stuff quite well, so they do last. But sadly, that doesn't really stop me from buying new stuff I like.

For example, I've now got probably 50 pairs of shoes accumulated over the last 15 years. Shoes seem to last a long time for me, as I have a couple pairs I designate as beater shoes that I wear for rougher stuff, that get worn out and replaced. But for the the majority of my other pairs, they only get worn a few times thoughout the year. But then, I keep buying shoes I like, while not getting rid of any of my old ones.

I've also got I'd say about 15 jackets accumulated over the last 20 years that I still wear. They all last and are pretty good quality. I've not bought a jacket in 3 years though, so I guess I've stopped there for a bit.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Vox

Still wear my Ditrani ski pants from 1984(ish), but I think they will be replaced this year.
Got rid of the matching jacket last year as it embarrassed my whole family. And finally replaced my old Rossi ST Comps from 1984 a few years ago! Can conclusively say it all should have been replaced 25 years ago. Gear is just a tad better now . . .

Was it like wearing nothing at all?

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

Isn't that for health and sanitory reasons we should throw away our underwear after like 6 months?

If it is washed and intact, throwing away perfectly good underwear after 6 months is a very strange thing to do.

[TorqueDog]

I used to switch up cars every 3-4 years like clockwork, at least two of which I sorely regret changing out of ('02 BMW M5, my first Aston Martin). Now that I'm back in an AM, I plan on keeping it for a very, very long time.

Phones, I used to upgrade as soon as my plan would allow me to. Now I'm still rocking my iPhone 11 Pro well after I was scheduled to be eligible for a device upgrade. I'll only change out of it if it breaks and cannot be repaired (the battery is at 86% battery health and that can always be replaced) or if it is no longer capable of doing what I need it to do with various apps and device capabilities, etc. Having a <$60/month cell phone bill is really nice.

Shoes, clothing, I've always kept those so long as they fit and weren't beat to hell.

Electronics stay until they've run out of useful life or don't meet my needs. It took me 6 years to upgrade my TV in my theatre room, and our living room TV was going on 11 years old.

I am making an effort to buy fewer things less often and extend the usable life of what I already own.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Our family hit a milestone this year — we finally used up that commercial roll of plastic food wrap from Costco that comes in the giant box with the slide cutter. Only took us ~18 years but it kept going and there was never a need to replace it!

Lol! Yep, we're in more or less the same boat, but I think ours only lasted about 7. It was a funny conversation.

"Hey, I think we're almost out of saran-wrap..."

"What? No! Thats impossible!!"

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Just sent my son to camp with the backpack and sleeping bag I backpacked around Europe with 30 years ago.

My kids all use my old camping gear from when I was younger than them. That stuff, if you bought good, hearty gear will last for a long, long time.

[CaptainCrunch]

I'm a use it til it wears out on most things. Though I did a 5 year stretch where I bought a car, paid it off and replaced it because I wanted something more economical.

computers I usually put a 4 or 5 year tag on. With other electronics I use them til they do an R2D2 scream and die like TV's etc.

I do have a mountain of old computers and printers etc in my storage room, but more because I'm too lazy to recycle them. If anyone knows a recycle service that picks up, I'd love you long time.

Tools, I have 40 year old tools that I don't need to give up. Same with camping equipment.

[bc-chris]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

I treat my stuff quite well, so they do last. But sadly, that doesn't really stop me from buying new stuff I like.

For example, I've now got probably 50 pairs of shoes accumulated over the last 15 years. Shoes seem to last a long time for me, as I have a couple pairs I designate as beater shoes that I wear for rougher stuff, that get worn out and replaced. But for the the majority of my other pairs, they only get worn a few times thoughout the year. But then, I keep buying shoes I like, while not getting rid of any of my old ones.

I've also got I'd say about 15 jackets accumulated over the last 20 years that I still wear. They all last and are pretty good quality. I've not bought a jacket in 3 years though, so I guess I've stopped there for a bit.

no doubt they'd last a long time... at 50 pairs you'd only wear each pair about seven times per year! ha!

i think i only have 4 pairs of shoes...
1 super dressy pair i've had for probably 30 years
1 nice black pair of shoes
1 pair of shoes for daily life (go thru these about once every 2 years)
1 pair for workouts

and 2 pairs of sandals - 1 black, 1 brown.

oh - winter boots would be a pair of sorel "moonboots" i've had for 30 years

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

Is this supposed to be greentext?

Isn't that for health and sanitory reasons we should throw away our underwear after like 6 months?

I also use my underwear for years - but not a decade. I use them until they’re well worn out. If you think they’re not sanitary after six months then you must not trust your washing machine.

[EldrickOnIce]

We take excellent care of our stuff, but we really like new stuff as well - so we buy new quite often, though not frivolously.
We donate the almost perfect old stuff to habitat, or similar, when we do buy any new stuff.

[troutman]

I guess I have some albums going back to the mid-70s.

[Nufy]

I still have the stereo I had in High School...

Proudly still playing cassettes in my garage.

[TheIronMaiden]

The most important aspect of keeping things, for me, is making sure I actually need what I am buying. There is no need to throw out things that have a use. Likewise, I have no qualms about thrifting, recycling or throwing out things that do not get used, and using it as a lesson to not bring useless things into my life. I feel deeply, that anything you buy is a major commitment, since most things will occupy space on this earth long after I die.

[Hack&Lube]

My 4K 65" TV is currently connected to a Sansui amp from 1979.



I will have to replace all the capacitors soon as they are starting to give out.

[TorqueDog]

That's just f-cking cool. Reminds me of the stainless steel Technics integrated amp, equalizer, tape deck and record turntable we had in our house growing up.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Locke

Lol! Yep, we're in more or less the same boat, but I think ours only lasted about 7. It was a funny conversation.

"Hey, I think we're almost out of saran-wrap..."

"What? No! Thats impossible!!"

Haha -- the funny thing is that we had already bought a new box from Costco thinking the old box was going to run out pretty soon.

Spoiler: the old box did not run out pretty soon.

I think we used it for another year or two before we finally reached the end.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by troutman

I guess I have some albums going back to the mid-70s.

Pft, I have albums from the ‘60s.

[wireframe]

I repair the things that I own until it is impossible for me to use them any longer. Repair is a lost art these days and I very much enjoy spending my time fixing the things I use.


I got a bunch of nail polish on my daughters dress recently and I plan to embroider fowers to cover the stains this week.