Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, my mother in law is like this. They are so kind to us, and even helped us move this last time. But we had a giant pile of things that were going to be donated or thrown away (like PP, old cracked corning ware, ripped sheets, nasty old towels that were old DH's old hand me downs that had seen better days, that sort of thing) and MIL went through the pile and took things that used to be hers. So weird. What is she going to do with old ripped sheets and practically worn through towels? DH got good use out of these things, but we have nicer, newer things now that we use, why wouldn't we get rid of these?

Err, ever heard of rags? It's sensible and frugal to reuse. Also gentler on the planet.

Enough with your sensible and frugal crap. Please.

Anonymous wrote:OP, my mother in law is like this. They are so kind to us, and even helped us move this last time. But we had a giant pile of things that were going to be donated or thrown away (like PP, old cracked corning ware, ripped sheets, nasty old towels that were old DH's old hand me downs that had seen better days, that sort of thing) and MIL went through the pile and took things that used to be hers. So weird. What is she going to do with old ripped sheets and practically worn through towels? DH got good use out of these things, but we have nicer, newer things now that we use, why wouldn't we get rid of these?

Err, ever heard of rags? It's sensible and frugal to reuse. Also gentler on the planet.

OP, my mother in law is like this. They are so kind to us, and even helped us move this last time. But we had a giant pile of things that were going to be donated or thrown away (like PP, old cracked corning ware, ripped sheets, nasty old towels that were old DH's old hand me downs that had seen better days, that sort of thing) and MIL went through the pile and took things that used to be hers. So weird. What is she going to do with old ripped sheets and practically worn through towels? DH got good use out of these things, but we have nicer, newer things now that we use, why wouldn't we get rid of these?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think (and say this to myself when my mother did the same to me) that "things" were more valuable and valued in yesteryears. Today stuff is so inexpensive (and in many cases better quality) that we don't associate the same emotions with it as our parents did. We are all drowning in "things" and frankly, there are so many choices we can usually find exactly what we are looking for without much effort.

Which is a long way of saying, she's not insane. She's just of a different generation. We don't attach our emotions to "stuff" in the same way.

Really good insight, PP. I've noticed this too and realized I would collect things just because I thought I was supposed to, not because I wanted to.

+!00 I never saw this fact before. I think poverty or the perception of poverty earlier in life must make it worse.

Yes. My father, born in the Depression to immigrant parents, has saved recalled cribs, recalled toys, broken high chairs, etc for us. He has a rubber band collection. I will be cleaning a lot some day.

Anonymous wrote:Get a storage facility, send it all there.

No, that is a colossal waste of money.

Ugh my mother is just like this. I stopped accepting items from her. She has a 2 car garage full of this stuff! It is a hoarding-type issue.

Anonymous wrote:I found out recently my pos DIL sold every gift I have ever given to them and the kids on Ebay.

Now the bitch will get nothing, the kids will no longer get gifts and my son better not be licking his lips for an inheritance because I'm leaving everything I own to my sister.

I'm glad I never have to see her ugly face again.

Hang on to your tractor pull fridge magnets.