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The Inheritance
December 6, 2007
By Ellen Gardner, Contributing Editor
 As children of parents who lived through the Depression, my friends and I often
discuss our parents’ thrifty ways, and working on the Finders
Keepers story about vintage wrapping paper brought back many memories. My
mother-in-law, for example, used to save rubber bands and plastic margarine
containers; my mother has a stash of canned goods and beauty products (like
shampoo and toothpaste) that should last until the next century.
For my pal
Jimmy’s mother, it was the all-important bag collection. As his sisters prepared
to move their mother to smaller quarters, they informed Jimmy that they had
found box after container after drawer after closet filled with bags—hundreds of
neatly folded grocery bags, shopping bags from stores that had long gone out of
business, and more recently, holiday gift bags. “She thought they were the
greatest invention ever,” Jimmy said, adding that she preserved them as
carefully as family heirlooms, even pressing some with an iron. “She saved them
all, you know, just in case.”  
When the sisters suggested pitching the
collection, Jimmy chastised them, saying, “What kind of daughters are
you?” The kind of daughters with a great sense of humor apparently, because
not long after, he received a package in the mail. Inside were bags. Dozens and
dozens of bags, and a note that read: “Dear Jimmy, We wanted you to have a
preview of your inheritance. Love, Leanne and Marilyn.”
Those who can’t bear to throw away rubber bands might want to check
out http://www.mazeguy.net/rubberband.html.
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After going to estate sales for years, I am
finally realizing that if I don't start
getting rid of stuff that I will be talked
about when I am gone too. That crazy lady
who saved so many ____.
Posted By: Betty at http://shessewpretty.typepad.com/
Hi Ellen, your article really hit home! I
am the product of Depression era parents,
too, and have worked ever so hard to ween
myself off saving every glass jam jar,
plastic food container, even the tacky
plastic bags used by stores these
days. Can't waste it, must be a good use
for all of this has been the excuse. Just
recently, I've really embraced recycling
and now I actually feel good about tossing
these wonderful items. Some of my dearest
friends, however, have not come onboard
yet. I'm going to send them your blog as a
gentle nudge, as we're all trying to figure
out what kind of an inheritance we want to
leave for our loved ones! Thanks again...
Posted By: June - California
With our landfills full and overflowing and
such waste in our country. I see nothing
wrong with saving things and reusing them
or taking them to a recycling place. That
generation were the original recyclers and
I think the new generation could learn
something from them.
Posted By: Beverly
My dh's grandmother would save those pink
styrofoam plates that come with meat.
Stacks and stacks of pink styrofoam and row
after row of margarine tubs. They weren't
ever really re-used but save them she did.
There is a point where you have to say
enough already!
Posted By: chyna
Now, that is funny! Love it!!! :-)
Michelle
www.mosaicqueen.typepad.com
Posted By: www.mosaicqueen.typepad.com
Loved your story! When my six siblings and
I moved my 86 year old mom from NC to GA, we
threw away bags, boxes of all sizes (she
never sends anything), rubber bands and
short pieces of rope (I am 64 and have never
needed a piece of rope my life!). And did
you know that they no longer make twist ties
so you need to keep all those extras from
bread bags? Thank you for a laugh on a busy
day at work!
Posted By: dianekmcfall@hotmail.com
My grandmother and mother saved buttons in
tin cartons. I have continued the tradition
and have used the buttons many times.
Posted By: D Gnagi
too funny and true. my mother washed and
reused aluminum foil. one year for
christmas i bought her boxes and boxes of
new foil, she stashed it and still used the
old.
Posted By: linda
I can relate to this...Last week I watched my 90 year old aunt wash a piece of aluminum foil to reuse... but don't laugh too hard...some of those saved things... vintage Halloween
napkins for example are bringing big bucks!!! Plus, reusing plastic bags, etc. can help the environment!
Posted By: Dione
All this it is sad. we also have that
problem. We will not be able to take any of
it with us when we die!
Posted By: Lorraine Rep of South Africa
Today's hidden hoard is tomorrow's vintage
find! Sell it on eBay!
Posted By: Pat M. from Maine
I have saved plastic carrier bags most of
my life although I am not that old! Some
of the older ones and those I have picked
up on overseas travels have fantastic
artwork and are a great reminder of holiday
shopping sprees. The cheaper plastic bags
from everyday stores I pass on to local
thrift stores or reuse for shopping,
household rubbish and as poo bags when
walking my three dogs. So you do not have
to be an eccentric older lady to see the
wisdom in collecting carrier bags.
Posted By: Shirley - UK
I am all about reuse and recycling. I have
both parents and inlaws from the depression
era. But I have to remind my mother in law
that things such as shampoos, lotions,
toothpaste, canned food items and cake
mixes do have exparation dates. I know they
were on sale but they don't last for ever.
I have been married to my husband 38 years
and I think there are still some bottles of
hand lotion still around from when we were
dating. You just have to smile and
understand that when you have been without,
cold or hungry holding on the things has a
whole different meaning than to those of us
who were brought up in a throw away society.
Posted By: Patricia on the river.
My grandmother and great grandmother saved
rubberbands in jars...whenever I see one, I
think of them...and feel guilty when I toss
them out!
Posted By: debbie of www.debbiemillerpainting.com
I work as a caregiver (and artist) with a
lot of 90 year olds. I'm fascinated by their
stories and life experiences. Besides
viewing their thrift and economy as
something I can integrate in my life, I also
have a vintage wrapping paper group.
http://flickr.com/groups/vintagewrapping/
We love viewing the prints on these
emphemera from various time periods.
Posted By: edgegaldotcom
Saving for a rainy day comes in handy, but
as we have found out it can also get out of
hand. Balance in this area is a necessity.
Your story reminds me of a home I bought
that was full of little treasures. It took
a lot of work to get it in shape, but it
was worth it.
Posted By: kim@jacobsladderstore.com
We save our bags and beautiful ribbons from
previous years and see how stunning we can
make them the next year. Sometimes it
becomes a joke between sisters to see how
long we can send bags back and forth to
still look lovely. It's fun and very cost
effective!
Posted By: sandymers@earthlink.net
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