There are things that you buy that you love, and you use them until they are all used up (if they are consumables) or all worn out if they are things like clothes or shoes. Then there are those things that you may not want to talk about. Things that you have bought that you do not use, or that you never wear. Things that cost you money, things that are just sort of in your home (or a storage unit) taking up space. This is not a topic that people enjoy discussing because no one wants to admit to buying something that they don’t use.
Here is a list of a few items that people typically purchase but seldom use. If you have one of these and you use it, hats off to you. If you find yourself nodding guiltily in agreement, that’s ok. That just means that it is time to think about whether and when you will use it or to make a plan for connecting it with someone or whom it will be more useful.
In basements and spare rooms everywhere, there are pieces of exercise equipment that sit idle for months or years at a time. They were purchased with the best of intentions, to bring their owners greater health and the convenience of working out at home. I will confess that I have one of them, an elliptical trainer that resides in my basement. I do use it on occasion, but I am sure that I have not used it enough to justify spending the money to buy it a couple of years ago. Fortunately the reason that it sits unused most of the time is that I do a lot of walking outdoors, while pushing my little guy in his stroller. We love to be outdoors and our walks are good for both of us. We do not walk every day, though, and there are days when I should probably squeeze in a workout while he naps or after he goes to bed. Also, winter is coming (slowly, I hope) so there is also another reason that the elliptical trainer should get to see some use if I put my mind to it. If you find yourself looking at an unused piece of exercise equipment, it is time to either renew your commitment to using it or to commit to finding it a new home whether by classified ad, Craigslist, or even donating it if you cannot find a buyer. Either way, it will be getting used again).
Other items that commonly lay idle or are simply not used enough to justify the purchase price are in ground swimming pools, elaborate wine cellars, outdoor kitchens, professional-grade home espresso machines, and many kitchen items like food dehydrators, rotisseries, ice cream makers, and the like. For some of these items like a pool, the best thing to do is think before you buy. Once you own an indoor pool or install an outdoor kitchen, you are pretty much stuck with it as well as stuck with the bill. If you have items that you do not use and don’t love that you can get rid of, find a way to do it sooner rather than later and free yourself of the guilt that you feel every time you look at the item.
Photo by sideshowmom on morguefile.com.
