We have all done it… purchased a duplicate (or even more than one) of something we already bought, simply because we could not find the original. Usually, the item mysteriously reappears as soon as you give in and buy another one, but sometimes, you don’t find it until many replacements later.
For me, it used to be handheld can openers. I never really had a spot for the can opener, so it would end up in the junk drawer, in the silverware drawer, or in the big crock where I store mixing spoons and spatulas. Sometimes, it would disappear altogether, and sooner or later, I’d run out and buy another one… and then another.
My husband came home with an electric can opener one day, assuming that it would solve the problem. However, there are still certain items that require a handheld can opener (and besides, I just like it), so once again the search was on. When I finally cleaned out all the kitchen drawers and other junk collectors, I had five handheld can openers.
Since that time, I have purchased inexpensive, plastic drawer dividers and turned the junk drawer into a utensil drawer. Now, I can always find the can opener. Just don’t ask me what happened to the potato peeler. I have to get a new one and find a home for it too.
Haven’t you also done the same thing with groceries? I have. I’d find three or four (or five) cans of tomato sauce in the pantry. I guess I got in the habit of picking one up every time I went to the store, just to make sure I always had some on hand. Now, since I’ve organized the canned goods too, I simply look in the space where the tomato sauce goes and I know if I need to grab some while I’m out. It really does make a difference.