Choosing Quality Over Quantity

I live in a world of single-use and disposable items. Don’t we all. I have a Frugal Living lifestyle. But do you ever wonder if there’s a difference between being cheap and being frugal? I like nice things. I like quality items. Living in my small Trailer might seem easy to judge. As if living in a modest home means having nice things is not allowed or it’s out of reach.

When I first moved in, it was a difficult time. I had lost many of my belongings throughout the years. And those belongings reminded me of the life I had lived. It was like losing chapters of myself. Things I had collected… just gone. As life got hard, I was unable to keep it all.

In an effort to re-build my life, I began to collect things for my new home. Not knowing if I’d be able to find the item in the future. Viewers kept sharing that I would be happier if I let go. I was even called a hoarder. The implication was made that I was a slob. At times, I still receive opinions on my current setup as if it’s not good enough.

I don’t have any one particular style. It’s not like I could categorize my stuff into “this stays” or “this goes” because it does not fit my aesthetic. Now that’s an over-used word in today’s world. Often used as if saying the word “style” is too flat and needs amplification.

I like what I like. Shopping at thrift stores gives me the chance to find interesting and useful items – what I’d call a quality item. And if it’s vintage, then it’s top-shelf quality to me. Living in a world that teaches style must be changed every year or so does not suit me. I may not have the best of everything but as I like to say: I make the best of everything I have. And I’m still figuring out how to make my home better.

I think it’s great to upgrade items to better quality as time moves on. At some point I asked myself: how many brand new sweaters do I need when vintage ones are built to last a lifetime. Do I need something mass-produced, that’s a “fast fashion” trend. I’d prefer a sweater with a story. A sweater that gets me through the cold of Winter. Quality items do that. I find so many to choose from at thrift stores.

I’ve learned that an upgrade can be what others donate because it’s out of style. It’s not trending. As I navigate the cold of Winter, I realize the wool blankets I collected are functional and practical. They may not have “the trending look” but they offer qualities that will outlive any trend. They are useful items, built to last.

Back to how I keep my home. I improve my home as I can, using what I’ve got and upgrading when I can. I make it better along the way. I have wanted to make a “reading nook” but could not figure out how to do it … until now. I think I may have figured it out! Like a puzzle, my home is coming together one piece at a time. And I’m still deciding for myself what I want to keep and let go of to improve the quality of my life.

In today’s world, the de-cluttering trend is pretty loud. Organize, de-clutter, reset … it would be so nice to do this one time and be done with it. It’s an on-going process for me. And as I get there one puzzle piece at a time, I know achieving my goal is within reach. It’s like good design. You can have a well-designed space without a renovation, without spending a lot of money. It’s within reach and I can see it peeking through the horizon of possibilities for my home.

Thank you for reading my article!