You know that phrase that sits at the bottom of every blog post? The one that reads, “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without?” Well, it’s not just there for its good looks, it really is a way of life for me. Not in the sense that I am living a life of deprivation or any such nonsense. I absolutely am “making do” in almost every aspect of my life.
The example I bring to the table today is my shower curtain rings. Yes, I think the shiny metal ones with the tiny silver beads are cool looking, but I’m actually quite content with my cheap-o clear plastic ones. No, they’re not going to win any design contests, but I find them inoffensive and (this is the important part here) functional. However, they have a design flaw, which is that they occasionally snap apart from my apparently Hulk-like method of opening and closing them.
So do I buy a whole new set of rings whenever one breaks? No way, fellow Non-Consumers! I have an extra set of clear plastic rings that I picked up at Goodwill for 49¢. (It was missing a single ring.) So whenever I break a ring, I have an extra in reserve.
And I’m going to let you in a little secret. The new clear plastic shower curtain rings and the Goodwill clear plastic rings are a completely different style. This is only notable if you are actually looking to find this proof of my inadequacy. And really, why the heck would you be inspecting my shower curtain rings anyway?!
I expect that the Goodwill set will last me at least another five years, a which point we’ll all be living in outer space anyway, which probably would mean no shower curtains, as they tend to flap open in zero gravity.
Can you tell the difference between the two different styles of shower curtain rings? And if so, does it matter?
Goodwill, you never fail me!
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
I use both metal and clear plastic. The metal ones hold up my cloth outer curtain that’s there just for looks and the clear ones hold the clear plastic liner I actually use as a shower curtain.
I found the shiny metal ones at a garage sale for a dollar, but I had to buy the clear ones from a store.
You have the most awesome Goodwill ever. Mine is pretty junky most of the time!
Mine is pretty junky most of the time as well. I just hit it often enough to glean the treasures!
-Katy
I love Goodwill. I have half the kids Christmas finished already. Book cover design kits, scrapbooking kits, a brand new pink and purple cloth shower curtain from Bed, Bath & Beyond…love it!!
I lucked out and got the exact chrome looking ones I wanted at a thrift store!
I got a cheap-o set of blue plastic starfish on metal hooks and painted them metallic gold. They look great, even after five years of use.
Those are different shower curtain hooks? I can’t even tell. And if anyone is looking that close…..thats creepy.
Your slogan runs through my head almost daily. So thanks for that!
I totally can’t tell the difference between your shower hooks. And anyone who’d notice and comment about it… well, they’ve got a whole different set of problems. LOL Good for you for making do!
When you run out of the backup ones, you can use zip ties! I did that in college once.
I have ugly white ones holding up our cloth curtain (no plastic liner). The plus being that when the curtain gets funky smelling (a certain someone will not close the curtain so it can dry properly) I just slide the curtain off the rod, rings and all, and toss it in the wash to de funk.
My shower curtain rings bring me daily angst. I spent a couple dollars more to get shiney metal hooks–they aren’t RINGS. Which means they are constantly falling off. Every time I get in the shower I have to replace a few. This probably wouldn’t bother me so much if I didn’t feel like they were overpriced to begin with (we had just moved cross-country so I didn’t have time to shop around). I’ve been making due for almost a year. I guess I need to keep my eye out at goodwill.
I found my shiny silver ones in a store called marshalls, I think I paid 10.00 for them, but in a regualar store they would easy have been 20+.
But i have been using them forever!
Several of our rings have broken and we just never replaced them. Turns out that you only need about every-other ring on your curtain and it stays up just fine.
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without†has always been one of my favorite sayings and at times I actually do it [other times, not so much, I’m sad to say.]
Your blog is so inspiring though, by reading it – ya just might get me back on the right track! 🙂
Have a good day!
Debi