April marks the 15th anniversary of my blog, so during the A-Z blogging challenge, I will be sharing previous posts from over 2,100 I have written.
I did the post below for the 2022 A-Z Challenge. I had forgotten the details of it, so maybe you have, too. Here it is.
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This is a cross-stitch that I did several years ago. I selected it because I liked the saying and the flower detail around the edges. Recently, I began to wonder about the origin of the saying. After a bit of Googling, Barry Popik, who studies the origins of words, enlightened me.
The saying is thought to be a New England proverb seen in print as early as 1933. Earlier versions of the saying were “Eat it up, wear it out, make it do,” and it was widely used during the Great Depression. However, the War Advertising Council modified it and used the saying during World War II to promote the conservation of resources to help the war effort. During this campaign, the wording was changed to "Use it up, wear it out, Make it do, Do without."
It has been used since then by frugal and environmentally-minded people everywhere. Do you ever quote this saying?
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Until next time...
I haven't read of this but it makes sense. People are so quick to throw things out but then they are also horders so it's good to follow this motto.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely day.
We definitely live in a throw-away society, so I think its good to think about this saying. However, I will say that much of what we buy now is not as well made as it was years ago and that has added to our throw-away mentality.
DeleteLove the cross stitch!
ReplyDeleteAs a child of thrifty parents who grew up during WWII, I am very familiar with the saying.
My parents didn't say it, but we certainly lived it.
DeleteI don't quote it but I think it often, especially when I am tempted to buy something unnecessary.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think about how I might have to get rid of something, that helps me not buy so much.
DeleteI like that saying. I try not to waste and I mend and make do. The downside of that is I tend to hold onto things that should be disposed of, thinking I could make use of it, some day, some how.
ReplyDeleteI have my fair share of things that I might use someday. I'm trying to do better with that with moderate success.
DeleteI like this saying! It's a more fun way to say "use your resources wisely and well".
ReplyDeleteI think the War Department wanted to make a catchy reminder phrase, so they made it rhyme.
Deletei've never heard of this but its interesting that a War Council would promote it. it seems to me a pretty way of telling people that war is going to suck up everyone's resources.
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly right. War is expensive.
DeleteMight have seen that saying on a sign at a thrift store before.
ReplyDeleteSeems like the perfect saying for a thrift store.
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