Selling something you're *supposed* to keep forever
 

I'm thinking about selling my wedding china. It's beautiful, fairly neutral (white and silver) and I love it. But:

-It's very formal and I've hardly had the occasion to use it. We're not really dinner party people:giggle, and if we do have friends over it's pretty casual.
-When I do use it, everything has to be hand-washed. Which discourages me from ever using for big special meals, because the last thing I want to do after cooking all day is spend hours washing dishes.:no
-I don't have the space for it. I sold my china cabinet already. In order to keep it, I will need to pack it in boxes and find somewhere to stick them until at least after we move (and who knows when that will be!).

When I got married, I was young and was used to how things went in my house growing up. My mom always had nice china for holidays and special occasions and I just assumed I would too. So I registered for it and ended up with a big set (at least 10 of everything) but no everyday dishes.:doh Right now, we are using plain white Correlle for everyday, and there is only six of each thing. It works for now.

Back then, I didn't realize that I would take a more practical, minimalist turn. (I don't have the stereotypical streamlined modern aesthetic, but being uncluttered and only keeping what I need has become pretty important to our lives in order for me to feel like I can manage everything.)

Even still, I'm feeling :nails about this decision. Am I going to regret it? Does anybody else have a story about getting rid of something you're supposed to keep forever?

Re: Selling something you're *supposed* to keep forever
 

Is it dishwasher safe, so you could start using it for every day? If I could, I would just use it every day and enjoy it. If not, I think I agree that I would sell it and never miss it.

Re: Selling something you're *supposed* to keep forever
 

Could you keep one place setting for display and sell the rest? Or two place settings and use it on your anniversary?

Re: Selling something you're *supposed* to keep forever
 

Flylady would say that if it isn't blessing your home, then let it go.

People who gave it to you wanted you to have something you wanted (that's why they followed the registry). So I say get something you actually want. :yes

Re: Selling something you're *supposed* to keep forever
 

Keep it until your kids are old enough to wash the dishes for you on holidays. :shifty

Re: Selling something you're *supposed* to keep forever
 

No it's not. But I DID do this with my nice stainless silverware! We now use it everyday and I sold off the cheaper stuff at a garage sale.:yes

---------- Post added at 12:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:55 AM ----------

Even the fact that I'm leaning toward selling the china kind of shocks me.:jawdrop A few years ago I would have never, ever considered such a thing. I'm scared this is a phase and that I will regret it. I'm also scared (or maybe feeling prideful) to let go of my "refinements".:giggle We don't have a fancy house or a lot of expensive stuff, so getting rid of most of our "extras" could make me feel less classy and more "poor". Haha, which is ridiculous! But I'm just being honest.:bag

This article is what really got me thinking about this: http://www.missminimalist.com/2011/0...-fantasy-self/

Re: Selling something you're *supposed* to keep forever
 

I have my aunt's old china and never use it. I don't even like it. I do have room to store it, but that's the only reason I keep it.

:popcorn to see what you decide.

Re: Selling something you're *supposed* to keep forever
 

If you are nervous about it set it aside for 3-6 months and if you have no need for it during that time frame sell it.

FWIW, I didn't even register for china b/c I choose to live very casually. The woman helping us with the registry kept pushing it and I kept telling her no. 12 years later and I still have not yet had a need for fancy china. :no

Re: Selling something you're *supposed* to keep forever
 

I would sell it. I'm pretty casual and didn't even register for china, though.

Re: Selling something you're *supposed* to keep forever
 

I registered for china because that's what you're supposed to do. After three yrs of it sitting, DH asked if we were ever going to use it. I returned in to the store a week later. We aren't fancy, we aren't dinner party throwing people. So I bought a nice set of every day dishes, several sets of sheets and a two new knives. Stuff I use every day and love instead of stuff sitting in unopened boxes.

Re: Selling something you're *supposed* to keep forever
 

I LOVE china, but I also don't have a lifestyle for fancy dinner parties. IF I was investing in china right now, I would choose a design that worked for casual OR fancy because I really like to use fancy things, not save them.

I'd sell it, honestly, and use the money for something that you love for the life that you actually live.

China is an investment, and I don't think there's anything wrong with selling it.

Re: Selling something you're *supposed* to keep forever
 

I use our china at least weekly but I choose a type that was diswasher safe so I treat it pretty much like casual ware.

Deanna

Re: Selling something you're *supposed* to keep forever
 

I really like this idea, if you have 10 place settings then you can keep two and still have enough to sell.

I dont think you will miss it. I think you will feel relieved.

Re: Selling something you're *supposed* to keep forever
 

Eeek! I just listed it on Craigslist, so we'll see if it sells!

I think I'm ready to let it go. I think.:nails

Re: Selling something you're *supposed* to keep forever
 

I really dislike china, so, I say sell. :lol

Re: Selling something you're *supposed* to keep forever
 

:hug I hope it sells well and you feel peace about it. :bag Mine is still wrapped in paper, in a box and it is our 26th anniversary next week. I *think* I have used it once. :bag

Re: Selling something you're *supposed* to keep forever
 

Truly, I can't think of anything more horrific than someone saying, "Here, have something breakable you don't care about, but you SHOULD care about, and keep it through moves and children and reorganizing for years and years without shattering it. Cheers!!"

:shiver :shiver :shiver

Re: Selling something you're *supposed* to keep forever
 

:haha In my case, I asked for it. I truly liked and still like it but it just doesn't 'fit' with me any more. I'm sorry that you don't like china, Aisling. :( I was going to sent it over for Christmas. J/K :giggle

Re: Selling something you're *supposed* to keep forever
 

This is me too, exactly!:yes

Re: Selling something you're *supposed* to keep forever
 

I use mine often enough that it has prime cupboard space in the kitchen. I put it in the dishwasher. It coordinates with our everyday Mikasa and cheapo Ikea stacks when we have a big crowd over. I'm not attached to the pattern (white with gold trim), but it is just on the fancy side of practical. I'm glad we were given so much china as wedding gifts because I don't think I would ever buy this much on my own.

Re: Selling something you're *supposed* to keep forever
 

I really want to sell mine, too. My mother-in-law convinced me to register for it, even though I didn't really want to. We have moved several times since we got married, and I'm so tired of lugging it around and having it take up storage space. Especially since we've never used it. And I kinda don't even care for the design anymore.

Re: Selling something you're *supposed* to keep forever
 

I managed to upset everyone from the proper side of my FOO by registering for Pfalztgraff. :shrug Apparently stoneware dishes with pretty pink and blue flowers weren't fancy enough, and it was horrid that I had picked something that had 4 place settings for $100 :giggle

But I know me - I like to USE pretty things, and I also knew there was no way I'd be attached enough to any object to keep it forever (my husband and son are the only items I plan to keep that long :lol)

I kept it and used it until I was sick of it, so maybe 7 years? Then I gave it to my MIL :shifty

I have pretty Corelle right now, that I got with the proceeds of one of my first ever web design jobs. Eventually in another year or so, I'll get some other pretty Corelle.

I don't believe in letting things own you - I love pretty things, I use pretty things, but having THINGS hanging around my neck that I feel I must keep/use a certain way/let those things dictate my behavior...that makes me :shiver

Why yes, I *do* have a strong opinion about this :giggle

Re: Selling something you're *supposed* to keep forever
 

This is what I wish I would have done...register for something I would use everyday. At the time, I figured I would register for the china because it would be harder to buy that for myself. But I just didn't have a good concept back then of how our lives would *actually* work and I didn't know myself as well then. I actually could write *pages* about what I would do differently *now* from what I chose during that time period in my life!:yes (At least I still like the guy I picked;))

Re: Selling something you're *supposed* to keep forever
 

I have my mom's silver from her wedding to my dad and ancient crystal and various serving pieces. I never use them, but have held on to them for sentimental reasons. But I may just sell them.

Re: Selling something you're *supposed* to keep forever
 

I'm almost completely unsentimental about most things. :lol Take the money and run, hun. Sell it, sell it, sell it! :D

Re: Selling something you're *supposed* to keep forever
 

Sorry to be the odd man out, but I don't think I'd sell it. If fancy dinners with china are a part of your fantasy self/fantasy life, then why not let it be a motivator to start becoming that fantasy person?

I understand being on a clean-out kick (I'm in one too - I'm calling it "Organize 2012"), but it's also a good point for re-evaluating your life. Are you really living the life that you want to live, or are cleaning out the house just to fit the aspects of the life you have right now, whether you're loving all of it or not? I like fancy stuff and special experiences, so I'm making it a point to use my china. I use it once a week for Shabbat, but you don't have to use it that frequently. If you like a fancy dinner, then make it a goal to have one nice "these-are-our-fancy-manners-and-this-is-how-we-use-them" dinner a month. My kids are roughly the same age as yours, and our weekly china & crystal dinners turn out fine. And if something breaks, it breaks. My china pattern is called "Eternal" for a reason. :lol

Re: Selling something you're *supposed* to keep forever
 

We inherited china and don't use it. It's somewhere in the attic packed in paper.
It's hard to let go. :hug2