This is what happens when I catch up to my pre-written posts without writing more. And when I get sick the day I plan to write them. But bear with me, it’s I think it’s a fun train of thought. I’m enjoying the ride anyway.
photo by exfordy
One of the things I did over the last few years was stockpile lingerie. I figured a) my size has been fairly constant since I was 12 b) I’m going to be getting married at some point soon (we’d picked a year anyway) and c) lingerie is expensive. Therefore it was practical for me to buy it periodically because it’d still fit and I had the money.
I suppose I could also have put that money in an ING subaccount (though I didn’t have an ING account back then) and bought it all right before the wedding. The other advantage was being able to pick out pieces I like over a period of time. I wasn’t as pressed to find just the right things all at the same time. Every 4 – 6 months, I’d start keeping my eyes open and get something. I also received a fair amount from friends before the wedding.
Anyway, I was rearranging my dresser a week ago and discovered that even though I’ve been married for 11 months, there’s some lingerie I haven’t even worn yet.
Which makes me wonder if lingerie is really all it’s cracked up to be.
Most lingerie is time-consuming. Requires a small amount of planning or breaking off an “interesting” situation in progress. I’ll wear it, I’ll wear it all, but it still may not have been the best use of my money.
My thoughts on how I’d do it over—I’d spend my money instead on everyday underwear that was as comfortable and flattering as possible. Add a few fun pieces but focus on the everyday stuff. I could have afforded more quality and excitement in the everyday underwear if I hadn’t been thinking in terms of “special occasion.”
I don’t want to give the impression that I have horrible underwear, so let’s think of this in terms of a kitchen. The most impressive kitchens tend to have fancy gadgets or a few showcase pieces. But for durability, the kitchen’s root elements should be made from good material. For the money that went into the shiny gadgets, one could improve the quality of other parts of the kitchen.
Instead of the most high-tech dishwasher, maybe cabinets that will really last. Or a good quality dishwasher (not always the same as high-tech/price) instead of a million single-use gadgets. It’ll save shelf-space and be much more useful on a day to day basis.
Same with stockpiling lingerie instead of nice everyday items. Now that I’m married and have more bills and whatnot, I don’t think I’ll have the money to buy lingerie anyway. So maybe it’s good that I’m set for a couple years with things Micah still hasn’t seen. But when I have that kind of disposable budget again, I’m going to focus on the practical yet pretty stuff.
If you don’t wear lingerie, I’m sure you can find your own “lingerie” where you thought it made sense to go for the special but now it seems like you should have put more into the everyday. I’d love to hear what your lingerie is. Figuratively speaking.
Ok, tomorrow we really will return to your normal scheduled programming. Unless I’m still taking pseudo-sudafed and Advil like it’s candy.
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Funny stuff! I wanted to ask, “Where’s the pictures for this post?”, but then I thought it might not be appropriate. 🙂
All of us have our things that we have accumulated when money flowed more freely. I think you are right that practical, high-quality items are usually the best bet for purchases.
I hope you get to feeling better!
OK-I know this wasn’t the point, but you made me realize how long it’s been since I wore lingerie for Yankee Bill. Hmmmmm
Perhaps I missed the memo that said you are supposed to have fancy lingerie. I mean, I have a few things that aren’t suitable for every day, but most of my stuff doesn’t fall into that category.
But the bf would probably appreciate it if I spent more $ on fancy stuff, it just isn’t in the budget right now.
@ Jeff, couple people have said this so voila…a pic. But safe-for-work…I think.
@Jenn, it’s just not part of how normal outside the movies life works, I think.
I’m glad Jeff took that bullet for me! I was going to mention the pic, too, but since he brought it up…
This was an interesting read because most stockpile articles share how many free tubes of Colgate they managed to get from CVS this week. Your post actually shared some stockpile ideas for something far more worthwhile!
It’s been my experience that men tend to notice the “fancy” stuff about as much as they’d notice plastic wrap. That is to say, it’s something that’s getting in the way of the good stuff. 🙂
@deepali, thanks for the laugh. I think you’ve got something there, whether it’s gowns or teddies… “Oh pretty. Must take off now.”
For a “panty post” this was actually quite enlightening. I hadn’t thought about my wife’s underwear in that way, but it makes perfect sense to buy for comfort and quality and save just a bit aside for the special “wardrobe accessories”.
I never wear lingerie. I just try to wear cute underwear and an adventurous spirit. Fun post… I opened it at work and crossed my fingers that there were no scandalous pictures. ;^)
I gave up on lingerie a long time ago. I received several pieces as a bachelorette party gift, along with not one but two pairs of feathered mules, and they’re all still in the closet, never to be worn. My husband doesn’t care, and I always just felt silly.
I mean, did you have no use for the lingerie before you got married? It seems silly to stockpile lingerie for after the wedding if you could use it right away….
@J, not particularly, no. I agree it would have been silly to stockpile if I’d been using it beforehand.
I fall into that trap every year with homeschool material. I end up buying a bunch of shiny, extra stuff that I don’t use instead of looking harder for the quality basic material. Every year I have to ditch my “new” stuff and go back to the basic plan. My problem is I always think the new items will make it easier and funner for my kids (and me).
Yikes, it’s been a while since I’ve worn lingerie. I love shopping for it and like you have a stockpile that hasn’t been worn much. I should change that soon….
(great post)
As a grown-up I frequently marvel at the objects and expenditures that matter to me these days. I used to spend nearly all my money on clothes and baubles, but now that I have kids and a home I’m much more interested in home improvements, stuff for the kids. things like lingerie don’t seem to motivate me any more. It’s funny — if someone had told me when I was 15 that I’d have long detailed discussions about roof repairs, the cost of replacing carpet, or the cost of braces, I’d have assumed they were speaking a foreign language.
I keep trying to think of something similar in my own life (practical panties all the way over here), but I can’t quit laughing at the fact that you’ve compared yourself to a kitchen. Thank you for the giggles!
All I have to say is that’s the funniest blog post I’ve read in months. Only one that comes close is squawkfox’s bra post.
I had to check back on the pic. LOL
I took the bullet (as Frugal Dad put it) for this!?! Oh well…thanks!
Great post! A few weeks ago, I tried on a gorgeous nightgown for the wedding night, but it cost $350. I think you’re right. . .more nice day-to-day stuff would be appreciated just as much.
Lovely, silky lingerie. I have a few pieces myself, but to tell you the truth, I’m more comfortable in the everyday undies.
I bring the fancier stuff when Hubby and I go on vacation… which we are very soon… to visit family…
…It’s everyday undies then! 😉
Hope you feel better soon!!!
Lingerie…so lovely. I think the stuff makes the wearer happier than the…uhm, observer, though. Deepali seems to have it right, in my experience.
My mother gave me a spectacularly beautiful lingerie set as a wedding gift. It must have been expensive, ’cause it lasted for years and years.
But by & large, most of my undies have been comfortable practical stuff in as cute a style as I could find. Most of the fancy stuff with nylon lace itches like the dickens (which i suppose makes you want to get out of it faster….), but in my misspent youth I usually could find reasonably jazzy stuff that felt good on my bod’ but didn’t look like it belonged on someone’s granma. 😉
I HAVE to show this to my wife.
Thanks for the picture as well, I don’t think I’ve seen any lingerie since we started having kids;).
I think one thing that might be similar, we have been married 5 years and there are still some “special occasion” type items ( serving pieces, etc.) we registered for and received but still have not used.
I have a one-word recommendation for the infrastructure: Costco.
Hilarious. I think Deepali nailed it though… 🙂
Mike
I think in general I have trouble spending money on the more luxurious items (clothes in general, underwear, etc.). I was peer pressured into buying new cute underwear by some friends a few months ago…I told them I didn’t need anything cute, just underwear (I usually buy the Hanes multipacks at Target), but they pointed out that sometimes knowing you’re wearing something cute (whether or not anyone else sees it) can give you confidence and feel better about yourself.
So I bought four pairs of underwear, and yep, they did make me feel better!
But I still have trouble spending money on myself…
I love beautiful lingerie, but it’s just not practical. I also love comfy pjs. I occasionally buy the “fancy” things, but direct most of my money towards cute lounge clothes and pjs that I can get a lot of wear out of. Plus, I’ve always thought that the sexiest thing is to be comfortable and feel good about yourself, and you can be just as attractive and alluring in cotton as you can in silk!
I am a married man with almost two children. I enjoy my wife in lingerie, and I find a few pieces worn regularly to be a good cross between variety and frugality. I do not see any of them every day, so they do not become ordinary, and the value of additional lingerie would suffer from diminishing returns.
after working in home health care in the county (rural), i discovered that many of my “wealthier clients” had really lousy underwear…holes, safety pins, stains, yuck…and they insisted upon having it washed and folded and put in their drawer to be worn again. ever since then i have made sure that no matter how poor i am (and i am) i will have good quality and pretty undergarments…a person not only looks better wearing it but also feels better.
My wife has been ‘investing’ in lingerie for years now (I think its how we ended up with kids). Shes also invested in shoes, tops, handbags etc etc. By that reckoning we should be really really rich by now.
Hey! Thanks for posting about the honeymoon & lingerie topics. . . funny, I was thinking about those same things myself this week. =) And I really appreciate getting your perspective on them, too. . . .
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