Always wear nice underwear because you could get in an accident?

[rosarugosa]

I recently replaced some bras and underwear that were getting a bit "ratty." I was thinking after the fact about how frugal it isn't to replace something perfectly functional because it's looking worn. Then I remembered the old momism about how you never know when you might get in an accident, with the implication being that the EMTs and ER staff will be overcome with scorn or amusement if one is wearing ratty old underwear. (Perhaps they won't even save you if your underwear is TOO crummy)! I don't even know if my own Mom ever actually said that, but it's something I had often heard. So my goofball question is this: do you replace undergarments just because they're looking ratty? :~)

[mamalatte]

Absolutely! I consider it one of the ways in which I "treat" myself. My undies are not fancy -- one day I figured out that I can often get them for under $1 per pair at Target and ever since then I replace much more often.

I also recently replaced a white terry robe that I must have had for over fifteen years. It was still perfectly functional but I use it nearly every day and its ratty appearance was getting me down. Asked for a new one for Christmas and haven't looked back. I really enjoy hopping out of the shower into my beautiful new robe.

[Tussiemussies]

I won't wear anything with holes or stains on it or if is discolored , doesn't fit properly or white looking grey etc. I am very frugal but have certain lines that I won't just cross over. :)

[catherine]

This is a true story, and it's only because I am relatively anonymous on this board that I even tell it.

Many years ago, when DH and I were truly "in the crapper" so to speak, financially, we truly were living a poverty life. Happy to get what we could when we could. Always in need. Always in want.

One day, DH was complaining about how bad off we were, and how we couldn't afford even the most basic things. To prove the point, he declared, loudly, "Look! Look at THIS!" at which point he turned down his pants to reveal his underwear--with holes in it.

"Oh, yeah?" I challenged. "Well, look at THIS!" At which point I turned down MY pants to reveal that I was wearing HIS underwear--with holes in it. I didn't even have underwear to call my own. So sorry if this gives people the creeps, but there it is.

So, in answer to your question, I feel so grateful to have the ability to buy basics. Like underwear. I don't go nuts buying it. I buy it at Marshall's or other discount places and I won't pay dearly for it. But, I do think about how I'm dressed when I leave the house. And I'll NEVER, EVER again resort to wearing someone else's--especially DH's.

[Tussiemussies]

This is a true story, and it's only because I am relatively anonymous on this board that I even tell it.

Many years ago, when DH and I were truly "in the crapper" so to speak, financially, we truly were living a poverty life. Happy to get what we could when we could. Always in need. Always in want.

One day, DH was complaining about how bad off we were, and how we couldn't afford even the most basic things. To prove the point, he declared, loudly, "Look! Look at THIS!" at which point he turned down his pants to reveal his underwear--with holes in it.

"Oh, yeah?" I challenged. "Well, look at THIS!" At which point I turned down MY pants to reveal that I was wearing HIS underwear--with holes in it. I didn't even have underwear to call my own. So sorry if this gives people the creeps, but there it is.

So, in answer to your question, I feel so grateful to have the ability to buy basics. Like underwear. I don't go nuts buying it. I buy it at Marshall's or other discount places and I won't pay dearly for it. But, I do think about how I'm dressed when I leave the house. And I'll NEVER, EVER again resort to wearing someone else's--especially DH's.


Catherine, I am so glad you are not living to that financial degree now. Glad things lifted up from there and are better than they were...:)

[bae]

This is why I wear kilts. Lower underwear costs.

[catherine]

This is why I wear kilts. Lower underwear costs.

So, maybe I should have been wearing DH's Royal Stewart kilt ;)

[Yossarian]

This is why I wear kilts.

I did think of you when I saw this. :laff:

http://www.511tactical.com/All-Products/Shorts/Tactical-Shorts/Tactical-Duty-Kilt.html

[peggy]

This is a true story, and it's only because I am relatively anonymous on this board that I even tell it.

Many years ago, when DH and I were truly "in the crapper" so to speak, financially, we truly were living a poverty life. Happy to get what we could when we could. Always in need. Always in want.

One day, DH was complaining about how bad off we were, and how we couldn't afford even the most basic things. To prove the point, he declared, loudly, "Look! Look at THIS!" at which point he turned down his pants to reveal his underwear--with holes in it.

"Oh, yeah?" I challenged. "Well, look at THIS!" At which point I turned down MY pants to reveal that I was wearing HIS underwear--with holes in it. I didn't even have underwear to call my own. So sorry if this gives people the creeps, but there it is.

So, in answer to your question, I feel so grateful to have the ability to buy basics. Like underwear. I don't go nuts buying it. I buy it at Marshall's or other discount places and I won't pay dearly for it. But, I do think about how I'm dressed when I leave the house. And I'll NEVER, EVER again resort to wearing someone else's--especially DH's.

Well, I must confess, on really cold days in the winter when I need to be working outside, I WILL wear a pair of the hubby's underwear. It is so soft and really really warm! Women's underwear is made to look pretty, and men's underwear is made for comfort! There is nothing more comfortable than men's cotton 'boxer briefs'. And they come with an extra pocket, for mad money!;)

But, and this is just between us, my family is heavily into the medical profession, and yeah, they do bring stories home, occasionally. I remember my mom telling us of the time someone came through her ER, an accident victim in need of emergency surgery, who apparently thought his chances with 'the ladies' would be enhanced by the strategic placement of an Oscar Mayer ball park frank and tape....need I say more!

So, yeah, wear clean underwear...and leave the hot dogs at home!:0!

[catherine]

Well, I must confess, on really cold days in the winter when I need to be working outside, I WILL wear a pair of the hubby's underwear. It is so soft and really really warm! Women's underwear is made to look pretty, and men's underwear is made for comfort! There is nothing more comfortable than men's cotton 'boxer briefs'. And they come with an extra pocket, for mad money!;)



peggy, you made me feel SO much better! :)

[Yossarian]

and leave the hot dogs at home!:0!

Or at least use a kielbasa.

[fidgiegirl]

Or at least use a kielbasa.

LOL. Literally.

[rosarugosa]

MamaLatte & Tussie: That's really it, I think. It's more a matter of treating yourself right than worrying about the EMTs.
Peggy & Catherine: Those were great stories! Some of the most pathetic moments in our histories make the very best anecdotes!
Bae: Brrrr, at least most of the time. I'm in New England and I want all possible layers in the winter!

[pony mom]

I've always thought that if in a bad enough accident, your bowels will evacuate themselves, so to speak. Nice underwear will just be soiled underwear.

I worry more about having hairy underarms and legs.

Years ago a friend of mine was in a car accident and when lying on a stretcher, all she could think about was the hole in her sock. She tried so hard to pull the hole under her foot the entire time.

[goldensmom]

Always nice underwear but about the accident thing....I was an EMT for a while so I can say don't worry about your underwear when in an accident. They often get soiled or cut off, medical staff do not care about your underwear but I did snicker once when treating a wound on the thigh of an adult man wearing Superman briefs and after all these years, I still tell the story.

[SteveinMN]

I worked in a hospital ED for a couple of years and can verify goldensmom's comment -- in an emergency, no one is evaluating your underwear. Well, maybe if it was stuffed with deli meat. Or chartreuse or marked with Hello Kitty or something. But that wouldn't keep anyone from doing their job.

[Zoebird]

I figure that no one is evaluating it other than me.

For the most part, I tend to just wear my yoga clothes, which are quite fitted and under-garment-y. But, when I do wear undergarments, I make sure that they are fancy. I have 4 sets of fancy bra-and-panty sets that I wear.They were expensive for me, but I'm very happy with them. So, I'm more likely to wear them. :)

[Float On]

January is always new underthings month for me and I'm really looking forward to next week and shopping.

And I'm very thankful that my cousins all wear sport shorts under their kilts, they are big into the Highland games and it always seems to be windy during their competitions.

[Wildflower]

DH and I lived in poverty for quite awhile when we were newly married teenagers years ago. We did without so many things. I felt like I was rich when I could finally go buy myself some new pretty underwear. To this day I keep myself in new pretty underwear....always on sale though! :) I am and always will be frugal...

[ctg492]

yes.

[peggy]

Or at least use a kielbasa.

:laff::laff::laff:

[Mrs-M]

Fun stories!

I'm anal when it comes to socks and undies... no ratty-ness, no holes, no frayed elastics, etc. I don't even keep a- less than Sundays best, pantie drawer, anymore.

[early morning]

I must confess that I happily wear ratty underwear. I sort of consider it a badge of undergarment honor, like it's not really worth anything until its proven it can stand up to mending, taking in of elastic bands, etc. And I really hate bras, so spending money on them bites. DD calls my much mended and remodeled upper undies "frankenbras".... This oddness on my part extends to other things, like my last car, which I miss dreadfully - dents (not of MY making), scratches, and a bent door that opened with such a sharp retort that co-workers in my urban parking garage would hit the ground or duck behind their cars if they hadn't seen me pull in. Unlike my current beasty, which has lots of miles but only a little paint peeling. But it will get there.... I know it's very strange, but I actually ENJOY making things last long past their prime. Well, except food....

[HumboldtGurl]

What a funny topic!

I draw the line at holes in my undies, and the same goes for DH's undies too. No matter how broke we are I can manage to find quarters under the couch cushions to pay for WalMart briefs.

A while back I was in a bad motorcycle accident and I happened to be wearing ratty underwear. I'm pretty sure the EMTs didn't notice my lingerie, since I was too busy puking my guts all over the ambulance! rrrrr

[Rogar]

My take on underwear is about the same as my other clothes. I wear them until they start getting ratty and get rid of them. Work clothes go longer. Though I have to say that I've had some really warm Smartwool long underwear that I've worn until it's practically falling apart.

I actually don't recall any such motherly warnings about undies, but when we would go on vacation our rooms would have to be clean in case the president made a surprise visit to the house while we were gone.

[jp1]

I would wear underwear until it was fallong apart but SO filds the laundry and culls the old underwear and socks at the same time. I try to be a bit more aware when it comes to my offuce clothes but underwear i just dont care.

[goldensmom]

when we would go on vacation our rooms would have to be clean in case the president made a surprise visit to the house while we were gone.
As a child, when we left the house my mom said we had to have our beds made in case there was a fire we didn't want to firemen to see our unmade beds. It worked until I was old enough to realize the beds would probably be on fire and the firemen couldn't see if the beds had been made or not. As an adult, I still make the bed the first thing every morning but not because of the threat of firemen seeing my unmade bed but over all those years it became habit. Childhood programming!!

[Mrs-M]

Originally posted by Early Morning.
I actually ENJOY making things last long past their prime.Me, too!

Re: panties, you know it's the beginning of the end, when elastic waistbands start to spring thin, wiry, rubber-threads!

[Tussiemussies]

What a funny topic!

I draw the line at holes in my undies, and the same goes for DH's undies too. No matter how broke we are I can manage to find quarters under the couch cushions to pay for WalMart briefs.

A while back I was in a bad motorcycle accident and I happened to be wearing ratty underwear. I'm pretty sure the EMTs didn't notice my lingerie, since I was too busy puking my guts all over the ambulance! rrrrr


Sorry to hear about your accident. Hope you are all healed now...

[freein05]

The saying I remember from my army boot camp days was the one our DI used. "Yellow in front Brown in back"

[Mrs-M]

They saying I remember from my army boot camp days was the one our DI used. "Yellow in front Brown in back"Them's the ones you want to launder (and dry) indoors. LOL!

[Simplemind]

Oh Catherine I love your story. I have one about DH that I would love to share but he would kill me. I have a tradition on New Years that I always replace my bras (they take a beating with my walk/jogs) and I always replace our bed pillows.

[frugal-one]

Many times we take our "ratty" underwear when we travel. We just leave them and then have more room for souvenirs . One time we did this and the maid came running down the hall with the wastebasket yelling... "You forgot these!"

[Mer05]

This thread is cracking me up! Once, long ago, I was folding some impressively holey laundry, and asked my father at what point underwear ought to just be thrown out. He told me: when you hold it up and it blows away in the breeze. ...I don't personally wait quite that long, but accept it as a valid lifestyle choice.

Frugal-one's comment sounds quite sensible, and also reminds me of one of my weirdest travel experiences. Straight off the plane in London, hadn't slept in nearly 24 hours. I had already seen random Morris dancing, and just left a West End matinee. This double-decker bus rounds a corner, and people are tossing bright-colored bits of cloth off both sides of it. As it gets closer, I realize that the people are all attractive and minimally-attired young men. Throwing underwear.

I didn't think it was worth dying in UK traffic for, but one of the young gentlemen tossed a rolled-up pair - in my size - that made it to the sidewalk. It turned out to be a retailer's promotion stunt for a new line of underwear. Made a great souvenir, and a helpful wardrobe extender on the trip. I considered tossing a pair I'd brought with me, but in the end it didn't come to that.

[HumboldtGurl]

Sorry to hear about your accident. Hope you are all healed now...

Aww thanks. Yup, it took 3 years but I'm all good now, and I've even gotten some new underwear since then!

[HumboldtGurl]

We saw Tom Jones in concert several years ago, and ladies were tossing their undies on stage. I wonder if they tossed really good undies or their old ones that they were going to toss any ways?

[rosarugosa]

HumboldtGurl: I'll bet it was specially purchased for the occasion!

[San Onofre Guy]

My wife gave me new underwear for christmas, but the only reason was so she could have a photo of David Beckham in the house! I now wear David Beckham underwear woot woot.

[freein05]

Them's the ones you want to launder (and dry) indoors. LOL!

I should have explained. The was said when we were on maneuvers sleeping in tents and getting up at 4 or 5 am with not much light and certainly no laundry around.