Celebrating my Oldest Items in this Reverse Haul
I saw someone make a TikTok about bragging about the things you’ve had the longest and not just the things we overconsume. I loved this idea! So, let’s talk about hauls, anti-hauls, reverse hauls, and my oldest items.
What is a haul?
You’ve definitely seen a haul before whether it be what someone got for Christmas or ordered from a popular fast-fashion site. It’s a video or blog post where someone shows off all of their new things. It usually revolves around overconsumption and waste. They’ve become very stigmatized in the eco community, for good reason, which is why you really won’t see them over here.
What is an anti-haul?
I’m not sure who really coined this term, but in the zero waste world, this type of video really was popularized by Shelbizleee several years ago. Her popular videos talk about what she’s NOT buying and things she recommends others do not buy as well. From the latest tech to the newest water bottle or shoe trend, this video style encourages people to use and love what they already have before buying something new and trendy. Especially if the trend won’t stay around.
What is a reverse haul?
As I said, this is quite new to the internet. Instead of bragging about all the new things you’ve bought, this creator wants us to brag about the things we’ve had the longest. This promotes slow consumption, is anti over-consumption, and is all for frugal living. It’s also about respecting and caring for your items instead of treating them like trash. It glamorizes repairing, hand-me-downs, and family heirlooms.
My greatest, longest treasures
I don’t have a ton. I’m young and with our constant moving, we’re always decluttering and donating old items that we don’t need or use. But, I do have a few special items. Here they are.
My wedding band
Sure, I’ve owned it for 7 years but that’s not what makes it impressive. I’m the 5th generation to wear it! That’s my mom, my grandmom, her mom, and HER mom. This band is likely over 100 years old. It’s simple: gold base with 5 small diamonds. Notice how it’s not gold now. My mom and now I preferred silver so it was just silver dipped. It was repurposed into a newer style and kept as a precious family heirloom. Plus, diamonds are very toxic and unethical to mine so I love that aspect of a secondhand diamond as well.
My original water bottle
I don’t use her as often anymore since I was gifted this Stanley, but I am proud that I never caved into any water bottle trends. Not Hydroflask of the late 2010s, not Owala and Stanley of the last few years. Nope! I’ve kept this baby for 7 years with many dints and dings. I only switched to this Stanley since it has a straw and I actually prefer drinking this way. Plus, it’s easier to carry and I needed space for more stickers haha. But, I still keep her and like to have it as a backup.
This jacket
I love me a good fleece jacket. It was the only thing I would ask for for Christmas every year in high school. I’m not sure if this was my last Christmas gift as a kid or if I thrifted this, but it’s at least 8 years old and still going strong. It’s a high-quality brand that I also take care of and don’t rough up. Though I’ve added a few more warm layers to my collection as an outdoorsy, cold person, I still wear this jacket every single year most of the year!
Dan’s laptop
My senior year of high school I got a new laptop. Same make and model as Dan’s. He liked it so much he got his own a year or two later. That makes this laptop over 7 years old which is quite old for tech these days as quality degrades and planned obsolescence is a thing. When we were about to leave Vegas in late winter 2023, I upgraded to this laptop (which I do NOT recommend). We had two laptops that were identical except for two things: one had a shattered screen but otherwise worked beautifully and the other had a pristine screen but it’s hardware was trashed. So, Dan took the nice screen and put it on the computer with better hardware and boom, a year and a half later she’s still kicking. It’s not great any more for gaming or running editing software, but it still works for research, watching YouTube, or reading.
Baskets and other storage
While I didn’t purchase them in the most sustainable way (I got them at a Japanese dollar store, likely made unsustainably, when we got our first house) I still use these items every single day. They’ve especially come in handy in the RV where storage space is limited and baskets keep things from jumbling around in transit. Even Denahi’s food bowl is from the Japanese dollar store! While cheap, these things have lasted at least 6 years and still going strong. I also love that they are a little extra memory since they have Japanese text on them.
Tupperware
Oops, this may be controversial here, but I still have and use my plastic Tupperware. This name brand is high quality and very durable. I also like these nesting bowls which take up less space in the RV. Plastic is also great for mobile living since it’s lightweight and doesn’t break. I know, plastic isn’t great. But. I’m using what I have and we do our best not to heat stuff up in them.
Our Xbox
Dan bought this brand new when we first got to Japan in 2017. It STILL works. Not only works, she’s thriving. We use it daily to game and to stream our TV shows on. It runs great and all of the controllers still work too! You do not need the latest gaming system.
So many blankets
I have a few blankets I bought and was gifted while I was in high school and this other blanket I made for Dan also while we were in high school. Not only are they still going strong (I’ve had to make a few minor repairs) but they are ABUSED. They all serve as dog beds and bench protectors to keep our RV seats lasting longer. They get dirty, dusty, and even sometimes peed on. Should I take better care of them? Sure. But they’re all polyester and they’ve all already lasted 8-10 years or so in these rough conditions. I’m sure they will keep going.
The Christmas Sweater
It’s Christmas-y, but I wear it all winter long. It’s a sweater I thought I had gotten more recently. I’ve worn it in my 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 YouTube gift guide videos. BUT, I found a photo this year from me wearing it in high school so this winter will mark 8 years if I got it my senior year but potentially older. I love this sweater so much and look forward to getting it out of storage every year. You won’t catch me donating this any time soon and you know I’m going to wear it every holiday season for the rest of time.
I know, my list isn’t that long. Again, I’m young and I don’t often keep a lot of stuff. But, here is a short list of items I’ve acquired in the last few years that I am making sure last as long as possible, so check in in 5-10 years to see how this reverse haul grows:
My handmade blankets made in 2018 and 2022 (and two more in progress)
My other crocheted items such as bags, a sweater, rugs, and hats
This beautiful handmade pottery. One from a past co-worker and one from Science Ceramics
My engagement ring
This lapis lazuli bracelet I never take off haha
My naturalist books, most of which we also got secondhand
My film camera
It truly is so special to buy or make something of high quality, take care of it, make it last, and hopefully pass it on to children, friends, or other relatives. I think we need to treat more of our items like future heirlooms. Obviously not everything. I’m not saying that this random shirt or random cup have to be heirlooms, but take care of your items. Make them last, repair them, and save money while also living a more low waste life.
And maybe you will be making heirlooms in the process. I cannot tell you how special it is to own this wedding band that has been passed down to me from the women in my family, half of which I never even met. And how special it will be for me to keep it in the family. But you can do this too with any new piece you buy! Take care of it and pass it along.
What are your oldest items? My film camera is 30+ years old and I’d estimate my wedding band at 100+ years old. Are you items older than that?
As always, remember that your small actions make a big difference in the long run :)
Emma
