A few years ago I realized that there are two kinds of people in this world: those who avidly hoard twist-ties, and those who don't. Since I haven't seen any other predictors of whether someone Gets It, I'd like to know if the hoarding of twist-ties is a common factor among GIs. I have a kitchen drawer full of twist-ties. How about the rest of you?

-- Pearlie Sweetcake (storestuff@home.now), December 14, 1999

Answers

And neatly stored in a small zip-loc. :-)

-- A (A@AisA.com), December 14, 1999.

yes, and that explains why my husband finally came around.

-- b (nah@rathernot.com), December 14, 1999.

My dad grew up during the depression and taught me that if something can be reused to keep it. Yes...I too have lots of twist-ties. In fact, I save the bread bag that the twist-tie came on with the plan to use it to store homemade bread.

beej

-- beej (beej@ppbbs.com), December 14, 1999.

stacked neatly at work, then a bundle taken home for re-use.

The consequence of studying the Great Depression, seeing a repeat ahead, and raising seven children on one income. Always room for one more "gift" from God:-)

And the children are pretty thrifty little buggers too! I sometimes throw something away at home three times, and it's not because the toddler is pulling it out; everyone sees a re-use for everything. We'll do okay when the system crashes, soon or in 20 years. This type of recycling, thrifty attitude must be instilled over time, and they're ready. :o)

-- Programmer Farmer (sevenchildren@home.org), December 14, 1999.

NICE TRY!!! but no prize. i am a GI big time but am not methodical and DO NOT SAVE TWISTIE-TIES. nor have i ever hoarded/saved anything to my knowledge. this was strange for me because i have been so driven/methodical in prepping and never was before.

-- tt (cuddluppy@nowhere.com), December 14, 1999.

I learned to "tie" garbage bags closed when I picked up a box of 50 of them from a dumpster diving trip. There weren't any twist-ties in the box. I used to save twist-ties and rubber bands, but now, anytime, I get over a dozen of them in the "utilty" drawer, my husband throws out the extra. He calls it Object Birth Control. I wish that I had the nerve to do that with his necktie collection, with numbers about 73 right now.

-- (ladybuckeye_59@yahoo.com), December 14, 1999.

I cannot throw away those little tin boxes that the "Altoids" come in. I have about 100 of them. I hear that they come in great big pencil size tin boxes now but I cannot find them in Charleston.

Bill in South Carolina

-- Bill Solorzano (notaclue@webtv.net), December 14, 1999.

I cannot throw away those little tin boxes that the "Altoids" come in. I have about 100 of them. I hear that they come in great big pencil size tin boxes now but I cannot find them in Charleston. If i could, I would store the little boxes in the big boxes I guess

Bill in South Carolina

-- Bill Solorzano (notaclue@webtv.net), December 14, 1999.

Interesting uh, er...metric.

Let's see. I've got two bulk rolls of twist tie material (just put out as much as you need and chop it off with the built in cutter). Two packages of industrial-strength twist-tie (the kind used at florists - about a foot in length and very sturdy). And one plastic shoe box half-full of assorted twist ties from various sources.

Do I win?

-- Arnie Rimmer (Arnie_Rimmer@usa.net), December 14, 1999.

Yes, I hoard twist-ties and pick paper clips off of the floor. And I keep the Altoid boxes. Glue sponge rubber on the bottom and you can use them as a handy case for fishing flies.

-- Mr. Mike (mikeabn@aol.com), December 14, 1999.

You're certainly a contender, Arnie.

-- Pearlie Sweetcake (storestuff@home.now), December 14, 1999.

...yes. All neatly straightened and standing in a little jar. Next to the flattened cardboard. In front of the plastic produce bags, clean steel cans, and folded paper bags. And that's just in the kitchen. In the office, I save every sheet of printer paper that is less than half printed on. And all the clean, blank paper stuffing from packages, as well as clean butcher paper. Oy, Vey!

-- Liz (lizpavek@hotmail.com), December 14, 1999.

Liz,

Do you also have a detergent or other bottle draining into a new, full one sitting on your counter?

-- (ladybuckeye@yahoo.com), December 14, 1999.

Ditto the Depression stories from both parents. The best "behavior" I ever witnessed was my Dad rehanging paper towels to dry and reuse saying, "It's just water on there". This from a millionaire!

-- Dot (dromano03@snet.com), December 14, 1999.

No way. I never even use them at all! They get thrown away. Tie grabage bags using themselves and just fold other bags over and put in fridge. I hate them.

-- Sheri (wncy2k@nccn.net), December 14, 1999.

Live simply, that others may simply live. In the future, they will ponder our civilization, as they relax in their Altoid box cities, held together by twist-ties. "What sort of people were they?" They couldn't even begin to imagine... Or maybe they could. Or will. Whatever.

-- Rider (free@last.Amen), December 14, 1999.

Twist ties, bread bags, milk jugs, old gal. wine bottles from dumpsters (hate the stuff, love the bottles....they're great to store homemade maple syrup in), old shoe laces, popcorn tins (have kids salvadge them from dumpsters at college after Christmas), tin foil, and my personal favorite...string from feed bags (all tied together and rolled into a ball; ready for spring garden marking.)

-- Kat (KatsPajamas@myhouse.com), December 14, 1999.

I'm going to have the other inhabitants of my household read this. 'Course they'll just think y'all are my imaginary friends.

Guilty. {Altoid boxes included, but do YOU stuff them with give-away condiments as they float around your car 'til you really figure out what to do with them? Huh, do I win yet? Do we need to amend Timebomb Bingo with a few new keywords now?}

Project Twist-tie: Coincidence, or Conspiracy?

-- flora (***@__._), December 14, 1999.

I bet you all knew deep down inside that you'd have the last laugh after all those years of being called a "pack rat".

-- I'm Here, I'm There (I'm Everywhere@so.beware), December 14, 1999.

No twist ties, but lots and lots of bale strings (from square bales). We have several years worth hanging on posts in the barn. We keep a supply in every shed and every vehicle, some in the porch and some in the kitchen. Absolutely amazing how handy those strings are.

-- Sam Mcgee (weissacre@gwtc.net), December 14, 1999.

Sorry, Doomer here who doesn't collect twist ties and regularly throws away broken appliances and other items that will never get fixed or used.

-- living (simply@frugally.com), December 14, 1999.

I am a GI who does NOT save twist ties (maybe I should??)

My mother is a DGI who saves millions of them.

-- (normally@ease.notnow), December 14, 1999.

Pearlie, I forgot to mention that there is always a little scent of Altiod left in the box, but this way the fish's mouth will be minty fresh.

-- Mr. Mike (mikeabn@aol.com), December 14, 1999.

A twist-tie never gets away from me until it has been used at least 3 times! But I do toss 'em eventually.

And, yes, my mom and dad were born in the 1920s and well remember the depression era. I've toned down the pack rat tendencies from the high standard my mom sets. No handfuls of 20-year-old rubber bands or broken dishwashers.

All the kids in my family are notoriously close with a buck. I'd be a much worse packrat except I just *hate* clutter!

-- Brian McLaughlin (brianm@ims.com), December 14, 1999.

I think this one tops them all: when I worked at a nursing home, one sweet little old lady would hang up her used toilet paper over the wastebasket, to dry.....so she could reuse it, later! Must've been something she did, during the depression! Needless to say, the aides would pitch it.

-- Jo Ann (MaJo@Michiana.com), December 14, 1999.

Rider

Two solid minutes of stress-relieving belly laughs. Thanks.

-- Moze (Tex@n.here), December 15, 1999.