Have we got something nice to wear on Saturday? Can we afford that new lippy?
But this week, I’ve paused to take stock. Like most women, I have a wardrobe full of clothes I don’t wear and a bathroom cabinet brimming with beauty products I’ve never used, while the kids’ cupboards creak with bygone toys.
As I have quite a few followers on Instagram, I’m lucky enough to receive gifts from companies wanting me to promote their brands.
If I believe in a product, I will promote it using the hashtag #Gifted.
But in an era where it’s easy to accumulate so much stuff, what should we do with it all?
And how can we help those less fortunate than ourselves? I’ve dug out some great ways to pay it forward.
The organisation Toiletries Amnesty (toiletriesamnesty.org) offers a way to pass on your unwanted cosmetics to community groups ranging from food banks to shelters and charities.
A recent survey found that 36 per cent of primary school teachers have provided toothpaste for their pupils.
As a mum, I can’t imagine how the struggling parents of those children must feel.
So if you have a booty of beauty items you no longer need, head to the website to find organisations in your area where you can drop them off.
Another fab idea is Hey Girls (heygirls.co.uk). Shockingly, many girls miss days of school because they can’t afford sanitary products – and one in seven women aged 14 to 21 struggles to buy them.
But if you get your tampons and towels from Hey Girls, for every box you buy, another box is given away to women who need it – with no corporation taking a cut first.
And for anyone who is offered a gift via Instagram, Cat Sims, AKA @NotSoSmugNow, has come up with the idea of #GiftMatch – which I instantly knew I wanted to get involved in.
The idea is that any time a brand gets in touch asking me if they can send me clothing or a toy for the children to try, I give them the opportunity to gift something extra to someone who needs it most.
It could be a charity, a refuge or some other good cause and it can be chosen by me, the company or, if we aren’t sure, Cat can help to source the perfect home. The likes of Mothercare and Pampers are on board, plus independent firms such as @FlorenceAndTheFox, which makes cuddly toys and wall hangings.
The hashtag also helps to find places to send gifts on if they are no longer needed.
The idea is so simple, I can’t believe nobody thought of it before.
In a world where it sometimes seems people care only about themselves, it is refreshing that there are people out there working hard to find ways to benefit others.
Remember, it’s nice to be important… but it’s more important to be nice.
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