Karen, does your mother do like I grew up to do. If you get something really nice for a birthday present or Christmas, you don't use it, you may need it someday, save that pretty sweater, you might not have one some day, save those gold earrings, you might not be able to afford gold some day. I think it's a New England thing born out of living during the second world war when "things" were scarce and you saved whatever ever you got for a rainy day. I was laughing telling Don that our rainy days are here and we might as well use the good china, silverware and everything else we have boxed up. LOL
Jackie