A few days ago, I was reading someone else’s column. Perhaps she might do a swap and read mine in return? You never know. 

She was writing about the Tiktok trend of “underconsumption core”, in which young people (that very phrase defines me as officially old) reject the temptation to accrue endless stuff and stick to the bare necessities. 

A quick web search confirms that this is, indeed, a thing. It includes a few things you might recognise, especially if you’re environmentally conscious, used to saving a few pennies or struggling in the cost-of-living crisis. 

We’re talking re-wearing clothes, repairing rather than replacing, not buying new unless you absolutely have to, and making sure you’ve used every last dreg in the bottle. 

“Hang on a minute,” I thought. “Don’t I do that?” It turns out I’m an influencer and I don’t even know it. There’s life in the old dog yet. 

“I need more moisturiser,” wails Daughter, who seems to lack the gene that enables her to squeeze the tube in the right way to free up the last drop. Simple solution: snip the top off the tube and stick your fingers in. This is key “underconsumption core”, apparently. (“Ewwww, that’s gross,” said Daughter, and insisted on buying a new one anyway.)

Swilling out the shampoo or washing-up bottle to make sure you don’t waste any before buying a new one? “Underconsumption core”.

Ripping up clothes that are on their last legs, to use as rags? You guessed it.

Many press outlets are roundly mocking this trend as turning “normal life” into a social media trend. In contrast, I plan to embrace it as the perfect excuse for some of the less flattering aspects of my home. 

Living with a sofa that has been scratched threadbare by the cats because, well, it’s still comfortable, and they’ll only do the same thing to a new one? “Underconsumption core”.

Ignoring the ripped wallpaper in the corridor, the combined effort of small children and bored rabbits in winter? It’s nothing to do with the eye-watering quotes I’ve had for wallpapering, or my lack of DIY skills, and everything to do with “underconsumption core”.

Saving every single glass jar, plastic ice cream tub or decorative biscuit tin “just in case” it’s useful for something? Making two cups of tea using one bag? 

I sense a theme developing here, do you? 

The Other Half has a drawer full of socks that are more hole than sock. I always thought it was a strange experiment on his part, but no – turns out he’s a trendsetter. 

Perhaps I am, too, when I take my trusty, comfy 20-year-old walking boots to Timpsons for a new lace hook or spot of glue rather than consigning them to hiking heaven (although the number of times I have done this lately, I might as well have bought a new pair). 

I’m trying to remember when I last went for a really good clothes shop. Just occasionally, I fall in love with an item, like the slightly ridiculous armless coat with fur trim that I bought with my birthday money last year – I mean, what is birthday money for, if not for frittering on indulgences? But most of the time, I have too many other things to do, and not enough cash to splash. 

And while I went through a stage of buying really nice toiletries, especially from duty-free, this is in the dim and distant past – most of our current bathroom necessities are from the supermarket rather than the airport or the fragrant beauty counter, not least because I can’t guarantee that the expensive stuff won’t be used by someone else. 

Of course I use bags for life, and cotton shoppers (often picked up at events and advertising local charities or businesses, like Citizens Advice Cornwall or Truro and Penwith College) -although I confess my favourites are the green ones from the Co-op that double up as caddy liners. 

I feel like I’m missing a trick. I should find out how TikTok works (I’ll ask Daughter, she’ll be only too pleased to show me), and upload my life for millions of likes. 

Academics are actually studying this stuff. A “trend forecaster” from London College of Fashion told The Guardian that “underconsumption core” is a “memetic antithesis to a consumerist hype cycle”. Pardon? Oh, whatever. 

It’s really easy for Gen X to have a pop at Gen Z. Mollycoddled, too many rights, not like that in my day, never did me any harm etc etc. 

But you know what? Let the young folk think underconsumption is fashionable. It won’t do any harm – in fact, it will save them a bit of cash and do the planet some good, to boot. 

Who’s laughing now?