Empty spools

I save empty spools...most of the time.  I started out for no real reason just a few years ago, then thought I would let Lorelei play with them after she was born.  But I didn't do that.  I always have binding left over when I bind a quilt, so had the idea to wrap it around the empty spools and pin the end in place with a straight pin.  It helps keep it in order.  Every now and then I need just a short piece, say for a potholder.  I can look and see what I have already made.
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By the way, I counted the empty spools I had saved, and I had 9 that had held 500 yards of thread, and 9 that had held 300 yds.  Then there are the spools that are shaped like the ones shown here that I don't save at all.

I cannot even think how many of these I have thrown away.  And I have a lot of spools of thread that are almost empty.  Some from quilting and some from making clothing.

I wondered, does every woman keep thread and needles just for repairs?  Do you just keep a couple colors of thread or do you go buy the color as needed?  I cannot imagine not having a sewing machine, but I know a lot of people don't sew at all.