I never actually had a hope chest, but did have lots and lots of household things kept in my closet. I got engaged to my husband to be the year I graduated from hi-school and he was in Calif. in the marines. We didn't get married for another year. I stay at home with my mother and worked, buying up dishes, sheets and all sorts of things. I would lay in bed at night propped up embroidering cuptowels and pillow cases. One night I had emb. a tomato on a cuptowel and when I went to cut my threads and hold it up---I had embroidered it to the sheet. I had to laugh, then take it all out. I had so many things when we did get married we didn't have to buy much. I don't think a lot of girls do that anymore, mine didn't.