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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not be able to buy anything

31 replies

SmileEachDay · 08/09/2024 07:40

Because there is too much choice. Particular culprits:

lampshades
small plates
cutlery
a rug for child’s room

It took me nearly 2 years to finally buy a new mattress.

I look, there are a gazillion choices, I give up. Online. In a store (that’s even worse)

YABU - shopping yay!
YANBU - shopping is overwhelming and awful

OP posts:
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ActionNeeded · 08/09/2024 14:04

Like others above, if I need furniture I go to my local Pilgrams Hospice - so much less choice / less busy. If what I need isn’t there, that’s fine - I didn’t have it today so I can cope without it tomorrow. My last purchase was bedside tables, which I didn’t measure properly, but fit perfectly, more luck than judgement!

Original poster
SmileEachDay · 08/09/2024 13:59

…so if you don't like it you can send it back

Except… I bet I wouldn’t 🤦🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
Tisfortired · 08/09/2024 13:39

Honestlymade · 08/09/2024 07:51

Wow! You say that like 13,years is old for furniture. I regard furniture as a life time purchase!

OP I got all my curtains second hand. Cost £10 each from charity shops, and your choice is reduced so easier to make a decision!

Show quote history

I should probably have mentioned we moved in together when we were fresh out of uni and didn’t have two pennies to rub together. All of our furniture was already second hand or ikeas cheapest. We’re slowly replacing things with pieces we actually like that will last. Honestly our current chest of drawers would give you the biggest laugh 🤣

Howdull · 08/09/2024 11:29

OR - buy from QVC

They have a 90 day no quibble money back guarantee, so if you don't like it you can send it back.

Howdull · 08/09/2024 11:26

It's very easy to let yourself become crippled with indecision.

Make a decision quickly and go for it. There's nothing that can't be put right if it's wrong.

ILikeItWhatIsIt · 08/09/2024 11:24

muddyford · 08/09/2024 11:11

I have the opposite problem, in that I know exactly what I want but struggle to find it!

Same here. I have an image in my head of what I want. Usually turns out that it doesn't exist.

Doggymummar · 08/09/2024 11:22

We would like a bean to put coffee machine. Looked in Amazon looked at reviews we still don't have one.v

pictoosh · 08/09/2024 11:18

Ha...was just saying very same ten minutes ago. Need a new hand mixer for baking. My head has exploded at the choice...cost versus power versus customer reviews versus availability versus cost.
I want to spend my money wisely so aaargghh.

Have gone for a Bosch mid range job to be collected later. I do hope it's not a piece of crap. It's £53. Maybe not much to the Kitchen Aid consumers but I can't afford a showpiece. I still want something that will do the job and last though.

So many factors to consider, above all not getting ripped off.

muddyford · 08/09/2024 11:11

I have the opposite problem, in that I know exactly what I want but struggle to find it!

Meadowwild · 08/09/2024 08:30

SmileEachDay · 08/09/2024 07:48

Yes. Curtains.

Pattern?
Colour?
Fabric?
Style?

It’s too much <cries>

Show quote history

Can you choose first, in your own mind, before you start looking and have a budget? Then put very specific requests into google search to narrow the choice and only click on things within budget.

Original poster
SmileEachDay · 08/09/2024 08:21

Maybe it is if you're mega rich with a personal shopper...

YES! This is what I need for sure.

I think I’ve missed the boat for mega rich though :(

OP posts:
Mycatisbetterthanyourcat · 08/09/2024 08:17

Agreed op. I recently took my DC to clarks for some new trainers, a nice lady measured his feet, bought out 3 pairs in his size, he picked one and we were done. I wish all shopping was that easy. Maybe it is if you're mega rich with a personal shopper...

unmemorableusername · 08/09/2024 08:15

Yes I get overwhelmed by choice too.

DustyLee123 · 08/09/2024 08:14

I now longer go shopping, browsing the rails in a clothes shop, like I used to do in my teens and 20’s. In those days you could ask if they had your size in the back, but these days they don’t. I have very few clothes that I wear and wash frequently because shopping on line overwhelms me.

TheRestIsEntertainment · 08/09/2024 08:07

I'm finding this with a lot of websites. Next is particularly the case, but John Lewis and a few others are equally as bad. Thousands and thousands of trousers, t-shirts, dresses. Filtering brings it down to hundreds rather than thousands. It's hopeless.

I also love charity shops for this reason, I browse what they have. If nothing suits, fine. Move on with my life. Although more and more charity shops are grouping by colour and not size/style. Colour? FFS. I'm there to browse things in my size. That is all. I avoid the colour-sorting ones now.

Original poster
SmileEachDay · 08/09/2024 08:02

Congratulations @Eenameenadeeka . I think that’s a reasonable time frame 😂

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Original poster
SmileEachDay · 08/09/2024 08:01

Supermarkets are awful @babyproblems If I pop in on my way home with no list, it’s not good.
Too big.
Too bright.
Too many things.

OP posts:
Honestlymade · 08/09/2024 08:01

I agree with @babyproblems. The key is to limit the choice in the first place. I am chronically indecisive and limiting the choices available in the first place works for me.

Eenameenadeeka · 08/09/2024 07:57

Haha I understand this. I've just ordered curtains for our front room... Took me 6 and a half years haha

Werweisswohin · 08/09/2024 07:56

There's much less choice where I live. I prefer it.

babyproblems · 08/09/2024 07:55

YANBU.
Pick one or two shops. Get to know them really well and only ever buy and look there. Éliminate all the other shops and choice. I would say go to John Lewis. Amazing staff, and you could also ask them to make the choice if you give them the details. They would be able to show you one or two items and you can forget the rest!! I feel like you in supermarkets. Way too big for me. Shop at one very small one now that I know like the back of my hand and do a weekly drive collect shop for a set list of cleaning bits dog food etc.

Original poster
SmileEachDay · 08/09/2024 07:54

I do really like charity shops @Honestlymade

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Original poster
SmileEachDay · 08/09/2024 07:54

@BananaGrapeMelon

I do sometimes just buy the first thing I like.

But the minute I think “I’ll just see if…..” I’m done for 😂

OP posts:
Honestlymade · 08/09/2024 07:51

Tisfortired · 08/09/2024 07:45

Yes same here. We are doing our bedroom up as all the furniture we bought when we first moved in together 13 years ago.

We just managed to choose bedside tables after weeks of deliberation and now we’re stuck on lamps to go on them! I really like the Tiffany style lamps but haven’t found the perfect ones yet.

Wow! You say that like 13,years is old for furniture. I regard furniture as a life time purchase!

OP I got all my curtains second hand. Cost £10 each from charity shops, and your choice is reduced so easier to make a decision!

Original poster
SmileEachDay · 08/09/2024 07:51

@maddening you are sensible and a grown up.

Much better approach than bewildered wandering round the lighting section of IKEA and then leaving without a lamp 😂😂

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