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Original poster

Do you ever have a clear out and getnfurious at yourself

19 replies

IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece · 30/12/2018 16:20

For the amount of fucking money wasted on absolute shit.

Fucking hell, I’m so annoyed at myself over it all!

7 charity shop bags so far!

OP posts:

LostInShoebiz · 30/12/2018 16:25

Think happy thoughts about how virtuous you’re being and all the people you’ll help.

GinTimeAtHome · 30/12/2018 16:36

I quite often wonder why I buy so much rubbish...they very often don’t need anything!!

I have a massive box of stuff for eBay (one box went to the women’s shelter and they other to charity, just decided I need to make some extra money) and next week will no doubt have more, as I’m having another massive clear out!

I have hundred of pounds worth of paw patrol stuff neither have played with but desperately wanted!

Hefzi · 30/12/2018 16:45

Yes. No wonder I never have any money.

I have a fifteen kilo box of unused items waiting to go to Give and Make Up

I've reined it in since the autumn, and donated a van load to the British Heart Foundation. But fuck me...

I tended to shop as a substitute for eating - and both behaviours came from loathing my job and the city I lived in. I'm now living in a much nicer place and working for a much better institution (in every sense) so I am hoping not to get in such a mess again. I have forced myself to donate everything that doesn't fit with my lifestyle - I am not in the corporate world, so have limited need for a) beautiful handbags b) high heels (especially as I have a physical disability that makes wearing them impractical ) c) smart dresses or d) any make up at all.

Strangely, despite my financial issues, I'm getting a kick from getting letters telling me how much my stuff has raised each month, and the thought that someone is going to get a super bargain. It's penance for wasting the money on my fantasy life, but actually, it feels pretty good too

Original poster

IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece · 30/12/2018 17:17

My hoarding and buying shit is definitely related to being unhappy at work or home or my mental health.
I had a huge clearout this time last year (new year new me crap!) and was so angry at myself and vowed not to do it again.

Clearly I failed! It’s been a crappy year, mental health mainly but ironically also financially! So I’ve tried to cheer myself up by buying shit

Our local PDSA contacts you quarterly to tell you how much has been raised with your donations and I really like that! I shall console myself that it’s helping others and absolutely work much harder this year on not buying pointless shit

OP posts:

RedDeadRoach · 30/12/2018 17:20

I used to but now I realise it's a pointless emotion. If I'm not going to use something, someone else might as well enjoy it. I give a lot of stuff away as well instead of trying to sell it. The peace that comes from having it out of the house is worth more than the £10 I might get for it.

Original poster

IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece · 30/12/2018 17:21

Thank you Red that’s a good way to look at it, oh yes, There’s so much I could sell I’m sure but I just need it gone, definitely worth more then the £10 I’d get!

OP posts:

treaclesoda · 30/12/2018 17:24

Years ago I was miserable in my job (and frankly was poor as well) and I was terrible for going shopping at lunchtime and just buying crap.

I'm much much happier now, and have far more money, and I don't buy a quarter of what I used to buy.

I can definitely understand shopping as a response to unhappiness.

RedDeadRoach · 30/12/2018 17:28

It is hard to just give stuff away because I really really could do with the money but I also have depression and the cluttered house doesn't help. Although the more I get rid of the more there seems to be!

Original poster

IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece · 30/12/2018 19:39

I do look at it and think “ooh maybe I should keep that to sell” but I tried that last year and still have the crap I wanted to sell them so if chucked all that in the charity shop back, given my head a wobble and moved on because I wouldn’t sell it I’d just continue to hoard it!

But oh god the wasted money

OP posts:

Hefzi · 31/12/2018 04:14

It's good to know I'm not alone!

I hear you on the selling front, Red- and I agree completely.

Perhaps we can band together and try to discourage ourselves from "sorrow shopping"? 2018 has been the worst year of my life so far (against some heavy competition ) and I'll be glad to see the back of it--but I would really like to break this cycle, even if 2019 is just as shit.

Aquamarine1029 · 31/12/2018 04:30

I firmly believe that a cluttered, messy home drastically and negatively affects every aspect of our lives and our mental health. Get ruthless and GET RID. None of us need all the useless tat that consumes our lives.

bibbitybobbityyhat · 31/12/2018 05:11

What kind of things are you buying? I'm a bit of a hoarder but never buy random stuff so it isn't really making my house cluttered. Most things I own are pretty old. I can't imagine the sort of pointless tat you are describing. I don't really "go shopping".

WoogleCone · 31/12/2018 05:24

There's plenty of room for more people on the decluttering thread if anyone wants to join? Were on thread 6 on the housekeeping board.
Just one thing a day, slow and steady :)

AJPTaylor · 31/12/2018 05:36

18 months ago we moved house. The amount of "stuff" that I threw away chastened me totally. Far from perfect but better.

FabulousUsername · 31/12/2018 05:39

I've recently discovered great YouTube channels about minimalist living and as a result I'm decluttering with a vengeance. I used to overshop out of boredom or to fill an emotional void. Don't beat yourself up about it, accept the past and move on. I have sold stuff on eBay and to be honest it's such a faff it seriously helped me snap out of mindless online clothes shopping, as before I clicked buy I would imagine trudging down to the post office having sold on eBay in 6 months time unworn with tags still on, I'm looking at you Jigsaw bargain trousers and the thought of that reminds me that shopping won't solve my problems.

Please don't be angry with yourself, consider it a wake up call!

Greyhound22 · 31/12/2018 05:45

Absolutely.

I'm wasting thousands on totally useless shite.

It's got to stop. I have plenty of clothes. Tonnes of make-up and beauty products. I'm going to make myself use it all rather than adding to it.

Online shopping is my vice at times like this when I can't sleep.

RedDeadRoach · 31/12/2018 08:10

But oh god the wasted money

That money is long gone. There's no point beating yourself up about it. You can't change the past. I saw something helpful on here before about being kind to your future self. If you don't throw this stuff away then your future self will need to deal with it. If you deal with it now your future self can be doing something more useful with the time.

Original poster

IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece · 31/12/2018 14:11

Just been to Ikea and a variety of shops which would definitely have previously meant I’d buy a load of shit but I didn’t! I’m really hoping I can break the cycle because lord knows I need the money and the space!!

OP posts:

Hefzi · 31/12/2018 16:16

Well done, OP, you've got this!

I don't have clutter, and I don't buy tat ("landfill", as I like to think of it) : but I do need to be realistic about my lifestyle etc and rein in the spending that's appropriate only for the parallel universe me, so I can have money to spend on the things that the real me would like to do.

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