Constant need to buy stuff is getting me down

[zoomzoom68]

I seem to need an endless stream of stuff and it’s starting to get me down.

Just a few examples of things I’ve bought this week:

• Tent to take baby on beach for our upcoming holiday to protect him from the sun (£30)
• Five colourful plant pots for plants that a friend dropped off unexpectedly (£15)
• Cool bag, again for upcoming holiday (£15)
• Decorations for baby’s upcoming 1st birthday (£15)
• New chopping board for kitchen as old one finally broke (£10)

I know these things sound like one offs, but it seems to be every week that I need something unexpected like this. Does anyone else find the same?

I’m also trying to sell some old baby stuff including a carrycot, but have had no takers on FB or Schpock. Not sure where else to try?

It just feels like we slave away to make enough money and then spend it on an endless stream of stuff... and on and on it goes!

It definitely gets worse as they get older so save money while you can.
I think if it is bothering you, you probably need to find somewhere cheaper to shop. I bought a nice wooden chopping board this morning for £1.99, make decorations or pick up basic generic birthday decorations in a cheaper shop such as Home Bargain or Poundland. We have a box full that come back out every year and I just buy a few balloons and candles to top them up. As several people have said already 1 year olds don't even register or remember the decorations. I have a beach tent that I got in Lidl, we use it every year and we have had it for at least 10 years we also use our cool bag fairly regularly. Is there a library of things near you or do you have friends/family that you could club together/share/borrow some of the items that don't get used all the time?

With kids stuff keep an eye out for NCT sales, they are a godsend for buying and selling small child paraphernalia. I got some amazing bargains and then sold them on again when I didn't need them any more.

Yes there are things that have to be bought but in the words of Martin Lewis from Money saving expert try asking yourself 1. Do I really need it? 2. Can I afford it? 2. Can I get it cheaper somewhere else? Good luck.

Every week I am buying stuff like this online too.
This week:
Breadmaker
Soda stream
Birthday and Father’s Day gifts for 3 people
Disposable nappy liners

Always researching and buying something online….

I just spent a load on a Vans hoodie for DD, a rucksack for DS, some cool shorts on Vinted for me, some sandals . . . I like stuff.

I bought a sun tent, fucking annoying, the baby won't stay inside it, and it gets bloody boiling in there

Chopping board is £1 from Poundland tho. Amazon is very expensive for misc household things.

I get you op. The list is endless. I do get some stuff secondhand from charity shops and local Facebook but it takes time and you have to be lucky.

Sun tent - reasonable. Dd is 9 and we've used it every summer, multiple times.

Cool bag - also reasonable if good brand. We've had a john lewis one for 11 years and it's used loads every summer.

My current list is full of birthday presents- 5 over the next month. They won't all be expensive but it's the time and headspace.

Stop then!

Beach tent is entirely non-essential, when a good umbrella is far less, can be used by the entire family and will last for years. Consider cost per use when purchasing.

But yeah, recovering from a stroke, I'm buying a seemingly endless list of little STUFF that I never considered before. A lap desk for my laptop, as I don't balance well in an office chair for computer work, and need to keep my feet elevated most of the time. A tray with cup holder for my walker, so that I can move microwave meals and drinks from the kitchen to my easy chair to eat. One of those "extend-an-arm" grippers for reaching things on high shelves...can't climb my stepladder anymore. The hits just keep coming.

@zoomzoom68

But you didn’t need to buy any of those? None are essential?

Surely a beach tent IS essential for taking a baby on the beach in full sun though?

I mostly bought all this stuff from Amazon as it’s quick and easy.

Will I ever get to the point where I have everything I need or will it always be like this? I’m guessing the latter!

Amazon is expensive! Alternatively try Amazon Warehouse/outlet,BnM,Wilko. Look after the pennies and the ££'s take care of themselves

As children are always growing you will always need new stuff until they have left home. But if you are sensible you can get stuff for children cheaper second hand and if you save it for future children you potentially save money in the future.

Surely that's what money's for? You work for money to buy what you want? What's the point, otherwise?

Why do you suppose Amazon have made it so quick and easy for you to spend money in this way? The entire website is designed in ways you can't even imagine, to part you from your cash and use up resources pointlessly. A chopping board is essential but you can get a nice little pack of them for a few quid in the sort of shops people have suggested. Cancel your Amazon account, I think it could really help. Btw, millions of other people will be struggling with this. How else did Bezos become the richest guy?!

I just Googled baby beach tent, and immediately saw one on Amazon priced at £9.00 so you could have saved yourself £21.00 just on that OP. Sounds to me as if you like shopping and aren't really that bothered about what you're spending, so why come on MN to have a grizzle about it?

Why has everyone got such a down on plant pots? I love plant pots. And plants. There's no rule that says life must be so bloody totalitarian. I use and olive wood chopping board - 12 euros on holiday. It brings me satisfaction. Red polypropylene ones do not.

I disapprove of Amazon. However, I live 50 miles from an Ikea, 30 miles from a B&M, 18 miles from a Tesco even. Amazon is a boon. I don't browse there; I decide what I need and buy it. Latest was Vetinary bedding for immanent puppies. I'd have had to have made a 70 mile round trip for that without Amazon.

Honestly, the self-righteousness here!

Utilitarian. Not totalitarian, though there's a whiff of that here too.

Decorations for a 1yo birthday....not really a necessity. None of my DC had decorations except balloons.

Hi, op.
I think you've had quite a bit of stick, to be honest. I've had a beach tent for years. Even before dc. Last year my third baby napped inside while the older one built sandcastles around it, we had a moat too and flags. They are great at keeping the babies out of the sand and for changing in/ drying off if needed. Mine reflects the uva rays and some of the heat too. Plus if we all go for a paddle all our stuff is zipped inside out of view.
Chopping board of course essential.
Cool bag again essential and much safer way to carry and keep food at a sensible temperature if used with ice packs. You'll be using it for year's.
I'm sure your decorations will be reused too.
A lot of my things and equipment have been used for all three children- so a bit of an investment.
Plant post - again who wants to look at the thin brown pots plants arrive in. It's much nicer to have a nicely decorated pot, if you can afford them. Plus they will last year's.
Sadly though with hobbies, friends, projects, crafts and clothing they do get more expensive as the years go by.
Have a great holiday.

@zoomzoom68

But you didn’t need to buy any of those? None are essential?

Surely a beach tent IS essential for taking a baby on the beach in full sun though?

I mostly bought all this stuff from Amazon as it’s quick and easy.

Will I ever get to the point where I have everything I need or will it always be like this? I’m guessing the latter!

I had five kids and beach tents weren’t invented. A sun hat and plenty of sun cream. They’re all still alive, never got sunburned or sunstroke.

Stop buying things on Amazon. Everything is 3x the price it should be. Make do, borrow things, Facebook marketplace etc. If you change your mentality that every problem can be solved by throwing money at it, that would be a start.

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Ok - tent - use a large golf umbrella laid on its side, with a towel and changing mat on top, or use a clean torn or unusable sheet and chuck it away after, or try freecycle for a tent.
Why not try Charity shops/Ebay for the plant pots, or decorate your own & buy cheaper ones ??
Cool bag - you may have to bite the bullet on that one & buy, or try Ebay ?
Decorations for baby birthday - make your own, or get them at pound shop. Make your own paper chains from blue or pink paper - dead easy to make - look for inspiration online.
Chopping board - bite the bullet on that one too, or buy a second butchers block & clean it well- you’ll never need another board ever !!
I feel like you do, but nowadays I look for ways to do things cheaply or even for free...and once you start thinking your way around these things it’s actually far less stressful. Whenever I want anything I look on Freecycle or Ebay first, then Chazza shops. Only when I’ve exhausted them will I buy something, and actually I spend very little on boring stuff, saving me more money to spend on stuff I actually want !!

Come October it will be £200 a week for Uni accommodation, that’s before anyone gets fed or clothed ....

OP - I have taken a plastic bucket to the beach, filled it with sand and stood my parasol in it, it is not a huge one but it covers the small table on the patio, so ok on the beach, does the job, keeps the sun off. I use this method in the garden when kneeling down to weed etc. in the sun.

What’s wry with a few blow up balloons Baby in pushchair covered with thin sheet etc Put plants in your garden not pots

Draping a blanket over a pushchair/buggy is dangerous as the temperature gets high.

I think I have hit a lull in the “buying stuff” years. As the kids were younger, I needed to get loads of toys and equipment, multiples of clothes for the messy days etc etc. Mine are 11&13 now and they don’t really do much aside from stare at a screen or sulk until I let them stare at a screen. I refuse to buy anything else since they have ignored everything they received for recent Xmas/bdays. The only thing I need to buy is new clothes, twice a year, capsule wardrobe as they are growing like weeds. I’m sure the expensive years will come again soon, but just thought I’d reassure you there is light at the end of the tunnel!