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Original poster

Constant need to buy stuff is getting me down

418 replies

zoomzoom68 · 08/06/2021 07:01

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!

OP posts:
00100001 · 10/06/2021 17:45

@Viviennemary

Put an ad in a local newsagents window or post office. You might get some interest. Chopping board use an old place mat. Beach tent not necessary IMHO. People used to manage without them years ago. Plant pots not necessary. Birthday decorations same. Look up some minimalist websites/blogs.
Yes people used to "manage without" beach tents/shelters. They used to traipse a massive bloody wind real, blankets, umbrellas/parasols etc instead of a small and light weight tent ...
Inertia · 10/06/2021 21:49

@00100001 yes! No 70s holiday was complete without the ridiculously unwieldy windbreaks!

Arbadacarba · 10/06/2021 22:02

Oh, yes, windbreaks! There was always at least one group on the beach who'd have about 4 windbreaks to mark out their territory on the sand.

And huddling in an anorak next to a billowing windbreak, clutching a fish paste sandwich while my parents dribbled stale coffee out of a manky thermos has to be my abiding memory of childhood holidays.

GiantToadstool · 10/06/2021 22:03

Wow. I live near the beach and have never had a tent. I'd imagine it would get quite hot?

00100001 · 10/06/2021 23:00

@GiantToadstool

Wow. I live near the beach and have never had a tent. I'd imagine it would get quite hot?
They're just open sided tents like this
Constant need to buy stuff is getting me down
GiantToadstool · 10/06/2021 23:08

I've had a google as I'm now curious if I'm missing out! I thought people above were talking about zipping them up.
I'm not really sure what you would use it for other than to store things. Or a non mobile baby. Once they're mobile they'd just crawl out wouldn't they?

likeafishneedsabike · 10/06/2021 23:18

Maybe I’m lucky to live so close to a Home Bargains. They have all this stuff at a fraction of the price.
Ditch Amazon!

00100001 · 11/06/2021 07:09

Mine had their nap in there. Adults would also have a lay down out of the sun.
It keeps things like cool bags out of the sun.
We would use it to keep sand off things. Chuck all the bags in there.
Use it as a wind breaker.
Gave people a bit of privacy for changing.
There's a pocket in the sides for things like phones/sunscreen.

And it was really easy to move round with the sun.

SilverGlassHare · 11/06/2021 07:47

@GiantToadstool

Wow. I live near the beach and have never had a tent. I'd imagine it would get quite hot?
Wow. You live near the beach and have never seen a beach tent? Do you never visit the beach when other people were there? We were at the beach at half term and every other family had them, either the open sided ones like a PP posted or ones like we have where you can zip up the front or leave it open. You can fit a child and two adults in ours (at a pinch! Enough to shelter from a quick rain shower anyway).
Constant need to buy stuff is getting me down
GiantToadstool · 11/06/2021 07:54

Yup live near the beach, walk most weeks. We tend to avoid it when full of tourists so no didn't go at half term!!!

I have seen them (didn't say I hadn't?!) but not to the extent its a must have! And in 40 years never been to the beach with anyone that has one.

It may well be that because we're local we don't do the " long whole day at the beach to make the most of it" in the same way. We often do evenings for example.

GiantToadstool · 11/06/2021 07:57

Absolutely not criticising anyone who has one. Was genuinely wondering what they were used for/ why they've become populaf.

Holidaystuff · 11/06/2021 09:04

@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!

Yes I agree- sun tent for preventing your little one getting sunburn (particularly with some of the high UV sunlight we've had recently) is essential.

Replacing a broken chopping board arguably is essential for cooking too.

Decorations obviously aren't essential but they're a normal part of our culture and something that most people would buy so are not just something you want.

I understand what you mean OP- all the small spends really add up.

00100001 · 11/06/2021 13:30

@GiantToadstool

Yup live near the beach, walk most weeks. We tend to avoid it when full of tourists so no didn't go at half term!!!

I have seen them (didn't say I hadn't?!) but not to the extent its a must have! And in 40 years never been to the beach with anyone that has one.

It may well be that because we're local we don't do the " long whole day at the beach to make the most of it" in the same way. We often do evenings for example.

i think that's the difference, it's great if you're on the beach all day. but if you're just zooming there of an evening with the kids in their wetsuits and body boards for an hour - then it's different. you wouldn't be taking food/drinks/sunscreen etc so no need to "set up camp" for 8 hours :)
GiantToadstool · 11/06/2021 13:48

We usually take food, drinks, sunscreen and a change of clothes if going for some time on the beach. Often boards and sometimes a bbq.I guess we've just grown up with it so it doesnt seem like a big deal or a need to put them anywhere (people dont take tents to sit at the park for an afternoon usually?) It seems a recent thing. I will pay more attention next time we go!

Absolutely a sidetrack from this thread though! I've found it fascinating thankyou.

00100001 · 11/06/2021 15:01

@GiantToadstool

We usually take food, drinks, sunscreen and a change of clothes if going for some time on the beach. Often boards and sometimes a bbq.I guess we've just grown up with it so it doesnt seem like a big deal or a need to put them anywhere (people dont take tents to sit at the park for an afternoon usually?) It seems a recent thing. I will pay more attention next time we go!

Absolutely a sidetrack from this thread though! I've found it fascinating thankyou.

I dunno. I suppose people don't go to the park all day? But yeah, I guess they don't generally take tents etc.
pam290358 · 13/06/2021 09:10

Try eBay for selling your baby stuff. Bundle clothes sell quite well.

GarlicMonkey · 13/06/2021 09:15

I'm financially comfortable but I always buy 2nd hand & only buy if needed. I got sick of the sheer amount of 'stuff' in the house so I just stopped shopping. That's probably why I'm financially comfortable tbh.

VeraGriffin · 15/06/2021 23:29

Just to echo that this thread has made me really want to buy a beach tent (preferably secondhand/for cheap), for sun protection on days spent at the beach!

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