and don't need to, and don't have it to spend.

Why is this?

What's the compulsion???

:help: I really want to be better. I want stupid, frivolous stuff - like purses. No real reason for it. I have perfectly capable and some NEW bags that I can use and rotate. <sigh>

I don't know if it's because it was years of that not even being an option for us? Then, now that it was an option for a few years - that we'd finally gotten out of the poverty line - that it's so hard to go back to a financial plan and I feel deprived if I'm not spending?

What makes us want to shop like that? What do you do when you get that urge? (Or do you even get that urge?)

I so hear you!

Can you window shop without buying or will that lead to buying? I often web-browse when I feel like buying, but it doesn't make me want to buy. It just passes the time.

If that will be too much, try to make something or get rid of something. That often helps me too.

Something about reorganizing always makes me feel better.

How about planning your new house? Can you do drawings of where your current stuff will go? Write out your plan to pass the time.

I'm trying to declutter and sell things at the local consignment shop. I just found a bag full of nwt TCP and Gymboree...egads! Why do I think I'll use the money I get for the clothes to buy more clothes for the girls?????

I get that feeling too. We were broker than broke when we had our first and now we have money to spend and I want new purses too. So it helps to put items I want in online shopping carts and then close the page. :)

I get that way every spring for about a month or so. I do a lot of the things the other posters do. I also look through catalogs and magazines and cut out pictures of things I want for a "wishbook." If I can't find a picture of it I write it down. It is amazing how many things are in the wishbook that I don't even want anymore.

I'm having fun planning the girls' rooms now :D
Thanks for the tip, girls :D

I'm so glad! I was going to say, I usually make myself wait a couple of weeks to a month before buying something I think I want. That wait period usually cures me and I don't want it any more by the end!

and don't need to, and don't have it to spend.

Why is this?

What's the compulsion???

:help: I really want to be better. I want stupid, frivolous stuff - like purses. No real reason for it. I have perfectly capable and some NEW bags that I can use and rotate. <sigh>

I don't know if it's because it was years of that not even being an option for us? Then, now that it was an option for a few years - that we'd finally gotten out of the poverty line - that it's so hard to go back to a financial plan and I feel deprived if I'm not spending?

What makes us want to shop like that? What do you do when you get that urge? (Or do you even get that urge?)

Spring gives me that urge. Plans give me that urge. Organizing supplies give me that urge. I rarely do anything about it... I am more of a BIG spender when it comes to putting money out. Like I won't buy the coffee at the Latte' stand, but ****... dinner out sounds good tonight. LOL! I won't pick myself up two new bras, but Don wants a new tv, so lets find that. Terrbile terrible habit.

Baby crying... :heart:

Val

What makes us want to shop like that? What do you do when you get that urge? (Or do you even get that urge?)

When I'm depressed or need a pick me up, spending money makes me feel good. I've come a long way and it's not as bad of a habit anymore. But when I get the urge to spend, I psyche myself out and pretend I don't have any money and then I web window shop, saving links of things I want to buy to go back to later. Then later on when I go back to the links, I'm like "why did I want this stupid thing to begin with anyway?" :lol:

I'm doing that, too - bookmarking things :)

Great advice :D

I think shopping is like sugar. If you lay off it for a while, you really don't want it so much. But those first weeks SUCK. :joker:

Awwww, sugar (doot doot doot doot doot doot) aaaah, honey honey

You are my candy girl...


I'm a shopaholic. I really, truly, in hindsight think I have a problem. This will be good for me :)