My addiction is out of control and I am being brutally honest here

[aGentlerTime]

Today I am ripping apart my house and throwing out things that I have bought out of my addiction.  I am not talking about a few things here and there, I mean huge big black garbage bags full.  I seriously need to stop this madness and I dont know how.  Does anyone else feel like this?

[valleythriftshopper]

At least you are able to recognize when you have too much stuff & throw it out.  People who have hording problems can not bring themselves to do that.  If you are spending money you can't afford to or just buy stuff impulsively that you don't really need you should probably seek help.  Your family physician should be able to steer you in the right direction. 

I am a big shopaholic but fortunately I have found a way to satisfy my need to shop by selling on Ebay.  Also, when I pick up something impulsively I usually walk around the store with it for a while first.  Usually I come to my senses & put it back.  Lastly I rarely carry cash so I have to use a card to purchase most items.  So if I find some silly thing for 49 cents or whatever, I have to really want it in order to use a debit card to pay for it.

Hope you are able to solve your problem!

[Good Buddy]

I used to buy things whenever I felt like it as it was thrifting and cheap.
We all thrift so often now my philosophy is that, if i cannot live without it, then I buy it. And it has to be in perfect condition also. We've really cut down on our BS purchases

[SeSo_Says_So]

I do understand, and I applaud your honesty and your efforts to clean up and start fresh. One thing that helps is considering how much of your life/time you have to spend taking caring of "stuff" when you might be doing other things, such as being with family or doing something you personally love to do such as creating art, reading, meditating, sewing, exercise--well, the list is endless. 

You touch on such an interesting point for me personally because I hear people in thrifts say about items: "O I love it, I don't need it but who knows someday..." and I wonder, do we buy at thrifts because what we buy at thrifts is needed, or do we buy at thrifts because the stuff may be cheaper, but we don't need it. I feel that just because an item is cheaper at a thrift doesn't mean I Have to buy it.

In that understanding, to me, thrifting just becomes another way to waste money.

Whether it's a dollar or a million dollars, if you don't need it it is still useless. I tell myself that and learn to walk away, walk away. If I do purchase something that doesn't serve, I try to redonate it ASAP.

Hope this helps in some small way. Keep cleaning out. It's a great feeling!

[floridarecycled]

I can totally relate...I have always keep for sentimental/emotional reasons...then it was all the different things I love...I personally have approximately 24 serious areas that I go "ahhhhhh" and just "have" to have it!  Then I pick up stuff for my family/friends (which is really good if you follow through and pass it along - then lately I have been learning about pottery and glass...and have been finding items that I know are great deals to turn around and flip...problem is the only thing "flipping" is me!  Flipping out that is - this pottery phase I am currently in has become unmanageable almost!  l seriously have issues - and I need to do some spring cleaning too!  My sisters and I are having a yard sale next week...that is at least a start!  I know I have to do something - either get rid of - or stop thrifting (no way) - my brother has refused to help me move again unless I do!

Has anyone ever watched the show "Clean House" on the Style network?  I would love to call them...but I seriously couldn't handle making all those decisions about my stuff!  Yet when the show is over...rarely are they upset about the stuff...when you're in it - it is overwhelming - but when it's gone - it's a relief!  Saddest part for me is I have a lot of cool stuff...but I have so much that most of it is boxed up and I don't even get to enjoy it!  I keep telling myself that if I can't enjoy it and share it...that I should get rid of it and let someone else enjoy it!

I know what I need to do and how to do it...just gotta put a little "action" to it!  Kinda like with dieting...oh me...oh my!!!

[aGentlerTime]

This "need to aquire" is overwhelming to me.  I guess it is OCD. I can't rescue just one half dead orchid (one example of many) from lowes for $3 but I have to have a house full.  At first I did call myself the 'orchid rescuer" and the people in the store thought it was great and gave me DEEP discounts on non flowering orchids.  I buy and rarely enjoy.  My plan recently has to become very ebay active but even that overwhelms me and it is easier to donate or dump.  I dislike mainstream shopping intensely (IE: retail , grocery stores) so it is beyond a shopaholic thing.  When I am stressed, somehow thrift shops calm me, that is, until I buy and then I feel guilt. It is a vicious circle for me.  And one of any given thing doesnt satiate me.  My latest example is Murano glass.  I love it, see it, buy it and instantly, I have another useless collection.  So many times I have honestly fantasized of having a dumpster roll up to my house and me opening the windows and tilting the house to dump it all out and to  get a fresh canvas.  I know I am ranting here but somehow it is cleansing to type this out.  <deep sigh>  Oh and another thing.  when in a supermarket, the first thing I look for is "clearance" meat (the stuff they mark down due to near "sell by" date)  I am in a constant quest to "score' bargains.  It is not that financially I have to shop this way, it is just my way.  I really wish I could just stop it.  Every day to myself I think "ok I am not going to stop at the thrift store, and the whole way home from work I fight it, back and forth, and 8 times out of 10 I end up there. I think I am in the wrong forum here. sorry

[valleythriftshopper]

True, if thrift shopping is a destructive force in your life, reading posts about great thrift shop finds is probably not healthy.  Again, if you think you have an OCD type disorder you should schedule an appointment with your physician to talk it over.  Good Luck!

[loveit]

I can relate to this. I am obsessed with thrifting;however, I only buy 50's or 60's stuff, in good condition. When I first started thrifting, I would look at the furniture in the thrift store and think I would buy it and restore it. I got over that fantasy and I don't think that anymore. I don't have time to restore furniture, I have several pieces waiting to be restored that I haven't touched, and I don't like working with toxic chemicals, anyway. I finally got over that urge, but I would see a piece, not buy it, and it would haunt me for days!
I do, however, have a house full of 50s/60s stuff that I think I will sell on ebay, if I ever get the courage/time to do it.

I just enjoy the treasure hunt so much. I like to buy for family and friends (and I do pass the items on). Lately I have thought that I should find another type of treasure hunt that doesn't cost so much $$$$, since the thrill is in the hunt, not the owning of these things.

[Jay2TheRescue]

I can relate to this. I am obsessed with thrifting;however, I only buy 50's or 60's stuff, in good condition. When I first started thrifting, I would look at the furniture in the thrift store and think I would buy it and restore it. I got over that fantasy and I don't think that anymore. I don't have time to restore furniture, I have several pieces waiting to be restored that I haven't touched, and I don't like working with toxic chemicals, anyway. I finally got over that urge, but I would see a piece, not buy it, and it would haunt me for days!
I do, however, have a house full of 50s/60s stuff that I think I will sell on ebay, if I ever get the courage/time to do it.

I just enjoy the treasure hunt so much. I like to buy for family and friends (and I do pass the items on). Lately I have thought that I should find another type of treasure hunt that doesn't cost so much $$$$, since the thrill is in the hunt, not the owning of these things.

You're right.  A lot does lie in the thrill of the hunt.  This is what I do.  I get the thrill of the hunt.  If the item is in good enough condition, and is cheap enough, I buy.  I enjoy the item, and when I find a similar item I like better the item goes into my inventory to sell at the DC Big Flea.  There are a very small handful of items in my "permanent" collection (Like my 1,200 Watt Oster Commercial blender w/ the stainless steel pitcher! - $7 @ SA a few years ago), the rest can go at any time when I find something new that catches my fancy.  Its also better when selling these items that you know each item very well.  Its especially nice when I sell a vintage kitchen appliance that I can pass along how to use all of the attachments, and even provide a few of my favorite recipies I made with it.

-Jay

[Mattie]

I don't know if this will help, but here's what I do when I find it hard to get rid of stuff:  I take pictures!  For years I could not donate clothes I no longer wore.  Each item had memories attached to it.  I had overflowing closets and drawers filled with outdated clothes I knew I'd never wear again, but I couldn't stand the thought of parting with them.  Then I started hanging them up against a plain wall and photographing them individually.  It somehow made it easier to part with all those shirts and skirts and dresses if I knew I had a small image to remind me of them.  And a pile of snapshots takes up much less room than a mountain of clothes.

[AlienEeeter]

I have 4 metal colanders with a star pattern.  Why?  I like them and get excited when I find them.  I haven't been able to turn one down yet.

[Tammy]

Add me to the list.  After just getting rid of tons of items last month at our community auction, I have mixed feelings about garage sales.  I adore garage sales.  While I'm excited about them starting up again, I dread going to any for fear of dragging home tons more stuff.  I also buy cause the it's a good deal and I might need an extra one of these.  You should see how much I have in Pyrex.  It's disgusting.  I'm surprised my wood shelfs haven't broken.  Nobody needs 4 or 5 of the same dish just because it's in a different pattern/color. 

[aGentlerTime]

Well , it seems like I collect many of everything.  I bet I have over 15 pairs of Black slacks.  Seriously, no one needs 15 pairs of black slacks.  BTW I did not go to the thrift shop today, instead I went to 2 mainstream department stores and bought ....................well more clothes. <hanging head>