Reformed shopaholic? please can you give me the benefit of your advice

littlekitty2010

Flickering_Ember wrote: »

Doing so well here....so far today, 2 big bags of rubbish, 1 box full of rubbish have gone.

Still working through my stuff and taking some bits to CEX and Cash Converters tomorrow, listed even more books on Greenmetropolis.com (about sex, ponies and bonsai trees, what a disturbing combination!!) and am going to have a big clothes sale online next week starting from 1p plus £1 postage for everything (some items will cost more to post so will be charged accordingly).

Well done :Tanother busy day for you. I listed more stuff on ebay like you 2 bottles of perfume unopened :(so more funds for cc balance if they sell which im sure they will:D

ThinkingOfLinking

Got another full bag of rubbish ready to go, another almost full AND one for charity all for tomorrow...

You wouldn't believe the amount of pointless clutter I've held onto and spent time, energy and money moving around the country!!

CompletelyLost

Reading about you all decluttering, I'm feeling quite guilty... I have so much tat it's unbelievable. I hold onto it thinking I'll sell it at some point, but do I? Of course not.

Free listing weekend is coming up on ebay though, as I will list a lot some stuff then.

Unfortunately yesterday wasn't a NSD... I spent £8 on two tops (online) - I ordered one in each size, so intend to return one of them (or both if they don't suit). Again, I justified them by telling myself that they'd match the red shoes. Someone slap my wrists please.

I'm also going shopping with my mum tomorrow so not sure how I'll get on with that :S I have wrote a list of things I do actually need, like a jacket - mine is holey, trampy, horrible!!! I have a few things to return too, so hopefully the damage to my purse won't be too bad.

ThinkingOfLinking

Wow, it's so amazing to see so much space I am reclaiming in my bedroom...SO much more to get rid of but getting there...

Today's my first NSD of the month so far.

DietCokeBreak

Hello everyone... I hope you don't mind me jumping in on this.

I'm new to MSE and one of my reasons for joining the forums was to to help manage money better. Shopping is my complete addiction.

I love spending money. I am going to put my hands up for the first time and admit that I spend money to keep up appearances. I have designer shoes and handbags, Chanel make up and nail polish, a couple of designer jackets and a rather large collection of Karen Millen etc...

Reading through this thread has made me stop and think and the reason I feel I need all this is down to very low self esteem. I am lucky to have a husband who loves me, a full time job and a flat that we own (well the mortgage company but who's keeping track!) and whilst we are able to afford these luxuries (without going overboard) I have no self confidence in how I look, and feel that having these things will detract attention away from my thighs/bum/stomach/boobs and onto the item instead.

I feel like a spoilt brat when I know that alot of people are in huge amounts of debt due to their shopping problems but I've just had something go click in my head as to why I have such an addiction to designer labels.

I'm not a big girl and am a healthy size 12 but I have issues with food, eating and size and use these deisgner labels, be it a £20 Chanel lipgloss or a £1500 Chloe handbag, as a cover up for my insecurities. I feel like if I wear that particular item I won't feel so bad about not being a size 6/8 or whatever is "socially acceptable"

It may be hard for some people to understand but even if just one person does and can give or point me in the direction of the help and support I need I would be more then grateful.

Please don't think that I'm taking the pi$$ or messing about as this is something I really feel I need help on.

Thank you in anticipation

xx

ThinkingOfLinking

Hiya and welcome...I totally understand you. I used to be the same. I mean, I am currently decluttering my things and have had to THROW AWAY 2 Ted Baker suits which cost me over £600 because I let them get eaten by moths. It's ridiculous. I used to buy Chanel makeup for the pretty black and white bag, go to the Gucci store to buy their perfume just so I could have one of their carrier bags...and all to feel better about myself whereas now I am incredibly stressed with personal things, and not in debt but skint, but realising I don't want or need this clutter and am genuinely more free without it literally and figuratively weighing me down.

At the moment, I am saving for a passport and for a trip in the UK...small things to start with, and then I want to move back down South so need lots of cash to make that happen, which means I need to cut back on irrelevant spending.

This thread is a great place to be.

ThinkingOfLinking

It's a good day today....got 3 books I sold today packed and ready to post tomorrow, plus another 2 bags for the bin in addition to the 2 I already have waiting. Finally, got an old case I don't want and put the charity things in there; as soon as the whole case is full, I'm giving it to charity.

Been so good today, I deserve that steak I bought as a treat, so guess what's for dinner tonight alongside some potatoes which were 15p reduced in Tesco and some broccoli.

NGlady

Hi all
Well this morning I was running SO late, I have an awful habbit of checking my facebook before I go to work and I came onto the MSE forum, and saw the bodyshop glitch. Ended up buying 4 giftbags (allowed me to qualify for free big items!) which totaled £12 this got me a free £12 foot care set and another £15 set. Thing is I dont want these items I brought because the glitch - HOWEVER I am being very clever, bodyshop return items still in cellophane, so when I recieve them, ill return them sans receipt to the shop, and therefore have £40 store credit to buy some more summer make up with - good or what!

Anglea

Hi all

Welcome Dietcokebreak :j I can empathise with your emotional needs - that having the expensive lifestyle covers up the constant anxiety of not being good enough in some way.

We've all got our own reasons for trying to find acceptance and peace of mind. For me it was about being able to act like the rich benefactor. Learnt the hard way that money doesn't buy love. I was apalled the way some of my so-called friends took advantage of my generosity yet I could never say no to them.

NGlady - dare I ask how much make-up you already have?

FE - you deserve that steak. Hope it turned out nice.



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ThinkingOfLinking

Anglea, I hated it and am going back to being veggie (it's cheaper too!)