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Post by tangerine on Mar 16, 2012 10:01:32 GMT -5
I love this idea for a thread! I think sometimes that seeing it written down in black and white gives me a different perspective.
The weather turned warm here this week and all my spring stuff is still packed. I am so tempted to just go buy some new clothes, but am going to wait until I get all my old spring clothes unpacked. It's so easy to just slip into that old mindset.
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Post by dayeanu on Mar 16, 2012 15:07:00 GMT -5
Good for you, Tangerine! Go through the things you have, first.
I think it will help to write about what we didn't buy, what we bought, and how we felt about it.
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Post by seashell on Mar 16, 2012 15:16:19 GMT -5
Yesterday, I had a little time (actually, an hour) before support group, so I went by Home Depot. I just went to borrow the bathroom to freshen up a little and to look at the bedding plants. They had some garden flags out, and I bought one for the Fourth of July for just $6. I resisted all the flowers; in the past, I would have ended up with a trunk full.
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Post by dayeanu on Mar 17, 2012 22:08:06 GMT -5
Yesterday, I had a little time (actually, an hour) before support group, so I went by Home Depot. I just went to borrow the bathroom to freshen up a little and to look at the bedding plants. They had some garden flags out, and I bought one for the Fourth of July for just $6. I resisted all the flowers; in the past, I would have ended up with a trunk full. Oh, Seashell, Sorry I didn't see this sooner! Passing up plants! That's a tough one! I am VERY proud of you. (I can always justify buying plants and things for the yard, because it's not going in the house to add to the clutter. But often I don't have a place for the flowers, I intend to make another flower bed, and by the time I get it done (usually around mid-July or August), those little plants are totally stunted from spending the summer in the little tiny pots. Today I went to the feed store to buy feed. I LOVE a feed store. I love the merchandise. I love the smell. I like the people who hang out there. I like everything about a feed store. It is SO easy to justify an extra item or two. Today I got my feed, visited for a while - did not look around - and left! A triumph!
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Post by seashell on Mar 18, 2012 12:59:12 GMT -5
for self-discipline at the feed store, Daye! That's great! I get my dog food at a feed store, and I especially love to look at the dog supplies: collars, leashes, beds, toys (as if my dogs need any more of those things). When I went in last week, I went straight to the back of the store, got the two bags of food I needed, and went right up front and checked out without looking at anything! Last night and this morning, I wasn't so good. Last night, I stopped by a craft store on the way home from my parents. It was about 7:10, and I really, honestly thought they closed at 6:00 on Saturday, which begs the question of why I went. But they were still open, and I went in. BUT, I stayed in the front of the store, picked up the little craft knife I wanted, and checked out. I love that my neighbor works there--I'm too embarrassed to check out with a cart full of things. Today, in church, the soloist sang a song that was really meaningful to me. I didn't want to forget the words, so I bought a CD that had the song on it. Yikes! That was bad (and expensive!) Then, I was looking in the little shop (it's a megachurch that I was visiting--I like being anonymous) and found three little refrigerator magnets that said, "faith," "hope," and "love." I bought them and put them on my fridge. I'm justifying them because I need to hold on to those three things, especially when my depression is bad--having them on my fridge makes them easy to see and remember. Of course, I could have just written the words on a piece of paper and taped them up there, but they were so pretty. I resisted the urge to buy a book that looked really good, but I did write the title and author down for later, after I've gotten rid of some more things and read the books I'm supposed to be reading. I hope the library has it. On the flip side, I threw away three shirts that were either stained or too old to wear anymore. So three out, four (small things) in. Not exactly the way to go, but that's much better than it could have been! I still had money in my purse that I could have spent!
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Post by dayeanu on Mar 18, 2012 13:21:30 GMT -5
Seashell, you did really well. In my opinion, it was a success. Especially in the craft store. Also in the church gift shop - I tend to justify buying things that will/might build me up spiritually, or be a comfort or encouragement to me in that realm. If it really does, then I think it is very important for you to have them.
Once, before a very scary medical procedure, I bought myself a stuffed animal. It was a tremendous comfort to me. Several years later, I realized that it no longer served a purpose for me - it only reminded me of a vey scary time, and I needed to let it go to another home.
There are a few things I have, and probably will keep, just because seeing them always makes me smile, always makes me feel comforted and good. As long as they are doing that, they are of value to me, IMO. When they cease to nurture me, then they will be clutter, and I will need to pass them on.
As for the songs, I will sometimes turn on my phone's recorder app and record a song, but usually, because of my hearing impairment, I have a really hard time understanding the words so I will get a line from the song and do an Internet search for the lyrics. Then I can save them to an "inspirational"'folder on my computer.
I am trying to use on-line resources for music and books, to cut down on clutter as much as possible. I store my music on my computer and back it up in cloud storage. That way, I can justify buying it because it's not making clutter.
I'm sending you wishes that the music and the magnets will give you a boost when you need it. Music, especially, is so powerful that way.
I am going to the grocery store @ Walmart tomorrow. I will be white-knuckling it as I shop. I hate the way they stick those handy gadgets and springtime decorations all through the groceries. I love spring and Easter decorations. It will be a temptation!
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Post by razy on Mar 18, 2012 23:45:50 GMT -5
I went to a clothes swap evening on Friday and I probably brought home more than I took there Today I wore a top I got there that I wasn't sure about. I knew if I did not wear it I would start thinking silly things about it. It is a brighter pattern than I am used to so I would have started imagining that it was florescent and had flashing lights and all sorts on it and I would have been too scared to wear it. Today I wore it and had lots of nice comments form people so it will be a keeper. I also got some gym gear as I seem to need more but I will throw out 1 old pair of gym pants. I generally am quite good about getting rid of clothes that aren't right for me. Though I do find it hard to get rid of clothes that live in the wardrobe - don't know why that is. The new coffee table is in place and the 1 of the old tables is out. G is taking care of the other one so it may take some time.
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Post by dayeanu on Mar 19, 2012 0:15:54 GMT -5
I went to a clothes swap evening on Friday and I probably brought home more than I took there Today I wore a top I got there that I wasn't sure about. I knew if I did not wear it I would start thinking silly things about it. It is a brighter pattern than I am used to so I would have started imagining that it was florescent and had flashing lights and all sorts on it and I would have been too scared to wear it. Today I wore it and had lots of nice comments form people so it will be a keeper. I also got some gym gear as I seem to need more but I will throw out 1 old pair of gym pants. I generally am quite good about getting rid of clothes that aren't right for me. Though I do find it hard to get rid of clothes that live in the wardrobe - don't know why that is. The new coffee table is in place and the 1 of the old tables is out. G is taking care of the other one so it may take some time. ! I do that sometimes with brighter clothing/patterns than I usually wear. I'm glad you wore it and liked it! Good for getting the table out and coffee table in - it's really pretty wood!
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Post by dayeanu on Mar 19, 2012 19:08:34 GMT -5
I made it to the store and back without buying one extra thing!!!
In part because I had a list, in part because I am still feeling sick and not inclined to linger, and in part because of limited money.
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Post by razy on Mar 20, 2012 1:15:34 GMT -5
Great work with the shopping Daye!!!!
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Post by womble on Mar 20, 2012 9:04:40 GMT -5
I'm just catching up with the thread, everyone is doing very well resisting temptation Seashell well done for throwing out the shirts. I saw baking tin in the sale yesterday, which I told myself would come in handy so I walked around the store with it in my trolley for a while and thinking it through realised I had one very similar so put it back and it felt good Things I have bought since I last posted are other than food, a work shirt for hubby reduced to a £1, feel ok about that, but I did impulse purchase a cross stitch magazine off ebay Sunday, its something I would like to do, but I don't really have time to start new craft projects until I finish the ones I have.
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Post by seashell on Mar 20, 2012 10:00:51 GMT -5
Thanks, Womble. It was hard, because they were my favorite shirts, in my best colors. Daye, I agree with you. I justify buying things that encourage me spiritually and/or help with the depression, as long as they are not large or too expensive. Razy, that's funny. I do the same thing. People tell me I look better in brighter colors, but I tend to wear neutrals, earth tones, because I am more comfortable in them. If I am brave enough to buy something in a brighter color, it takes forever for me to wear it. I will get my nerve up to wear it around the house, then maybe to the store, etc. If nobody looks at me funny, or if I get compliments, I will feel better about wearing it. Yesterday, during our day trip, we spent some time at a Civil War museum. I love gift shops, but I resisted the urge to buy anything, even postcards, which I love and have a large collection of. I did pick up a few brochures and took a few pictures, but otherwise just left with some new knowedge of the war, which is now taking up space in my brain.
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Post by dayeanu on Mar 20, 2012 10:08:36 GMT -5
I'm just catching up with the thread, everyone is doing very well resisting temptation Seashell well done for throwing out the shirts. I saw baking tin in the sale yesterday, which I told myself would come in handy so I walked around the store with it in my trolley for a while and thinking it through realised I had one very similar so put it back and it felt good Things I have bought since I last posted are other than food, a work shirt for hubby reduced to a £1, feel ok about that, but I did impulse purchase a cross stitch magazine off ebay Sunday, its something I would like to do, but I don't really have time to start new craft projects until I finish the ones I have. Womble, good for passing up the baking tin! The shirt was probably needed. As for the magazine, have you thought about discarding something (or 2) from your home, since you ordered it? (I NEVER do that - unless it's an absolute piece of trash I get rid of. Still, I'm sure it would be a good plan. I encourage you to look through your craft supplies. Maybe there's something there you no longer like very much. You could toss that. Or a project you have finished that you could give to someone? Or maybe another magazine of any kind that you have finished reading? Just some ideas.)
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Post by dayeanu on Mar 20, 2012 10:17:18 GMT -5
Thanks, Womble. It was hard, because they were my favorite shirts, in my best colors. Daye, I agree with you. I justify buying things that encourage me spiritually and/or help with the depression, as long as they are not large or too expensive. Razy, that's funny. I do the same thing. People tell me I look better in brighter colors, but I tend to wear neutrals, earth tones, because I am more comfortable in them. If I am brave enough to buy something in a brighter color, it takes forever for me to wear it. I will get my nerve up to wear it around the house, then maybe to the store, etc. If nobody looks at me funny, or if I get compliments, I will feel better about wearing it. Yesterday, during our day trip, we spent some time at a Civil War museum. I love gift shops, but I resisted the urge to buy anything, even postcards, which I love and have a large collection of. I did pick up a few brochures and took a few pictures, but otherwise just left with some new knowedge of the war, which is now taking up space in my brain. I have an embarrassing story about a bright-colored shirt. I bought one that was a silk-look black with really bright tropical florals - reds, yellows, oranges, green. The colors were all the brighter on the black background. Wore it to the store. The cashier raved about it. Did laundry that night, including the shirt. Wore it to the store the next day. Same cashier - she was embarrassed to mention it again! Shell, what will you do with the brochures? Do you have a place to put them? Will you read them and then discard them? This is a trap for me. After our county fair inalways come home with some nice brochures that end up being clutter. I hate to throw them away because they contain "valuable and useful information in a handy packet." bit they end up being clutter for me. Do you have a plan or home or use for them?
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Post by moonglow on Mar 20, 2012 17:11:06 GMT -5
On my shopping list: Pepsi, brite stick (light to replace the one under kitchen cabinet)
What I bought: Pepsi, 2 plants, studfinder, plant hanger, bread, french bread.
I wanted one plant for the 2 rooms I have decluttered: kitchen and porch. I bought the studfinder to help put up the plant hanger for the plant on the porch. Weak, but a justification.
Never did find the same brand brite stick.
What I looked at but did not buy: outdoor rugs, pots, candles, kitchen supplies, office supplies. Looked specifically for a cash book (debits/credits) which I could not find, and a tea kettle, which I did not buy because I didn't see one I LOVED.
I too will have to be careful when the outdoor plants start showing up here....I have a horrible weakness for buying plants and then never actually getting them in the ground.
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