Ok time for Real Therapy/advice Impulsive spender

Oh. I went through a phase like this too. I still have occasional "ants in my pants" days, where I feel like I just HAVE TO go to the stores. For me, getting control over it took a combination of lots of what was mentioned above, and some others:

cleaning and organizing was huge. it brings home quickly just how much stuff you have. Also, for me, this also brought home the realization that a lot of the stuff I "had to have", I never used, and later, would think was outdated and no longer wanted to use it.

sit down and have a big plan planning meeting, either just through yourself or with your significant other. What long term goal do you have? for DH and I, it is moving into our permanent house (we're in our starter house right now). The money I spent, if we added it to a mortage payment, went a long long way. I started to try and replace the urge for the immediate item with something larger.

give yourself a page a day challenge, maybe for a week, a month, etc. No matter what, make yourself finish 1 lo a day. Either scraplift it, or just slap it together. Eventually, you get back into the groove of doing pages on your own, and for me, liking it! I loved watching the albums fill up. I went from having 3 albums in progresss, to now having about 10 albums filled up.

the final thing for me was working with kits and challenges, with the rule I could not use ANYTHING that was not in the kit. This taught me discipline and made me much more creative in working with what I had. (when I went to cku the first time, I think the biggest lesson I got was the teacher who said, just use whats in front of you, and its true - your best pages come out this way) . Like if I didn't have ribbon, cutting a paper strip.

Luckily for me, to day (it probably took about a year), I am able to control the urge much better than before. I still buy healthy amounts of supplies, but I always walk in with a budget and stick to it. (caveat - my budgets are sometimes rather healthy). The key, for me, was not depriving myself, but controlling myself.

Good luck to you!!!! I think your mental determination to do this is probably the biggest step in the right direction. HUGS.

I think I have gone through this phase too. Although I already know that my shopping for scrap stuff when I have TONS of stuff at home that I haven't even used is compensating for something else. I keep telling myself that I will not buy anything else unless it is something small maybe under $5 that I need for something that I am working on. It doesn't always work though!! There's just so many neat thing coming out all the time and you want to have it all!! I agree that organizing your stuff is a great way to get inspriation and see what you have that you may have forgotten about...this has happened to me ALOT!! LOL And staying away from the stores all together is good too. It helps me alot that bf is only home one day out of the week and I can only do shopping then unless one of my scrappy friends comes and kidnaps me during the week to go to Michael's or something..YIKES..that is when I get into trouble. Somehow shopping with someone else always makes me spend more?? Anyway, good luck with this. I'm happy to say that I went to Wal Mart last night and ONLY bought the new issue of Paper Kuts!!

I am so thankful that this thread is here. I have been, and still am, in the middle of a shopping binge. I've been spending around $400 a month on this craft. My problem is I watch DIY Scrapbooking and see a new technique (like walnut inking, or heat embossing) that I have to try and obviously have to buy all the cool tools that go with it. I've joined tons of swaps and have to buy new products for new pals and new tags. AAAAHHHH!

I think my brain just has to settle down and relax. Realize that I already have a ton of stuff that I can use to make awesome LO's. What I think I'm going to do is challenge myself to finish my Paris album using only the stuff I already have.

I'll let you know how it goes, but I just angeled for a missing secret pal and have to spend $20 for that. Plus Scrap Bash is in only two weeks!

I also vote for avoiding sales papers and not going in Joanns, AC Moore, ect just to look. Avoiding the sale papers really helps me cause if it's on sale I think "what a deal". Oraganizing is great too cause you find things you forgot you had and poof they are new again.

Annetta

1) Don't shop just to shop. Either don't shop at all or at the very least make a list and stick to it.

2) Don't sign up for swaps. It could be trading one addiction for another. They are VERY addicting. I used to sign up for too many spots in too many swaps (too many for me was 8 swaps the worst month while working full time), and besides spending a fortune, it was too time consuming and just wasn't fun anymore. I totally quit swapping for about 9 months and now I only sign up for one monthly envie swap that is cheap, low stress, and fun, plus maybe one other swap every month or two. I also almost never buy anything new for swaps, I think about can I make something I'm proud of out of my current stash and is what I get back something I'm likely to use.

3) Go digital. There's a lot of awesome digital freebies out there if you already have software to make the pages with. I have bought a few very versatile digital items that I'll use again and again, but not much. Most of it was free.

every 6 months i sift through supplys I have. I box what I havent seen/looked for in those months ... then once a year I have a huge scrapbook garage sale... and make ALOT of money! Of course not as much as I have invested in some... but now I only use that money for my supplys for each 6 months! No more & of course no less
An awsome sale comes out... always remeber it WILL happen again, sb'ing items go on sale at least every 3 months! Dont need to stock up really!!

P.S. like everyone else has said.... no swaps! If you think about the money you put into it....add shipping both ways... You can buy a whole page kit worth using for 10 bucks! Compaired to receiving some items you just dismember or trash!

Wow, I know exactly what you are going through-- I have been there-- shopping and not producing because I didn't feel creative-- even though I had stuff, I didn't feel that I was good enough to actually make a nice scrapbook page-- plus, I agree with what someone else said-- I shop to compensate when I am stressed or feel that my life is getting out of control. Everyone has shared some great ideas. Here's what I have done:
1. As someone said, filling the online shopping basket and getting ready to check out, but not checking out is really therapuetic-- you can even keep a wish list or basket going at your favorite on line store-- check back in a month or so and you will be amazed at how little you really want.
2. And, yes, everybody who said do not swap was right-- I spent a fortunate swapping-- and doing secret pals, and still needed to shop to get what I really wanted. Plus it is addicting.
3. Organizing can be helpful, if you don't spend money getting organized- but make yourself be creative and use containers you already have-- or challenge yourself to only buy storage stuff from the dollar store-- the stuff to get you organized can be a huge drain on the budget.
4. Challenge yourself- I pick a set of pictures, some paper (Basic Grey, etc.), two to four embellishments (ribbon, etc.), and a technique-- all from my stash-- then I scrap a few pages- now I am a slow scrapper so it might take a while, but at least I am productive.
5. On the first of the month, browse the on line galleries for inspiration-- and sketch the layouts you like-- then make yourself use at least a couple of the sketches for the foundation of some layouts.
6. If you have idea books, get them out and use them for inspiration-- I pulled out Hot Looks for Scrapbooking a few months ago-- and had a great time playing with different styles.
7. Stay away from the stores-- it is much easier to spend the money when you can actually touch the stuff. AND those 50% off and 40% coupons aren't worth it unless you really need something basic-- such as a cutter, etc.
8. Only buy adhesive and cardstock for a few months.
9. If you feel that you have to have something or want to learn a new technique, you might want to join a monthly club-- only if you won't spend money anywhere else and only if you have to that "NEW" fix every so often.

These are all great tips and tricks. I agree with the one gal that said, "Stay away from Swaps". I've never found them to be money-less. :-)

Because the storage space in our townhouse is minimal I finally promised dh I wouldn't buy any more scrapbooking stuff until I was working on that layout. I, too, find that when I go "just to look" I never just look. :-)

We ALL understand what you're going through - take heart!

All these great ideas. I am actually feeling better as I practice each and everyone of them.
1. Today I began to organize papers that are cluttering my head and my room of course. Then I allowed myself to not think or better yet feel that I Must Scrap. I actually went to dinner with family and scrapping was not a topic. Yeah that feels good.
2. I listed many things on the trading post. Things that yep you guessed it I had to have and have never reached for it once I put it away. NIP yep!
3. Allowed myself to feel angry about being so COMPULSIVE. (since I made myself sift through all my stuff and it is going to be a job for many days.) I told my dh if I ever come through that door with a single piece of paper or embellies, turn me around and send me back to that naughty store that sold it to me and get a REFUND. So therefore I will not go to the store, since that would be embarassing and I should not be there anyway. Yes everyone your advice is working. I have had success with this before but never with any support system. This time I really feel that the support system all of you guys has really given me a drive. Thank you all and please continue to give me tips and pointers and thank you (seriously) for sharing.

This is a wonderful thread - thanks, Creater1, for starting it and thanks, everyone, for your helpful messages. I think all of us have this problem at one time or another - there is just so much STUFF out there and so many cool things! I have way too much stuff, and I haven't really scrapped PAGES - just swaps (tags, page piecings, etc), so I have promised myself not to buy anything else until I get some pages done.

I agree that swaps can be a $$-drain. Perhaps those that are to TRADE things are the ones that we compulsive shoppers should cozy up to (if you can afford the postage!) I have found that in swapping stuff - like a garage sale swap - I get lots of different doodads in small quanitites that I might have spent $$$ on in larger quantites at the LSS - and with these smaller quantities I can determine if I like that particular embellishment. I find that it is worth the postage just for the "test"-appeal.

So happy for you, creater1, that you are making headway in getting to the bottom of this!

Wow, the support and advice everyone has been giving is great! I am so glad to see that you are organizing and restricting your spending until the shopping urges have subsided a little. I agree with you about the Trade thread! It is a great place to swap items that you don't use for items that better suit your stlye or current layouts or whatever. Good luck - looks like you are on the right track!

Yeah with everyone's positive imput I DID IT!!! I organized, I went a day without even thinking about having to do a lo. I went to the store to get paper to match specific pictures and came home and actually got 3 great layouts of it. The best things about it was 1 it was not my money, I was picking up stuff to do for a strangers lo, something I always said that I could not do. A favor for my dil's cousin. I scrapped for someone else. OMG!!!! I really didn't think I could ever scrap for anyone, not knowing anything about the story. That was the easy part. I found that I spend way to much time analyzing my pictures. Wow was it ever enlightening. I feel like I am getting WELL!

YEAH for you!!! Keep up the great work.

creater1 -- i have to budget myself too! someone here has a signature line, "stop shopping, start scrapping" and it's become a very useful mantra when i see a new pp that i think i HAVE to have!

I think another helper is peer influence. I'm a SGTs wife, stay at home, so I MUST to stick to a budget and keep supplies confined to a small space. I have three military spouse friends I scrapbook with, and we all stick to or respect sticking to a budget. Find buddies who take pride in conservative shopping, being resourceful, and aren't ashamed to produce less than $5-a-page layouts.

I've been thinking about quitting smoking. My problem is worse than compulsive shopping. I know it's best to quit, but I still LIKE smoking. I admire the commitment you've made to change a habit, and thank you for giving me much-needed inspiration to stop my own destructive habit.

i read quite a bit of what you all said. i have the same problem with a different angle....I am a nickel and dimer....and will nickel and dime myself to death! i rarely pay retail for something..and rarely pay over $2 unless its something bigger (paid $5 for $10 set of texture plates). but all those clearance/sale items add up even if i only spend $5 in a week doing it (not usually that much) but its all the same when you cant afford it. course i tell myself hey you didnt spend much its okay....but its not always okay (sometimes it is). anyways..just thought id add that in..

Nickel and dimers should consider avoiding Dollar Tree, too. I used to "It's only a dollar" myself to around $20 every trip!

Well you guys are just way to awesome with your advice. Thank You. I am still proud to announce that I am on track and although I am still spending not that much I am coming home and sticking to my guns and getting layouts done. I have even gone back into the stores that I purchased paper and embellies from and sat down and scraplifted the lo's that caused me to purchase those beautiful items. Yes I am being productive with my lo's and my money. Thanks to all of you.

everybody has given great advice! just wanted to say good luck for stopping!!!

Uh-oh. I need an intervention!!

I'm headed to the ScrapBash Expo in Atlanta tomorrow. I've already paid for my classes, entrance fees and make n takes. Now I just have to stop myself from buying at each and every table I stop at!

honestly, I've found that conventions aren't necessarily great places to *buy*. they're great places to make wishlists, but most companies aren't selling things at too spectacular a discount. plus you have to carry it all around with you the WHOLE day! There are enough freebies (like the classes & makentakes you've paid for already), try to browse for those rather than buybuybuy.


I also want to thank all of you for this super thread. I have been on an obscene spending binge for the past few months and it has REALLY gotten out of hand. One thing that someone else suggested a long time ago to me was to put your credit card in a bowl of water and stick it in the freezer. then if you see something at a store you just have to have, you have to go home and wait for the big block of ice to melt before you can buy it - really makes you think things over!
Since my spending has been in other areas too, not just scrapping, I'm also trying to cut back on random unnecessary things like vending machines or buying lunch, etc. This can actually help if I think of it as "you already brought your lunch. don't buy a soda. have water. then you can save that $1.50 for scrapbooking supplies" or something like that.
I too am trying to get stuff together to have a garage sale, of both scrapping and nonscrapping stuff, so that I can make a little bit of cash off the things that have gone out of style or I just never use anymore, etc.
My final bit of advice is to look for and join challenges on here or other boards. I found challenges SO much better for me than swaps, because I was working on *my own* pages and *keeping* them, didn't have to pay postage, etc. The motivation really really helped me get back to scrapping and get some real pages done. I try to join challenges that have some kind of prize but don't have an entry fee (and then send the hostess something from your stash as a thank you gift), that way I have real, tangible motivation, but am not throwing money away.

can't wait to see what other ideas and suggestions people have!!

Thank Goodness I'm not alone!! I have the same problem, so can't offer any solutions, but I like all the advice given. I like the idea of making myself do 10 layouts before I can buy anything else. I don't buy the Sunday paper for anything but the Michael's coupon! How sad is that?

scrappyguy -- congrats on going to the SB Expo! they're so much fun! Just LEAVE the credit/debit cards at home!!!!!! don't totally deprive yourself, but just take a reasonable amount of spending cash with you. With all the classes and make and takes you've signed up for, you're going to have an awesome stash of new supplies to take home without spending in the marketplace!

creater1 -- congrats on your progress with layouts and not spending too much!

I just finished two secret pal swaps (and one that I angeled for) where you are supposed to spend $20 for this person, make them homemade things, and then buy them a container of some sort that isn't included in the price. Finally you have to SHIP all of this to the other person.

Don't get me wrong, I loved shopping for another person and finding great ways to package it, but if you think about it, the cost is astronomical!

Hey, just to catch you up. I went to that Expo and only spent $30!! I count that as great since that's what I can usually spend just stopping at the LSS. I found the cutest little brads with all the funky colors and designs on them for only $2.50!!

I have to say I'm now in love with stenciling! This is bad, t hose brass things are expensive...boo hoo

This is absolutely a great thread and a long time overdue.....I know that I have this same problem too as well as many other neighbors here on the boards, as we have seen from all the posts....Good luck everyone....I am working on changing my habits as well and feel like I got tons of good ideas here that I will use.....Of course, I am addicted to organiizing all my stuff so if I am not spending on sb supplies....I am giving the Sterlite Company tons of my money too.....LOL!!! Thanks for this thread...I know it will be a support to many!

Okay, I feel that I am making a little headway here. As I said before I have started a huge project with my dil's cousin. She is doing a book for her mother's birthday, I supply the non consumables QuicKutz and ideas (however those are being consurmed rather fast). I have instructed her that she is to buy no paper unless she has here pictures in her hand to match paper. She must put the newly purchased pictures and supplies directly into her page protecter. Ha! Ha! she is scared to leave the store without putting them into the protectors how funny is that. But it keeps her in control and helps me practice something that once worked for me.
So today I got new pics. Yes I had paper at home and yes it would have matched but....yes I did needed a paper fix okay, and yes I did spend a few bucks. But I did return some items that I had purchased on a whim and did not feel that I would ever use them so I returned them for some paper for my new pics and reassured myself that I will continue to practice what I preach to these girls. I can not allow them to pick up my bad habits since one is my dil and that means if she develops my spending habits I will be feeding them and won't have any sbing money for me. lol
I love all the advice it still continues to keep me in check and I can't thank all of you enough and I hope that others will find the helpful as well.

I have an idea that will work well for me, and my spending binges. My DH has no idea how much I've spent this month, and it's only the 13th. So, starting tomorrow, I'm going to put this plan in place.

Whenever I make a LO, I put $1 in a SB jar. Cards are $0.50 each. Also, I NEVER spend change. I will pay for everything with whole dollars. All change then goes in my SB jar. If I want Starbucks, that has to come out of my SB jar. If I take lunch instead of buying out, I add another $3 to the jar.

I'm going to finish the swaps I'm signed up for, and then I'll take a few month's break from swaping.

Join my No Shopping Challenge and we'll support ourselves to better spending habits.

I highly reccommend the No Spending/Use Your Stash challenge. This is the first time I have signed up for this swap and I am loving it. I am using up paper and embellishments that I've had for months, always intending to do LO's and never got around to doing because I was too busy buying more supplies. While I am participating in the challenge, I am not even allowing myself to go to my LSS. The only thing I may run out of os a refill for my tab dispencer but even then, I think I have a box of tabs that you peel the back off of. IN this challenge you have to set a goal of how many LO's you will complete. You get points for each one, as well as points for cards, tips, and checking in. I have completed 3 double page LO's in less than a week and haven't spent a penny!

i have signed up for the no shopping challenge! and i also love the SB-jar-award. COOL IDEA!...

I think we can all relate to this! I used to spend an average of $1,000 a month...either online, or at my LSS, and I knew this was overboard! I'm not pressed for money by any means, so I could continue shopping and spend all my money on scrapbooking supplies, but I decided that enough is enough!

I now have a $100/month scrapbook budget and I LOVE IT! I don't have to feel guilty over spending too much and not using it enough...I don't have to worry that my dh will complain some day...and I feel like I am making wiser choices.

Instead of buying it ALL, I pick and choose what I absolutely LOVE, and I just purchase that. The budget also forces me to look for a bargain if I desire to get more for my budget dollar.

I'm certainly not preaching here...just expressing the liberation I feel after I decided that I didn't have to have it all! I thought I would DIE when my dh and I agreed on this $100/month budget...but now I don't mind it one bit! I feel like I am making good choices for me, my money, my future, not to mention I don't have any more room in my studio to store the piles of supplies!

I know we all love to scrap, but I think you should try doing something else. Go to the park, hike, bike, run. Get a new temp. hobby to get you completely away. You'll feel better about yourself and feel like you've accomplished something. Also, get rid of all of your cards and only carry checks with you when you NEED something. You could give your cards to a family member or friend that you really trust, cut them up or block them, just get them out of your house. I've found when I only have checks in my wallet, I spend a lot less and I usually only buy what I NEED. Then when you have extra money, pay bills or put it in a place where you can't touch it. Set out a budget for the things you want. Perhaps after a few months, you'll have new scrap ideas and a better handle on your buying impulse. I don't know if that's too much, but I hope it helps. Good luck.