Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Shop or Stop

 We all know those people who shop just to be shopping!!  IF it is a deal - it is a must have!!!!  You know them - I know them - Eeeeeeek!

I love a deal with the best of them - but it is no deal, if I cannot use it or have too much already.  This works with everything.  It isn't just about groceries.  There are so many ways to shop, and sometimes some are better than going to the big shiny store!!!!!!

  • First - shop at home first!!!!!  Not just groceries - but all things.  The pantries and freezers can contribute to an endless variety of meals if you just get a little creative.
  • Go through your closets and drawers - your basement or even the attic.  I bet you have a ton more than you can even remember.  I have boxes of holiday decorating things, that haven't been opened in many years.  I have all kinds of goodies tucked away.  I have found brand new undies and socks, that got pushed to the back and bottom of drawers.  I HAD a lot of kitchen small appliances that I never used - finally I got rid of them.  I kept what I could use for something else.
  • Check that garage!  There may be yard things and tools that have been forgotten.  I know my hubs was the king of buying tools of every type at yard sales - and I keep finding things I can use.
  • Borrow what you need.  Borrow from a neighbor or family or friend if it is something you need just once in a blue moon!!!!  Many libraries have a 'borrow' policy as well on tools and such.  Always make sure you get it back to the person in as good or better shape than you got it.
  • Shop second hand - yard/garage sales, estate sales, thrift stores, etc.  You can find sooooo many neat things for pennies on the dollar and often for free!
  • Think about swapping with others - clothes swaps, kids toys, books, kitchen gadgets, tools, etc.  What a neat idea!
  • Utilize free local groups if you have them.  Craigs list (for cheap), neighborhood FREE groups, mom groups, etc. (start a group)
  • Think about buying some bigger ticket items second hand.  You have to be aware - as furniture needs to come from a neat and clean place (no buggers).  Furniture is not made as well today as some of the older stuff.  Quality has slidden a lot over the years.  I bought myself a bread maker at the thrift store - you could tell it hadn't been used - for $10 years ago, and it still works.  Just something to think about.  We have some pretty nice high end "thrift" stores around that deal with quality goods.  Check your area.
  • Remake things into something new!  Maybe remake older clothes into new styles.  Alter and adjust things.  Use off the hook types of items in the garden and flower beds as decorations.  Re-use wood in new ways.  There is no limit.
Things are so expensive - so it just makes sense to use what you have, buy second hand or borrow it.
I have read that the average home contains more than 300,000 items!!!!!!!!  Yep, you read that right.
Rental storage units have become one of the fastest growing businesses around!
Many studies show that the more you own, the less happy you become.  I can believe that - stuff can be stressful!

Buy with purpose!!!!!  That is the key.
Don't make rash and quick decisions.  Think about things and try to figure something else out.  Think how much money might be saved, how much that we keep out of landfills, and how many things may get a new life!

IF you get lots of fliers, magazines, e-mails, etc. from places that are selling - opt out!  If you don't see it - you don't know about it.  Seriously, out of sight out of mind.
Stay home more.  DO NOT just go 'window' shopping or just browsing.
Go with a purpose - ALWAYS!!!

Hope this gives someone an idea or two to STOP and not shop!  Look around and have fun.
Have a wonderful day!

38 comments:

  1. I always say I can get 100% off by not buying it. lol
    I hate to shop and can't stand to have 'stuff' all over the house. I watched an episode of Hoarders this weekend and oh my goodness. Buying just to have it and not even be able to use it is beyond me.

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    1. Indeed: Stay home and save 100%!!!!! LOL
      That is the sure fire method!
      Hoarders show is always good for a good de-clutter at my house. That show just makes me cringe - some people are just unbelievable. People keep TRASH! What's with that?

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  2. Yes, shop the second hand market first. That’s been our motto for a long time. Great blog post, Cheryl.

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    1. You and your daughter do such a great job at that. I love it. My goodness, things are just so much cheaper and maybe even free.
      Thanks

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  3. I have been going through my closets and drawers and storage areas and getting rid of stuff I haven't used in years. It is time....and it sure feels good to purge! xo Diana

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    1. It does feel good to get rid of things. That is on my list this week - get back at it and get rid of!!!!!

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  4. (Little Penpen) great post! Some of my most useful and treasured items are second hand. Sewing machine, quilt frames, bread machine , etc

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    1. Thanks. I think some of my most used possessions are as well. Heck - let someone else pay full price and I can spend a little! I love doing that!

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  5. I recall when I first retired that I would shop when I was at a loss for something to do. It didn't take me long to realize I could neither afford to do it, nor did I need the stuff I was bringing home.
    These days I tend to stick to second hand items for most items or consumable. I don't need more stuff in the house either.

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    1. A common mistake I am sure. SO true, our houses do not need more stuff!

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  6. 300,000 items. Interesting thought.

    I opened a drawer in my dining room buffet on Thursday as I have done many many times. This time? GONE! All of it. Haven't used any of it in more than a decade. 7 tie-dye bandanas, 3 pair of party style eyeglasses, 3 pair of croakies, 1 leather eyeglass case. That is 14 items that took the space of a 1 quart container.

    I haven't used my stereo iPod dock since subscribing to Sirius several years ago. (Yes, that is totally worth the $ to me and I can use it in my car, on my phone and on my laptop). The dock went on Buy-Nothing and gone! Also gone last week? A KitchenAid spiralizer. We're just not giving up pasta. $ down the toilet but now someone is loving it with her 2 little girls who love the veggie substitute!

    How many notepads/scratchpaper does a girl need? I assembled a 4 inch stack (about half of what I had on hand), and posted it on Buy-Nothing. Gone in less than an hour. (I traveled a lot for work and went to conferences and I always took the notepads offered up).

    Just for grins, I counted the items ON the coffee table. 20 (and that doesn't count the items inside the wood bowl made by my nephew). I'm a person with open space in cupboards and closets. I'm not going to count but I wonder........

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    1. The number was staggering for me to think about.
      You go girl - doing a great job. I will be getting back at it this week. So much CRAP!
      Yeah, open a drawer and the number may be surprising!

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  7. I use a food processor that I got from a friend >10 yrs ago. She had "retired" it; she dug it out of a storage shed to pass on to me. I often comment that if it wasn't for my sister and a friend, I'd have no clothes. They are "professionals" when it comes to shopping. They pass clothes on to me that still have price tags on them. My sister will buy clothes that aren't even her size b/c she can't pass up a "sale". I don't get it.

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    1. I have a SIL like that. Borderline hoarder. I used to tell her that we could live on the $ she wasted. She laughed. I was dead serious.

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    2. Sometimes, though, it can be a gift to do that if the person you're shopping for doesn't have the budget for a new outfit or whatever. I can relate to Mona's sister and friend, and my own sister tells people I keep her in clothes. It's not constant, or monthly, but at b'day, Christmas, etc. I know her style and sizes, I regularly look for 80-90% off retail, and have gotten her new things (with tags) for less than thrift store prices, but eventually had to tell her what I was doing so she didn't think I was breaking the bank on those gifts. --Elise

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    3. On the clothes - I had a ton of clothes when I worked - all came from thrift stores. I donated the biggest part to a women's shelter. I have very little left other than jeans and t-shirts and sweatshirts. I have to dig when I need something nice!

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  8. Thank you, Cheryl. As you know, this is very near and dear to my heart right now. On Sunday, Hubs and son helped BIL and Uncle unload a large U-Haul truck into storage; it was the stuff that had been in the attic and 3 outside storage sheds only, almost filling one rented storage unit! Uncle said the storage unit business is one to be in nowadays.

    You've shared excellent tips. Can I share another? If you SELL what you're not using/going to use again, even at low prices, that can build your savings. Do it now, though, as next year any side income over $600 will be taxed. There are garage and yard sales, of course, but there are also online venues for resale of clothing, accessories and more. Poshmark. ThredUP. Shopify. Kidizen (for children's clothing). Flyp. Thriftseekers (for household goods, etc.). OfferUp. Like you and most readers here, I regularly donate to charity thrift stores, but sometimes you have things that could earn some extra cash with resale. Worth considering.
    Have a blessed week! --Elise

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    1. Yes mam - you can earn a lot of money selling things. Great idea to save or put back for something special.
      I sympathize with you on all the stuff your BIL is storing. Crazy how we hold on to things - the memories are in our heads - not the stuff.

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  9. You motivated me to go through the coat closet. 9 more items out the door today! (5 college pompoms, 1 vest, 1 suit, 1 jacket). Again, none used in years.

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  10. Excellent post, excellent conversation! My son-in-law introduced me to Hoarders. Oh. My. Word. Yup, the storage rental folks keep busy.

    Looks like the weather will be warm this week. I noticed that one of my lilacs is budding. The Farmer has started several plants, and the cabbages in the garage are growing.

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    1. Hoarders is a very eye-opening show! Not to mention nauseating sometimes!
      Temps are lovely today - kind of windy, but warmer.

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  11. Well, I can make an item off my running item list then. I need a Sympathy Card and I know I have lots to choose from in my stash.
    Always a good post about decluttering!
    We still have cold overnight temps but it seems to get about 20 degrees warmer by the afternoon.

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    1. Same here = I have cards for all kinds of things - in drawers. I need to get them all together. Thanks for that reminder.
      Stay warm. We are having decent temps until the weekend - then colder for a couple days. Rains come Thursday!

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  12. Great post as usual. I looked for your post, as it made me feel somewhat normal.....

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    1. HUGS - whatever 'normal' is!!!!! Any more, I am not sure. But is always nice to share some time with others.

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  13. Clutter and stuff makes me a little nuts, and I have an ongoing, lifelong decluttering project. There's always something to get rid of at the house, or an area to clean & tidy.

    For February, I have a challenge to use up 5 "hard to use" freezer or pantry items. I've completed three, so two to go!

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    1. I hear you on never ending!!!!!! I like stuff - but enough is enough.
      Good idea on using up all those odd ball pantry and freezer items.

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  14. Love these suggestions. For my greeting cards, years ago I bought a "box" from the Current Catalog. The box has dividers by person or event for greeting cards. I either get cards at Dollar Tree, or will buy the good deals at Current---sometimes on sale nice cards are less than .20 each in a bundle. So many people toss cards these days and I would feel sick if I spent $6 on a greeting card! Anyway, all my cards live in that box. Quarterly I select those that will be mailed, and address them with a date in the corner when it needs to be mailed. I leave them unsealed till mailing so I can add a personal note. The "pending" cards are in a clear napkin holder on the kitchen counter near my weekly planner, and I glance at the dates on the corner daily so I never forget to send a card. (usually a week ahead). Jane

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    1. Great ideas on cards! I have several boxes of cards, and I have purchased many at yard sales. NO way will I spend $6 for a card anymore. That is nuts - like you said, most just toss them.
      I like the napkin holder idea. I have my calendar marked up with birthdays. Thanks.

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  15. My problem is that I am a compulsive purger - I'm not particularly sentimental about 'stuff' and I am forever purging and donating. I guess the upside is that if I purge something I find I want, I usually resist replacing it

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    1. LOL - well that is one way to do it. I do have sentimental stuff - that I will keep. I guess that is an upside. An upside to most everything!

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  16. I don't understand shopping for a hobby either, when I was younger and my four little girls were little maybe we would window-shop but not buy-buy-buy. We couldn't, my husband worked on commission only and we struggled. I actually collected change in a fruitcake can to buy extras.

    I love to repurpose things! I had a fall throw for our couch, kind of blankety and very upscale looking, I got it from ebay very reasonably as a shawl to wear, but it came in way too heavy for that. I was going to give it away and hubs said, "why don't you make it into a skirt?!" He was so right, it will make a very neat skirt with big black fall trees on it, very artsy looking on a longer straight type skirt. I have a pattern if anyone is interested that is so simple. It's out of print Simplicity 4881. One piece doubled, that's it. I get so many compliments on skirts made from that pattern, I do 'doggy' skirts, 'kitty' skirts ..you name it. I'm also purging my studio of 'stuff'. Fabric that is not my color etc. I'm just sick of stuff. I don't know how it happened! lol

    I did simplify my Christmas decor this year and three boxes were never even opened, those need to go up in the attic until I can catch my breath. I have sooo much Christmas stuff in the attic already, we have four daughters (three are married and don't live here) and they all had "stuff". When we floor the attic one day, trust me ...they will get to choose from all that Christmas decor and stuff.

    I wish I was a 'neatie' like other people but I'm not...I'm a creative 'messy' who is very sentimental who is aggravated by my own clutter. I don't buy much anymore except food or stuff for my pets now...maybe crafts for my grand babies but even on that...I'm learning a big pile of manila paper and construction paper, crayons and glue is perfect.

    But back on topic...Yes, shopping is a dangerous hobby I would think! lol I would rather take a walk outside! : )

    I hope you are doing well Cheryl, it hasn't been that long since you suffered loss. You seem very balanced though through your writing, I think that's great. Praying for you.





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    1. I love to grocery shop and I do like to shop for gifts - but don't hardly ever shop for me. Not much that I need.
      I love the idea of the throw/shawl/skirt! Talk about multi-purpose. That is neat. I am going to be making some tops this spring from some of Hubs older shirts and some dresses I have that I don't wear.
      Neatie - what is that?? My house is neat - but I have way too much stuff.
      I am doing much better. Thank you.

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    2. Neatie...A very neat person naturally, haha...I'm a clean person but have a hard time just keeping things put up, with hobbies and cooking things get a bit of kilter, dishes in the sink, lots of books everywhere...Clothes on the window seat.....I'm the "butterfly" style organizer. You sound like a normal person! lol Yes, I must admit, I like to shop for gifts, that gives me joy. I also will shop with a purpose online, but it's usually with a purpose. One thing recently I soooo enjoyed browsing ebay for is my Wonderful Life Target line of 'Christmas' houses and little miniature figures including George, harry, the cop and the maid from the 90s that I now will keep up year round, it makes me *smile* I *love* it! But I refuse to buy any unless they are a decent deal, I just wait on what I want. It gave one of my daughters joy too to buy me a couple of the little houses for Christmas and my bday so that was nice, she had so much fun shopping ebay at Christmas too for those houses, Mr. Gowers drugstore and the Library! We both felt like two little gamblers finding good deals and making low offers! lol We really had a blast doing that! I'm totally content now with what I have on that, if I find a nice deal I might get more with the idea that I have to make room for it.

      Oh Cheryl! That is so awesome to make things out of your hubs shirts, and your dresses oh that is wonderful! I've seen some cute aprons with men's shirts but in a way that would be sad to mess them up like that. I think tops would be nice. : ) I cannot wait to see your new tops you are making!!! So great! I hope you will post pics!

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    3. I keep a neat house. I never go to bed with dirty dishes in the sink, I keep things neat, although I do have stacks of books. They sit next to my couch. I just have too much stuff - out of sight!!!
      I love It's a Wonderful Life - that was G's favorite movie. I have collector plates with different scenes in the hutch. I bet the village is just wonderful.
      I have plans for some shirts - we will see how it works out!

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  17. It has been years since I shopped without a list or shopped for fun..... Dangerous for sure. Shopping at home first is always a money saver.

    God bless.

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    1. It is dangerous. Even if I am looking for a few things for the house - I have a list. Colors, sizes, wishes, etc.
      Shopping at home is kind of fun I think!

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