Because of the really odd ways money was handled as I grew up, it's the thing in my life that still causes stress for me.
One of the ways it manifests is buying things ahead of time.
Otherwise known as hoarding. Craft supplies and stuff for work.
I can say that I don't have as much stuff as I used to, and that I've become more selective about what I bring in. I've also consciously made an effort to use the supplies I have a million of instead of admiring the possibilities. I have given a lot away, too.
It's why I don't have to buy things when I want to introduce a craft project or art activity or science experiment. I have all those things and more.
I stock up on new things, too.
Consumable goods, I guess.
In the cabinet in the hallway are things like bar soap, liquid hand soap, hair spray, shampoo. Q-tips. You know, hygiene supplies. I buy bulk packages when they are on sale.
My mom infrequently visited us when we lived in California. Took her shopping with me once or twice. She had a difficult time understanding why I was 'buying such a big package' because there were only two of us.
Just a little math is needed to figure that out, but all she could see was that the small toothpaste was a dollar less than the economy sized one. The four pack of toilet paper was a lot less expensive than the 12 pack. But per roll, it was less expensive to buy the large one.
The room that was Alyssa's is now our Costco/storage room. Big bales of TP and paper towels. Aluminum foil and baking parchment, laundry soap and garbage bags and things that belong to Mason and Alyssa that they don't have room for in their apartment and a TON of stuff for my job. We have shelves all along the walls (bought those at Costco, too).
It's also where the vacuum lives. My easel is in there for when I decide I want to paint again. It's been awhile and I love doing it and I just... haven't. Bins for my tie dye stuff.
More craft supplies. Bulletin board edging and lettering, another thing I won't need once I retire.
My hubby hangs on to things as much as I do. He has good reasons, but his story is his. Let's just say his family could have done better for him and should have.
That stuff affected us both.
I picked up some cardboard boxes last week and am in the process of getting rid of clothing I no longer wear. I keep stuff until it wears out. Frayed sleeves and little holes don't make me stop wearing it. I always figure my jacket covers the sleeves and if I'm wearing long sleeves under my uniform t shirt and happen to get paint or ink or whatever on those sleeves, I don't worry much about it. I won't cry if I have to throw out a shirt I've had for 15 years because paint won't wash out of the sleeves.
So I'm getting ready for the last full year of work, I think. I may possibly work until December of 2027, depending on a few factors.
Hopefully I'll have used up most of my stuff by then, making it less of a pain in the ass when it's time to sell the house and move.
So do you have a Costco room?
Mine looks kind of like this one, only smaller.
I tend to "buy the big size" for the long-term savings, and to stock up on things when they're available at a discount. But I've never hoarded to the extent of needing a dedicated room for it. I have enough clutter as it is.
ReplyDeleteIt's not cluttered, just busy. It's organized. During covid, we did not run out of TP, So there's that, I guess.
DeleteI buy in bulk but not hugely. We rarely run out of things, though!
ReplyDeleteWe don't run out of things either. That's really good for my mental health.
Delete"Costco/storage room"
ReplyDeleteThat's just a big closet. My basement is 2200 sq ft and is also a big closet.
Giant house. My whole house is just a little shy of 1300 square feet.
DeleteAs one Hoarder to another, you go Girl! I have an RV Garage and no RV. But edible Hoards and Hygiene items are kept inside and don't have a Room, but the Cupboards, Pantry and Freezers are stocked. We had no shortages during Pandemic when everyone else did, let us just say, my Hoarding tendencies came in Handy during Supply Chain Shortages and when certain items costs go thru the Stratosphere I can get by with not buying them for a while.
ReplyDeleteYes, lots of food in the freezer, the cupboards and pantry. Seems when someone has had to go hungry, they don't want to go there again.
DeleteOnce in awhile we go through stuff that we haven't eaten, but it's not expired. And we look at each other and say, "You gonna eat that?" And then we make up food boxes to give away on Buy Nothing.
My parents grew up without much and so they were the hoarders...it had the opposite effect on me. Your closing photo, ha.
ReplyDeleteYou're laughing because everyone knows there's no WAY my floor is that clean.
DeleteOh how I love me some Costco. I too buy in bulk and there are only 2 of us. I wish I had a Costco room. The garage cabinets and fridge is where most goodies are. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to have the stockpile. We spent so much time not being able to afford much of anything that having a little extra feels like wealth. I don't like going to Costco, it's always packed with people who have zero spatial awareness and I get frustrated, but it only takes about a half hour to get all the stuff we get, get through the line and back out to the parking lot. It's about 15 minutes from home.
DeleteWe didn't have much when I was growing up either but it had the opposite effect on me. I save as much money as I can, I barely buy what I need because I want to have an emergency fund for those "just in case" days. I have an emergency credit card just for the dogs vet bills too. I don't use it for anything else. lol
ReplyDeleteSmart to have a dog credit card. :) He's always covered, no matter what. That has to give you peace of mind. We do have some savings, we'd have more but...
DeleteIt's interesting to get a glimpse of what our childhood stuff does. We're all so different in our responses to trauma, to lack, to neglect. It's one of the reasons I've worked with kids so long, I want to be the person they can trust. To be the same person every day, to be warm and kind and helpful. They all deal with so much in just growing up.
I fondly remember the adults who were there for me.
I think anyone who does crafts, art, or works with kids naturally accumulates a massive supply stash—having everything on hand when inspiration strikes is a huge bonus! It’s great that you’re consciously using things up now and getting ready for the next chapter. Having that easel waiting for you in the room for whenever you're ready to paint again is wonderful. You're making great progress!
ReplyDeleteThe more I toss out/use up, the better I feel, too. It's a lot of stuff, though. Gonna take awhile.
Delete