I have a SEVERE shopping problem, and I'm impulsive to boot. Last weekend, I decided to buy a whole new patio set, BBQ, fire pit etc to spruce up our backyard, so that my teenage kids can hangout with friends at our place over summer break. Then on Thursday, I decided to book a spontaneous family vacation to Oahu in a few weeks, because we've never been to Hawaii as a family. I spent over 10K in one week....but in all fairness, these things were for the whole family, and not myself.
I don't really like shopping in person. I do buy stuff online, but a lot of the Amazon boxes are household stuff.
I really don't go shopping or spend money on fun stuff, other than jewelry and dresses. There is a brand called Karina that makes dresses that are very figure flattering for me and they are vintage-y looking. I am a sucker when they come out for new prints. I don't really ever wear jeans or pants, except for lounge type pants around the house or to do yard work. Anywhere else, I wear a dress, because I am apparently odd.
I also have a plan where if I bring something new into the house, something else has to leave. It's partly because I have a small house. Partly because I want to use and love the things I do buy. Sort of KonMarie, but mostly just practical. We're headed to retirement, and I want to only have things we love that will last a long time.
That aqua was under a thousand dollars?? You are quite the bargain shopper. Teach me your ways.Most definately.
I’m a collector and a forager. My thing is to seek out bargains and/or complete or increase my various “collections”. Some collections have been a work in progress for 40 years.
I set myself certain challenges and work on fulfilling them. My most recent, and long standing completed challenge was a big aquamarine ring under $1,000. That took 15 years. Another completed challenge was larger size opal earrings under $500. That also took about 10 years.
I have no “outstanding jewellery” acquisition challenges. If you saw just how much stuff I have you’d agree no more is necessary.
My ceramic collections include Clarice Cliff, Wedgwood Fairyland Lustre, Lalique, Carlton Ware Moonlit Cameo, and any Rouge background vases from 1920s to 1940s. I collect vintage watches, I collect vintage compacts with watches or music boxes. I collect small size travel clocks. I collect Japanese Puzzle boxes, I collect gem / mineral specimens, I collect way way too much.
My current search is for a white gold or platinum diamond brooch. I bought a diamond bracelet that is too short so I want to extend it by placing a brooch into it. My budget is $500 and it has to look impressive.
That sounds absolutely inspired, not impulsive at all. The minute you saw a need, had a vision and a dream for your family's well-being and joy, you acted on it. I love it, and you sound like a great mother.
I have the opposite problem...I'm too hesitant.
I need to borrow a page from you!
What is your trigger @pearaffair? I used to do retail therapy quite a bit because my job has always been very stressful and I wanted to treat myself. Marketing does work and there are lots of highly paid people constantly coming up with very creative ways to get us to spend money. I recently blocked all promo shopping emails to stop temptation and stopped going to the mall just because. That seems to have helped a lot. TBH, I have enough linens, blankets, dishes, clothes and shoes to last a very long time.
I used to spend a lot on clothes and high-end bags. I never spent outside my means but I was definitely buying things I didn't need. Starting about 3 years ago, I began to realize that the clothes and bags I already had were quite nice and I didn't need any more. Not only that, I started to care less about those things....I gradually lost interest in wearing the latest trends. Now, I only buy new clothes about 1-2x/year and even then, it's only for necessities. I've bought 1 new handbag in the last 3 years and it was not high-end.
I gotta say, it's a very liberating feeling to no longer care about those things. It's one less thing to covet and obsess about!! I do still take care with my appearance and make sure I look tidy and polished, but that's good enough. I don't have to be stylish or Instagram-worthy because that stuff doesn't matter.
Now as for jewels? I prefer to think of it as being a collector of art pieces rather than a "shopping problem." I don't spend constantly but I do buy myself a little something (or re-set something) about once every 2 years. I also consign pieces that I no longer wear. Jewels genuinely bring me joy and as long as I spend within my means and spend very very selectively, I'll continue to do it until the day I die!
I go through phases where I buy jewelry that I probably won't wear later.