How to tell when you have TOO MUCH STUFF

I hear you! I have been working on getting my craft items together and organized so when I move into my craft room it can be a quick move so I can get to working on my projects ASAP. I didn't relize how much stuff I have. DH made a deal with me if I can going all summer without buying any craft items instead use my stash and we can go on vacation next year. So far I have done very good 2 weeks so far. To help me not have withdrawals I have joined swaps on different boards. LOL! Hey I'm not buying or spending I am swapping.

Chrissy

I find it really comforting to use my stash. I do it more now than I ever have. I've gotten into the habit of checking my stash first before I go buy more.

Lynne

I really admire the folks that can part with their stuff.

There should be a 12-step program for people like me who hoard their goodies and continue to buy more! I just can't resist a bargain!

I agree with that...I need to be part of that 12 step group. I seem to keep buying stuff, and not using my old stuff. I really need to start going through my stuff now though. DH & I are trying to have a baby now, and my scrap room is what will be the nursery. I'm going to have to really purge my stuff down when we have to move it.

amanda

LOL! I have put myself on a buying freeze of scrapbook items BUT I have joined swaps for the exact same reason!!! Oh my we really do think alike.

--Tammy

Here is a story on how to tell you have to much paper....

Last year I bought ladybug paper for a friend's birthday card. (She loves ladybugs) I ended up not making her a card with it last year so I put it up for safe keeping for this years birthday card. After 1 hr or more of searching through all my pattern paper, I still can not find it. I also discover more piles of paper that what is not in my paper organizers.... I was on the phone with my sister during the searching phase and she was just cracking up.

So Karen I definitely can relate.

--Tammy

You mean there IS really such a thing as too much stuff?!! Aw, mannn..... LOL I hate to part with any of mine, and I am ready to do some scrap shopping next week. I earned some extra money from overtime during our graduation season at work, and thats what I intend to do with it. But, I will go through my stash FIRST, to see what I really NEED... bwwwahhahahaha!!!

Linda

You can have too much stuff?? News to me :-) I am trying to use my stash, but it seems that there is always something new calling my name...

I hope you manage to find a scrapbook store to work for where you move! I am sure that it is very hard to resist all that great new stuff when it comes in! I know I have a hard time resisting!

M-C

First I told myself that it was only okay to buy stuff if I had a specific use in mind for it (and I spent far too much on stuff that I didn't use...)

Then I told myself it was okay to buy stuff if it was for swaps... (and I signed up for every swap in sight and bought twice as much stuff as I needed for each one...)

And then I told myself I was doing too many swaps, and I had to limit myself to three from each group per month... (and I could only buy stuff that I really REALLY needed to finish an item, like glue or a spool of matching ribbon...)

Then I told myself that it was NOT okay to buy anything for swaps and I had to make them with what I already had. (you can get pretty creative just with cardstock and some punches!) (and my spending dropped to an affordable level at last.)

Then I told myself that it's silly to keep doing swaps when I'm not even using the stuff I get, so I've put myself on hold for at least two months.

And finally I've told myself that it's silly to keep supplies that I'm never going to use, so I'm going to sell some of them off and at least get SOMETHING back for them.

You see, there's the answer... I can 'need' stuff all I want, but John said I can't have any more unless I get a job to pay for it (or sell stuff to pay for it)... and since I have no intention whatsoever of going out to work, my expenses had to disappear.

It is hard to resist the new things. After the experience I had last week, I don't think I ever want to work again. I gave notice a couple of weeks ago and told my boss that I would be able to work until the middle of July. I went into work last Wednesday and found out that they were having a going away party for me and that I wasn't on the schedule anymore. It appears that she is hiring someone to replace me and can't afford to pay us both, which I could understand. I just wish she hadn't blindsided me with it. Needless to say I was really hurt and angry and promptly left. She did call me a couple of hours later to apologize and to tell me that she would pay me for the day.

But anyway I did find out that there is a huge scrapbook store about 10-15 minutes from the new apartment so I'm looking forward to checking it out.

TOO MUCH?!! NNNNOOOOO!!!!

There is no one in here that I know or have met that fits that category LOLOLOLOL!!!!

Why? Well ths GROUP is not only a buch of GREAT people, GREATER crafters, but the DANG NAMBEST ENABLERS there ever was!!!

huuummmppprrrhhh!! Going off to mumble about have low esteem, no motivation, lack of budget and not bought ANYTHING scrappin' related in a few months!! wwwwaaaaaa!!!

I need a swap, some one to kick or pinch me or something!! NO combat boots, studded slippers or empty paper keepers - PLEASE LOL!

((HUGS))

OKC Dave

Check out my pix and crafts!

There is not 12 steps there in your process, so I guess that means YOU LOSE!!!

wooooootttttttt!!!!!

(ducking from unknown flying objects from the south!)

OKC Dave

Check out my pix and crafts!

{{TRYING TO AIM AT DAVE WITH MY BEADAZELLER -- except unsure of which state he is currently in}}}}

I haven't bought a thing scrap related with my own money since January. Except my sister is enabling me for Sarah's album and my card making since a Dollar Tree opened by her.

I laughed at her in April when she was unwrapping Sarah's gifts and Larry over heard her tell the waitress "don't throw that out my sister may want to use it in a layout or something."

by not buying anything I've managed to save $3500 for the house fund and we can now look at 2 bedrooms in NYC (kew garden hills).

Kate

That's great, Kate. I've been trying to be good, too and save by not buying anything extra. Just adhesive. But, it's really hard when I go to my club meeting at the LSS every month. I tell myself not to look at the new stuff that has come in since my last trip............I'm not doing too bad.........trying to stay at $15 plus the club fee. I sure hope you can find your own place. I know how hard it must be for you now. When DH and I first were married we lived next door to his parents. He still had younger siblings at home, and they, and his mother felt like they didn't have to knock. They would just waltz right in the door, and were bad about just borrowing whatever they wanted. It drove me crazy. I kept the doors locked when I was at home. DH left a key with his parents in case of an emergency and they did their borrowing when we were not at home - it was always an emergency sort of thing that couldn't wait for us to get back...... I was so glad when we got our house and moved. It actually made for an easier relationship - though she never could stand me and our children - we did tolerate each other. Sandy