IMPULSE BUYING

IMPULSE BUYING

I’m a collector of things, which means I’m also a buyer. But what happens when buying becomes more than adding a sought after item to a thoughtful, curated collection and becomes….. just buying more stuff? Is there a line between being a collector and becoming a hoarder? How do you know when you’ve crossed that line? Can you see the line? Is it marked in your mind’s eye? Is there a warning bell that lets you know when you are approaching the Hoarder Line? Like the flashing lights and clanging bells at railroad crossings? That would come in handy.

I “have a thing” for lots of things…..skeleton keys and padlocks, door knobs and hardware in general. Scales, oh yes, I surely do have scale love. And I suffer from a terminal case of grain sack love. The more the better.  I get a bad case of heart eyes over crocks and stoneware bottles. Throw in a love of McCoy Pottery, (the matte white “Floraline”)  and an obsession with old clocks, vintage radios and fans, Royal Copley Dog planters and old bottles, and my home could be a museum with me as the curator.

VINTAGE SCALES? YES, PLEASE
OLD BOTTLES? GOTTA HAVE EM
DO YOU HAVE THE TIME? WHY YES, YES I DO

I’ve been getting rid of things I’ve outgrown or anything that no longer supports my style for a couple of years. YEARS! And during that time, I’ve also purchased more things. Mr B routinely asks, “What are you going to do with that?” “Don’t you have X  number of those already??” “Oh, I see you’ve purchased something else for the attic.” You know….all the helpful statements and questions that frankly make me a bit angry and defensive. “I know what I’m buying”. (no, I really don’t) “I know exactly how many of “those” I have” (No clue) ……. “I routinely rotate things so my collections don’t become overwhelming” (sounds good in theory but I don’t do it) …..“I have a place for this” (Not without a second house.) …… All those responses that I make to justify whatever it is I want to buy.

Not too long ago I announced I was cutting back on shopping, I actually heard his eyes roll. It sounded a bit like ball bearings clanking around in an empty drum. Not that Mr B’s head is empty or remotely drum shaped….. I didn’t even have to look, but I was surprised he could still see to drive….. what with the eyeballs rolled all the way back in his head. I was serious.  He was scoffing. This took place in the car when we were going to pick up the commode I recently wrote about.

Mr B loaded the commode in the back of the car and said he was going to “browse” the Play It Again Sports store located a couple of doors down from the antique shop, meaning he would speed walk through the store and be out the door within a minute, purchased item in hand. An item I might add, from HIS shopping list….. which he had researched the pros and cons and price checked.  He was gone for only  a few minutes and during that time, I decided I couldn’t live without a WWII phone, a sewing machine drawer, a mirror, a feedsack pillow and a large vintage bowl. WHAT???? I have a problem.

A STAINED CHENILLE BEDSPREAD THAT DOESN’T FIT EITHER OF OUR BEDS

On a recent trip to Tennessee to celebrate the birthday of a dear friend, Mr B said the rest of the trip was mine, we could do anything I wanted to do. I had a glorious week in the mountains. We enjoyed Nashville of course, because I’m a Honky Tonk Woman. And we both love music. Then there are all those antique malls and a town with a section of shops that I MUST visit each time we go. And one of us loves those. I had a list of several items I needed (relative term) to finish a display or fill a space (we have no empty space at the Brown abode). Did I buy any of those items? NOOOOO. I bought other things. Things I HAD TO HAVE. Little things. Inexpensive things. Things I had no use or space for. Things that I didn’t even like after I got them home. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?  I obviously looked at the things, I apparently thought I wanted or needed them, so why was there even ONE THING I decided after plunking down my cash that I didn’t really need, want or…..even like???   I require an intervention.

I CLEARLY NEEDED EVERY ONE OF THESE THINGS… NEEDED

I have to face the ugly truth. I have a shopping problem. Actually I have an IMPULSE SHOPPING problem. When the impulse registers in my brain that I need, want, must have that key, vase, sack, scale, pot, crock, bottle or clock I simply cannot resist it. But this it! I have acknowledged my problem. I am going to stop with the shopping…. I’m calling a shopping moratorium…Except my Granddaughter is coming for a visit and she has a love of vintage cameras and “stuff.” We enjoy junking together. I cannot deny her that pleasure…..right?

I HAVE LOOKED AT THIS DOG PLANTER FOR YEARS AND NEVER BOUGHT IT. APPARENTLY BUYING IT IN TENNESSEE GAVE IT MORE APPEAL
I don’t have a handy tip or trick to circumvent the impulse buy dilemma, if there is one, please let me know. My good friend, Iona shares this affliction, but she’s much more philosophic about it than I. I’m betting we are not alone. The desire to feather our nests runs deep, there may not be a cure. Perhaps I should be more thoughtful about what I bring into my home.  BUT…… As I look around, I see things that bring me joy, make me smile, or bring back a precious memory……and not many clunkers.  That, in the end is what keeps me returning to those shops….. I’m  buying memories…. and those memories are priceless.

Create the home you see in your heart.  Surround yourself with things you love, things that make you smile. Love the home you’re in no matter where you live, it’s your sanctuary.

6 Comments
  • Cyndia says:

    Oh Hon, you’re speaking my language here! Both hubby and I are collectors. We LOVE old stuff, just not the SAME old stuff. He loves old lab glass, clocks, and tools. I love bronzes and glass, and French things, and McCoy flower pots and garden things. And so. Much. More. Then I had an antiques booth for a few years, and closed it last year. Now my basement and garage are filled with that inventory! I’m overwhelmed. I need an intervention, badly. Just don’t put me on that Hoarders show.

    • Crystal says:

      Cyndia, you made me laugh, I promise not to recommend you for the Hoarder’s Show if you don’t recommend me! I have boxes of things packed in the attic for “someday.” I fear the someday might be when my Grandbabies are forced to dealith all of it. Ugh! I need more than an intervention!

  • Linda Mains says:

    Don’t be silly! I know there’s a line and of course I can see it. Here, just let me move these shopping bags and boxes out of the way…

  • Tracy Mays says:

    I think a lot of us have the same problem!! I “LOVE” stuff!

    Thank you for sharing your struggle with it!! Lol!

    • Crystal says:

      Tracy, sharing my struggle with you and my other friends was supposed to be therapeutic, and shame me into better habits, sadly, I found myself in a local antique shop yesterday. WHAT???!!!

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