TAMING THE DESIRE TO ACQUIRE
Brought to you by Joan Kosmachuk, Professional Organizer
and Personal Life Coach

“There are special places to store many, many supplies. These places are called stores.” --Harriet Schechter

I have a number of clients who love to shop. They say that shopping makes them feel happy. But the truth is that eventually they come home again and find that their moment of happiness turns quickly to feelings of despair.

The problem is that they have acquired so much “happiness” that it is eating up every square inch of their living space, piling up charges on their credit card statements, and preventing them from even finding the other “things” they once bought to make them happy.

They are not alone. Shopping has become America’s # 1 pass time. And now, with the rise of on-line shopping we don’t even have to leave the comfort of our own homes to get the thrill of acquiring something new. But despite the affordability of many items that our parents once saved years to own, our homes are not more comfortable. Instead, they are crowded, stuffed, and overweight because of all the “things” cluttering up our spaces.

If the rooms in your house function more as walk-in closets rather than comfortable places to live and entertain, you might want to try some of these tips to help tame your “desire to acquire”.

1. Shop from a list, not from the store.
Too often we purchase new items that catch our eye when we are out shopping for something else entirely. Rather than letting the latest store displays dictate your purchases, figure out what you need/want when you are at home surrounded by the stuff you already own. Have you noticed your winter boots are leaking? Add “new winter boots” to your shopping list. Are you down to your last roll of wrapping paper? Add it to the list. When the sales come on, you can look for the items you KNOW you need and steer away from buying things you don’t need even though they are eye-catching on display.

2. Don’t impulse buy.
Have you ever seen an item, fallen in love, and brought it home only to lose interest in it within days or weeks of the purchase? Give yourself at least a 24-hour cooling off period before purchasing items that you feel you “must have.” Take the time to check out how the purchase of that item fits into your long-term goals for yourself, your home, your finances, and your relationships. If you still believe it’s a must have and worth driving back to the store for, still shop around to make sure you are getting the best quality and price for that item. If you need help resisting impulse purchases, leave your credit cards and bankcards at home or make sure that you can return the item for a full cash refund after the infatuation has worn off.

3. Before you buy something new, determine where you will store or display it.
Whether it’s a new coat, a new appliance, or a piece of artwork, before you buy make space for this item in your home. This may require you to first donate, sell, move or recycle other items in your home. It may require re-organizing furnishings or storage areas. Taking the time to “measure” first to make sure something will fit will also prevent purchasing items that just will never work in your home.

4. Shop quality, not quantity.
We often fill our homes with cheap items that we’ve snagged at the discount store, clearance sales, or garage sales. Sometimes these are great finds but often they are items we wouldn’t normally have purchased and typically our interest in them is of short duration. Because we don’t value them it is easy to eventually stuff them in drawers, cupboards, closets etc. where they take up valuable space and give no return for your investment. Individually they may not cost much but collectively they add up. In the long run, it’s cheaper to save up and purchase one high quality item (all the better if it’s on sale) that you will enjoy displaying or using for years to come.

5. Replace your shopping time with another activity.
For many people, shopping has become a hobby, a pick-me-up, a social event, or even an integral part of an intimate relationship. Acknowledge the role that shopping really plays in your life and look for alternative activities that will yield the same outcome without the burden of “stuff” to store. If you’ve got money to spend, spend it on “experiences” rather than on stuff you don’t need. Travel, take a class to learn a new skill, join a club or purchase a membership to the art gallery, museum, or zoo for an alternative place to “hang out”.If you’ve been spending money you don’t have, look for “free” activities. Take up walking, running, bird watching or biking. Borrow books, CD’s and DVD’s from the library. Volunteer your time to a worthy cause.

6. If you really must shop, shop for others.
Consider turning your shopping addiction into a means of blessing others. There are many non-profit agencies that welcome donations of “new” items. I know people who shop all year long to fill shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. Or perhaps you could buy baby clothes for your local Pregnancy Support Center, toys for underprivileged kids, or clothes and bedding for an abused woman’s shelter? What if you purchased books for the literacy program or dog food for the animal shelter? Create a budget that you can afford and see what great deals you can get. How many people can you bless by shopping for them instead of collecting more things you don’t really need? You may want to start shopping right from your own home supply.

If your shopping habits have cluttered up your home to the point of overwhelm, consider hiring a professional organizer to help get you back on track. To hire the services of Joan Kosmachuk, please email your request to info@simpleeffects.com or call 617-784-0707.

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