I buy home improvement stuff. My carpet has been replaced in this house 4 times and we've lived here for 10 years (in my defense we have 4 dogs, three cats and four kids). When I'm manic that's where my mind goes, new furniture, paint, doors, flooring, vaccuum cleaners, steam cleaners, any appliance that helps clean, etc.

My mom on the other hand, it was GREAT for us when we were growing up and she was manic, it was like Christmas. And I guess I'm like that to a certain extent. I buy the kids things as a reward for helping me rip the house apart.

I try very hard to make lists, and if it's not on the list, I don't buy it, that helps bring down the useless stuff a bit. But my husband is not very helpful in that department. When he's depressed, he likes to shop it makes him feel better.