How long since you bought something for yourself...

Hi. Me again.

I haven't spent a penny on myself in more than six months.
I can't make decisions. Going to the stores is a waste of time and creates
a lot of frustration. Even the online stores. I empty the cart in both.

I bought so many stupid things while manic that are useless.
Now I'm starting to like certain things I see, but the "manic products" are all around me.
How can I get to start buying again?.

pay cash ... and limit how much you have on you ... works for me .

I'm on an allowance ... wifey keeps all the books ...

I just spent $500 in workout gear within the past 3 days. Normally I don't spend any money, but I "had" to have it. I still feel like I "have" to have it... but I know my mood is elevated. It's slowly returning to normal, though.

I know my manic/hypomanic tendencies, so I keep receipts nowadays. That means if buy anything stupid, I can usually return later... or at least get a store credit.

Keeping receipts is a good habit. Try keeping them whenever you go shopping.

If I don't spoil myself who else will? So I do.
I didn't have much growing up, so I'm making up for it because I can

I went on a shopping binge last week before I realized I was on the side of manic. Once I realized I was, I still tried to justify the spending and nearly continued, but somehow I stopped myself. I "mostly" bought things we need and I'm hoping I won't regret it. I bought 2 things for myself I may regret. They may be returned once I stabilize.

As far as starting to spend again, I know what you mean sorta. I spend long periods in depression, beating myself up over the spending. Then once I was considered stable, I still was traumatized and questioned my "need" for everything I own. I've even went off the deep end a few times and almost sold everything I own that didn't have a function for survival,.... just because I couldn't shake the overwhelming guilt. No comforts for me, because I don't deserve them. I don't even deserve a mattress, pillow or blanket and should just sleep on a dirt floor.

But eventually I recover, or I swing again... Only to repeat the process at a future date. Only thing I can do is work hard to prevent it from happening again. Understanding my patterns is helping me a little as well.

I'm sorry you are going through this and hope you find relief soon. In a positive note, people rarely regret saving money.

Ah yes the joys of buying things when manic ... eBay was my best friend then ... until my (ex) husband took away my cards (for buying things like garden furniture that we didn't need)

Can't say I shop much lately.

As the above poster said, people rarely regret saving money.
I don't know how old you are, but my husband and I retired early and we've needed all of the money we saved to have a nice life. The years roll by fast and you will need retirement.
(Sorry if that was a downer.)

I just bought for myself today, first time in a long time and I only spent $60, no guilt over that

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Not spending money on myself, per se, but I've been going out to eat way too often. It's not something I dip into my savings for---and may I state for the record that this is the first time in my adult life that I have savings!---but it's still too much money to waste on meals.

Put yourself on a budget and make lists of things you need, and lists of things you want. Reward yourself for buying the things you need by buying something you want.

I seldom have money to spend on myself. I rarely even buy new clothes. It's probably been 4 years. I did just buy a little bit of clothes for myself though because I was literally down to one pair of pants. I also spent $10 on a coloring book/journal. Probably spent about $60 total. When I get my tax refund, I need to go spend about $200-250 more on clothes and a pair of shoes for myself. I need them.

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this is a problem for me, too.

i've baught a lot of "manic stuff" as you call it, which in reality, is absolutely worthless.

i'd buy tins of cat food, but i don't have a cat. i'd buy a toy soldier set, then wonder what the hell someone in her 20's is going to do with it. i'd buy multiple of 1 thing, just because

the worst purchase was a budgie. i'm being serious.. an actual bird which drove me round the bend within 3 days.

like you, i then don't have the money for the actual things i'm going to use.

the last thing i got something for myself?

honestly, i don't know.

i usually buy stuff, "just because".