[Have Hope]

I cannot stop buying things online!!!!! I am having a problem!!!!! I am addicted to online shopping through this pandemic!!!!!! OMG!!

Nearly every week for the last month, I've bought myself several comfort gifts OR something colorful and happy for our apartment -- jewelry, shoes, clothing, an oversized stuffed teddy bear, a carpet for our bedroom, and now today - a huge, gorgeous bouquet of flowers!!!

I don't know if I need help, or if it's really just a sign of me unraveling, struggling with pandemic depression, struggling at work, struggling with some relationship stress, and just trying to cope in general.

I LOVE receiving gifts in the mail, and I LOVE not knowing which gift it will be!!!! But then, the problem is too -- once I receive something new, I have to buy something else!!! It's like I am never satisfied!!!! The joy of receiving is over, so I have to start all over again!!!!

On the plus side, I am not going into debt -- I am paying for all of this out of my checking account. AND I always appreciate my own thoughtfulness!

[divine1966]

I am a spender so I totally hear you. I haven’t been buying as much lately though. I am trying not to!

My husband has been actually spending more. We are trying to stay reasonable. My husbands tablet has been acting out and he really wanted iPad. It seems unreasonably expensive. So he ended up buying 10” kindle fire yesterday which is close to the price of iPad! Might as well buy iPad. He now says I told him not to buy iPad. Lol I didn’t! I just said wow it’s expensive. Kindle fire is nice though. I like mine.

I think it might all even out because people don’t eat out as much or go places or buy gas so it’s saves few hundreds a month which you deserve to spend on stuff you want. Right?

I watch entirely too much tv and eat too much. These are tough times and we all need something fun!

[Have Hope]

Originally Posted by divine1966

I am a spender so I totally hear you. I haven’t been buying as much lately though. I am trying not to!

My husband has been actually spending more. We are trying to stay reasonable. My husbands tablet has been acting out and he really wanted iPad. It seems unreasonably expensive. So he ended up buying 10” kindle fire yesterday which is close to the price of iPad! Might as well buy iPad. He now says I told him not to buy iPad. Lol I didn’t! I just said wow it’s expensive. Kindle fire is nice though. I like mine.

I think it might all even out because people don’t eat out as much or go places or buy gas so it’s saves few hundreds a month which you deserve to spend on stuff you want. Right?

I watch entirely too much tv and eat too much. These are tough times and we all need something fun!

Thanks, Divine! I needed to hear some affirmation! You make a good point! I'm not spending money on gas, on dining out, or on entertainment or on food at work -- guess it all adds up to extra funds!

Yes, we all need something fun right now -- absolutely! I love having gifts to look forward to....

That actually made me laugh a little about your iPad story. lol. Glad you like the kindle! My husband just mentioned wanting an iPad next, and I was like, no, that's where we have to draw the line ! lol. Only what we can actually AFFORD.

But yeah, I feel a bit nuts!!! Like in the "Confessions of a Shopaholic" movie. lol

[divine1966]

Smaller 7” or 8” kindle fire is actually very inexpensive and you can stream anything and watch tv and read books or magazines or do your email or just regular internet stuff. I don’t even want iPad. Maybe give him an alternative lol

I didn’t see that movie. It sounds like fun!

[Have Hope]

The movie is super cute!!! I won’t give it all away but it’s a hilarious story of a shopaholic evading credit collectors.

Hmmmm... I like the sounds of the kindle fire. I’ll look it up!!! His bday is coming up too.

[SquarePegGuy]

Originally Posted by Have Hope

I cannot stop buying things online!!!!! I am having a problem!!!!! I am addicted to online shopping through this pandemic!!!!!! OMG!!

-snip-

I LOVE receiving gifts in the mail, and I LOVE not knowing which gift it will be!!!! But then, the problem is too -- once I receive something new, I have to buy something else!!! It's like I am never satisfied!!!! The joy of receiving is over, so I have to start all over again!!!!

On the plus side, I am not going into debt -- I am paying for all of this out of my checking account. AND I always appreciate my own thoughtfulness!

Well, it's a good thing that you can afford it! Perhaps you can set up a gift exchange with a group of friends who can send stuff to you and to whom you can send stuff. The advantage is that you don't buy anything, so you spend less and you don't acquire too much stuff. Maybe you'll be satisfied receiving letters and cards, which are easy to mail.

[divine1966]

Originally Posted by Have Hope

The movie is super cute!!! I won’t give it all away but it’s a hilarious story of a shopaholic evading credit collectors.

Hmmmm... I like the sounds of the kindle fire. I’ll look it up!!! His bday is coming up too.

7” is only $50 but it goes down periodically and 10” is 150. Well if you buy charger and cover and this and that it might add up. But still not like iPad!

[Have Hope]

Originally Posted by divine1966

7” is only $50 but it goes down periodically and 10” is 150. Well if you buy charger and cover and this and that it might add up. But still not like iPad!

Wow, that's not bad at all, actually!!! Thanks!

[Have Hope]

Originally Posted by SquarePegGuy

Well, it's a good thing that you can afford it! Perhaps you can set up a gift exchange with a group of friends who can send stuff to you and to whom you can send stuff. The advantage is that you don't buy anything, so you spend less and you don't acquire too much stuff. Maybe you'll be satisfied receiving letters and cards, which are easy to mail.

Thanks! Cute idea!!

[~Christina]

Decades ago , didn’t know i had Bipolar , I worked like a dog and if I saw something I wanted I bought it, I decided on my lunch break at work one day I was going to go buy a new car after work, mine was fine ,, but I picked up my daughter who was 6 maybe 7 years old at the time...I walked to a line of cars and told her to pick out which she liked the best , yep came home with it.

Not all my spending was Bipolar , I just liked shopping. It was fun.

But life doesn’t always work out how you want, my husband and I are both on SSDI now.. so we literally have just enough to pay the bills. Sucks but I’ve learned to deal with it.

My daughter gave me a 50.00 gift card for Target for my birthday in February.. I spent at least a week looking online and putting stuff in my cart . Each day I’d look at it and deleted things and added others. I finally decided on stuff , I was so excited when it all came in the mail !

A very good friend sent me a 25.00 gift card for Amazon out of the blue a couple weeks ago because she knows I just never have money to buy something I just want that’s not a necessity. I spent days saving things on my list , deleting and adding. I finally decided and hell Im like a kid at Christmas so excited!!

I think shopping is fine if you have the money for it , but if bills are piling up then it’s a problem..

I know Amazon , Ebay and every other website selling something is loving there numbers right now. lol

Enjoy if you can

[Have Hope]

I don’t have bipolar but this is definitely a reaction to all the stress I’m under. I can see that. It’s my way of fighting against deeper depression I guess. I’ve never experienced anything like this before.