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[Jolly Holly Scraps]

Until you have to rent a storage space! I'm busting out the door! But I agree, I find that it's great for my mental health (especially when a package arrives) plus I get to create even more!

Same disease here ... I do think that scrapping/making cards is good for my mental health so I try to justify purchases as being cheaper than therapy. 

I actually have stuff in storage! I keep ordering more though! I'm trying to reign in it this year; though it IS wonderful for mental health!! It's definitely a trade off! I am nearly out of room, but I have everything to do everything!  
 

[Jolly Holly Scraps]

I was attempting to go on a January spending freeze. Here is January 4th and I've already placed two orders. Major failure!! 

THIS is sooo relatable, Chris! I'm waiting for tons of things that I've ordered. I spent the better part of last month (AND November!) buying LOTS!  
I'm doing some spend freezes this year for sure though! I'm a little embarrassed at how our of control it's gotten, BUT I don't spend the money going out to movies or buying vintage beaded handbags, so LOL I'm DEFINITELY stocked up for the next 10 years!  
 

[Jolly Holly Scraps]

I was attempting to go on a January spending freeze. Here is January 4th and I've already placed two orders. Major failure!! 

That made me laugh so hard!!!   

Yessss it's SO relatable!  
 

[Jolly Holly Scraps]

Besides, what else do we have to do on this cold, snowy day?

Well I SHOULD be in my scrap room cleaning it up. But here I am adding to it. LOL! 

SAME  
 

[Jolly Holly Scraps]

Is there room for more on this boat?

I’ve placed 5 orders since december 30th to be honest, one was only new trimmer blades, but still…

I will justify myself a little, because I’ve spent the whole day making page kits from my existing stash, and I even started each kit with pictures and a piece of paper, that I had already cut into. 

My room is also in need of cleaning up, and I’ve started to put things aside, that I no longer love. When I’ve filled the box, it’ll be put up for sale at a local fb group.

Way to go making page kits, Henriette! I do that sometimes, and LOVE it!  
Kudos to you for getting rid of things you no longer love! VERY smart!!!  
I just keep adding right now, but am gonna hit the brakes soon!
Lol I need a new trimmer and blades but have to wait s little while longer - I used all my money already  
 

[Jolly Holly Scraps]

I truly believe buying scrapbook supplies and using scrapbook supplies are  2 separate hobbies.  

I'm  busting out the door also.  I took advantage of the Black Friday sales and the Chrsitmas  sales.  I need to stop.   So far, I'm  doing good.  No spending for January  yet.

Oh yes!!!!  
I've ALSO not spent so far this month, but have packages coming from ALL the spending I've done during the past two months! I LOVE supplies!  

 

[Jolly Holly Scraps]

I JUST PLACED AN ORDER FOR MY MAGNETIC BIG SHOT PLATE THAT WAS ON CLEARANCE FOR HALF THE PRICE PLUS I ADDED A FEW EXTRA ITEMS TO MY ORDER................. I'M WAITING FOR ANOTHER COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE I PLACE ANOTHER ORDER....................... I ALSO GET EXCITED WHEN I GET A PACKAGE FROM ACOT EVEN WHEN I GET THE MONTHLY ENVIE MY HANDS SHAKE A LITTLE CUZ, I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT I GOT.................... EVERY ENVIE I'VE REC'D HAS BEEN AWESOME............................... IT'S SO MUCH FUN GETTING AN ENVIE EVERY MONTH................ I TO AM BUSTING OUT AT THE SEAMS........................ HEHEHEHEHEHE SO LADIES IF YOU WANT TO GET EXCITED MORE EACH MONTH SIGN-UP FOR THE ENVIE EXCHANGE IT'S WONDERFUL GETTING SURPRISED EVERY MONTH..................... VALERIE

RIGHT ON, VALERIE!!  
 

[Jolly Holly Scraps]

Same disease here ... I do think that scrapping/making cards is good for my mental health so I try to justify purchases as being cheaper than therapy. 

Definitely an addiction. I need a 12x12 step program.
  

Well said, Karyn Sue!  

[Jolly Holly Scraps]

Until you have to rent a storage space! I'm busting out the door! But I agree, I find that it's great for my mental health (especially when a package arrives) plus I get to create even more!

Same disease here ... I do think that scrapping/making cards is good for my mental health so I try to justify purchases as being cheaper than therapy. 

Yup! We are addicts! And that excitement of the new package? It releases endorphins - kinda like happy juice for the brain. 

TRUE!!!  
 

[Jolly Holly Scraps]

Besides, what else do we have to do on this cold, snowy day?

Cleaning the craft room! Why? So I can shoehorn more stuff in, of course! 

[Jolly Holly Scraps]

I truly believe buying scrapbook supplies and using scrapbook supplies are  2 separate hobbies.  

I totally agree with this concept!
However, too much buying leads to hoarding, which is a serious mental health problem that can only be fixed with therapy.
Receiving packages is "passive" pleasure, whereas creating with supplies is "active" pleasure.
Shifting to active pleasures is similar to increasing any start behavior (start exercising more, start eating more healthily, start a gratitude journal, etc.).
Establishing and keeping small goals is more motivating than guilting and punishing. Example of punishment would be telling self that buying is "frozen" until 20 layouts are completed. It is also an example of co-mingling two separate problems, which is rarely successful.
My advice would be to establish separate goals that are do-able and contain intrinsic satisfaction/pleasure (rewards). Keeping track of the accomplished goals is also helpful to keep the focus on the positive, rather than the "failures". Some people enjoy using the (2) January Goals - ACOT Message Board thread, but I caution against the tendency to focus on unmet goals at the end of the month. Shift to celebrating progress and achievements for best effect.
I also caution against setting restrictions on creativity such as "I have to clean my craft room before I can do anymore creating." That is setting an awful task that has to be met before you can do the healthy pleasure creating activity. If you want to set hurdles, then put them in front of the dysfunctional behavior: I can't buy any more supplies until I clean and organize my craft room. 
Anyway, thanks for presenting this universal dilemma. Let's empower each other to make progress on our goals! 

We love you Dr Sonja! This helps to explain why I've failed on some of my goals in the past! (Like a diet where I tell myself that I won't eat brownies again until I lose x amount of weight- not ONLY did I eat brownies, I had the cake, too!) (MAYBE not the best analogy, but I REALLY used to torture myself with dieting and so forth; I am a LOT healthier in my thinking about food these days!)
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[Jolly Holly Scraps]

I managed to go a bit over 3 weeks without any craft orders but, Lol, I succumbed.  I have an ACOT order coming this week and can hardly wait.        OH lol and Gina K has a new release this week which will be on here too.   So guess my abstinence is over.  I too miss getting packages regularly. 

I know what you mean. .. there's some companies who make stamps sets that I just ABSOLUTELY LOVE and it's hard to say no to them. One year recently I spent WAY MORE than is rational... I mean, it looks like I have more money than I do, if you looked at my supplies. Yes, I will gotten lots of gifts, but I've ALSO hit the buy button so MUCH !  

[Jolly Holly Scraps]

I wanted to start a spending freeze with the New Year and see how far I get. I got sooo much scrappy stuff for Christmas that I would feel terribly guilty if I bought anything new. I have to use up some stuff - I am running out of room!!

Yesssss, Ann Marie, I'm right there with you! LOL it's so good to have options! I have LOTS to use! 
 

[Jolly Holly Scraps]

I, also, did place a small order today. But, I rationalize it when I count up the layouts I created last year - 260. Plus cards and 2 travelers journals.

You bring up a good point! I kept track of how many layouts I did last year, and it was a LOT! So, I'm using some things!  

[Jolly Holly Scraps]

Truthfully, I don't need anything.  Shopping now would be for stash and I am trying to break myself for doing that.  Only buy for whatever project I am working on.

I collecting and holding my cherry points for the new summer collections.  I'm hoping Mintay comes out with a summer collection I really like.

I do love shopping my stash! Lol!
I hear ya about those points- they make me want to shop here MORE than some other stores for sure! I've gotten a lot "free" because of points, and no one else does that! It makes me a loyal customer for sure! 

[Jolly Holly Scraps]

So far I've managed to not place any orders... I got quite a bit of scrapbook stuff for Christmas so I'm trying to put all of it away and take stock of things I "might" need... I did receive a gift card for here - so I'm holding onto that until it starts to burn a hole in my virtual pocket....

I did sign up for the envie this month - so that's something to look forward to in my mailbox later in the month!

Right on , Rebecca!
 

[Jolly Holly Scraps]

I love the new shipping option to "save" products until free shipping level is reached. I find that if there is a sale on something I really love, I can just buy that item and put it on hold. In the past, my "need" to be thrifty often led to filling the shopping cart with a bunch of superfluous items in order to get free shipping.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the hold my order feature! I've racked up two big boxes this way- the first one hasn't even shipped yet, but I've saved one things I've wanted to buy, and I love that! 
 

[Jolly Holly Scraps]

Ahhh the decisions we must make! I too am addicted and need a 12x12 step program! Lol! I also know scrapping is my mental therapy. I get pretty cranky and grumpy when I haven’t scrapped enough. 

I’m in kind of a different situation. I desperately need organization supplies for my kitchen and my future scrap room. Plus we need some more things to finish and decorate the house. So I have to balance it all somehow. I’ve managed it so far! Lol! But it’s hard to cherry hunt and not just buy and buy!!! Lolol!!! 

I TOTALLY get it!!!! 
This year, I'm gonna buy more organizational things, and less crafty supplies. And yes, finding a balance! I have more expenses right now anyway!  
I DO LOVE the cherry hunting, though and will keep doing it!  
 

[Jolly Holly Scraps]

I'm trying to get back to scrapping. I haven't scrapped anything since like last May - and hadn't even finished those. I was pulling some fall collections and wishing I had bought 2 of a couple of them. Fall makes my heart go pitter patter. But no shopping here - things went south last spring and haven't improved yet. I need to just use what I have anyway. It's just that once you use it, you don't have it anymore.    (And if you're doing two layouts with the same paper you have to think how to cut it and make it work for both. I scrap for both my kids and I try to duplicate layouts where I can. Even if they don't end up being the same because I'm not using all the same pics, I try and use the same papers.)  I'm happy to have the pretty papers I do have though!

VERY well put, Tam! I did NOT shop for like, 8 years or longer.
Also, during this time, a storage unit flooded and I lost soooo MUCH! I kind of went off the deep end when I started shopping again and ALSO kind of had issues with shopping too MUCH!
NOW, I've gotten a better handle on it- BUT I DO LOVE all my supplies!!! EVEN my papers from 20 years ago! I will say that I purge sporadically and share with DGD and nieces and nephews, friend's kids, etc. 
My financial situation has changed again, and I'm REALLY on a seriously thin budget. So, I don't regret buying the things I did buy- because I started scrappin' and doing arts and crafts again BEFORE I started shopping again. 
Anyway for a little while I'm JUST gonna be creating an not shopping, and that's awesome, too!  
I do save points and gift cards, and have gotten freebies or VERY low spend orders that way.  
 

[Jolly Holly Scraps]

I'm trying to get back to scrapping. I haven't scrapped anything since like last May - and hadn't even finished those. I was pulling some fall collections and wishing I had bought 2 of a couple of them. Fall makes my heart go pitter patter. But no shopping here - things went south last spring and haven't improved yet. I need to just use what I have anyway. It's just that once you use it, you don't have it anymore.    (And if you're doing two layouts with the same paper you have to think how to cut it and make it work for both. I scrap for both my kids and I try to duplicate layouts where I can. Even if they don't end up being the same because I'm not using all the same pics, I try and use the same papers.)  I'm happy to have the pretty papers I do have though!

I ALSO think it's awesome the way that you do your kid's scrapbooks! 
AND, I tend to have the same dilemma with my pattern papers, too!