Reality check - overbuying - YouLookFab Forum

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Reality check - overbuying

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Come colder months I become obsessed with the fun hose - textured black, patterned, play on black&grey, striped. Other stuff can sneak in too. It's fun and non-expensive way to freshen up a lot of the old outfits I love.

These days one local store had an offer and let's just say I got carried away and bought loads. Well, since storage space is an issue, I had to pull out everything I have in the drawer and sort through, after which I could only hang my head in shame. So much duplication and I still have stuff unworn - and even unopened - from previous years as well.

4 things are going back.

Anyone else in the Overbuyers (Non)Anonymous?

Shopping

42 replies

Latest reply was from Ornella

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Oh Ornella. Don't you know purchases in this category don't count? You can never have enough of essential basics like socks, stockings, underwear. I purposely keep new pairs of these items for blah days when I need a pick-me-up because there is nothing like a pair of brand new stockings or socks.

I vote sort through and get rid of the less-than-joyous pairs.

Sharon

Veteran

I think Denise has a point. They won't really go out of fashion and it's good to have some on hand. There's nothing worse than getting to the point where all your underwear, or socks, or tights are ratty and unappealing.

Neel

Veteran

I am an overbuyer of undergarments ... I always seem to think I do not have enough? And when I see anything pretty I tend to buy again! And I have things with tags on from a year back! I must suffer from some kind of disorder!

rute

Veteran

eh eh I have a huge collection of scarfs! Can't resist and I wear them during all autumn and winter for warmth!

lyn67

Veteran

I can so relate with overbuying hose and scarves of all kinds...:-(

Carla

Veteran

Not with clothes so much, but I can't seem to resist moisturizers and hair products (shampoos and conditioners). Drugstores are my nemesis!

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Denise :: even with basics one can over-stock, trust me

Carla :: I have banned myself from buying any toiletries until I run out of all I have at the moment. This was decided when we moved, 15 months ago. Only yesterday I had bought the first hand-cream to carry in my handbag, I had so many to go through. Just ridiculous.

Rute :: scarves don't count

Anonymous

Yes, I'm in your club. I have way too many tights and socks and storage is an issue. In my defense, my feet get very cold in the chilly months and I often change socks 3 times a day to keep them warm. I've also overreached my storage space for undies, jars of salsa, and shampoos.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I have done this with tights, too, Ornella, and with less excuse because I don't even buy the fun interesting ones (which I can rarely find) -- I merely overbuy the black opaque, somehow imagining I have none! But I do a little tidy of the drawer each autumn and usually discover some that I should toss.

amiable

Veteran

I think I'm falling into this with tops - really, with clothes in general. I have more than plenty, but I read YLF, and think "Ooh - I love this idea, and don't have the things to carry it out", so when I'm shopping and see something cheap that fits the "idea", I buy it. Even though I have more clothes than I can possibly wear in a season.

I'm working toward training my mind to recognize and rejoice in what I DO have, rather than notice the things that I DON'T have. It's slow going.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I am constantly looking for the next best thing in socks when what I really need is lots and lots of the same socks so I can shut down my sock orphanage.

ramya

Veteran

Camisoles... Shessh I buy them in bulk and don't let go off them
I wear one everyday but I kinda feel I always need this 1 more

Anonymous

LOL@Shevia's sock orphanage. That's my new name for my big bin of extra tights and socks.

Jjsloane

Veteran

I'll join you. My vices are makeup/beauty products (I have been banning myself from buying more shampoo and lipgloss because I have a stockpile that looks like the Macy's cosmetics counter.); jackets and shoes. I also have a larger than necessary stash of tights/hosiery but I don't count those as terrible unless they are obviously something I won't wear.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I have some merlot cabled tights bought over 3 years ago never worn :/ I have maybe 6 pair of nylons/tights and only wear them perhaps twice a year. Guess that's not overbuying but any in that category is likely to go unworn so I should just not buy any more for like, another 5 years I guess lol.

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Mo :: I only saw the beginning of your sentence "I have some merlot ..." and thought "You cannot possibly overbuy Merlot..."

Shevia :: LOL

Ramya :: I totally forgot about my own camisoles addiction. I am sick of looking at them. How many does one actually need??

ramya

Veteran

Hmmm I agree Ornella nothing like shifting house to give you the perpective.
Like I never thought I had lots of tops coz I wear all of them and enjoy them.But now I tried organising them. Sheesh I have way too many is what I decided.
But the camisoles.Lord!!! But honestly just yesterday I started thinking, Man I need a black tank.But luckily I reminded myself how sick I felt packing them.

ETA: It sure feels like we need one more than what we already have Doesn't it

Lisa

Veteran

I've done this often with layering t-shirts and tank tops. Before I knew it, I had a months worth! 30, oh my, way too many! I've since reduced down to 14, which is still a little high but at least it made the drawer more manageable. I also did this with body washes and lotions. Once I realized how much I had, I went a little over a year before I used them all up and could actually purchase a new one. Now I am very careful because I do like the seasonal scents and it's no fun using pumpkin in July or coconut at Christmas time.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Overbuyer? Me? Surely not.

Wendi1984

I did this over the summer with basic t-shirts. And that didn't stop me from adding one to my recent jacket order from the Gap! At least they're inexpensive and can be worn year round.

unfrumped

Veteran

I get that. I'm trying out some different tights for fall/winter to wear something besides opaque black (still need to be warmish) and so once I started looking--charcoal! gray! another shade of gray! cabled !--I can see it might be easy to over-do before I figure out which ones work, why and why not. I don't want to have just a nice-looking drawer full, I want to have several options, dupes enough for laundering, but to wear what I've got.

Thistle

Veteran

Me? Duplicate? No way! More like horde. because you just never know when you will need _____.

I finally made myself go through my sock and undergarment drawers. I threw away a ton of things that I would just never wear based on condition. Yes, underthings should be pretty too

Beth Ann

Veteran

Oh yes, I've done this! I imagine you are very disciplined with large purchases. Sometimes our little "I need a treat" voice is at the ready for just such a situation you found yourself in! I'm with some of the others: Don't hesitate to purge the old before you decide what to return!

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Beth Ann :: you raise a great point. No thoughtless splurging on big stuff, but little treats start to build up. Food for thought, for sure.

Astrid

Veteran

Yes! I have too much tights too. Scarves are also difficult. I agree with Beth Ann, I do treat myself with small stuff and while those items aren't expensive on their own all of them added together would go a long way towards a jacket, coat or shoes that I'd need way more.

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

It seems every season I get obsessed with a certain accessory - statement necklaces, bracelets, hats - and instead of getting one or two I get a bunch then have to buy something else to store them. Tights are an ongoing thing with me, I have drawers full that need to weeded through - and as a matter of fact I just bought 5 new pair this week.

Marley

Veteran

O - yes, I do this with nail polish! I mean how many different shades of pink, blue, purple, red, etc. does one need/wear? Nail polish is my fallback treat. Maybe I can't afford to buy a piece of clothing - or maybe I'm not anywhere near a clothing store - but, there is a drugstore, Target, beauty supply store, etc. on every corner! I can just run in real quick and lose myself in all of the different colors and finishes! And - I don't even need to take the time to go into a dressing room and try them on! I just grab a couple of colors - easy-peasy and I'm on my way. Then I get home and put them on my shelf in the bathroom - and lo and behold there is another bottle in the exact same shade already sitting there! Many times its even an exact duplication in regards to brand name and color. I've forgotten what colors/brands I've already bought! Crazy!

kkards

Veteran

i was in target last week, and they had their Last Year left over trousers socks on clearance (they must be changing the patterns or the package for this year), so i bougth 6. then when i got home and went to put them away, i "discovered" 6 new pairs, unworn, bought on clearance from target at the end of last winter.

AviaMariah

Veteran

We just moved too and I put myself on a toiletries, pantry goods, cleaning products ban for awhile. It was embarrassing the amount of those items we had to move! On the socks, underwear, tights etc front; I find that some hoarding works in my favor. That way when I wear a pair that is worn out or just plain bugs me, I have no problem promptly taking them off and throwing them away because I know I have plenty more.

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