[MMC66]

THERE I said it. Isn't that the first step towards recovery??

It is what the middle of July and sweet princess Addy already has her whole fall wardrobe three times over (darn cute stuff - I might add) I haven't even started school shopping for my other kids, but only because I have to take them with - and they're off doing stuff this week

My husband is such a sweetie, he thinks everything I do is wonderful so he'll never say anything but I KNOW it's out of control.

Anyone else out there with this problem or a recovering shopaholic?? I need help

Martha

[spaypets]

I'll tell you what solved it for me--buying half a dozen adorable summer dresses in April and then suffering through the coldest summer in 50 years. Yup, DD had cute, cute sleeveless dresses which she got to wear less than 3 times each. They're all size 2, I'm now buying her size 4 or 5. Fortunately we went some place warm in March so she got to wear a couple then. And they fit round and round, so she has worn a couple during the latest warm spell, even though they're a bit short (they were meant to fall below the knee).

This year, I didn't buy ANY sun dresses until July and they're all on sale!

[cathy102]

I used to shop for myself all the time until I got kids...Now it's all about the kids... They have so much stuff and I still keep buying them clothes...Should we talk about all the toys my kids have????

[Linny]

I can walk past the toys, for the most part; but when it comes to clothes for two cute little girls (ahhh, alas, they ARE mine and would I be TOO biased? LOL )....well, when the price is right, I'm totally 'gone'.

Let's not even go into big sales, or around here...(some dandy yard sales that are run by the owners of those 'kids' clothing stores). I've actually found myself buying 'ahead of time sizes'...only to find the when the season came, I'd forgotten about the 'stash'...and bought even MORE!
(And that's when you REALLY know there's a problem!)

But....it goes so quickly. It's wonderful...and soon the 'cute stuff' isn't made as often for the older kids. (Especially boys...which is a pet-peeve for me around here.)

So, the only alternative---as I see it-----is to enjoy every minute....or, if need be...start buying in hopes of the 'next baby/child' too!?!?!? LOL

Sincerely,

Linny

[LisaCA]

before you enter a 12 step program, let me just say that it's not your fault. It's addy's fault for looking so darn cute in everything. I have the same problem with christiane. while I'm decked out in knit pants and t-shirts (stuff she can smear food on), she looks smart today in her baseball outfit, matching shoes and hair ribbons. Dh calls her my human barbie doll, which I find insulting since (as I've mentioned before) I truly think barbie is the root of all that is evil in the world. So her closet is full of fall, winter and next spring/summer outfits- it was a sale so i saved money, and as the mom, if your kid looks cute, you get the kudos . no one looks to dh and says what a nice outfit dd is wearing-and rightly so.

enjoy the fashions for addy-soon she will be complaining that the kids won't like her if she wears that (my nephew actually said this at age 5). And after that, she'll raid your closet for all those really neat retro fashions from the turn of the 21st century, thus making you feel totally old.

maybe I'm in denial, but really, it's not my fault, it's hers...

lisa

[Linny]

I truly think barbie is the root of all that is evil in the world---Lisa

Gee! Is there a support group for those of us who believe this to be true? I'd seriously consider joining, I can tell you!!!!! LOLOLOL!

Linny

[MMC66]

As I have said more than once on these forums. I HATE BARBIE!!

I did have one or two as a child but all I can remember about her is that I would cut her hair until she looked like a recruit, then make her arms and legs do things that made her look like a circus side show. Yikes, maybe my issues are deeper than I thought

I like the blaming Addy for my shopping problem idea, I'll try that one for a while. Oh yes and another problem being from pasty european descent, she looks FABULOUS in all the colors that make the rest of the family look like they're at death's door!

[icunurse]

I'm in for joinging the support group, though I think my cheapness has a lot to do with it. I have already started to stockpile clearance summer 2T stuff for next year (and have it organized by season in his closet ) and have started purchasing deals on toys/videos for Christmas. Though, it is my way of limiting things others buy him - I buy now and then family "reimburses" me for it later, so that they can give it to him. Saves everyone money in the long run and keeps purchases to a minimum (can you tell that I have control issues, too). I agree with Lisa, though....if these darn kids didn't look so cute in everything, we wouldn'y have these problems!

[sugarbabysmommy]

Hi my name is Sugar's Mama and I'm a shopaholic. Clothes are hard for me to pass by, but even harder are books and toys. I read a shopping tip recently on an only child website that recommended if you find yourself over shopping and over indulging your only child to ask yourself a simple question before you buy- would you still buy it if you had three children instead of one? Somethings I have been able to put back after asking myself "the" question and other things I answer a resounding, "Yes, because I don't have three children, hah!" Practice makes perfect I guess. Funny I hear Dori in my head- just keep shoppping, just keep shopping, just keep shopping shopping, what do we do... we shoooop.

And Martha, since you clearly have more than one kid I don't know what to tell you. Maybe you could ask yourself if you had quintuplets would you still by it?

[LisaCA]

as one control freak to another, that reimbursement idea is brilliant!!! I really must do this since no one is following my gift rules and I have to haul everything back or give it away.

and the support group should be for those who like barbie as a role model for their kids-they really need the help. Of course no one listens to my antibarbie rants, so maybe I just need to be more evangelical...

I actually have a few that I purchased to bring to my classes when we discuss colonialism, racism and gender issues. They loved the props, and the idea that their professor hated barbie more than anything:-). The most popular was my Colonialism collection, which included the portuguese and british princess, several african barbies of the past, a few asian princess, etc. It made me sick to buy them and thus give mattel money, but they made the discussions in class fun, and demonstrated the power of popular culture.

my favorite card: an arm reaching into an open oven to remove a burnt barbie on the rack "uh oh, barbie stayed too long in the sauna..."

okay, enough about the evil one...

[Poolside]

Oh I had to laugh at the title. I was NEVER a shopper and now I can't stop. We have more clothes and toys and stilly stuff than I ever thought I would buy. Last week my Husband came home with school dresses size 4T !! She's 17months old and is in 9-12 month clothes. WHAT ARE WE THINKING ? GLad there's support out here.

[danhanan]

Whoa!!!! Can we please back up to Martha's original post. All I can say is that "shopping problem" seems to be a gross contradiction of terms !!!! How can shopping possible be a problem? I thinks it's a great sport, hobby and/or stress reliever. Also, if you're under a great deal of stress.... shop for chocolate!!!!

[momofmykids]

Nancy,
I'm with you...the words shopping and problem just don't seem to go together. Not sure that my brain can even make me say those two words together! I like to think of it as "therapy"...retail therapy.

[mommieof2cuties]

I love to shop! But I also love a good a deal The best time to buy is July-Aug and Jan-FEb when they clearence everything out! I have gotton items from the childrens place for .50 a shirt and shorts, I got my friends daughter for her birthday this summer skorts that were 18.99 down to .99, dresses that were 29.99 down to 2.99 I could go on and on. I love to shop...but enjoy shopping for a good deal. For example my husband would rather just walk into Ralph Lauren and pay the 59.99 for a polo shirt... I can get the same shirt at ross for 29.99 and at the outlets for 19.99 to 29.99, but he dislikes shopping and just runs in over pays and runs out! So I am in charge of shirts and everything except his pants! LOL

FYI BABY GAP HUGE SALE!!!! 1.97 and up deals

FYI Old Nacy HUGE SALE up to 75% off and many 1.97 shoe deals!!!

FYI MACYS REALLY BIG SALE!!!30-50% and than another 30-50%

FYI Disney Store Huge sale!!!! most items 5.99

Hope I don't get in trouble for posting the stores names etc

God Bless,
Summer

[LisaCA]

mommieof2cuties,

congrats!

i am also in love with the children's place. awesome stuff, and their sales are great. the outlets are spectacular too. found some excellent bargains there last summer, last winter, etc.