Confession time: I have a terrible addiction. I am a chronic thrifter. I love it so much, and I fear that my love has moved from enjoyment to dependence.
Here is where it becomes a "moral decision". There are lots of things that make thrifting a great idea. It is a good thing to save money, to turn someone else's rejects into your treasures. I take a lot of pride in the fact that a lot of my clothes and my children's toys are second hand.
But, then there is another issue--the issue of stuff and how it tends to accumulate. I can't help but look around my house and wonder, "where did all of this stuff come from?"
My husband and I moved into our house under three years ago. Before that I rented a room. So, my entire life and all of stuff was in that single room. I owned very little.
And now I live in a large 5 bedroom house and sometimes struggle to know where to put stuff. Granted, our family did grow by two members, but still, do we really need all of this stuff?
The answer is, of course no, we don't need all of this stuff.
This issue of "stuff" is made even more stark when I reflect on the life of my little sister. Over 3 years ago now, she joined a religious order, the Little Sisters of the Lamb, and through that she took a vow of poverty. Her entire life fits in a duffle bag--including her bedding.
She basically owns nothing.
And she is one of the happiest people I now. Joy shines out of her.
Here is where the issue of thrifting comes in again. A few nights ago I left my husband with the kids (my first outing without the baby! FREEDOM!) and headed out to do some errands. Of course the local thrift store was a destination. I had a specific item I was looking for, but of course I didn't find it. It is impossible to find something specific while thrifting...but there are always lots of things to find that you "didn't know you needed until you saw them".
The Lord blessed me with a beautiful girl in November. She is so beautiful. So, I have a new temptation while thrifting: dresses.
Just look at what I found:
Heart braking, I know.
But she will be too big for it in a matter of weeks. And then the dress will end up with the other bins of kids clothing in or storage room, which is already very full.
But then again, just look at her!
I am still torn. Lord, please free me from this love of stuff, and love you more!
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this issue! Do you have similar problems?
Oh mylanta! It would have been a sin NOT to have gotten that dress!!! It is too cute.
ReplyDeleteI found you on the blog hop and am your newest follower. I was kinda sorta hopin' that you'd hop on by my blog and follow back!
Have a great night!
Sarah
www.enjoyingtheepiphany.com
Totally understand. Some days I wonder if I'll end up on that show Hoarders ten years from now. Currently I'm trying not to collect things until I finish the projects packed out in the basement. I also try to pass things along when we're finished with it. Using Freecycle.org or the Free posting on Craigslist is a good way to pass on what I no longer need to someone who can use it. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Trinity and I am a shopaholic! Truly I am. I too wonder where stuff came from and find myself frequently replacing items with new items because I found a food deal or want a change. I love to buy clothes for my boys and I love to buy from the clearance. Not only are kids hard on clothes, but they grow extremely fast so I like a good deal. However, I know when the deals are, where to shop and frequently I end up with way too much clothing. I also buy off season in bundles and continue to buy throughout the seasons. My husband was not too happy when I bought my eldest son 9 shirts at Children's Place for next winter. He thought that was too many. I thought it was a steal. $4.99 for each shirt that is regularly 10.00. Then I had to let him know that my son already had approximately 10 other shirts for winter that I had previously purchased. My last bundle cost me roughly 80.00 dollars. However, I bought 4 pairs of long pants and 19 shirts. Lord help me also. Thankfully, I do not have any girls because Lord knows I would be in poverty, but not exactly by choice. :)
ReplyDeleteWhen you find great deals for you, your kids, or your home, go ahead and buy them and enjoy them. When they are no longer wanted or needed, donate them back to a thrift shop. Here in Marshall, the hospital auxiliary runs a thrift store, and the proceeds are used to purchase major items for the hospital annually. I bet you can donate many of your purchases back to a local thrift store or church group. Happy shopping!
ReplyDeleteHi Nancy,
ReplyDeleteJust stopping over from Lemon Tree Dwelling! This post reminds me of a recent post I did on a little white shelf I found at Goodwill. I am always drawn to thrift stores and always find things I can't pass up....but you're right that it adds up and can feel like too much! I've taken a small break from it and am focusing on using what I have. I am also responding to all the donation cards we get in the mail and am packing up bags of things we no longer use. Good luck - sometimes a small break is all you need :)
Cathy
p.s. your little girl is ADORABLE!! No wonder you can't pass up dresses for her! :)
What a beautiful baby girl!! My daughter was also born in November. Congratulations to you, new follower :)
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