At what point is enough actually enough?

Thank you for sharing, scrapnnana! Your post is giving me lots to think about. I have a large stash--scrapping since 1996 and have also worked part-time at a LSS and did some design work for another.

Over the last couple of years, the amount of "stuff" started weighing on me. I think it might be partially that it wasn't organized into a way that made sense for me, and it was a lot in my current space. As I went through some stuff to sell, I was pleased to see that I still liked a lot of it. It was a good exercise for me to look through everything and become acquainted with it again. Since really looking through everything, I've been making more of an effort to use my older stash, mix it with new stuff, and just generally enjoy it. I've finally reached a point where it is now "just paper" and I'm not saving it for that perfect layout, or anything else.

I'm definitely not at a point where I'm ready to freeze or stop shopping, much as I probably should. The latest and greatest still very much interest me. Last year I chose to focus on using/getting out more than I brought in. That was actually a really fun exercise for me. I intended to do it again this year, but it has been a very stressful year, and I've been shopping as a way to stay connected to the hobby, even though I haven't been scrapping as much. It brings me some much needed joy. That said, I want to get back on the wagon and start tracking again. My stash needs to be getting smaller, not larger. I think over time that will help me to get to a better place with my stash and feel less guilt.

I am a person who is very concerned about our consumption habits.  I think hobbies are very important.  I paper scrapbooked until 2009.  Then I picked up digital in 2011 and then I went back to paper in 2016. All my paper scrapbooking time, I have been committed to buying only what I can actually use.  I have been a small stash scrapbooker and I am consistently thinking about bringing stuff into my life.  With that said, I am also the kind of person who is overwhelmed with having too much.  I don't limit my projects.  If I want to do OLW or DD or PL or whatever, I just do it.  I don't regret the amount of finished albums I have.  In fact, I appreciate them even more since my child died.  I also know that my family appreciates them too so I don't see them ending up in a dumpster when I pass away.  

But I absolutely don't want to leave my husband and children with a craft room that is just overwhelming with product so I'm careful.  And yes, sometimes I get FOMO and all efforts to restrain myself are futile.  But this is actually a very rare thing.

I just seems like it would be wrong of me to consider my consumption in every area of my life and not this one too.  I have enough.  One monthly kit is enough.  A few one off supplies here and there is enough.  But I'm not sure if others can work with a stash as small as mine.  For reference, I have 17 sheets of stamps and I don't own any dies whatsoever and the only punch I own is a corner rounder.  I use to death what I invest in.  I have always had a $1 per page thought.  If I spend $28 on a stamp, I've got to use it on 28 different occasions to get my money's worth.  

Now, I know that not everyone is like me and I try not to judge.  But I wanted to put forth that I can craft beautiful album and have a small stash and a limited budget.  I also have other hobbies that cost me money too.  So, that probably plays into it, as well.  I crochet, I've just started working on my second quilt, and I also play a bass guitar that the upfront cost of wasn't cheap either.  

It's so interesting to me that you posted this - I have been having the same thoughts. I feel like I am there now. Nothing is a "must have" anymore for me. My fomo has dissipated. I am sure I could find SOMETHING to buy if I had a gift card to use but I feel like I have enough. Maybe this comes with age and the reality I am never going to get it "all done". I have inherited family pictures from both sides and it's honestly overwhelming.

A lot of what's coming out is similar to what I already have in terms of paper/themes/colors. A quick perusal of scrapbook dot com's "best sellers" and there is nothing I need nor want.

I probably could do this well past my projected lifetime. Would need glue. And Albums and page protectors. But not only do I have more than enough of every themed product I could see myself scrapping, I also have a Silhouette and could cut anything I needed for any new theme that might pop up, using the cardstock on hand.

As long as I can afford it, I will continue to buy scrapbooking supplies. Scrapping brings me peace and joy. It keeps the past alive. Finding fun things to do it with brings me excitement. Planning for future projects sparks brain cells and fortifies my hope for the future. Keeping this old brain ticking is a definite goal of mine, and playing with paper is a big part of that.

I love the way you said this! It applies to me as well.

I'm trying to rethink what I purchase, but I will always buy stuff because when I don't my creativity disappears. I do cycle through all my hobbies though, currently I'm not buying books or yarn...

What I mean is: die cut files instead of letter stickers.

stamps I can use over and over versus cute ones (labels and tabs) so I never run out.

Really thinking about themed paper collections. Like when I got all excited because Carta Bella came out with a game collection and we're gamers so had to have it all. And then Simple Stories also came out with a game collection, and I liked that one more... And currently Photo Play has one. And now I have so much game themed stuff, and it's too primary colored for the games I play, and we don't play Sorry! So all the Sorry puns won't get used... It's going to take my 50 years to use all of it because I don't pile the embellishments on my layouts. It would be better if I buy one or two papers I really know I can use, and make my own embellishments exactly the size, color and shape I need.

It's hard to resist buying everything though when the industry is set up so if you don't buy it NOW you'll never see it again.

scrapnnana This says it all: My stash does, however, does help me to be happy

Don't worry about what your kids or others may think.

Like you, I was very isolated during DH's cancer battle, then COVID made it even worse. Scrapbooking and card making kept me sane, gave me a safe place, and made me happy. My DD teases that I am a hoarder. But, I can afford what I buy.

That said, I am much more selective in my purchasing these days.

I am spending too much and I “own” that. In my sort of defense, I had been away from scrapping for like 15 years and didn’t have supplies for the way I scrap now. But it’s still too much. Although I am trying to down cut my spending, I’m still ok with spending since this is basically the only hobby I spend money on. My other hobbies are working out which is my fixed monthly peloton cost - I have all the pieces of equipment I need already and it’s for my health anyway so that cost doesn’t really equate as a hobby cost to me. Hiking and playing games are basically my other hobbies and they are free so I can pour all my fun money into scrapping. Scrapping counts for me as fun but also mental stimulation and even therapy.

This is a very interesting discussion. I think I bought my first rubber stamp and ink pad sometime in the early '80s and dabbled in stamping and card making off and on for a couple decades. Got into scrapbooking when my kids were small in the early '00s and don't think I finished a single project/album. I crashed back into papercrafting HARD this past summer.

I haven't been shy about mentioning that I have been shopping a LOT since then. Partially because there are so many things that are NEW
new -- clear stamps, stamping platforms -- or new to me --die cutting, stencils.

I'm also still figuring out what works for me or what my style is, so some of that shopping is trying new types of products or styles of stamps, some is getting more of what does work. I need to work on finding a good way to move on from those things that turn out to not "be me" and to convince myself that there will be more coming down the pike; I don't need ALL the birds RIGHT NOW!

But as others have said, it brings me joy. There are tough things in my life right now. I never bought cards, so I never sent cards. Shopping for supplies, dreaming and pondering the possiblities, making the cards all bring me joy. Actually sending cards and connecting more with friends and family seems like a sort of insurance policy. Through my local SU demonstrator I've also connected with a group of local crafters, which is wonderful. And the cherry on top (no pun intended) is connecting with like-minded "invisible friends" here!

All that said, I do think that there will come a time to start the one-in/one-out protocol for stamps and dies, etc. I'm not there yet, but I can see the dim outline on the horizon.

Edited to delete a thought I started and didn't finish and to add that my DH is also still very encouraging of my hobby and spending. Partly because his family has been very appreciative of the cards they're receiving and partially because his hobbies are sailing and a huge project involving a maker space membership and large hunks of metal.

Interesting thread....love reading everyone's take.

I would not worry about what other people thought of your stash and buying habits as long as you are able to purchase, not going into debt, not creating a unsafe hoarding situation, as long as ones you live with are ok, etc. I also would not and do not worry what will/would happen to it if I die. It's really not that much, they can throw it out in a few trash bags and be done or donate some stuff.

I've been scrapping as a hobby since 2003, but always dabbled in photo books and creative crafts from when I was a kid. I find, like most things in life, it all ebbs and flows. There was a period when I first got into it when QVC was prolific with supplies, that I bought big packs of things (probably still have some of it!). Then I went digital for a few years. Then I got more into cards/stamps for a while because my Mom did too and something we did together. During the pandemic I joined a membership and did more scrapping than ever due to my schedule. In the past year or so, it's waned more and I have changed my habits based on my feelings about consumption/environment, etc.

It's such a part of me, it's been the one constant for me for like 20 years. I've been thru divorce, cancer, moving, changing relationships, family deaths, but I scrapped thru it all, with breaks here and there. I am known as the family archivist. I help my nephew with his heritage and ancestry projects (he just scored a 100 on a recent one!). There some people that pay no attention, but there are a few who ask me about it and look forward to seeing my books, which does bring me joy to share. But I don't do it for anyone else, I do it for myself, like self-care.

For me right now, I don't buy a lot of new, I don't belong to kit clubs, right now I am off of social media so I'm not tempted by that and I do feel like I have enough stash to work off of. I look forward to things in my stash, like I know I have papers from a line a couple years back that I still look forward to using on a certain photo, etc.

So the short answer is yes, I am satisfied with my stash. Does that mean I won't buy some new things? Nope. For some reason my cycle seems to be I start shopping towards the end of the year, I will save a wishlist of papers I want and a few things. I do attend 1 Expo, so give myself the treat of picking up a few things there. Other than that, I don't spend a ton these days, actually more on digital stuff lately. But I work hard and pay my bills and I'm good with it!

I think one thing I realized when scrapping on the go was how little I really do need to still create something I love. So I know if I wanted to reduce and maybe have a smaller footprint in my home with it, I could and still be happy with what I have.

I loved reading that you were happy surrounded by your stash, I feel the same way. As long as you're enjoying it then there's really no question.

I am now at a place where I can now afford to buy what I want, but I really don't need anything. Once I get organized (hahaha), I plan to implement the one-in-one-out rule. Enough is enough when I can't find a place to put something.

I suffer from FOMO. I can't tell you how many Studio Calico kits I've purchased, but never used. I tried to be chilly in January, but the Felicity Jane closing and SU SAB (I do try to buy mostly during SAB) tempted me too much. I am really happy with my Felicity Jane purchases and I enjoy supporting my SU rep.