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Post by ss on Dec 17, 2018 21:00:24 GMT
Lol. 2019 is the year for me. I have everything I could possibly need. My room is bursting at the seams!! i need your tips!!!
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Post by sleepingbooty on Dec 17, 2018 21:13:25 GMT
Unsubscribe. From everything. Leave no room for temptation. Unfollow on social media if it's not inspiring you to actually scrap with what you have but inspiring you to shop instead. I've gone through several freezes over the years and done just fine. I also have a tiny stash (currently only got about 10 or so papers + some white card stock left) and no room for more. It is absolutely possible to successfully stop shopping. But when you stop buying, that's when your stash hits you in the face, no matter how small or big it is. That's when you realise how overwhelming it is to sit on stuff. Be prepared for feeling a bit of unease. And then get over it and start creating (or purge first if that's any help: more isn't always better). Good luck! I'm sure come January there'll be a Frozen Peas thread popping up in here.
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christinec68
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,129
Location: New York, NY
Jun 26, 2014 18:02:19 GMT
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Post by christinec68 on Dec 17, 2018 21:24:39 GMT
I've been on a couple of long haul freezes over the past few years. The first one I challenged myself to make 100 pages before I could buy something which took about a year. Then I went on a little spree and recommitted to using up the new supplies before I could shop again. I keep doing that over and over. If I cave and buy some new things, I put them aside until I used a sufficient amount of the last purchase.
There's also a certain amount of joy in using up something that's been in your stash for a while.
After a while, not shopping becomes the habit. One of the things that made it easier was noticing that the style of supplies are very slow to evolve so things coming out now are not that different from earlier in the year.
Good luck!
Disclaimer: the freeze did not include adhesive, white cardstock or things I needed to make specific gifts. I also don't include tools but I also don't go crazy with them.
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Post by anniefb on Dec 17, 2018 21:40:59 GMT
I've had several freezes over the years - including one of about 9 months. As christinec68 says, it's partly about developing new habits - you can do it if you're motivated!
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Post by justlisa7 on Dec 17, 2018 21:41:24 GMT
I am on a freeze and started Dec 1 and it lasts till june 1, 2019 - 6 months. First time ever doing it longer than a month, I think. I did have to finish getting my last AE sub (JOY), which I knew I was in a new committmebt, but I am canceling as soon as it ships and taking a $30 early cancelling fee. I quit all other subs. I have been unsubscribing to emails as they come and unfollowed stuff on Instagram except for inspiration as sleepingbooty recommended. I have sooo much stuff and many many unused kits. I will do this. I have so many unfished albums that I want to complete. I am excited for the new year to use up my stuff and get creative, and spend less time online browsing stores and kit clubs. I also want to participate in the challenges here again monthly - they are fun!
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Post by scrapaddict702 on Dec 18, 2018 0:29:00 GMT
I still shop and could never go on a total freeze as it would make me not want to scrap anymore. Shopping is part of the hobby for me and not allowing myself to do that, even in much smaller doses, would sadden me too much. When I hit the point of not being able to fit anything new into my stash easily anymore and just wanted to make some changes in my shopping habits, I made a point to avoid my triggers. For me, that was haul videos more than anything else. I wouldn't let myself watch them for a really long time and I really did go through a spell of withdrawals worried about what I was missing and while there are times I discover sales that I would have shopped but missed, for the most part it's a case of not missing anything because I don't know what there is to miss. So whether you want to just spend less or spend nothing on supplies, my biggest suggestion is figure out what your biggest triggers are that contribute to your current shopping habits and remove them from the equation. Then, if you find yourself struggling to hit a stride in using your stash, try seeking out resources for stash busting. Counterfeit kits, challenges, tutorials for products you already use, kill a kits using kits you already have, etc.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Dec 18, 2018 1:11:01 GMT
I've been on a spending freeze out of necessity for several months.
And before this, I've been severely restricting my shopping.
My best advice is to stay away from places you shop, where it's b&m store or online. Just don't look.
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Post by thracian on Dec 18, 2018 1:11:40 GMT
I have a feast or famine pattern when it comes to scrappy shopping. For several months this year I bought little or nothing. Then last month I went a little crazy during Black Friday. This month I bought a bunch at Tuesday Morning (I blame YouTube). I gotta get back into a non-spending zone.
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Post by thracian on Dec 18, 2018 1:15:06 GMT
I've been on a couple of long haul freezes over the past few years. The first one I challenged myself to make 100 pages before I could buy something which took about a year. Then I went on a little spree and recommitted to using up the new supplies before I could shop again. I keep doing that over and over. If I cave and buy some new things, I put them aside until I used a sufficient amount of the last purchase. There's also a certain amount of joy in using up something that's been in your stash for a while. I absolutely agree with this. I get great satisfaction from using stuff that has been in my stash for years. Even if it's only one piece of patterned paper. The longer I've had something, the giddier I feel when I actually use it. Dunno why, but it helps keep me motivated.
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Post by don on Dec 18, 2018 1:24:25 GMT
You don't need a freeze, you need a bigger space. The kid can sleep in the hall, or the living room.
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dald222
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,602
Jun 27, 2014 0:50:15 GMT
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Post by dald222 on Dec 18, 2018 3:27:56 GMT
I have done it before in years past.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 16, 2024 17:57:39 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2018 6:36:22 GMT
I'm intending on putting myself on something of a freeze for 2019. I have so much stuff that it's really become quite overwhelming. I don't have a great deal of time to spend on scrapbooking/memorykeeping and I just can't use up what I have been buying in the time that I do have available. I'm cancelling all but one of my subs (Felicity Jane is the only one I'm keeping for now) and am unsubscribing from everything that I possibly can. We'll see how well it's going in a few months!
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Post by woodysbetty on Dec 18, 2018 11:45:19 GMT
Packing and moving has definitely put me in a freeze...six months in a rental without access to my stash should help too...yikes...
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Post by marg on Dec 18, 2018 12:10:52 GMT
I was frozen once for 2+ years due to life circumstances, and then still severely restricted after that. During that time I just stopped looking at new stuff - I didn't open the threads about the new collections, I didn't watch videos involving new stuff on YouTube - I basically searched for inspiration for the stuff I already had.
I did get some scrappy stuff for birthdays and Christmas gifts, so that did help me if there was something I heard about that I absolutely had to have. If I didn't get those gifts, I wouldn't have bought that stuff, though, because I just couldn't spend the money at the time. Depression and desperation will do that to you!
Seriously, a major part of not giving in to temptation is disconnecting somewhat - stay away from online and brick and mortar stores would be the most important thing.
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Post by scrappyem on Dec 18, 2018 12:43:23 GMT
A few years back, I read the "Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up" when it was all the rage and did a pretty big clean out of my entire house. I also noticed, it made me shop less, for everything. Slowly, though, I feel like stuff & shopping has started creeping it's way back in. I'm really re-thinking my buying habits right now. I was also really good about budgeting. I set aside a budget for art supplies every month. That included the cost of any kits, online classes, digital supplies, my creative cloud sub, whatever. That worked pretty well for me. Then I knew I could still buy something if I wanted too, but I had a limit.
In 2019, I need to get back to that practice. I way over spent in 2018 in all areas of my life. I also have stopped all kit clubs but AE's SBTM. Now I only buy a kit when I really love it. I'm okay with paying more so I don't end up with a bunch of stuff I don't love every month.
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Post by jenr on Dec 18, 2018 13:54:09 GMT
You don't need a freeze, you need a bigger space. The kid can sleep in the hall, or the living room. ^^LOL!
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Post by justjac on Dec 18, 2018 16:40:17 GMT
I'm attempting a freeze; although I have thawed a couple of times. I had to stop by the LSS to pick up something I forgot at a class and I bought a couple of embossing powders. I left the Facebook group of a smaller stamp company but forgot to quit their newsletter, and as a result was tempted and caved and bought three stamp sets. I also bought some cut files. Still, I'm doing way better than September and October when I was on a binge.
I agree with unfollowing groups and newsletters and haul videos. A strategy that has also worked for me is wishlists. If I saw something I wanted I added a link to it on my Amazon wish list. That allowed me to put it out of my mind. And I still might get it for Christmas or my birthday.
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Post by riley on Dec 18, 2018 17:13:58 GMT
Putting it on a wishlist and unsubbing helps the most. When I revisit my list I find I’ve lost interest. It also helps to develop a new hobby. I took up sourdough breadmaking for the winter, very time consuming and cheaper once the baking equipment is bought. Not a good summer hobby though, so I’ll have to find something else that doesn’t involve a lot of buying. I don’t miss the guilt.
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Post by Prenticekid on Dec 18, 2018 17:14:26 GMT
Use your stash. I seriously shop less when I am using my stuff. It reminds me I already have stuff and don't need anymore.
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Post by mikklynn on Dec 18, 2018 17:43:20 GMT
I remind myself I really have too much already.
I also keep things in my cart at ACOT for a long time. I add and delete items. It's surprising, but I'll see things in my cart weeks later and realize I really am no longer excited about it.
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Post by streetscrapper on Dec 18, 2018 20:11:29 GMT
I've tried the freeze before... usually it's around this time of the year when I think that it's time to stop buying stuff, but I've never been successful. Guess what my New Year's resolution will be in 2019... yeah, to stop spending. Let's see if I can make it a week this year!
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Post by Citygirl on Dec 18, 2018 20:21:27 GMT
I don't think I've ever really tried to stop spending but I feel like all of my purchases are the result of stuff I see on Instagram.....so ya unsubscribing would be key for me.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 16, 2024 17:57:39 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2018 20:32:21 GMT
No, I haven't Honestly, though, I find it easy to just cut back when I'm not using what I have and when my space is soooo overcrowded with stuff (which it has been since I moved into this smaller space). Also, when I'm busy I miss the sale and what's new emails, and that takes a lot of temptation away. Definitely unsubscribing will help! How about focus on collecting layout ideas and making page kits? Tell yourself you can't fit anymore in until you use some up. Or destash to make some $$ and limit yourself to spending only what you earn from destashing. Good luck!
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,144
Member is Online
Jun 29, 2014 18:58:47 GMT
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Post by scrapnnana on Dec 18, 2018 20:38:13 GMT
Organize it all. If it's already well organized, reorganize it.
Organizing helps you to see what you have. Seeing how much you have makes it easier to find what you need. Handling every item in your stash also makes you think about how you have spent so much, and really don't want or need anything more, etc.. After you reorganize it all, then shop only from your stash, no matter what the project may be.
It really feels good to shop from your stash. If it's not well organized, though, and it's hard to find things, you'll be tempted to go out shopping.
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Post by Linda on Dec 18, 2018 22:47:14 GMT
I'm currently in a freeze (since some time in October I think) and plan to stay frozen for 2019...we simply need to cut back on discretionary spending (and on less fun stuff like groceries and electricity as well) so I'll be scrapping from the stash -for now, I'm not even ordering photos - I have plenty already printed that I can scrap. I'll allow myself to pick up black/white cardstock and adhesive and possibly other cardstock if I'm absolutely OUT of a necessary colour and there isn't anything else that'll work.
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Post by ss on Dec 18, 2018 23:42:46 GMT
Thanks for all the tips. It's nice to see that I'm not the only one that struggles with this issue. I am going to start by saying my freeze started today, 12/18/18 and so far, I'm still frozen It's going to be difficult to stay away from the Tuesday Morning threads. Will you all just stop? For me?? I will probably check in from time to time on this thread and let ya know how I'm doing. I hope that those who are cutting out the shopping will join me! I'm cheering you on! Thanks peas, for the encouragement!!!
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Post by joblackford on Dec 19, 2018 2:05:14 GMT
I also keep things in my cart at ACOT for a long time. I add and delete items. It's surprising, but I'll see things in my cart weeks later and realize I really am no longer excited about it. This speaks to something I've noticed - shopping online doesn't really FEEL like shopping, so you can trick your brain into thinking you've shopped, either by putting things in a cart and then closing the browser down, or by pinning stuff on Pinterest on a wishlist. It feels almost exactly the same! Have you ever noticed that if an order is delayed you hardly even notice - they say the best moment of shopping is when you've decided to buy it but before you actually own the stuff. Once you own it reality sets in. But if you pin stuff you feel like you "captured it" and by the time you notice you don't actually receive it other cool things have come out that you want even more. Don't go look at your wishlist often though! Don't go to shops like Tuesday Morning where you're browsing for something that might be a good deal rather than shopping for a specific thing you genuinely need. Unsubscribing and staying away from discussions about new stuff should help a lot, and getting busy with using things. I think kitting up supplies you already own would help too. I think the mental side is important too - writing down exactly why you want to stop shopping, coming up with other justifications for why this is a good thing to do (maybe a word that speaks to you, or some value based argument/reminder about why this matters to you). For example, if you value creativity and resourcefulness you can celebrate that when you come up with creative solutions to "problems" that you used to shop for.
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Post by artisticscrapper on Dec 19, 2018 2:14:40 GMT
You can do this. I find that if I can go a couple of months without shopping I get out of the habit. Also I don’t do well with a large stash and too many choices so that helps as well.
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Post by Night Owl on Dec 19, 2018 2:54:10 GMT
I actually stopped buying for 2 years. That was because I went back to college and moved and my daughter was young so I was super busy and I didn't go online much except for homework and also money was tight. But once things slowed down and I was back online looking at what was new I felt the "gotta have it" kick back in and started spending again.
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Post by LisaDV on Dec 19, 2018 2:58:38 GMT
You don't need a freeze, you need a bigger space. The kid can sleep in the hall, or the living room. The living room is the bigger space, that should be my craft room😁. DH just doesn’t see it that way though. Noncrafters🤦♀️
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