Jennifer Childs's Profile

Clearly this is an extremely popular post and I'm thankful for it and everyone's tips. Comfort in numbers. :) This also seems timely because my boyfriend very recently made an observation/comment regarding how I buy things, then return them so frequently. I guess I could attribute it to 'buyer's remorse', but it goes deeper than that.

The fact is, I'm a sucker for a bargain. I almost feel guilty for passing something up that is a 'good deal'. The problem therein lies, where to store all of these good deals. In addition, and with reference to Target...the dollar bins...they lure me in every single freakin time. Let's face it, there's a holiday or prominent event every single month of the year and Target knows it. They put the pink and red Valentines goodies out the 1st of january, mid january...the st. paddy's day green rolls in and for someone like myself who LOVES to decorate my home for whatever occasion.... it's a complete trap. And you know you'd better hurry and pick it up before it's gone...oh and it will be gone in a blink of an eye.... and that's where the buying and returning comes in. My issues was after I buy something, it would sit on the floor with the receipt on top of it while I made my decision. This isn't good for a couple of reasons: this stuff is taking up floor real estate in my office and it creates anxiety (the buyers remorse) and makes more work for me. In other words....i bought it because I'm pretty sure I want it and I definitely don't want to miss out and have it be gone the next time I'm there, so I'll think about it for a couple of days, but if I decide against it, then back to the store I go which sucks up time. Oh and of course on the 'return' trip....there are those dollar bins again...*sigh*; it's a vicious cycle. But I decided, I needed to break this habit and there were a few things that helped with this: Hoarders and Extreme Couponing. If you've got Netflix...watch them in that order and do it all at once. It'll leave you feeling like a dirty glutton.

The first of these shows, if you're like me, will make you squirm, then go on a massive cleanse of all of the unnecessary items in your home; you do not need 5 spatulas.
The second, again if you're like me....will intrigue you if you've got a bit of a competitive side and you'll be determined to NOT pay full price for anything. And no...I do not have a stock room filled with Yakisoba noodles, nor do I have a decade supply of diapers for a child I don't have, but I do spend some time finding deals and hunting down a coupon for them and when something that gets used regularly in my house goes on sale, clearance, etc....I load up. Two recent examples of the new me, are that last week, I saved more than I spent at the grocery store because I planned out my shop with a list, used manufacturer coupons and took advantage of that store's deals for the week. It was a proud moment and I even kept the receipt:) Also, when Target puts stuff on sale, such as the 'buy 3 and get a $5 target gift card', or clearances items, I take full advantage. Let's just say, we won't need shaving gel or feminine things for the rest of this year (no kidding) and I paid very little for it all. Oh and the Target red card is a must...you get 5% back on everything, so if Target is a place you go regularly...it's worth it.

As for the newfound courage to curb the urge to buy...when I'm in the store and I see something I may want...it goes in the cart, no questions. I then have the entire time whilst I'm there (working off a list for the things I need) to ask myself the following: Do I need this item, will it serve a purpose, where will I store it and is there something else I could use this money for that would give me more satisfaction. i.e. is having this scarf more important than putting the money towards the dive vacation we so desperately want to take. Some days...it might be yes. If the day has been particularly jacked up and a small reward is going to make me feel a great deal better, then I walk out with it feeling like I made a solid decision. Other days, I put it back and I feel great because I didn't succumb to temptation or the 'bargain'. Granted...it's going to take saying 'no' to a lot of little things to buy that vacation, but the point is more to see what can accumulate when you just say 'no'.

To sum it up and I feel like this could cover a few topics, but the idea is the same.....deprive yourself of everything and when your willpower is on a break, you'll go bananas. But....be sensible, take pleasure in what you already have, and/or using your money in ways that bring greater satisfaction and you'll find that you have less crap lying around and you'll feel better all around.

I'm a novice when it comes to track lighting, but I'd like to recommend the MAGNESIUM unit from IKEA. Apprx $80usd

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40148066/

The living area in our new apartment has one, read it "one" recessed spotlight and an awkwardly positioned one at that and although the kitchen and living room are open to one another and share the light accordingly, I wanted more. In a nutshell, the lounge area feels more like an interrogation room. That said, we're renting, so a few of my basic requirements were that I didn't want major damage to walls/ceilings, I wanted to avoid spending a lot of $$$$, I'd like to take it with us when we move in a few years and if at all possible, I wanted something a little funkier than a traditional track system.

MAGNESIUM is all of those things. I envisioned an elongated "S" shape on our ceiling and because this unit is bendable (beware of making kinks), it was possible to carry this out. I am now able to highlight my photographs on one wall, bring more height to the room, and fill in the area that beholds the interrogation lamp. The room is flooded with light that I can control depending on my needs.

I'm foaming at the mouth over that table.