Do you buy things to make yourself happy?

I love buying things for practical purposes, music, DVDs, clothes, food. But far too often I do it just to cheer myself up. I will order a bunch of books on Amazon if I know I have nothing of substance to look forward to in the next few weeks. I was even thinking of going out and buying myself a laptop today, not because I necessarily need it right now, but because it would cheer me up having this nice extra thing in my life. I think its a little sad, but human.

How about you? Does it annoy you?

 

books.
it's always books, usually of the used description

 

Buying things I don't need would probably do the opposite for me. I'm constantly looking for ways to get rid of shit that I have that's just sitting around.
I can understand the books, reading about things that interest me makes me happy, but i mean that's what the library and sitting in the bookstore are for.

 

If I can trade green paper for good food or good entheogens yeah I'm doing it.

 

I like the idea of having something I can read over and over again in my own home, refer to in the future and lend to or pass on to a special person.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not the sort of person that would buy anything in order to look cool or wealthy. I hate sports cars, brand names and flashy things. I have a very good use for everything I buy, however when I do shop its quite often an emotional need that is fulfilled before a practical need.

 

I think I do sometimes. today I was looking at plasma screen TVs like 'wow I wish I had one of these in my room'.. and the funny thing is I don't even watch TV lol.

generally speaking though, I shop pretty minimally. I'll buy myself something maybe like once a month... this month it was boots.

I think next month I might buy myself one of those TVs.

stuff makes you feel good sometimes

 

Not consciously but I think to some extent it is true... and it's not the having, it's the getting; the conquest. Life devoid of real challenges brings boredom and monotony to be broken by the occasional introduction of a new object... and it's actually the quest for the new thing that stimulates and not the having. I suspect this is normal- the human mind thriving on a challenge but in our padded society there's nothing to stimulate so we substitute one thing or another. Some shop, some do drugs, some go crazy.

 

I have expensive hobbies, and kind of sink lots of money into those addictions.

 

Yes I do, in fact yesterday I got my toenails done just to make me happy. They look so goshdarn pretty... I think it's important to cheer yourself up and to make yourself pretty. Oh God I sound like that old poster who used to talk like that all the time. sheesh.

 

I like to treat myself to new toys once in a while...lately I've been thinking about a new camera...but the one I want is unavailable here till next week

 

I'm always buying new yarn for this purpose.
I've got a ton of different kinds sitting around waiting to be made into something.

 

I get my hair done or get a pedicure. Anything to do some pampering usually makes me happy.

 

I still think i'm going to go out and buy a laptop today, once I have that it will mean I will never have to leave my room unless I need to shower, eat or go to work. The toilet problem is covered.

 

I like horror movies and collecting tv shows on dvd.

 

Bike parts. I want to buy a white ind double freewheel and a chain tensioner and make a 2-speed bike out of a vintage frame with vertical dropouts. No real reason... just think it would be neat.

 

I buy expensive organic foodstuff. It makes me happy to do it.

Mmmm... I spend money on other people too much perhaps. I spend money on traveling and on things for my apartment or my wardrobe every now and again.

I don't have the money to buy CDs, DVDs, or a lot of clothes. I save $400 a month and put it into a savings account to just... save it and have it. Usually I take this money out to pay for unexpected car repairs, travel expenses, tuition, insurance, etc.

So I operate on a fairly low budget at all times. It's teaching me something I'm sure.

 

same here. Andy and I both have very expensive hobbies and like the best of everything that we use to make stuff with. My hobbies make me happy, so I guess I do buy things for hapiness.

 

That is so awesome. Andy was such a good saver before I walked in his life ): I need to get way better about it.

 

yes, beer. no it does not annoy me.

 

shopping at the thrift stores always makes me happy, especially if i get a great find.