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Container Store = The Devil

by

The Devil that I overcame!

Sunday was a very good day and as I write this I’m not feeling any remorse about my visit to The Container Store.  Yes, there’s a stream of thought in my mind that is telling me I deserved that shopping trip.  I’ll let you collectively groan as you read that.  I spent $225.  Yes, I could have sent that $225 to debt and while I am not trying to be flip I need you all to know I don’t feel bad about this spending decision.

Did I buy things that I could have done without?  Yes, probably.  Did I get sucked into consumerism disguised as organization?  Uh huh, definitely.  Did I put a lot of things away to pull me off of the $600 I almost spent?  I did.  Did I get that exciting feeling inside that I get when I shop?  Yep.  Does that worry me?  Not a bit!

This shopping trip was planned.  It was not impulse.  I intentionally walked every single aisle of that beautiful store and picked up what I wanted on the first pass.  My cart was pretty full.  I did have a list upon entering but I decided on that first pass to just ignore the list.  It was sort of an experiment in many ways to remember the old Claire and stay true to the new Claire.  I was in the store for almost three hours and I feel that was time well spent!

I bought the grooviest dresser drawer organizers that essentially double the space of my no-longer-scary dresser.  I bought a Simply Human trash can–yes, I did.  I have watched those trash cans for years and didn’t need one until this move when the prior plastic trash can finally bit the dust.  I love my trash can.  It has a side for trash and a side for recycling and it is pretty.  They WERE having their Spring Organization sale  so the trash can was $50 off.  I never knew I’d find so much happiness in a trash can but I have.  I gave some thought to why that is and concluded it is because I no longer make impulse purchases.  I no longer borrow to “buy” stuff I want.  I own this trash can free and clear and there is joy in that reality!  I’m not kidding when I tell you I stared at that trash can all evening and see it as so much more than a really nice trash can.  It is a symbol of good decisions and that you CAN get nice things when you exercise SELF-CONTROL and wait until you have the money saved.

I also bought a few space saving tools that will come in handy in our new smaller space.  I continue to be very content in my apartment and enjoy finding new ways to take up less space!  I did not go crazy and will not go crazy but I also shopped and returned home with no buyer’s remorse.  THAT is a great feeling!  I highly recommend it!  🙂

 


17 Comments

  • Reply Michelle |

    hahaaaaaa oh that made me laugh, the EVIL Container Store. Yeah, I’ve seen pictures. I’m pretty sure I can NEVER go there. Ever.

  • Reply Cathy C. |

    Ah, yes! The Simple Human trash can! We still have the old-school one with just the step lid, but we’ve had it 8 years and it still looks great. It sits at the end of our kitchen island and just blends with the appliances, isn’t an eyesore, and everyone can find where the flippin’ trash can is during parties! You can probably tell, I love mine too:)

    There’s a real beauty in saving for what you want. It always makes me appreciate that item more. You shouldn’t have any remorse over your shopping trip if it was all paid for in cash. Every now and then it’s good to reward yourself for the progress you’ve made in paying off debt (if it’s not a huge amount, isn’t adding to your debt and doesn’t happen all the time)

    I started my journey at the same time you did and I’ve hit a real wall here lately. I’m sharing this because I just don’t know if I have what it takes to continue what needs to be done. I scrimped and saved for the past year to pay off all consumer debt and now I’m having to actually save up that emergency fund and it’s proving to be much more difficult to save up rather than having a debt to pay down. I think I may have denied myself too much over the past year because all I want to do these days is shop. I feel like this is a never-ending battle.

    • Reply Lisa |

      😀 We’re using a kitchen trash can that a former roommate left for me in 1987! Seriously, and it’s been through 4 moves, a husband and two teen boys. Plastic, with an old-timey flip lid, cleans easily. Works.

      re: your plateau — If you’ve made it this far, I’m sure you have what it takes to continue. Scrimping long-term can be weary, for sure. Maybe think of it as an alternative lifestyle rather than an ordeal? Shopping can actually be therapy IF you do it like Claire did. Needs v. wants. It is a balance, which you sort of noted. HTH

      • Reply Cathy C. |

        Thanks Lisa:) I’m scaling back expectations just a little bit to free up a little extra spending cash. I think it’s the only way I’m going to be able to do this long-term. I would love to be mortgage-free in about 5 years, but right now 5 years seems like an eternity. I also think I need to tune out social media for awhile. It makes it that much harder to stick to my goals when I keep hearing about vacations and all the fun stuff people are doing/buying. I try to tell myself they’re doing all of this on credit or sacrificing their future retirement savings, but those assumptions are probably wrong and I keep thinking everyone else has their financial ducks in a row except me.

    • Reply Claire |

      I am cracking up at myself! I called it Simply Human! Yes, yes Simple Human. That’s very funny to me bc my mom always makes those type of errors. Hobby Lobby craft store is Holly Hobby, for example.

      On a more serious note, I hear ya on the frustration. I always go back to comparing this journey to recovery from any addiction. It is never ending in that we will always be in recovery but eventually our behaviors change permanently. Your reference to social media made me think of an alcoholic seeing others drink and have fun and manage it…thinking they too can do that! Moderation, right? Wrong. They can’t. Just like you and I can’t stop budgeting bc we will derail. Keep on reading the blogs and remember you are not alone and you’re doing a phenomenal job! So many people are still drinking…pretending that they’re not…but in the quiet of their heads, they’re stressed and worried about their future.

      It occurs to me that the world could be well served by a 12-step group for people in debt!

  • Reply Alan |

    I am a guy and I try to stay away from that store. I don’t know why but I think I would find things in there to buy that we do not need. Your recent trip there sounds like a trip I had about 9 months ago at a beer store. I don’t know how many times I walked the isles looking for different types of beers that I never tried or even heard of. Since my second trip, I have yet to go back which is a good thing.

  • Reply Tanner |

    I think I’d be afraid of that store. There are so many things that you didn’t know you needed, all there for the taking. (Says the person who is planning an un-listed Ikea trip!!)

  • Reply Lisa |

    Good for you! Conquering is what it’s about: your debt, your fears, your impulses. You indulged in the shopping part, not the spending, and that is the difference. I am so impressed with your journey. (And I so get the first pass/put stuff back thing!)

  • Reply Janelle C. |

    Well done! Oh I LOVE that store! There are laundry baskets in there that I’ve been eyeing for months, but I’m waiting for our laundry room DIY remodel to get done and then I’ll budget them – no buyers remorse! Love it! Great job!

  • Reply OneFamily |

    I would not take my DD there – she drools over any kind of organizing items! She’d be a gonner for sure at that place.

    • Reply Meghan |

      That’s funny – it starts early! Back in my pre-teens and earlier teenage years, I’d select and label my clothes for the week on Sunday. The closet is still meticulously organized. They did not have Container Stores back in my day, and my compulsion was the shoebox sized plastic bins. And of course, a neat and organized Trapper Keeper… 🙂

  • Reply Kristen D. |

    My husband and I bought the same exact trash can a few months ago and we LOVE that thing. Seriously, as much as a trash can can be loved. We bought it because our two dogs were getting into our old one, and the new one is literally small dog-proofed. Plus, having the separate side for recycling is very handy.

    It sounds like you had a rewarding shopping trip. Since you have downsized to a smaller living space, I would think organization would be crucial. It’s not like what you were buying was frivolous. Plus, unlike the “old Claire” shopping trips, you used cash, not credit, to buy what you needed, so you do indeed own that trash can “free and clear!” Three cheers for the “new Claire!”

  • Reply Meghan |

    That’s funny. I am glad you found things to make your living situation more comfortable. How are your numbers coming along this month? This is your first full month of lower rent, so are you going to have a lot to show for it?

    Just so you know, you’re the one who inspired me to sell things on Craigslist. So far, I am up to $1255 and have two items at $200 left and a couple smaller items. 😀

  • Reply Andrew |

    Must be a pretty good trash can! So rewarding when you make a sensible and planned purchase!

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