Discussion Anyone else buy things to fill the void?

[.............]

I know that this is draining me of money, but I can't help but continue buying random stuff. Back then I used to buy more things but that cost pennies so it didn't matter. Now I'm spending way bigger amounts on things I won't be able to use a lot or anything anyway. I feel like a mess.

 

[lobster salad]

I only fill the void with food. Overeating and sleeping all days. buying material items stresses me out a lot and makes me feel guilty that when i kill myself those things will be standing there going to waste , so I sell away and throw away most of my material possessions for the past year or more.

 

[Al_stargate]

In my position, no material possession can do anything for me. I'd give it all away just to be fine. Food and sleeping is also what my life is now.

 

[Bct]

I love food and clothes so mostly I spend my money on them. I know it won't fulfill the void at all, at the best just glittering distractions.

 

[narval]

food, videogames, books in the past (and now from time to time)

 

[Angst Filled Fuck Up]

I did this for quite a while. Eventually it got replaced by buying money making opportunities etc. I got suckered into the lure of thinking there was some easy road to riches. I bought a few of those programs you see on YouTube ads. Disgusting how they're allowed, looking back on it. Totally unethical and a big waste of time and resources. Now I just sit on what money I have like a tight fisted old geezer. Suits me fine tbh.

 

[FuneralCry]

In my case, buying stuff would not make me feel better, nothing interests me and nothing would ever take away the emptiness. There is nothing here for me in this world.

 

[western_heart]

I used to, I had a luxury car (which I enjoyed, it led me to get out on more road trips so it was probably a good thing). Outfits that I hardly ever wore. Bought a lot of video games over the years, most of which I never played. I've been better at actually playing what I have lately. Hobby/craft stuff that I get really excited about then barely use.

a lot of the spending was due to (hypo)mania, often induced by antidepressants or drugs

 

[hungry_ghost]

Yep. I have a particular obsession with journals, that I never fill.

 

[WorthlessTrash]

Used to buy cards and play my card game to fill the void. Now I just eat out of boredom. Shit sucks.

 

[Pluto]

I used to do this, but eventually reached a stage where there's nothing justifiable. I knew I was in big trouble when that day came, as buying stuff had gone from being an exciting hobby as a kid to a habit I clung to like an addict as everything else fell apart.

 

[nightnightnitrite]

Ever since getting my tax return(holla), I've been needing to buy a car but can't stop ordering food and buying people gifts. I feel guilty of the friend/person I am that I feel like if I hide it with material possessions, they won't leave me:,). Also, buying myself stuff when my life is so iffy again just isn't worth it.

 

[BeansOfRequirement]

I'm a gamer. I don't have an income. I only buy protein and games. Not need many games. If have a few good games can replay, tens of thousands of hours content, can replay and listen to podcast. Time machine (forward).

 

[sueoffside]

Big time lmao I have a slow cooker, laser hair removal machine and 2 bags of plenny shakes never used

 

[Leiden]

No, there is nothing on this planet that could ever make even the slightest difference.

 

[locked*n*loaded]

I've done this some years ago with stereo equipment. Really didn't do any good, though. .

 

[PreussenBlueJay]

I went through a period of spending almost all of my earnings on AmiAmi and Amazon just buying stacks of books and video games, almost all of which I read or played at least some. Lot of crap on AmiAmi. God why did I buy so many wall scrolls and figures? You're right about it being void-filling, it's like some compulsion to invite excitement and color back into a fading scene even briefly. Lately it's been exercise equipment and stock gambling.

 

[Dr Iron Arc]

Most of my money goes to food, gas, and games.

 

[WitheringAway]

Yes.. I'm shopaholic. I order a bunch of skin care products and I spend way too much at Sephora. A couple days ago I did declutter my drawers and a bunch of the products were expired and intact. Food too. I stock in food and I give most of it away.

 

[☆AwaitingEntropy☆]

Always, but worse in recent years. Food, and random things. Lately, I've been wanting a new laptop and I cannot stop thinking about it for a couple weeks now. When I get home, I browse laptops. I've stayed up till 4 am just browsing, trying to figure which one would be good. I'm broke af though, and with rent coming up, I can't exactly impulse buy one.

It's for the best. I know the second I'd buy one, I'd feel like trash for spending so much money, and then I wouldn't even have the energy to actually use it for anything. Even so, that won't stop me from looking right after I get off this forum. :/

 

[thinkkank]

a lot of people have mentioned food. what kind of food do you buy? I go for anything sweet. Pastries specifically like cookies, muffins. My teeth are fucked, but I just can't stop eating

 

[OpheliasFlowers]

Yes.. I'm shopaholic. I order a bunch of skin care products and I spend way too much at Sephora. A couple days ago I did declutter my drawers and a bunch of the products were expired and intact. Food too. I stock in food and I give most of it away.

I do this too, with skincare and clothes...both, most of which, never get used (so, lots of wasted $ and products that just get thrown out) and clothes that I have nowhere to wear them anyway. I'm embarassed by the amount I've spent and amassed over the years. And I can't afford all this crap, which leads to increased anxiety about finances, but I do it because it was like magical thinking ("oh I'll wear this that one fine day I feel healthy again and I have friends and I go to X,Y, Z event") and they fill the emptiness for a split second while feeding my fantasy of a better life and being happy.

In the last year though I get less and less of a high from buying all this stuff I don't need and can't afford, so it's slowing down. Part of me mourns that because it was at least an emotion I felt...but now I'm caring less and less and less so hopefully soon I quit buying anything altogether.

I'm such a fucking mess .

 

[NSA]

Yeah, with art shit. Maybe if I keep throwing money at it, my imagination will return.

 

[onlyanimalsaregood]

I used to buy a lot of clothes. Then, I started to buy a lot of alcohol to forget things. Now I don't do any of those things anymore. Now I'm trying to saving money.

 

[CrossroadsCurious]

OMG totally me. Especially after I found $1.29 dvds at goodwills. Now I movie hunt every weekend driving around town to all the goodwills. Total time & $$$ sinkhole to temporarily fill the void. :/

 

[Alcoholic Teletubby]

It's how I spend the majority of my time. I look at random stuff that I think I'd like to have because I think it'll make my life better in some way. It won't, but I'll keep doing it anyhow.

 

[freedompass]

I see I'm not alone in preferring food to accumulating possessions haha. I'm overweight, it's not healthy but by the same token these are ingrained habits. Food is my drug of choice, a coping mechanism and reliable 'friend'. Not like we can abstain from eating 'just say no' haha, willpower has never been my strong suit. Sorry for veering off topic OP but I guess the answer is…no.

 

[NobodyKnowsMe]

Sometimes I eat to fill the void (way overweight now), sometimes I shop too much (with Amazon Prime, it's almost like Christmas all the time here), but mostly these days I just sit on the couch and lose myself in mindless TV.

 

[jenny6391bubbles]

id love to buy food but my mom doesnt want me to get fat so i just spend a lot on random things online and also on video games. sometimes i just want the adrenaline rush