Feeling conflicted over stationery spending and consumption? Let's chat!

[@tortagialla]

How are you? How are you feeling in your stationery world? 😅

[@stationery.shenanigans]

I've come to terms with the KonMari concept that just the act of buying the thing can bring you joy, and that's okay! It doesn't mean you will use it the way it was intended to. But where I struggle is holding to the things because we may "someday" use that journal for "something" - it's such a complicated emotion when it comes to material/craft items that can be used to MAKE something else. It'd be different if it were a piece of furniture that you can just swap out for something new. I feel the choice overload, and lately am thinking about de-stashing. Great and insightful video!

[@tortagialla]

@@stationery.shenanigans ooo I never though about the joy of just buying but it made me realize why we like to buy and gift things! There is joy in that too for sure! And I can relate to the holding onto things for future xyz project. It’s the hope of doing those things and maybe that is okay to a certain limit. I suppose it’s an issue when it’s hoarder levels that impact your life negatively… makes me think of the hoarder tv shows!

[@deannaxplans]

This!!!!! So many of your thoughts resonated with me as well. I’m fairly new to this specific community (two or so years now) but I’ve been a lifelong crafter/ journaler/ scrapbooker/ memory keeper. I still have “stuff” from previous hobbies from decades ago lol and now my stationery love has added to it. I too feel conflicted at times bc I don’t have as much time as I think I do to play with all the things, yet I find myself buying more this or more that - the newest pet tapes or Washi or stickers and stamps (you get the idea). I feel so privileged to be able to get the things I want now, but it wasn’t always that way, which is why I think I feel conflicted at times too. When I first started in this community, I honestly wondered why everyone wrote “no spend” in their trackers and now I get it!!! The new releases and limited editions are never ending and the years don’t stop lol. In an effort to consolidate a bit, I tried to imagine how many books I’d have stored if I keep using 5-7 separate books/planners each year, but then found through trial and error that I’m not a one book planner or journaler so I’m back to square one lol. You’re totally right in it is a constant push and pull/ completely conflicting feelings on it all. I don’t have any advice bc I feel I’m in the same boat lol. I also don’t have people IRL that get my hobby obsession so I find joy not just in the things, but sharing with the community here and being with “my people” too. Excellent video on the subject and thanks for sharing your thoughts!!! I totally feel the same!

[@tortagialla]

@@deannaxplans thank you for such a thoughtful comment and sharing your feelings. It does help to know I’m not the only one and perhaps we all have these feelings to a certain degree - maybe not just in hobbies but other parts in life! Omg I totally relate when you said feeling guilt maybe because we know what it’s like to not be able to buy things. I think I have many of those feelings and buying extras of things because there is this internal fear of not having enough… ahhh… so much to work through! For now I am definitely trying to be more intention and avoid the spur of the moment add to cart. I know shops do the marketing and limited release stuff but usuallly you do have time to think about it. So I totally use @journalwithjas method of journaling and writing out why I want the thing and what I would use it for to just help myself make better decisions!

[@PlanYourOneLife]

I love trying out new notebooks, but I slowed down on buying them. The funny things is, now, I get a lot of them for free from companies that sponsor my channel and they're stacking up in my office. I'm planning on giving most of them away soon. I only buy deco stickers now whenever I'm running low on them. That has helped me to spend less on stickers.

[@tortagialla]

@@PlanYourOneLife Thanks for sharing! I think it’s good to be intentional and know what really works - where to spend you money so you feel good about it! Oh my a good problem to have too many free notebooks! Haha I know people do reviews and just give them away! Nice way to use them for the channel but then give back to community of watchers!

[@SnippetsandScraps]

I agree with everything you said! It’s just so hard to control oneself when there’s beautiful and tempting releases every other week! I have come to realize that I don’t enjoy hoarding. I want to be able to use my stuff. I don’t care about displaying my collection, I would much rather look at them on a spread in my journal. I still purchase more than I should but I am slowly working through my thoughts on each of the different product types before embarking on a collector’s journey. So far I have come to realize I don’t want to collect things that I am unlikely to ever use up completely, for example pet tapes or fountain pen ink bottles, so I now only purchase samples. My one weakness is leather covers haha

[@tortagialla]

@@SnippetsandScraps Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Yes, there are always new goodies to tempt us. I definitely relate to wanting to use the things… don’t really do it for collection purposes or keeping things in mint condition. I have definitely been trying to stop with the stickers because it’s so easy to buy a sheet here or there 😅

[@daphnefaff]

I have no words if wisdom, I’m afraid. But I absolutely relate to what you are saying. I’m trying to work out boundaries that don’t just add further stress. As a family, we have found it helpful to look at our carbon footprint and work to reduce it, find opportunities to volunteer and just approach the issue from different angles. Looking for ways to make choices that really make an impact. Rather than just focusing on the guilt, because for me can be paralysing. And I think taking a holistic view at life and like finding ways to fill the well that are less consumption oriented. But I don’t know if this approach will resonate with everyone. So I’m not meaning to tell other people how to live their lives. I’m just sharing my experience in case other people might find it useful. I have not reached some zen place devoid of a drive to consume. My family is not net carbon zero or anything like that. But trying to turn towards things that counter the feelings of guilt has helped my mindset. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I also don’t have people IRL who get my stationery love and it helps to feel less alone 😂

[@tortagialla]

@@daphnefaff Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Your approach sounds good and it’s helpful as I try to work things out personally … and also to know I am not alone in these anxious feelings. It feels so contradictory but it’s multiple sides of things at the same time. Oh such is life! I really like your approach in working towards doing things that help overall in our lifestyles and ultimately I think we all try to do the best we can. Slowly but surely we can work towards living at more ease with whatever boundaries and decisions we make for our family and specific situations! Thanks again! ❤️

[@TinaTissue28]

This is such a thoughtful video. I recently went through weight loss surgery and turned to over consumption via spending to replace eating my feelings. I am searching for that balance between reckless spending and thoughtful spending, and I think that will come with time.

[@tortagialla]

@@TinaTissue28 Oh I can understand how difficult it is to adapt to big changes in life! It is definitely a coping mechanism to shop or eat or something in excess I think. I can sometimes fixate on things too much. We have to find our balance and I am always searching for some kind of equilibrium in my life… I feel like in the past even my professors and guidances folks have written such words in my reviews 😅 oh my! I wish you the best in your journey and thank you for sharing your experience and insight! ❤️

[@TinaTissue28]

@@tortagialla Thank you for your kind words! Looking at all of the comments here is lovely to see how supportive we are with this opinion. I believe the planner/journalling community is going through a change of how they tackle consumption. The Hobonichi fiasco is a big highlight for it as I saw a few videos touching on what you have talked about in the video

[@tortagialla]

@@TinaTissue28 I love that we can support each other and you are right that many folks are working on their own limits to find some kind of balance in all this stationery goodness. It’s too easy to go into excess I suppose!

[@Autumnichi]

Oh we’re so much on the same wavelength I see what you mean from your comment on my video! 😀 Our videos are like an unintentional collab 😂🙌🏼

[@Autumnichi]

I think FOMO is endemic in the arty/crafty/creative communities. And unfortunately too many content creators use that to their advantage. But then there’s those as you say, just sharing what they love. And consumerism has so many angles (filling a void, low self esteem….). I think if we’re not using items and they are piling up unused, that’s a good boundary to work with - I give items away to 2nd-hand stores or in happy mail.

[@tortagialla]

Yes, when I saw your video - I was like, man I needed to hear that! The stars have aligned!

[@tortagialla]

@@Autumnichi A great tip to unload things we are not using, that are just taking up space! I'm also following @elenamplans and she is doing an unhauled year... such a good project!