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< Esato Forum Index > General discussions > Non mobile discussion > "Emotional spending" - I think I have a problem :( Bookmark topic

After spending £200 I really couldn't afford on an N95, I'm coming to the conclusion I have a problem. I think I'm buying phones and other gadgets like MP3 players sometimes impulsively and when I've already got one (or more!) of that item. True, I partially offset that buy doing some selling, but I'm definately buying more than I'm selling.

I think I'm buying in a way 'emotionally' to try to cheer myself up, and perhaps subconciously think that by having a certain phone or item it will make me happier, maybe after seeing someone who I may look up to or think are a happy, well adjusted person using that phone, MP3 player or whatever. I know this is rubbish, but I can't seem to stop doing it. I've got a bit on my credit card, and want to stop this or at least get it to a realistic level before I get into serious debt or financial difficulties.

I'm not happy nor comfortable with myself, and I guess have some issues with myself and a few problems and worries, and think I use trawling Ebay and the 'for sale' sections here looking for phones and bargains and phones in an attempt to fill a void in my life.

Does anyone else have this problem, or think that they do? I've already had one PM from someone who thinks they may do after a comment I put in my 'confession time, I just bought an N95' thread.

I do enjoy playing about with different phones and items, but think I'm starting to go too far, and also starting to spend beyond my means. Perhaps I'm being sucked in by the huge marketing machine that surrounds the phone and gadget industry!

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"All it takes for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing" - Edmund Burke

My Ebay AuctionsMoto V3x - part of experimen

[ This Message was edited by: Sammy_boy on 2007-09-09 11:58 ]

[ This Message was edited by: Sammy_boy on 2007-09-09 12:52 ]
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Posted: 2007-09-09 12:51:42
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I do this, just with a lack of the cash to get the items! I get drawn in by the cheap knock-offs usually

You were right in a post saying you wouldn't buy the latest phones because of the inflation, (cant remember which thread). At the end of the day can the latest gadget make you feel better I think not, maybe for a few days but heck, who cares what phone/Mp3 player you have? I'm not going to go upto a lass and go hey look i got a N95

Its the way you feel about you, which which will surely determin your mood etc. Maybe your buying to try and make you feel happier ? Thats what my mam does anyway, drives mi father mental

In a 21st century world though, maybe its normal to want to feel in with the latest tech.

Danny
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Posted: 2007-09-09 13:04:56
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Just edited the title of the thread as I think the proper name for this is "Emotional spending".

Found an article on the Channel 4 website which explains my feelings on this a bit better, this is the introduction:



The bit in bold is what I feel I relate to the most. You have a point Danny, could just be a enjoy technology and it's my hobby, but I think my spending on it's starting to go out of control and I'm in danger of starting to live beyond my means. You're right though, I did say that I tend to be half to a generation behind when it comes to phones - the prices on first release are just stupid, which is why I've waited till now when the market's flooded with secondhand examples of a model to buy an N95.

I think as well it's wanting to get a bargain, which is probably why I don't just rush to the nearest CPW and buy a new simfree N95 for double that price, though waiting for the delivery of an ebay item can be very frustrating!
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Posted: 2007-09-09 13:58:30
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I know where your coming from... I seem to buy so much useless shit I really don't need and I generally buy it when I am having a bad week etc, or if I create a need for something I don't actually need.

I have studied it quite allot in university and 6th form, but have found that the best way to stop it is think more about purchases and decisions....

Like you I bought a n95 bout a month back so I could take it to reading to take pics (I also have atleast one mini camera I took) in the end I didnt even take the nokia because it had such poor battery life it would be unrealistic to say i could have used it as a camera. I have now sold it on due to this.

When you find yourself buying more then you sell just look in your cupbpards and sell somehing, or find something to sell and sell it then buy something with the money you get.

Right now im in a sticky situation, I bought a dive computer last month, but now looking at it I dbout im going to go diving till next year now, thats £500 of computer I can't use... Should I sell it on now or keep it?
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Posted: 2007-09-09 14:27:58
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I had this problem.
I used to buy buy buy.

Until one day, I had everything I ever wanted. That's the worst feeling. Having nothing to want anymore.

I then decided to sell everything and keep only want I really wanted (or needed).

I try to just window shop rather than really shop now.
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Posted: 2007-09-09 14:49:50
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The way I see it is this.

Everyone has their own little thing, a hobby as such.

My brother, is really into his hobby-class remote control cars and has probably spent a couple of grand over the last 4 years. Some people are always buying new cars, others buy an insanse ammount of DVD's or CD's.

Different people splash out their money on different things.

For me, it seems to be phones (or food lol )

However, if you start spending so much you get into financial difficulty over it, then yes you do have a problem. If I have some money spare, that I know I should really put into savings, I might sometimes buy a phone (as cheap as I can get it mind, not brand new off the shelf at full price).

Also, I don't buy a phone until I've sold one. For example in the last few months, I got a Prada with my new phone contract, sold it, paid off the remainder of my Three contract with most of the money from it, and spent the rest on my W810i (plus about £40 that I'd gotten from selling a whole bunch of old phones). I then recently sold my W850i for £100 and am putting £50 of that towards a 5300 tommorrow, the rest is going in the bank. I'm also then going to sell the W810i and put that in the bank. On top of that, I bought an SPV C500 from here, sold it for a tiny profit (swapped the 2GB card I bought it with for a 512MB one and sold it for about £4 more lol), then bought a Samsung Z400 for about £25.

My point being, I always have 'liquid assets' as such in my phones, if you keep them moving quick enough (buying and selling) then you don't really loose anything, if much at all.

Different people have different things, but if you're loosing money over it, you might want to cut back.

_________________
Old Chinese Proverb: Man who jizz into cash register come into money...

[ This Message was edited by: Daedalus85 on 2007-09-09 14:26 ]
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Posted: 2007-09-09 15:13:50
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Well sammy, actually your quite a sensible buyer, the guys with REAL problems in this area would be bidding on PK's W960i .
We (forum users) are under tremendous pressure to keep up with the mobile jones'es.
I once bought TWO jasjars in one day just to look "cool" in our forum, nowadays i dont give a stuff with my beat up old P990i and my PAYG d900i &W850i .
I have a wry smile nowadays at people who fork out megabucks for the latest phone, i think to myself, yeah, i'll have that in 3 months time, for half the price.
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Posted: 2007-09-09 21:47:12
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Can i just add you buying 2 jasjars in a day to look "cool" failed miserably.....
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Posted: 2007-09-09 21:52:15
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Hey!! scott, i bought em when they WER'E cool you still clinging on to that N95?, i misjudged you on that
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Posted: 2007-09-09 21:54:28
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I am...... 4 months and still going strong

Nothing else has even tempted me away tbh
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Posted: 2007-09-09 21:55:41
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