Is Your Bargain Shopping Turning You into a Hoarder?

We all love to shop and to get a fabulous deal, but are we buying things we really do not need just to get that great deal. Can the thrill of getting a great deal make you a hoarder? Yes, it can if you let it. We are all out looking to get great bargain. The sale of 60, 70, 80, and even 90 percent off can make the adrenaline course through our bodies. A better question is when does bargain shopping become a hoarding obsession?

Hoarding is an obsessive compulsive disorder that is more commonly know as a pack rat. Hoarders often will hold on to objects and buy things is large quantities that may or may not be useful. Hoarders are unable to let things go. In my eyes, there are two kinds of hoarders. The obvious hoarder whose house is full of things still left in the bags. Then there is a closet hoarder (I fall into this category). There house is neat and organized. You would never know they are a hoarder unless you look in the closets or their basement.

Being a bargain shopper can be the beginning for a would be hoarder if you let it. Hoarding is an easy practice to fall into. You find that great deal you cannot pass up. The frying pan that is 90% off would make a wonderful gift for birthdays, Christmas, housewarming, or weddings. So you by five of them. Not too bad, you think, five will be easy to get rid of. Except next time your at the store you buy 5 more because they are still an awesome deal and you don't want to pass them up.

Now you have 10 pans to give away as gifts, when you come across this great deal on fondue pots. Again, they are 90% off, so you buy five for gifts. Next time your at the store you buy five more. Now not only do you have 10 pans to give as gifts, you now have 10 fondue pots as well. Soon you realize you have more gifts than you could ever give. All your friends are already married and have homes. That just leaves Christmas and Birthdays. You know you should get rid of them but you cannot because you may need a gift... someday.

Bargain shopping and planning ahead are good things but when done in excess you become addicted to the bargains. Then you begin hoarding your finds because you may need them...someday. If you are finding yourself in this position, you can use the extra things you bought as donations to charity. A family will enjoy the use of these products and your house will appreciate you not becoming a hoarder.