I'm in a frenzy, help!!

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WRAPT C5Z06

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I seriously think I have an addiction to buy detailing products, no joke. Just like someone who is addicted to cigarettes. I made that thread about being satisfied a couple days ago out of denial. I'm constatntly placing new orders. I don't know if it's the excitement of waiting for orders to arrive? I'm never satisfied? Constantly comparing products to find the best? I always need to try the new things right away?? I've spent a ton of money on products, and a lot of them I've only used once! I come home everyday from work and re-arrange my products in perfect order. I shake them every night, sometimes twice a day. I grab my polishers and hold them for the hell of it! What in the world is wrong with me? :(
 
07 z-oh-6 said:
I seriously think I have an addiction to buy detailing products, no joke. Just like someone who is addicted to cigarettes. I made that thread about being satisfied a couple days ago out of denial. I'm constatntly placing new orders. I don't know if it's the excitement of waiting for orders to arrive? I'm never satisfied? Constantly comparing products to find the best? I always need to try the new things right away?? I've spent a ton of money on products, and a lot of them I've only used once! I come home everyday from work and re-arrange my products in perfect order. I shake them every night, sometimes twice a day. I grab my polishers and hold them for the hell of it! What in the world is wrong with me? :(
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You're a car guy. Nothing wrong with that...you like them clean, you like to clean them.

I will add though, that if there is indeed a problem, what you noticed on your own may just be a masking of a deeper problem...spending money, a buying addiction. It is real, and it dang near wiped me out. It's good to notice this, if it's indeed a problem. Noticing it is the first step to recovery.

Just don't make it (cars, detailing products, spending your money) your life Mark. Keep things in proper perspective man, or it'll cost you big time (no pun intended). It wasn't a problem I had, but the other halfs, and it dang near cost me everything. Keep it in check.
 
Hoytman said:
You're a car guy. Nothing wrong with that...you like them clean, you like to clean them.

I will add though, that if there is indeed a problem, what you noticed on your own may just be a masking of a deeper problem...spending money. It is real, and it dang near wiped me out. It's good to notice this, if it's indeed a problem. Noticing it is the first step to recovery.

Just don't make it (cars, detailing products, spending your money) your life Mark. Keep things in proper perspective man, or it'll cost you big time (no pun intended). It wasn't a problem I had, but the other halfs, and it dang near cost me everything. Keep it in check.
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Bill,

I think you bring up a good point about money. I've just recently started to constantly place orders. Although, I'm very comfortable with my cash flow, I see my bank account slowly but surely shrinking. Before I notice, it'll be gone!

Detailing is not my life. I have a great job that I do very well at. Detailing is not on my mind when I'm a work, it's just the free time that gets me. The forums consume me as well as buying products. However, I'm glad I started this thread, it's already hit me that I NEED to relax on the spending.

I'll be fine, I think this is just a phase. :dblthumb2:

This thread isn't a joke, nor do I think I'm psychotic. It's more to hear what people have to say. It helps. :)
 
07 z-oh-6 said:
This thread isn't a joke, nor do I think I'm psychotic.
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I don't think anyone here thinks you're psychotic... but if it truly is a spending addiction that is forming it's an issue worthy of discussing with someone who can help you break yourself of it.

Probably the best thing for you to do at first is instead of trying to always buy the latest and greatest product, take some of the things you've tried and don't like and trade them with people here on the forum to get what you want instead. That way you're at least finding a healthier way to take care of your cravings.
 
07 z-oh-6 said:
Bill,

I think you bring up a good point about money. I've just recently started to constantly place orders. Although, I'm very comfortable with my cash flow, I see my bank account slowly but surely shrinking. Before I notice, it'll be gone!

Detailing is not my life. I have a great job that I do very well at. Detailing is not on my mind when I'm a work, it's just the free time that gets me. The forums consume me as well as buying products. However, I'm glad I started this thread, it's already hit me that I NEED to relax on the spending.

I'll be fine, I think this is just a phase. :dblthumb2:

This thread isn't a joke, nor do I think I'm psychotic. It's more to hear what people have to say. It helps. :)
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No, I don't think you're wacky. However, you're wrong. It's not a phase, or at the least it has potential not to be. Especially if hearing what others have to say helps. Thinking it's a phase is how the enemy works on us man. Don't even go there with the enemy or he'll kick your butt. I'm telling you from experience.

You said some things in your pm. I'm just trying to help a brother out and I was dead serious. We're all in this together.

You've been blessed with these things, your talents, whatever they may be. Don't lose site of the big picture. It's not "he who has the most wins," rather, "he who has them the longest." Conserve what you have, all you've been blessed with. Don't squander it.

I too have met some great people on this forum. Two of them have participated on this thread. Good people are getting harder to find, but if you look long enough, and in the right places you can still find them. I'm all ears if need be.
 
Being a car man is not a problem, but a great, great hobby! Without things to care about, whether it is this or gardening or playing golf or the piano, etc., life is barely worth living. So realize that there is a lot of good in all of this, but make the changes needed to get it a bit under control. One thing that would be great is to just make a committment to use some of the products you do not use anymore. Surely nothing sold on here is so inferior that it cannot be used? This way it will not be squandered money but used money! Used for something you love!
 
07 z-oh-6 said:
Detailing is not my life. I have a great job that I do very well at. Detailing is not on my mind when I'm a work, ...
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That's good, that's important. Your perspective is better than mine there. I do it at work. Maybe something to with boredom and so on.
 
Here is my method for keeping the purchases in line.

Only place an order when there is at least a 20% sale on. And only when you can get free shipping too. This will limit you to maybe three orders a year. Tops.

And decide well in advance what you want and DON'T order anything else.

And even with all those rules I STILL BOUGHT TOO MUCH STUFF the last couple of years.
 
Good to see some others posting here. I'm sure Mark really appreciate's it.

Mark,

I really meant what I said in my pm about finding a kid, or anyone wanting to learn, and being a mentor..."each one, teach one." You don't have to give them everything, but share your knowledge and let them be beneficiary of your goodness...even if it means letting them use some of your stuff under your supervision.

What I'm trying to say here, is that you can replace your addiction with another one, being a mentor. It'll give you a rush like you've never had, seeing someone excell all because of you. It's an awesome feeling. I've got plenty of experience in this department...not with detailing cars, but in other areas.
 
I know what you are going through. As long as your buying doesn't interfere with important financial obligations , your ok . If you choose to place a big order rather than paying an important bill , then seek some help , if not then just enjoy your detailing .
 
Build a bird house. Seriously, grab up some wood, nails, saw, tape measure and a pencil and paper. Design it on paper and then build it.

I know this sounds stupid but I've seen this very same technique (bird house building) pull a man right out of an obsession that was overwhelming him. Or of course you could go out and find a car like the one that I posted in the "detailing training day" thread, owned by someone who can't afford to have it detailed and do it free for them.

Sometimes nothing helps me as much as doing some volunteer work for a needy family. You'll get to use those products and polishers instead of just holding them idle in your hands and you might just make a new friend while you're at it.
 
Good advice from Arkus,and the other forum members. I know that for myself, I think I'm one of those who have a "addictive" type of makeup to my personality.(cigarettes, alcohol, and chemical addiction at some point in my life.) I don't do things in half measures, I seem to go off the deep end and do everything at 110%. I went through therapy, group therapy, and 12 step programs. Mainly, what I think enabled me to get a grip on myself was getting older and wiser, and getting tired of making my life a mess and hurting those closest to me. At one time I felt I was getting crazy with ordering stuff too, and I cut back so that I could keep myself from going off the deep end again. The way I look at it, it's a lot less harmful than the other problems I had as long as I keep in mind the danger signals that what I think is "fun" can get out of control since I have an "addictive" problem, so to speak. I don't know if it's like this for you, but if it is, just talking about it like you have can be the start of getting it under control. Now, after all this please don't tell us you were joking! Seriously, though, keep open the lines of communication, because folks here care about your well being.
 
Hoytman said:
Good to see some others posting here. I'm sure Mark really appreciate's it.

Mark,

I really meant what I said in my pm about finding a kid, or anyone wanting to learn, and being a mentor..."each one, teach one." You don't have to give them everything, but share your knowledge and let them be beneficiary of your goodness...even if it means letting them use some of your stuff under your supervision.

What I'm trying to say here, is that you can replace your addiction with another one, being a mentor. It'll give you a rush like you've never had, seeing someone excell all because of you. It's an awesome feeling. I've got plenty of experience in this department...not with detailing cars, but in other areas.
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:goodpost:It may surprise you at how getting out of your "self" will help you in your life. It truly brings contentment and serenity to my life to do this very thing that Hoytman has suggested.
 
Dude your description sounds alot like the guy I look at in the mirror everyday. LOL !!!!!!!!!!!! But with that said with the status of this economy . I have to cut back on excessive buying.
 
I am the same way what has stopped well slowed me down is work has been slow (comission pay), our 4th child is due in Oct (wife does not work), purchase of a minivan (first car payment since 03) so needless to say I am "learning" to use what I have lol
 
Mark, you should build a budget. Take what you make and give yourself a percentage of that to spend on detailing products and you can spend only that.

For example, lets say you make $40,000 a year. Give yourself a small percentage like 3%. That is $1,200 per year which means you can spend $100 per month. If there is a large purchase you have to save the previous months money to buy it.

Set rules like you can only spend that months money and you cant tap into future months. You can save previous months money though. i.e. in December you can't send January March and April's money. You would have to wait.

Just an idea buddy.
 
Hey Mark,

At first I thought you were fooling around but as I continue to read you're not.

Buying can become an obsession and obsessions lead into addictions.

The need to buy here is directly related or proportionate to the amount of time spent on this forum. Take a good hard look at how much time it consumes from us daily. Both you and I have well over 5000 contributions which in itself is concerning and I've been thinking I need to take a break as well. I'm not implying I don't enjoy BSing about detailing but it's becoming obsessive.

Mark, over the past 18 months I've spent close to and possibility in excess of $6000 on detailing equipment and product. Keeping on mind that only two polishes were part of this it means that I've spent over $5000 on products....way out of control if you ask me. What's more concerning is I do this as a hobby, not as a business!!

Taking a break from these forums may be just the ticket and allow you to focus on your life itself. I'm sure you've given up much of your time and I've even noticed that you're online to the wee hours of the morning. It's time to focus or talents on something else more meaningful.

My Friend, both you and I need to take some control here..and we will! :props:
 
I was able to receive help in all honesty. I was ordering anywhere from $200-$300 worth of products at a time and I outgrew my storage space. My wife finally said "I'm going to start matching your spending habits" and it came true, 3 weeks ago she bought a kitchen table set for $900 and I had no right to say anything against it. While that's not much for a kitchen table and chairs, it was enough for me to wake up because she has other ideas. Best of luck to you Mark.
 
I want to thank all of you very, very much for your insight and ideas! I woke up this morning feeling much better! It really helps to be able to talk/discuss issues, and this was no exception. I just have to stick to my guns and relax. I know I can do it. This forum goes beyong just detailing, there's a lot of GREAT people on this site! :dblthumb2: :props: Thanks again everyone, honestly!! :)
 
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