Nony here: I loved this email from one of you. I’d love to hear what you have laying around waiting to be returned!
Dear Nony,Let me start by saying….I am really bad about returning items. I (or hubby) will purchase things, get home, find they don’t work for what we needed/don’t like it, blah blah. So I’m just like, Oh well. Put it over there and I’ll take it back when I go back to the store. Simple enough, right? Mm hmm. Except that it never fails I will forget. And go to that same store five times (or more) and come home and there the items sit.
Unfortunately, I too suffer from “slob vision” so those items tend to blend in with normal household decor & items that are “supposed” to be laying around the house. (I mean, doesn’t everyone decorate the corner of their fireplace with a bottle of non-toxic mineral paint thinner?)So today, since I had to get out to deliver some papers to my youngest daughter at school, I decided to put a dent in the “Returns Basket” in which I had placed all of the items I came across while decluttering last week. I returned 8 items between 2 stores and the total of the money I got back was $109.95!$110 bucks! Worth of stuff! Just sitting there! In the way! Taking up space! For weeks! Some of it for months!! I have serious issues. (Yes, there are more items to be returned, but I have to locate the receipts as I declutter some more)This made my heart frown a little because twice within the last week, I told two of my kids “No” when one asked if we could go grab something to eat after softball practice and the other asked if I would bring her lunch (fast food) at school. Not that we are hurting, but I explained that I was trying to not spend any extra money on unnecessary things before next payday since just this month, we’ve had to make repairs on two cars, pay for my oldest’s college tuition, and found out my youngest needed glasses.So after making my returns today, I brought both of my girls lunch to school and when they smiled excitedly, that frown in my heart turned upside down!
What I’m learning (or really already know):
- Clutter = hurt pride over people coming into my home
- Clutter = chaos and angry household members
- Clutter = having to say no when I should be able to say yes
- Clutter = Guilt
- Clutter = $$$ (in my case)
Thank you so much for your blog!!! While I already know the many ways clutter affects my life and family, reading your blog…
- Gives me hope! When, for years, I have felt hopeless
- Has helped me find the humor, when, for years, I have only been able to find tears.
- Has taught me so much about looking at & working on myself! For the 1st time, (probably ever) I am no longer angry at my husband and kids. Yes, I still get annoyed that they make messes and/or don’t pick up after themselves. But the anger and the blame is no longer there. Because you’ve opened my eyes to the fact that I need to change my habits before I can expect them to change theirs. After all, they learned from the best! (there’s that dumb pride thing again)
From,A Fellow Slob (who now has a little less clutter and a few more bucks)
Here is my returned items tip–the only way my slob-brain manages to return anything (and it is still usually 5 trips to the store before I actually do it)–the very moment I realize something might need to be returned, I get a piece of tape and tape the receipt to it or put the receipt inside the packaging. If it is clothing, I keep the receipt in the bag. Then, once I decide to return it it goes by the door or into the car. Hopefully I will see it on my way out the door or into the store and return it.
I recently bought a giant box from Home Depot–a nice box with wheels and a lock to put my science supplies in. I wasn’t sure how it was going to work out, so I left the receipt and the keys inside it and put it in the garage. Weeks (read 8 of them) after I knew it wouldn’t work, I decided to just make a special trip to return it. When I got to the store, the box was locked. It had been so long, I couldn’t remember for sure that I had followed my protocol and left the key and receipt inside it, but I confidently told the clerk I had. They found a way to open it. I was so relieved to find the receipt and the key, right where I thought they should be.
Yay for habits that make life easier.
Wow. that “Clutter=” chart is so true!
I just saw I won the Swiffer Giveaway! I am so excited!! I sent you an e-mail. Thanks so much!
A pair of shoes from Zappos had gone undetected by my Slob Vision since late June, when I’d received them, tried them on, and determined that they didn’t fit. I sent them back today, for a $124 refund. Thanks, Nony!
Online purchase sweater $49. minus the return charge $6.50 if I ever get it to UPS soon. Why would they make a woman’s sweater with doll sized narrow sleeves? I have slob vision, but you are inspiring me to do better.
This is us. I don’t even want to think about the amount of things that should have been, but never were, returned. I struggle with the whole attitude from staff when something needs to be returned, and even more I object to having to provide all my personal details to return something that was faulty, its not like I had to give that information to buy it. I inevitably procrastinate on it so long that it can no longer be returned. To justify not returning it I think that I should have paid more attention and checked it over before I purchased it and blame myself for the waste of money. If it’s an item less then $10 I tend to think it’s not even worth my time and effort to return it, more justifying. It’s crazy. Hubby’s doesn’t like returning things either so it seems even more of an effort with him being impatient about it too. I never really thought about how much of a problem this was. I think I need to look harder at this.
I so *needed* this today. I have a bag of clothes to return – long story with a mistake I won’t repeat. It’s nothing anyone in my house can use or fit and it’s almost $60 of stuff. This is motivating me to go return it. I’m putting that bag in the car! Thanks ????
Thanks for being there, I am so glad I found your page on Facebook which led me to your website. It’s like a road map to the life I’ve always wanted and could never find a way to get there. As I peruse your posts, I find I am not alone and there is finally hope for me and my home.
Welcome! There’s definitely hope!