Are You an Overbuyer?

Are You an Overbuyer?

It happens all the time—when I tell someone what I do for a living, the response is often, “Oh, I’m a total hoarder,” or “You should see my mom’s house!”

But here’s the thing: most people aren’t actually hoarders. That word gets thrown around a lot, but in our experience, true hoarding is relatively rare. More often, we meet clients who are simply overbuyers or packrats.

So how do you know if you might be an overbuyer? If you find yourself nodding ‘yes’ to two or more of the statements below, there’s a good chance you fall into this category. Let’s take a look:

1. You can’t find what you’re looking for—even though you’re sure you have it.
   This is one of the biggest signs. When your home is cluttered, it’s easy to lose track of things. The solution? Methodical decluttering. When everything has a home—and everyone in your household knows where that home is—you’ll waste less time searching and avoid buying things you already own.
2. You buy something, only to discover later that you already had it.
   This is one of the best reasons to declutter. Once you can clearly see what you have, you’re far less likely to waste money on duplicates.
3. You stock up in bulk just because it’s cheaper, even if you know you won’t use it all.
   We get it—who doesn’t love a good deal? But buying in bulk “just in case” can quickly snowball into clutter. If this sounds like you, you might be a partial overbuyer.
4. You open a product, use it once or twice, then move on to something similar—without tossing the original.
   This one’s especially common in bathrooms. Skincare, makeup, hair products—we’ve seen it all. A little here, a little there, and suddenly you’ve got drawers overflowing with half-used bottles. Sound familiar?
5. You buy the same clothing item in multiple colors—but only ever wear one or two.
   If you love a shirt, great! But if you’re not reaching for all the versions you bought, it may be time to rethink the habit.
6. You buy multiples of something because you’re afraid it will be discontinued.
   We’ve all done this with our favorite mascara or jeans. And while it makes sense sometimes, doing it often leads right back to clutter—and those dreaded duplicates.

The Good News?
Becoming aware of these habits is the first step. If you see yourself in a few of these scenarios, don’t worry—you’re not alone, and there’s nothing “wrong” with you. With a bit of intention and some smart organizing strategies, you can take control of your space and your spending. And we’re always here to help.