"Decluttering and organizing your space inevitably makes you look at how you spend your time. How much of it has been spent acquiring belongings you never use? Recreational shopping-shopping for fun- is a national habit. It makes us feel productive ("We're buying things we need to live life"), successful ("We can afford this-we're doing well"), and in control of our destinies ("If I buy this, my home will be prettier, my wardrobe will be more stylish, I'll finally be happy"). Shopping can easily become a substitute for all kinds of emotional satisfaction. "Retail therapy" may seem like it will ward off loneliness, fear, and dissatisfaction, but it usually leads to credit card bills and more stuff than you have room for. Retail therapy = clutter. There's so much to do beyond spending your life at the mall. Instead of acquiring possessions, we can accumulate life experiences-experiences that breed love and affection." Peter Walsh in It's All Too Much