I have done that very thing, Liz.
I still do it to some degree. I think it's an emotional response to an out-of-control life.
If I have my "things" around me, I won't be so cold, empty, lonely.
If the world caves in, at last I can look good while it's happening.
I have the money now, who knows when I ever will again?
And of course the same old attempt to fill up that whole in my heart with material goods.
I also think there's an element of barricading ourselves against the inevitable pain and suffering with cozy stuff.
There's some pathology there for sure. I question my habits about buying and spending in this way all the time. It's one area that I know needs work on my side of the street.