Shopping Philosophy 101 – Buying for the Sake of Buying Should be Avoided
This may sound like something your mother used to tell you. And if so, I apologize. But, she was right. Buying for the sake of buying ends up being wasteful and unsatisfying in a number of ways.
In this new series, we’ll explore my philosophies of shopping. They may not be yours, and that’s okay. Just know this: My goal is always to save you money, and make your shopping experiences more satisfying.
Here is the scenario. There on the clearance rack is a certain sweater that catches my eye. It could be because it’s 80% off regular price – seems like too good a deal to pass up. Or it “spoke” to me – there’s just something about it I like.
So, I grab it up and wander the store, asking myself “when/where would I wear this?” Then I make the mistake. I buy it just to buy it. And the sweater that was such a good deal ends up in the box going to Goodwill. The same applies to household items. Not only does it frustrate me to know I spent money on something I have no use for, but it reminds me of a frustrating shopping experience. And I hate that.
I developed a shopping philosophy called “buying for the sake of buying should be avoided.” Here are the two key things you have to tell yourself.
1. Even if it’s a killer bargain, it’s a waste of money unless you can use it.
2. This is not the last item for sale on the planet. Be reasonable.
I’d love to hear your own examples of what/where/how you may have fallen victim to “buying for the sake of buying.” And look for more on Shopping Philosophy 101!
Shopping, Bargains, Spending, Advice
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