Think before you buy

In the vein of reducing spending, I came across this article today about a system to limit impulse buying. I think it is a GREAT way to avoid emotional shopping and frivolous purchases. I will be using this system in the future because it is so simple to implement. The key is to walk away, get some perspective, and I would add to seek level-headed counsel. If you've done all your research, found the best price (i.e. can afford to purchase it), and still want the item after the self-imposed waiting period, then you are free to proceed with the transaction.

In addition, I always think about justifying the need to purchase something to my husband. As is glaringly obvious from my previous post about our new dog, I don't always follow through with actually doing this. But do as I say and not as I do, young padawans. And to show you that I am capable of practicing what I preach occasionally, I will give you an example of a recent time when I actually did consult with Chris before I made the transaction.

Our vacuum cleaner stopped working a few months ago, and I got it in my head that I wanted to get a "really good" new one. I asked a few friends and family members, tried out my parents' new vacuum, and I was ready to buy. I went to Bed Bath & Beyond armed with my 20% coupon (just to see what their prices were, mind you) and stood before the trendy $400 yellow Dyson. After the coupon, the price would have been $320 plus tax. Look at that! I'll save $80! Yay me! (nevermind that I'd save $320 by not buying the vacuum at all, but we'll get to that). Though I had originally gone just to price the thing, I was absolutely ready to take that baby home with me that very day. Can you say emotional shopper here? Chris and I had already been talking about buying a new vacuum (see, we talked, before buying, and it was good! secrecy--BAD! :), and he began to research them. He came across the recent Consumer Reports issue that reviewed vacuums, wherein the Dyson was not even in the top 5 yet was far more expensive than most of the others. Knowing that Chris wasn't exactly "sold" on the "need" for a Dyson, I stopped for a moment and called him. I told him what I was considering and the price after the coupon and left the decision up to his cooler head. He asked me to hold off for then, so that we could spend some more time researching our options. I was a little disappointed, but in my heart I knew he was absolutely right to ask me to wait. I walked out of there without buying that pretty vacuum, and would you believe it didn't kill me?

After a week or two of researching and pricing, really counting the cost, I lost my conviction that we "needed" a new vacuum. I decided to take apart the one we had to see if I could find the problem myself. For some reason, this hadn't occurred to me prior to that because I just assumed it would have to be taken in to somebody's repair shop. As soon as I got the base off (which took me all of about 2.5 minutes), I saw that the belt was worn in two. Something that cost me only a few more minutes' time and $1.49 to replace.

And that, my friends, is how you save $318.51 on a vacuum.

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