Hello Fine folks of Teamliquid.

How do you avoid being lured into a bad purchase that you dont really need? Do you budget everything?

I've lived far from home a long time but I still from time to get suckered into buying some new fancy thing. RIght now Im contemplating buying a rice cooker, a pullup bar and a kitchen scale. I want to save money, but when that big paycheck comes in, it seems weird not to improve your quality of life.

Have a great sunday guys.

FoolieCoolie

Serbia71 Posts

April 15 2012 15:03 GMT

Just wait it out. If you still want it in 2 weeks then just go buy it.

RaiZ

2813 Posts

April 15 2012 15:04 GMT

Do you think you'll often use them for your everyday cooking ? If so why hesitating then ? It's not like you're buying computer's parts where they won't have anymore use after 2-3 years... Those are solid long term use (although you could easily find kitchen scale for cheap, just like every product you need to find the best one but not necessarily the most expensive).
I have a pullup bar aswell. I remember using it everyday everytime i was losing a game or two. Now my arms aren't in a bad shape, but i don't use it anymore sadly. T_T Now that you mention it, i'll probably use it more in the future !

micronesia

United States24698 Posts

April 15 2012 15:04 GMT

On April 16 2012 00:03 FoolieCoolie wrote:
Just wait it out. If you still want it in 2 weeks then just go buy it.

Yeah. I often get really into something which requires me to spend money, but I'm not always still hot on it 2-3 weeks later. If it can wait a few weeks I find the smartest thing to do is wait and see if I still am interested.

This doesn't just go for buying things... it goes for lots of things that you want to do.

MaV_gGSC

Canada1345 Posts

April 15 2012 15:06 GMT

Distract yourself with something else for as long as you possible can

thedeadhaji

39489 Posts

April 15 2012 15:10 GMT

I have a list of thing I'm going to buy, and I don't deviate.

Servius_Fulvius

United States947 Posts

April 15 2012 15:10 GMT

I avoid buying a lot of unnecessary things by continuously asking whether or not I NEED it. I'm pretty good at saying 'no' to myself, so I only get things I REALLY want/need.

My girlfriend, on the other hand, is not very good at saying 'no' to herself and tends to buy a number of things. It's funny because she started using me as a control mechanism ("Do I want to buy this?").

Improving your quality of life does not necessarily mean you buy a lot of random things. All three of the things you mentioned seem like they have a decent amount of utility IF they are used. My rule is that if I'm unsure then I shouldn't buy it at the moment, leave the store, and if I still want it days later then I should probably get it. My budget is a little looser than most given my income level, but it's offset because I don't make a lot of random purchases and don't eat out a whole lot.

Leyra

United States1222 Posts

April 15 2012 15:18 GMT

I'm a believer that some of it is just embedded in your brain. My Dad will buy random stuff, and enjoy it, regardless of if it's "unecessary." My mother on the other hand is cheaper than anyone I know (in the good way). I lean more towards my Mom. Also, my Uncle gets the worst buyer's remorse in the world for anything he buys, even stuff that he pretty much needs, so that causes him to not buy much stuff.

If you're more towards my Dad's school of thought, either just focus and crack down on yourself, or just enjoy who you are, and enjoy the frivolous things you purchase.

Deleted User 135096

3624 Posts

April 15 2012 15:45 GMT

Yea, a lot of people have said this, but you gotta discern whether the investment will be worth it in the long run or not. Do you really need a rice cooker when a pot could work fine? If you cook rice every day, I could see that as being a worthy purchase, but you have to make sure it's not superfluous before you decide to get it.

TheKefka

Croatia11752 Posts

April 15 2012 16:20 GMT

#10

I have a really good system.I'm a poor student that has no income so unless I want to starve to death I can't make any side purchases lol.

psiops

Canada21 Posts

April 15 2012 16:46 GMT

#11

it sounds like you you have a weight lifting and mass gain plan going on...

anyhow,
rice cooker: you can cook rice in a pot. nothing fancy, it works
pull-up bar: i used to go the park and do pull ups, leg raises and attempt front levers. those jungle gyms have thick bars which are good for grip development as well. trees work well as well... i've even see people work out on the rails in a subway cart
kitchen scale: if you are indeed trying to gain weight, just eat 6 meals a day, and eat until you feel around 80% full...

those things aren't really needed... they're just there for convenience.

also if you are trying to save money and gain weight, those 2 work against each other =[

aebriol

Norway2066 Posts

April 15 2012 16:48 GMT

#12

On April 15 2012 23:54 Advocado wrote:
How do you avoid being lured into a bad purchase that you dont really need? Do you budget everything?

Simply put, make a rule:
- I will never spend more than is in my pocket today (especially when drunk, awesome habit).
- I will always write down what I am going to purchase (of course not when you are drinking).

Nothing wrong with buying stuff like what you mention, except it shouldn't be on impulse, it should be because you decided that it was worth it after considering it.

2WeaK

Canada550 Posts

April 15 2012 16:50 GMT

#13

The way I've always done it with impulse buying is... If I can return it within a reasonable time, I will probably buy it, if I can (obvious example would be video games) I wait a week or two to see if I really need/want it or if I'm just buying into the hype. If I can return it, I try it out then return if I don't like it. That's how I've always worked it out.

+ Show Spoiler +

This doesn't always work, I bought SFxT when it came out... Decided to sell it back used (which I never do) for a $25 gift card... saved a little under half at least, but I still regret it.

dogabutila

United States1437 Posts

April 15 2012 17:03 GMT

#14

I just buy shit. I just spent 60 on gloves, 108 on eyepro, 110 on MC, and 550 for an aimpoint.

"impulse buying" would indicate that you don't seriously spend time thinking about it. In my case, i'd been going back and forth for several days, found good deals on them and then clicked the buy button. is that impulse?

Its not a problem as long as you maintain a 3mo buffer for rent/food in liquid cash (or bank) in case you lose a job. Have enough to cover your credit cards for this and next month. don't go hungry, then buy whatever you want as long as it's been a day or two and you still want it/have need for it. if you ant cover yourself for the future contingencies, don't spend. It hurts for a little to save, but if you focus on doing it to protect yourself it isn't hard. Then after that you dont need to worry about "oh should I buy this?" long as you can pay bills and buy food buy whatever you want.

don't buy shit just to have it and never use it though. you really gonna use the pullup bar for example? make sure your justifications are reasonable and true.

eohs

United States677 Posts

April 15 2012 17:13 GMT

#15

just realize somethings you just don't need... I gotta pay my rent gotta pay for my food .. car ... you suddenly realize you can wait to get home for a drink .. or candy or even food... when you really do the math eating out everyday or buying a drink everyday ads up by the end of the month.. or impulse buying anything really. Just have to realize it and you will. don't deny yourself something u need tho like a rice cooker is fine.. but you don't need the rest of what you bought.. lol :D

obesechicken13

United States10467 Posts

April 15 2012 17:43 GMT

#16

I make a list too... how impulsive are you. Like girl impulsive?
Never been a problem tbh. I wish I could be more help. Growing up I didn't really get many presents. Maybe just used to it.

leviathan400

United Kingdom393 Posts

April 15 2012 18:28 GMT

#17

Stop watching TV. Avoid all advertisements.

Mtndrew

United States174 Posts

April 15 2012 18:58 GMT

#18

a rice cooker's like the cheapest appliance you can buy next to a coffee maker.. it makes cooking rice so much easier than a pot... so that one doesn't seem too bad.

obesechicken13

United States10467 Posts

April 15 2012 19:00 GMT

#19

On April 16 2012 03:58 Mtndrew wrote:
a rice cooker's like the cheapest appliance you can buy next to a coffee maker.. it makes cooking rice so much easier than a pot... so that one doesn't seem too bad.

The disease is spreading!

feanor1

United States1899 Posts

April 15 2012 19:31 GMT

#20

On April 15 2012 23:54 Advocado wrote:
Hello Fine folks of Teamliquid.

How do you avoid being lured into a bad purchase that you dont really need? Do you budget everything?

I've lived far from home a long time but I still from time to get suckered into buying some new fancy thing. RIght now Im contemplating buying a rice cooker, a pullup bar and a kitchen scale. I want to save money, but when that big paycheck comes in, it seems weird not to improve your quality of life.

Have a great sunday guys.

Have checks direct deposited and only move the amount you need on a month to month basis into a checking account. You can't spend what you don't see. If it is a purchase of over 50-100 I usually wait a day or two to make sure I need or want the object. The amount of time I wait increases with the amount of money I am considering dropping on an item.

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