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I noticed that it’s pretty hard for me to buy something but it’s very easy for me to spend more on a product. What I mean is that I might contemplate on buying a $20 t-shirt but once I decide that buying a t-shirt is a right decision, I will gladly spend $60 even if there are similar alternatives for $20.
One curious question I have - Is anyone else like that?
Although people I know are somewhat similar, no one goes to the extreme like me. I literally believe that buying a $0.50 pack of gum is a waste of money even though I wanted it at the time but on the same day buy the premium cut of beef that costs $15 more than the alternative.
Come to think of it, my dad probably had a huge influence on me because I remember him saying in a restaurant before:
Once we decided to come, we are prepared for the potential cost of the meal. Therefore, don’t worry about the price of each dish and instead get something you really want.
Is it Wrong?
After some thought, I realize that it’s not really wrong to do this because it’s just a matter of choice. Mathematically, I understand that buying that pack of gum instead of getting the better cut of meat would save me $14.50, but life isn’t about squeezing every dollar out of every situation. Money is only a tool to help me live comfortably and not my goal in life. Something I don’t plan to change.
I’m happy with my progress to retire comfortably one day without the need to worry about money for survival and I should be able to give myself a treat or two once in a while!
How about you? Are you like me and have you ever tried to change your ways?
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I kind of do the same thing, but I think it can be a problem. This really does come down to personal choice, but I have had to stop and think, is it not just balancing itself out by not buying the gum all the time but going ahead and buying the $15 steak? Why not cut down on both a bit.
Of course, if you are comfortable with your current state and progress, it really doesn’t matter. You have no desire or any real need to change.
What some people do, myself included occasionally, is find their “thing” that they love. Then they go high quality for that “thing” (TV, car, computer, book collection, etc.)
You can’t live 100% frugally all of the time, at least not that I can see.
I believe it’s still early for a lot of people. If you haven’t realized, bloggers are now mostly all under the age of 20
. Only time will tell.
-Mike
I think it all boils down between whether you are able to be disciplined enough to distinguish between needs/wants and desires. Well personally speaking I sometimes do indulge in the more expensive cuts of meats/fish as I do want to give the kids the best food with our grocery funds.
I love your fathers restaraunts Quote. I think I have a similar philosophy to this without realiazing. I estimate what the top end of the price could be, and then see if I can afford it. If not I won’t go. If I can you can generally get what you want, and it will probably work out cheaper anyway.
I am totally like you. I don’t think that holding back on what you want is the answer. Sure you should always buy what you need first but you need to live.
Do what you love on payday! You can’t take your cash with you when you go.
I understand the meal scenario - you are going for th experience and should enjoy it fully.
But about the other, I think I have the opposite problem. I will decide to buy something for $20 and end up finding something utilitarian for $4…. Once I have found that less expensive version, I really have a problem buying the more expensive version…. Rarely can I force myself to even do it! To me it’s usually all about that bottom line figure.
The exception to that would be books… they are my downfall - but I luv ‘em!
All non-fiction. And yes, I use my library 3 or 4 times a week - but these are some I read and then just have to have!!! go figure!
Lately I’ve been on a gardening/edible landscaping bend…so those are what are showing up now
In the past, my problem has been that I’ll be frugal for weeks or months, then blow it on something I “needed” to have. In reality it was a want. In fact it wasn’t even a real want - impulse buy was more like it.
A friend of mine believes what’s $20 more. But those $20’s add up.
I’m trying to merge his thinking with my past thinking and come up with a better way.
I definitely do this too. I was trying to think of something I won’t spend extra on, and I couldn’t really think of anything. However, I usually know what I want, and I won’t buy if it isn’t what I want. I also think about and plan most of my purchases so I don’t buy a lot of things I don’t really use. That being the case, I can’t really regret buying nice versions of things that I use. It would be another story if I bought a ton of expensive stuff I just didn’t use.
My two best examples are jeans and my car. I can not for the life of me find jeans that fit me for under $50. Sure, there’s plenty that fit my waist, or height or hips, but never all three! So I will gladly spend $50 - $150 on a pair of jeans. (I will gladly revise this should I ever find an inexpensive pair that actually fit.)
I also inherit my mother’s and older brother’s love of nice cars/bikes and driving. So when my hand me down college beater died, I bought the model I wanted in the color I wanted with the options I wanted instead of a sensible slightly used car in white (I hate white cars so much!)