#577 – Budget Tip: Buyer’s Remorse

There is a simple trick I use to prevent buyer's remorse. It's a chair in the dining room.

Sometimes something you see is just too good to pass up. Maybe it's something that's on sale. Or perhaps you've always wanted it. Whatever the reason, it ends up in your house. With a momentary lapse in judgement, you break your budget.

If this happens to me, I put the item in its original packaging on a chair in the dining room. I give myself a cooling off period of a few days. If, after that time, I don't have a burning desire for it, I return it to the store. My budget is restored and I don't have to contend with the stress of buyer's remorse.

I find it helpful to ask myself these questions:

  • Must I have it?
  • Do I simply want it?
  • Do I need it?
  • Do I have room for it?
  • How will it add to my life?

It's a simple trick that reduces the harm of impulse buying. Give it a try and let me know how it goes.

(Admittedly, this has to be the most boring image that I have ever used on this blog!)

2 Replies to “#577 – Budget Tip: Buyer’s Remorse”

  1. There was me thinking you would simply imagine that horrible chair you once bought on a spur, and use that mental picture to help you walk away from the store. But that chair did not look to bad, and then your text explained it all. It does put a limit on box size,how will you store that double freezer on there?

    1. With all the wonderful berries this year, there would be no need to return the box freezer! LOL! (Of course, we already have one, but a second one would sure come in handy!)

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