Secret Impulse Purchase Weapon

[078]

It is common for to be told to ask yourself if you really need to buy something so that you don't make impulse purchases. I tend to subscribe to the week wait method where if I find something not on my list, I wait a week and if I still want it, I then can buy it. But sometimes you need to make a decision right on the spot (maybe it's on sale or a limited supply). This is where I have a secret weapon.

"Do I really need this?" never really worked for me because it was too easy to justify. So instead, I imagine a random person coming up to me and offering me two things: The thing I want to buy and the money it would cost to buy it. I then ask myself which one I would take (the money or the product) and I have my answer as to whether or not is it worthwhile buying.

What do you do to thwart impulse purchases?

[bjl584]

I've never really had a problem with impulse buying. Pretty much everything major that I've ever purchased has been well thought out and planned for.

I have heard of the so called "cool off period" that you use. It seems to work well for some.

[YLTL_Dan]

So instead, I imagine a random person coming up to me and offering me two things: The thing I want to buy and the money it would cost to buy it.

Do you mind if I rename this random person the little green man?? I like it.

I purchased a $250 painting at the Angola Prison Rodeo in Louisiana last week that would qualify as "impulse". Don't get me wrong, I'm pretty tight with money, but if I made all of my purchase decisions based on cold hard facts, my life would be way less enjoyable. Today, I'm happy I traded the $250 for the painting that I'll have forever.

The DW and I allow ourselves to make impulse purchases for the fun of it every once in a while... does it count as impulse if it's budgeted for?

[disneysteve]

does it count as impulse if it's budgeted for?

If you are just budgeting "miscellaneous" or "fun money" then I'd say the actual purchase still qualifies as an impulse purchase since you didn't know you were going to make that purchase until you made it and it still could be something that you don't "need". There is nothing wrong with having wants, of course, as long as you can afford them.