Sometimes the cheapest option turns out to be just that: cheap.
Sometimes getting that long-coveted new electronic toy from the most inexpensive vendor will be a disppointment. Because it turns out they are the cheapest for a reason. They have horrible customer service. They are actually selling you some sort of imported good that looks a lot like the real thing, but isn’t. And when you try to cancel (gasp!) your order because of all this, they will yell at you and try any dirty tactic they can to keep your money.
In the end, Sonica Cameras won’t be getting any more business from me. And I hope you’ll think long and hard about giving them your hard-earned money.
takeaway: I value great customer service almost as much as I enjoy good bargains. Find a way to give me both (Amazon, I love you so), and you have me as a loyal customer for life. Treat me badly, and I’ll spread the word.
photo by roland
Posted by Monica on September 17, 2008 at 12:33 pm in living large
It’s fun to treat yourself. To buy the vintage Louis Vuitton you’ve been craving. Snag the iPhone. Finally get the Jimmy Choo’s. Score a Wii. I’m all for splurging when the time is right. And the time is right when you’ve saved money to make the big splurge.
What’s the ticket to make sure you’re making a good purchase, and not just an extravagant, spur of the moment buy? First, save a little money each month in your “fun-time-to-splurge-and-buy-what-i-want” category. The amount you save will depend on how much you make and how much you can afford to save (and just in case you were wondering, this savings comes after saving for your house, retirement, and oh yeah, paying the bills you already have).
You save and save. The money adds up (don’t you just love that feeling of putting money away for a rainy day!). Then you find it. The splurge item you have just been waiting for. Then . . . you wait. Yep. Wait. Don’t buy. Hold off. Second guess. To contradict Nike, don’t just do it.
Wait. I think anywhere from 7 - 30 days is a good amount of time, depending on how big the purchase. And if after some amount of time, you still really, really, really want it - go for it. If not, you’ll still have the money left in your pocket for the next big find.
Takeaway: Splurges are fine, when you’ve saved for them and really thought about them. If you’ve done all that, you have my blessing. 
Total Yearly Savings: Waiting to make fun, impulse buys will save you at least a few hundred dollars a year. (Which, of course, means more money for the great splurge you’ll find later . . . )
*photo by doug88888
