When a bad case of “I want” strikes
You know, going from being a reckless spender to a frugal shopper is no easy endeavor. It is something that takes time and a lot of willpower. But once you successfully make that transition there is still an ugly beast that rears its head from time to time.
A bad case of the “I wants.”
And it’s horrible. It is consumerism as its worst. And I have not yet found a way to completely evict it.
So, what happens when it shows up unannounced?
Sometimes I do something really stupid. Not too long ago it was buying expensive concert tickets for a show out of state. It would have required a plane ticket, a car rental and hotel room. I wised up when the tickets arrived in the mail. Then I sold them on eBay for a loss. That part really sucked.
But sometimes I realize it for what it is BEFORE I do something stupid. I just wish I could do that every time! If you have any tricks for conquering the “I wants” feel free to share them!
July 27th, 2008 at 12:02 am
I try to keep something else in mind. About three months ago, I decided I needed some pretty new goggles. The ones I had were still functional, but I wanted some new ones. So I did some research, found the best price for the ones I wanted.
Then I took the $10.50 they would have cost and put it in a high-interest savings account (my bike fund
instead.
I did have to buy the goggles eventually (when the old ones were no longer functional), but I think that the initial denial of the want is a good step towards greater financial discipline.