My impulse buy
Posted on March 4th, 2008 – 12:21 PMBy Kara McGuire
Maybe all that boot talk went to my head. Or the fact that I’ve done next to no shopping this year. But I just purchased a pair of shoes on clearance online, final sale, just because a promo code for an additional 15 percent off came to my inbox.
Yes, they are really cute (although they don’t look all that great floating on my blog). Yes, they will be great for work–if they fit. Yes, they were a reasonable $37. Plus there was free shipping. But did I need them? No. Did I need to gamble with final sale online shoes? No! Especially when you’re making a conscious effort not to shop.
Ever since I decided to buy fewer unneeded consumer goods, I’ve opted out of catalogs using Catalog Choice or tossed them aside when they come to the house. For a week I was also un-subscribing to many retailer’s emails. But then I got sick of making the extra clicks and never reached my goal of a cleaner e-life. And some companies don’t seem to follow through with my requests anyway.
For those of you who want less mail,visit: http://opt-out.cdt.org/.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t work for opting out of e-mail, and the site explains why.
Back to silly purchases. Share your most recent or egregious impulse purchase. I have a prize for the best one.
15 Responses to "My impulse buy"
Yes…I fell victim to the old 15% sale offer in my inbox as well. Right now my shopping cart has more than one final sale, online impulse shoe purchase waiting for check-out, including a still-rather-pricey, but fabulous, black suede tall boot with sweater detail. But lo and behold, when I went to check out, my computer seized up and I had to restart. By then, the impulse had passed. Sort of like freezing your credit cards in tupperware. By the time they thaw out, the urge to buy that unnecessary item is usually gone. And if it isn’t, it is probably a good purchase anyway. Happy sale dodging!
I purchased a pair of “sandal aerators” (plastic sandal flats w/ long spikes on the bottom to make holes in your yard) on Amazon a couple of years back. I was thinking, WOW, I’ll save money and my yard will look great! When I think back at it, I don’t know what was more foolish the purchase or when I actually put them on my feet and walked around my yard with them on!
Michelle: I have a friend I think I mentioned once before on the blog who began buying i-bonds at treasury direct when the urge to shop hit.
I have to admit that I am a sucker for a sales pitch so I do my best to avoid them. Years ago I was at a county fair and saw a demonstration for waterless cookware. I didn’t buy the set because I think it was about $1000 dollars and I didn’t have the money but I did buy one of their products, a stainless steel food chopper/grinder that you can use to make hash browns or chop other foods in various shapes. I think I spent $200 on it and I never use it. Anyone want to buy it?
Probably something from a tool store. I’ll go with the soft-sided, zipper-close tool bags on sale at Menards a few weeks ago. Didn’t need them, but the deal was good & I’m happy with them thus far.
I noticed a new ad recently though, that seems to be aiming at the impulse shopper. I first saw it on a two-page spread in the latest National Geographic, then noticed it again yesterday on the back page of the Strib Business section. They’re pushing a fancy heater, purportedly invented by an Amish man. They even have a picture of a box with the heater (allegedly) inside sitting in the back of a horse drawn wagon. It stood out to me because, far as I know, most Amish have a thing against using electricity. It looks like a scam, or something close to it, to me. Who buys this stuff?
I like an old riddle which goes like this:
Q. “Something that usually sells for $100 is now being sold at a 30% discount, so you bought it. Now, how much did you save?”
A. “Zero. Actually, you are out $70.”
I just spent $75.00 for a Half Marathon Training Class for a race that I’m not planning on running. But I feel guilty running with my regular club group when they’ve all paid to train for this race and I’d be receiving the same coaching and training plans. At least this will incent me to show up more regularly since I’ve shelled out $$ to be where I normally am…. hmmm, still doesn’t sound any more reasonable that it did last night. oh well, I’ve done worse things with $75. Did I mentioned that I already pay $25.00 annually to receive a weekly running newsletter and run with a certain group that meets on a regular schedule? yikes.
I actually gave up Target for Lent because I always seem to be a sucker for buying things I don’t need just because they are 15 or 30 percent off — lotions I still haven’t used, candles, even a big pack of foot warmers to get me through the winter (yep, still haven’t opened the bag). So, it’s been helping our bank account since I think we spent around $200 there in January. And it’s teaching me not to put so much time and thought into material things.
Will I go back after Easter? Of course, but hopefully I won’t buy as much useless crap.
Kristen-
I actually started buying household items at Walgreens rather than Target. Items may be slightly more expensive (I haven’t actually compared receipts) but it’s closer to my house, and I have never once seen an impulse item at Walgreens cute enough to buy! I only buy what I need, and get out!
I gotta say that those marketers at Target that created that dollar section are evil geniuses - you know, the racks you see just as you walk in that have all sorts of seasonal doo-dads that are uber cute? I’m a sucker for things like cute socks and I bought a pair that are hot pink with a skull stitched on the side of them. Hey you asked for quirky!
Kara,
My impulse buy was on a smaller scale, but I really feel I was ripped off.
Last week, I bought a Sunday Star-Trib.
What has happened to this paper?
Who are the editors, and why doesn’t management make some changes?
Where on earth did you find Nick Coleman, and why is he so full of hate?
Someone told me once that you should figure $1 for every time you wear something you’ve purchased. Once you’ve reached the breakeven point, you can feel good (stop feeling guilty) about your purchase. That means Kara, you need to wear those shoes out 37 times.
Betty: Use your grocery coupons and you’ll make up the couple bucks.
Breder: As for the running club, I’ve been known to sign up for classes that I pay for and rarely go. It’s the most vexing of my irrational money behaviors. Just recently I signed up for a $50 class and only went once. Stupid.
$500 worth of clothes from clothes at Ann Taylor Loft in Chicago. Sure…a girl needs work clothes but seriously, 9% sales tax-what was I thinking? That store lures me in. Just plain stupid to pay sales tax.
And the winner is….I have to go with Nick. Sandal aerators? Did they work?
Here’s hoping you have a privacy fence!
