How do you justify buying something you want but don’t need?
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Hello again Lemmy! I have another question.
Context: I took a motorcycle safety class, was nervous but enjoyed it, researched motorcycles, found a few I liked, talked to a dealer about them but ultimately, I couldn’t finalize a deal, talked myself out of it basically
I was curious how others might justify a purchase that has no purpose other than wanting something.
For clarity, I don’t need anyone to justify me buying a motorcycle. I want to read about your thought processes for buying something you want
As always thanks for replying and have an awesome day/night!!
I research, then set it aside for a while (dependent on cost, cheaper = less time, expensive = more). If I'm still seriously thinking about it after that time, and I have enough of a budget that it won't cause issues, let's say if I have to put it on a credit card and can't pay it off without interest, then I generally will buy it.
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Hello again Lemmy! I have another question.
Context: I took a motorcycle safety class, was nervous but enjoyed it, researched motorcycles, found a few I liked, talked to a dealer about them but ultimately, I couldn’t finalize a deal, talked myself out of it basically
I was curious how others might justify a purchase that has no purpose other than wanting something.
For clarity, I don’t need anyone to justify me buying a motorcycle. I want to read about your thought processes for buying something you want
As always thanks for replying and have an awesome day/night!!
For starters, I have a one week grace period - If I still want it after a week, I can proceed if:
- I've spent more money on less amounts of fun/enjoyment than the new item gives me. (as in, it's not the stupidest purchase I've made),
- My credit cards are at zero.
Beyond that it's basically "I can afford it, and I want it. Why not?"
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Hello again Lemmy! I have another question.
Context: I took a motorcycle safety class, was nervous but enjoyed it, researched motorcycles, found a few I liked, talked to a dealer about them but ultimately, I couldn’t finalize a deal, talked myself out of it basically
I was curious how others might justify a purchase that has no purpose other than wanting something.
For clarity, I don’t need anyone to justify me buying a motorcycle. I want to read about your thought processes for buying something you want
As always thanks for replying and have an awesome day/night!!
Entertainment is valuable, it's what helps us get through the stuff we don't want to do. Looking forward to, or fondly remembering back on, the stuff we did/do for fun.
Budget for it. If what you want fits in that budget, and there is no other downside preventing you, then go for it.
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But also: Don't underthink it. Life is too long.
Not for me. I'm not sticking around all that much longer. I'm already past the time I thought I'd check out. Men in my family didn't make it past 60. My brother made it 5 years ago. I've got 3 to go. And I'm not actively trying to extend life. Give me all the great food & beer I can manage. Cheers!
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Hello again Lemmy! I have another question.
Context: I took a motorcycle safety class, was nervous but enjoyed it, researched motorcycles, found a few I liked, talked to a dealer about them but ultimately, I couldn’t finalize a deal, talked myself out of it basically
I was curious how others might justify a purchase that has no purpose other than wanting something.
For clarity, I don’t need anyone to justify me buying a motorcycle. I want to read about your thought processes for buying something you want
As always thanks for replying and have an awesome day/night!!
If I buy it I'll forget about it.
If I don't buy it, I'll spend the next twenty years thinking about that cool think I didn't buy when I had the chance.
It was a stupid little statue of a fairy sitting next to a mirror and I still wish I'd brought it.
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Hello again Lemmy! I have another question.
Context: I took a motorcycle safety class, was nervous but enjoyed it, researched motorcycles, found a few I liked, talked to a dealer about them but ultimately, I couldn’t finalize a deal, talked myself out of it basically
I was curious how others might justify a purchase that has no purpose other than wanting something.
For clarity, I don’t need anyone to justify me buying a motorcycle. I want to read about your thought processes for buying something you want
As always thanks for replying and have an awesome day/night!!
wrote last edited by [email protected]At one point I had a change jar. At the end of my day all my pocket change went in the jar and I forgot about it. This had multiple benefits: any purchase I made during the day took at least five bucks out of my pocket (no $1 or $2 notes in my country), so I had to think about it carefully. I always had money in the house, but in a form that made it inconvenient to spend. And after a couple years of ignoring the jar, I had about $200 that was outside my normal budget. I could spend it how I wanted! If I felt like buying a couple hundred bucks worth of jellybeans, I could do it without guilt.
Now I'm no longer single. My wife steals my change to buy leftover fabric swatches at car boot sales. That makes it harder but man, I deserve a Lego pirate ship.
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Hello again Lemmy! I have another question.
Context: I took a motorcycle safety class, was nervous but enjoyed it, researched motorcycles, found a few I liked, talked to a dealer about them but ultimately, I couldn’t finalize a deal, talked myself out of it basically
I was curious how others might justify a purchase that has no purpose other than wanting something.
For clarity, I don’t need anyone to justify me buying a motorcycle. I want to read about your thought processes for buying something you want
As always thanks for replying and have an awesome day/night!!
We have a rule of three. If there's something you see that you want and end up coming back to it 3 or more times, you buy it.
I've gotten a number of items this way, like my Deadpool jersey. I couldn't justify spending like $40 on it to myself, but I really liked the design and material. I kept finding my way back to the stand, so I bought it at the direction of my wife before we left. I love that thing in the winter because it keeps me cozy without making me sweat.
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Hello again Lemmy! I have another question.
Context: I took a motorcycle safety class, was nervous but enjoyed it, researched motorcycles, found a few I liked, talked to a dealer about them but ultimately, I couldn’t finalize a deal, talked myself out of it basically
I was curious how others might justify a purchase that has no purpose other than wanting something.
For clarity, I don’t need anyone to justify me buying a motorcycle. I want to read about your thought processes for buying something you want
As always thanks for replying and have an awesome day/night!!
I don't. I get things I want if they will not jepordize things I need. So there needs to be excess slack in the budget.
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Hello again Lemmy! I have another question.
Context: I took a motorcycle safety class, was nervous but enjoyed it, researched motorcycles, found a few I liked, talked to a dealer about them but ultimately, I couldn’t finalize a deal, talked myself out of it basically
I was curious how others might justify a purchase that has no purpose other than wanting something.
For clarity, I don’t need anyone to justify me buying a motorcycle. I want to read about your thought processes for buying something you want
As always thanks for replying and have an awesome day/night!!
I find cultivating some creative outlet and hobbies provides a resilience against my desire to ride the hype on the latest thing/tech/game/book/etc. Also using lists, waiting for sales, and spending more money where I spend most of my time.
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I find cultivating some creative outlet and hobbies provides a resilience against my desire to ride the hype on the latest thing/tech/game/book/etc. Also using lists, waiting for sales, and spending more money where I spend most of my time.
This is a good way to look at it. Invest in something with long term benefit vs spending on fads.
Appreciate this!
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I don't. I get things I want if they will not jepordize things I need. So there needs to be excess slack in the budget.
For you, is it specifically just financial aspects? I often look at the graveyard of hobbies and say… I just can’t do it again
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We have a rule of three. If there's something you see that you want and end up coming back to it 3 or more times, you buy it.
I've gotten a number of items this way, like my Deadpool jersey. I couldn't justify spending like $40 on it to myself, but I really liked the design and material. I kept finding my way back to the stand, so I bought it at the direction of my wife before we left. I love that thing in the winter because it keeps me cozy without making me sweat.
This is interesting. The rule of three for bigger things, how does that work? Do you say “this is the third time I’ve researched/looked at/talked to some about, it’s time to do it”?
Appreciate the response.
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At one point I had a change jar. At the end of my day all my pocket change went in the jar and I forgot about it. This had multiple benefits: any purchase I made during the day took at least five bucks out of my pocket (no $1 or $2 notes in my country), so I had to think about it carefully. I always had money in the house, but in a form that made it inconvenient to spend. And after a couple years of ignoring the jar, I had about $200 that was outside my normal budget. I could spend it how I wanted! If I felt like buying a couple hundred bucks worth of jellybeans, I could do it without guilt.
Now I'm no longer single. My wife steals my change to buy leftover fabric swatches at car boot sales. That makes it harder but man, I deserve a Lego pirate ship.
Aww man, I think you deserve a Lego pirate ship too!! Maybe you need to have a hidden change jar!!
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If I buy it I'll forget about it.
If I don't buy it, I'll spend the next twenty years thinking about that cool think I didn't buy when I had the chance.
It was a stupid little statue of a fairy sitting next to a mirror and I still wish I'd brought it.
This!! The one thing I think about is if I will regret not doing something.
I hope you find the statue again and get the chance to buy it!!
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Entertainment is valuable, it's what helps us get through the stuff we don't want to do. Looking forward to, or fondly remembering back on, the stuff we did/do for fun.
Budget for it. If what you want fits in that budget, and there is no other downside preventing you, then go for it.
True there is definite value in the experience of getting and using things you want. I’m always fearful of having another hobby that I don’t really commit to.
Thank you so much!!
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For starters, I have a one week grace period - If I still want it after a week, I can proceed if:
- I've spent more money on less amounts of fun/enjoyment than the new item gives me. (as in, it's not the stupidest purchase I've made),
- My credit cards are at zero.
Beyond that it's basically "I can afford it, and I want it. Why not?"
I like, and agree with, the concept of the cool down period. That’s where I am at right now!!
Right, there’s always something you can truly waste money on.
Pretty straightforward approach. Thanks!!
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I research, then set it aside for a while (dependent on cost, cheaper = less time, expensive = more). If I'm still seriously thinking about it after that time, and I have enough of a budget that it won't cause issues, let's say if I have to put it on a credit card and can't pay it off without interest, then I generally will buy it.
I think the cool down period idea makes a lot of sense. If you’re not hyped up about it after a little bit, may not be something you really wanted.
Appreciate the response!!
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I don't usually do it, so when I do it it means that I really like that thing.
This makes a lot of sense. I will keep that in mind for the future.
Thanks!!
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For you, is it specifically just financial aspects? I often look at the graveyard of hobbies and say… I just can’t do it again
I enjoy food and shelter and environmental temperature controls than pretty much anything else. My first level and most common splurge is a hot bath. I want to have these things till I die. That is the foremost priority. Many splurges I have, many folk would consider not to be wants.
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I have a fun budget. A % of my monthly surplus goes I to it, and everything (excluding food) that I want rather than need come out of that pot.
I then have no guilt over spending my fun money, unless I think I could have more fun using it for something else.
This makes sense for sure. It’s always easier to spend when there are no other pressing issues or needs.
Absolutely no guilt if that’s what you intended the money for. Great way to look at it!!
Appreciate this!!
