The Sales Trap

I think I ought to clarify some things from my last post.  I bought those shirts last week because I though they were pretty, comfortable, and fit me well, and I've been on a quest to slowly upgrade my wardrobe.  Not because they were $3.  The low price meant I was able to buy the shirts, but not that I should.  A good deal isn't truly a good deal unless it's something you actually need.

This is a hard concept sometimes for us bargain hunters.  We get that addictive rush of adrenaline when we find something at a great price.  Often we hurry to snatch it up before stopping to ask ourselves, "Do I really need this?" 

The deals I pass up make for less interesting posts, but they are far more plentiful.  Oh, look, long, sparkly natural bees was candles.  Originally $15 and marked down to $2.  Fair price.  But I have a box full of candles.  Pajamas hanging on the $1 rack?  Good deal, but plenty of nightwear in the closet.  $10 for a set of dishes that originally costs $80?  Great deal, but I don't have my own a kitchen.

On the flip side, it's perfectly fine to spend $120 on a good quality coat, if you have the money, need a coat, and really like this particular coat.  I have two coats in my closet currently that were close to $100 when my parents bough them for me back in high school.  They've both kept me warm for 10-15 years and are likely to survive a few years more, so I think that was a reasonable investment.

Stores run sales and offer clearance racks, because it draws people in and encourages them to shop there.  Nothing wrong with that.  It's job of the store to sell things.  It's your responsibility as a consumer to shop with a purpose.  Be aware of what you have and what you need, so you can know when a "good deal" is a good buy for you.  Otherwise you're just wasting money in smaller increments.