Questions that save you money each day
March 26, 2009 by Jennifer Chait
Filed under Consumer Information, finances
When it comes to shopping Americans are pros. They can shop until they drop and then get up and shop some more. Of course we all know there are negative issues related to this mentality. People are in debt, people choose non-necessities over basic needs, and over-consumption is terrible for the environment.
Before you place an item in your cart or on your credit card ask yourself the following questions…
- Do I really need this?
- Will the item improve my world? My family’s world? How?
- Can I live without it?
- Am I only buying this item because it’s on sale? Plenty of people buy items because they’re a deal, not because it’s something they actually need.
- Do I have another item at home that would work just as well? EXAMPLE: You own a blender; you don’t need a baby food maker.
- Can I borrow or share the item? Maybe you and your brother can share a set of specialty tools. Maybe your neighbors and you can share a lawnmower.
- Why am I buying this? It might seem simple. You might think another set of dishes is totally necessary, but if you’re just bored with blue plates, that’s not the best reason to buy new. Really consider if boredom or trying to impress someone else is behind your purchase. A purchase should be about need if your goal is to save money.
- Is the item recyclable? I know this isn’t a green blog, but often green living and saving money go hand in hand. Green living is a lot about buying less to conserve resources. When you stop to question the eco-value of an item, you also may stop to consider if it’s really necessary.
- Is the item well-made? It pays to pay more for an item that won’t break in a year.
- Do I really need this? - You should always start and end with this question. It’s the most important of the bunch.
Ten questions seems like a lot right? But all that stuff you have and never use is also a lot, both on your space issues and it’s a lot on your wallet. While you don’t need to use all the questions above when shopping, you should work out a list of questions that works well for you. It’s the practice of stopping to think that saves you cash, not the exact questions you follow.
What questions do you ask before you buy?
[image via stock.xchng]
Am I buying this because I need one, or because a friend or family member bought one? I think this is a huge reason behind purchases like game systems, new cars, home improvements, techo gadgets, etc. I’ve learned you can’t save money going THAT kind of green!
I came across a place to get some checks at a lower cost, which I didn’t check all the way to see if I had to join some group to get it. One of the things I saw in the kinds of checks to get were recycled checks. Which I don’t why I hadn’t thought of looking to get before!! So I will be getting those when I need to get another box of them. I look to see if what I am getting in plastic is recyclable. I just don’t always think about it when I get other things. I remember when I would take my VCR in to be cleaned, or fixed and then use it again. That has been a long time. We need to get back into that, and out of this throw away cycle of life that we are into. The only thing is it is hard to get those things that last. Any ideas where to get them?
These are great questions and I do try to ask myself most of them before I buy. Especially lately.