Maybe this is a good problem to have, but shopping is more of a chore for me than something fun to do. I’m also a pretty frugal person. For those reasons, it’s pretty hard for me to make big purchases, like furniture or even nicer clothing.
I go to the store, I look at the options and none of them seem exactly perfect, I think about how I could just keep the money for something else, I go home without buying anything. Then it takes a long time before I get up the energy to try again. But once I actually buy the thing, I’m happy and wish I had gotten it sooner.
As an example, I moved about nine months ago and need a couple of arm chairs for my new place. I’ve gone to a few stores, but every time the same pattern repeats itself, and I don’t buy anything. It’s been months! I’m sure I’ll be happy once I have the chairs though.
I don’t have trouble spending money at restaurants or on experiences – those things are fun to me, so I don’t mind spending the money. So, how do I get myself to make big purchases when I don’t find shopping fun?
I’m you! Except in my case making the spreadsheet of features makes it harder for me to eventually buy the item. I always think there’s another item I just didn’t find yet or I get overwhelmed by there being too many items to compare. Good top about the imperfect correlation between price and quality!
That’s where the deadline comes in. My son and I are going backpacking in mid July. His old backpack is too small. I had planned on giving him mine or getting him a new one. I have given myself until this Friday to make up my kind and get it ordered. No order means I will have to give him mine and I’ll use a backpack fit for a 10 year old.