This Wednesday: 11 tips cutting down the number of things you buy.

Every Wednesday is Tip Day.
This Wednesday: 11 tips for cutting down the number of things you buy.

Some people buy too much, some people buy too little. That’s the overbuyer / underbuyer split.

Overbuyers are often anxious about all the money they’ve spent and the stuff they’ve accumulated, so they can use some tips on cutting down on the number of things they buy.

But as an underbuyer myself, I can say that we underbuyers, paradoxically, also sometimes buy too much. Because we hate to shop, once we’re in a store and forced to make a purchase, we have the urge to try to do as much as possible at one time, to avoid having to make another trip. Items start flying through the air into the cart. As one friend said of me, “You turn into a drive-buy shopper, once you get going!”

These tips should help both overbuyers and underbuyers to buy only what they need.

1. Pay cash.

2. Buy small items first. When you buy an expensive item, it’s easy to toss in unthinkingly a lot of smaller items alongside it – items that you might have otherwise have spent a lot of time considering, and which add up to a lot of $$$. So pick out smaller items first, then the larger item. Buy the software, the mouse, the mousepad, and the other bits and bobs, then choose the computer.

3. Don’t buy too much at one time. If you’re buying too many things, you stop paying attention to what you’re getting.

4. Don’t buy anything at a bargain store that you haven’t bought before at full price.

5. Before paying, review each of your purchases with a skeptical eye. Don’t buy anything you’re not sure you want and can use – this is particularly important with clothes.

6. Don’t tell yourself, “I can always return it”; remind yourself, “I can come back if I decide I need it.”

7. Make a list and stick to it.

8. Don’t buy anything that needs to be a specific size unless you KNOW the measurements you need.

9. Don’t shop when you’re hungry.

10. Be very skeptical of anything that’s on sale.

11. If you don’t shop, you don’t buy. Stay out of stores.

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I got a big kick out of the blog Indexed, which uses Venn diagrams to look at life. Very amusing.

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Comments

[Dr. Nicole Sundene]

You can never overbuy toilet paper though!

I hate to shop too so I usually stock up on everything until I don't have any room in my cupboards anywhere...

[Mrs. Micah]

As another underbuyer, have you found that binge shopping tends to reinforce your underbuying? I know I feel dirty afterwards if I discover I bought something I didn't need or shouldn't have gotten.

[Ms. Happy]

I personally am better off buying everything with a credit card. At the end of the month I'm faced with one BIG bill showing me, once again, how it all adds up. And I can see where I spent the money. It always reminds me to be careful.
The green stuff is much harder to track, and you're don't have to face that big number at the end of the month.
Besides, I get 1% back on my credit card!

[Jacqueline]

Finally, an article on trying to live simply and not feeding into consumerism. As your list suggests, we just need to be more aware of our spending also.

[Heidi]

I live by rule #11. I told myself that grocery/household shopping was ONLY done once a week- it's amazing how much I DON'T buy now that I'm not stopping to "pick something up" almost every night. :) And we actually have room in our cupboards and things don't fall on your head when you open them!

[so-called "Austin Mayor"]

After I stopped looking at the advertising inserts in the Sunday papers, I suddenly had a significant drop off in my need for consumer electronics.

It seems that if I don't know something exists, I don't want it.

Whodda thunkit?

-- SCAM

[HuntGrunt]

I liked your point # 6 -- Don’t tell yourself, “I can always return it”; remind yourself, “I can come back if I decide I need it.”

I recently had an attempted hard-sell for a piece of furniture. The salesperson wanted me to leave a "refundable deposit." I found that kind of insulting and annoying -- enough so that, when I do buy the furniture, I will buy it elsewhere.

[paintergirl]

I too am an under buyer, and I'm left feeling guilty for my actions.

making a list, esp. at the grocery store is important. I read about a family that shops once a month for groceries. Could you imagine? But every time you run into the store to buy one thing, you come out with three. True story.

[Monica Ricci]

Gretchen, long time no see! Great post... as an underbuyer, I can relate to a bunch of those tips. I always do most of them, especially number four! That has been one of my Shopping Mottos for years. Just because it's "on sale" doesn't mean I need it. Great list!
~Monica

[Heather]

I try to decide how much I'm willing to pay for an item before ever looking at the price tag. This is especially helpful when trying on clothes.