Buy for the Life You Have, Not the Life You Want
Money is a limited resource for most of us, so you must spend it wisely . We often buy things that just gather dust after a few weeks. To limit these costs, shop around your life rather than the life you want.
Writer Nancy Mitchell of Apartment Therapy says one simple question can help you cut down on a bunch of unnecessary expenses: “Will I buy this with the life I have now?” If not, you may be buying for a fantastic life. For example, buying a closet full of super trendy clothes when your daily life is pretty mundane can be a waste of money. Chances are, you won’t be using these items often.
Or, you can even buy things for a lifestyle that you expect to start soon. Mitchell explains:
I had just moved to New York after waiting and wanting to move to New York for almost two years, and during that time I have amassed a bunch of New York things that I was sure would be absolutely perfect and necessary for my life in the city. … … I have it all … because I was worried about my future in a new city, and I figured I could make the transition smoother if I already had everything I needed. So now I have woolen sweaters that I can’t wear because my office heats up to a hot 85 degrees on a regular basis, and giant clumsy rubber boots that lie in my apartment because after being here for a week, I realized that ankle boots would do. the job is much better.
The lesson is the same: shop for the life you have now and you better make sure your purchases don’t go to waste.
Of course, this does not nip all impulsive spending in the bud. If you want a new TV, you may well use it in the life you have. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not impulsive. However, if you are guilty of buying things you never use, this tip is likely to be of use to you.
Check out the full publication for more details.
Reduce unnecessary purchases by asking yourself this simple question | Apartment therapy