Before Buying Something New, Buy Your Own Items.
Most of the time, saving money is about knowing what not to buy, not throwing off cash. If you are an impulsive buyer like me, this can be a problem. This is why I recommend that you shop at one particular store in front of all the others: your own.
Some time ago, I held one of these worldviews: “I’m bored, so I’ll buy something new.” This doesn’t happen to me as often as it used to , but when it does, I fight hard. I was reading about a series of games that I love and thought about picking a new one that I hadn’t played yet. And then it dawned on me: at home I still had a similar game, which I almost never touched. I just forgot about it. So I stopped shopping in the windows, went out and dug up the game I already had, started playing it from the beginning, and my itch disappeared instantly.
All of this got me thinking: I wonder how many things I bought without realizing that I already have something that could satisfy me in the same way. I’ve probably bought countless games, books, and other fun stuff over the years because I didn’t bother looking at my own inventory first. So often we think that we need something new in our life, when we really need only what can satisfy us at that very moment, in this weakened state, until this feeling disappears. Plus, you’ve probably felt it before, so you probably already have this thing, whatever it is, lying around somewhere.
What’s more: These impulsive purchases are usually associated with the pursuit of feelings . I didn’t really want a new game. I wanted to get the excitement and potential associated with buying a new game. I wanted to feel like a 12 year old again on the cusp of an otherworldly adventure that I could dive into for hours. But I no longer have a watch to play games. And as much as I would like this feeling, I know how quickly it will disappear.
When some new shiny thing appears and catches your eye, stop and ask yourself: “What exactly do I need here?” If you really need a new item, buy locally. But if you find that you only want the senses – just trying to scratch the itch – buy your own stuff first. What do you have in common? What do you have that makes you feel the way you want to feel? Maybe you have an unfinished book in your library that can offer the same appeal. Perhaps you have an unbeatable game in your backlog that will take you to the world you are looking for. Or maybe you have a long-forgotten jacket buried deep in your closet that can refresh your wardrobe again. Buy your own merchandise first, and I’m sure you’ll find something that works – or at least take your mind off that “I need something new” belief.