Justifying your purchase.

**Russ** · 11-18-2009, 11:56 AM

Two questions for you...

Lets say you want something that is NOT in your budget. Say something around the $200-300 price range and you just "want it".

1. How do you justify to yourself to buy it?

2. How do you talk yourself OUT of buying it?

My answers..

1. I'm sick of not spending any money. It would be nice to have something nice as a reward for being ~~cheap~~ frugal.

2. YOU IDIOT!

Keep Focused on the debt reduction. When thats gone, THEN buy that sort of thing.

**NikoSan999** · 11-18-2009, 12:19 PM

Ok, probably goiing against the grain here.
Depends on various scenarios. If this is NOT a habit and you have the money to buy it and still pay the bills? If answer is NO and 2nd YES then here is my answer ( regarding myself):
Sometimes you just plain have to live. Not just be ON the planet, but LIVE on it. You only have one life, one trip around the sun and when that's gone so are you. I'm not saying don't pay your bills but damn, struggle every day and eat beans and rice, rice and beans, telling your kids they can't have a bag of chips or a hot wheels for $1.39...all just to pay a credit card an extra $10 bucs , that takes you from 9.99 to 29.99 for absolutely no reason except paying on time and paying extra, for being a GOOD customer? From taking a payment from $500 a month to about $3,000? Sorry I don't have any loyalty to them. They can kiss my a$$ anymore.
So that is how I would justify it...

As for "How do you talk yourself OUT of buying it?"
Refer back to above
I'm at the point after the past couple weeks ( see the 3 posts I'm putting up later for explanation ) IF I had the money and it's something to put me at LIVING on the planet then baby it's coming home with me.

**Greebo** · 11-18-2009, 12:28 PM

My budget is a team budget. Neither ceashels nor I have the liberty to step outside the budget freely. If I buy something not on the budget, I have broken my contract with her. I would posit that she would be guilty of the same, only its a ridiculous consideration that she would do that.

So - nothing gets bought off budget unless both parties agree to put it ON budget.

For a solo - wait 24 hours and re-evaluate.

**nuisance26** · 11-18-2009, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by rcannon

Two questions for you...

Lets say you want something that is NOT in your budget. Say something around the $200-300 price range and you just "want it".

1. How do you justify to yourself to buy it?

2. How do you talk yourself OUT of buying it?

~This happens every year with new computer, video game console or appliance. I can't figure out to budget them in so I leave an "other" category in my budget.
I still have to justify buying it though.

1. My justifications are usually about making my work easier or quicker or the ability to save more money than before or that the item will benefit the whole family.

2. If it doesn't fit the above criteria I find it easy to say no thanks. But I'm miserly by nature.

I've only ever spent $200 on a want once in my life that I can recall. I bought a serger. It fit the criteria for purchasing although I did keep it in my Amazon cart for a year waiting for the price to drop.~

**Greebo** · 11-18-2009, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by nuisance26

~This happens every year with new computer, video game console or appliance. I can't figure out to budget them in so I leave an "other" category in my budget.
I still have to justify buying it though.

We have a budget category for computers - replacement of - parts and whole systems.

**Lora88** · 11-18-2009, 12:51 PM

Depends sometimes I justify it by remembering what my late Dad told me " dont be like me spend some of it Im sorry now I didnt have more fun" Now I keep that in mind but I also remember his favorite "a fool and his money are soon parted" I weigh it all out and every now and then I say what the Hell

**savvy_sniper** · 11-18-2009, 02:29 PM

Are you current on all your bills? Have you been staying within your budget consistently month after month? Could you find some place in your budget to cut to come up with the money over the next several months? Have you shopped around to find THE best price?

Could you tell people you are saving for this item and maybe they will get the hint and give you some cash for the item for Christmas? That is what I would every winter. I knew my mom would give me X amount of money for Christmas. So I would put a pair of boots on layaway and pay them off with my Christmas money. I will confess, I WAS a shoe freak for years!

We are in a financial position right now that there is NO WAY we could justify shelling out $200-$300 on a "want". Now if it was something you could use to earn extra money, cut something in your budget, etc., you MIGHT be able to justify it.

**stinkbug** · 11-18-2009, 02:37 PM

I bought a new vacuum this morning. Not a cheap one. The one I wanted. I do ALL the housework and my vac is 10 years old. I'm not justifying anything. We have no debt and I wanted/needed a new vac and paid cash. Dh is totally fine with it (yes, we talked about it) and I buy local from a small business I have bought from for years, and get excellent service.

**baxjul** · 11-18-2009, 02:40 PM

OMG where you at the store when I bought myself my very own, for the bedroom, flat screen tv????????????????????

I justified it as since I was 41 yr. old, never had my "very own" tv, and dh always hogs the one in the living room, that I should get one for the bedroom.

LOL

**Pemberleyan** · 11-18-2009, 02:42 PM

I often find if I step back and wait a while, I will not want it as badly later. If you still want it and you're not in a dire financial situation with a lot of debt, perhaps it's time to buy it.

**savvy_sniper** · 11-18-2009, 02:48 PM

We have an old console TV in our bedroom that was given to us. It is starting to act up. When it dies, we will have to move the 13" from the guest bedroom to our bedroom. A flat screen would be nice, but there is NO way we can justify buying one at this time.

Originally Posted by baxjul

OMG where you at the store when I bought myself my very own, for the bedroom, flat screen tv????????????????????

I justified it as since I was 41 yr. old, never had my "very own" tv, and dh always hogs the one in the living room, that I should get one for the bedroom.

LOL

**lotsadebt** · 11-18-2009, 02:55 PM

Agreed. I wait and think about it and mull it over for awhile. If I still want it after a few days/weeks then I go and get it. Usually though the feeling goes away.

I do also believe that yes, you do have to treat yourself to something every once and awhile. As long as the money is there and you are not going further into debt for it. And spending friviolously frequently is not happening.

**savvy_sniper** · 11-18-2009, 02:58 PM

Plus, I forgot to add, is it something that will most likely go on sale AFTER the holidays? If so, you could wait, use any cash your get for Christmas AND get a good deal.

**baxjul** · 11-18-2009, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by savvy_sniper

We have an old console TV in our bedroom that was given to us. It is starting to act up. When it dies, we will have to move the 13" from the guest bedroom to our bedroom. A flat screen would be nice, but there is NO way we can justify buying one at this time.

Well, I also justified it by it was part of the inheritance from my mom and dad. I used the rest on bills.

**savvy_sniper** · 11-18-2009, 03:01 PM

I am plotting and planning what to spend my share of the proceeds from the sale of my mother's house on. I am SO trying to use it wisely! Unfortunately there isn't enough to go around. SO I am making a list, putting it away for a few days, adding things, deleting things, etc.

Originally Posted by baxjul

Well, I also justified it by it was part of the inheritance from my mom and dad. I used the rest on bills.