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?

    • @[email protected]OP
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      21 year ago

      Thanks for the deadline suggestion! I think that would help me. I’ll have to think about how to combine a deadline with something to make it more fun, maybe a nice lunch afterwards.

    • LostAndSmelly
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      11 year ago

      This is the way. For larger purchases I will actually make spreadsheets, I list the features along the x axis and the products down the Y axis then assign a number 1-3 in each feature then sum and toss all but the top few. Once I have fewer options the choice os usually pretty easy.

      For clothing the problem is harder. I’ll make a shopping list with no more than 3 items. Then I only look at items on my list and only buy the one that fits and looks best. For clothing pricing can be tricky for me. As I have gotten older I have come to realize that MSRP is NOT a strong indicator for quality, but certain brands do cost more AND last.

      • @[email protected]OP
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        21 year ago

        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!

        • LostAndSmelly
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          11 year ago

          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.