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]English
    7•1 year ago

    There’s a term called “satisficing” vs “maximising”.

    When you maximise you aim to get the absolute best possible outcome. This means comparing every single attribute, which can be exhausting.

    Try learning to accept “satisficing” instead, it’s the philosophy of “good enough”. Come up with a criteria, find 3 options that fit, choose 1 of them and bite the bullet. There might be something out there that’s a slightly better deal or had an additional feature, but you saved a lot of time and energy not having to look for it.

    • @[email protected]OPEnglish
      3•1 year ago

      Thanks for sharing the word “satisficing”! I’ve never heard it before and it’s really nice to have a word for that concept.

      I definitely fall into the maximizer category and that causes some of my purchase paralysis. For many types of item, I’ve started just buying the wirecutter recommendation and trusting it to be good enough. Clothing and furniture feel more personal and less generic, so the wirecutter strategy hasn’t applied, but I will have to try to find a way to satisfice with those purchases too.