MiSC
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,611
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Post by MiSC on Apr 6, 2010 6:36:29 GMT -5
I'm doing pretty well at avoiding my trigger spots: Target and Walmart. I cannot walk into those stores for a birthday card and come out with LESS THAN$150 worth of stuff. I'm not kidding -- they are serious triggers for my hoarding. So what do I do to avoid those places?
I order online. That wouldn't be SO bad, except that I end up paying shipping, or worse, buy enough on Amazon to qualify for their $25+ free shipping. In other words, if I order a $15 book from Amazon, I always buy another $10+ so that I get that free shipping, whether I need the $10 item or not.
I ran into this last night. I was buying something for the boys at Target online. Target doesn't have free shipping, so I ended up paying $21 (after shipping and tax), instead of the $15 that the item cost.
In that situation I had a choice: I could either pay the $21, or go to a brick and morter Target and run the risk of paying MUCH more than $21.
So I chose the $21. I don't know if I made the right choice or not.
This so sucks.
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panicked
New Member
Joined: September 2009
Posts: 64
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Post by panicked on Apr 6, 2010 6:58:10 GMT -5
One strategy: Go to the brick and mortar store. Bring with you only enough cash to buy the item(s) you are going there for. Leave the credit/debit cards at home along with your checkbook.
Other strategy: Decide that your gas money/bus fare/other transportation costs + the value of your own time to go to the store equals the few bucks it costs to get something shipped to your house, and don't feel guilty.
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Post by dtesposito on Apr 6, 2010 9:01:23 GMT -5
One strategy: Go to the brick and mortar store. Bring with you only enough cash to buy the item(s) you are going there for. Leave the credit/debit cards at home along with your checkbook. You know, I used to tell myself this all the time when I used to do book shopping at actual, full price book stores. It's great advice because it certainly will work, but I could never bring myself to do it because I always thought "what if I see that one incredible book that I've been waiting for all my life and they only have one copy of it and I'll miss out on it because I don't have enough money?" Well, now I can see the distortion in that thought, but it really worried me at the time. Plus, I don't drive and the book stores that I went to were quite a distance away, so coming back for something would have been time consuming. If you have good transportation maybe you could take just the cash you need for the trip, and tell yourself that if you find some super bargain of a lifetime you could go home right away and come back with more money? Or, just keep buying online. Diane
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Post by moggyfan on Apr 6, 2010 9:25:02 GMT -5
Another vote for going shopping with just the cash you will need for a particular purchase. I can say from personal experience that it totally works! Even if you see something irresistible and rush home to fetch the additional money, the extra time it takes is usually enough to let you come to your senses, .
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Post by puppybox on Apr 6, 2010 9:35:39 GMT -5
We all have our "weakness"" stores where it is jsut harder, if not impossible to follow good advice. while I agree with all the above advice, it would also help for you to just not shop there. shop somewhere else. Other, smaller stores may be more expensive, BUT if you leave with 3 items not $150 worth of stuff, it will still be cheaper. the added couple dollars per item could be like "shipping" fees.
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Post by success19 on Apr 6, 2010 14:15:00 GMT -5
Save the receipt and return the items. Shop with a friend who knows your issues and stops you. Take a list and stick to the list.
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Post by eagle on Apr 6, 2010 14:33:05 GMT -5
Yet another one who agrees with the strategy of carrying only enough cash to purchase what is on your list. Make a shopping list and stick to it.
Also useful is a time limit. On the way to an appointment, where you just CAN'T be late, stop in for the short list items (with only enough cash for purchase and no credit cards in your wallet). If you do this a few times, you may find it easier to stick to your self-imposed limits when you have extra time.
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Post by slothzilla on Apr 6, 2010 14:36:50 GMT -5
Impulse buys can sure add up. And shipping fees can make what seems like a great deal not such a great deal.
If I see something in a store (or online) that I want, but wasn't planning on buying, I'll hold off purchasing it, but I'll write it down so I don't forget it. Then I'll think about it for awhile, and ask myself questions like "Do I really need this? Can I find it cheaper elsewhere? Would I rather spend the money on something else?"
I talk myself out a lot of stuff this way. If I do wind up buying something, this way I make sure its something I really want, and its a good deal.
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Post by DJ on Apr 6, 2010 16:37:44 GMT -5
i try to only buy what is on the list when i enter the store.. i also try to ask myself lately if a purchase supports the life that i want.. and i also require that an object have a spot to go into in our home before coming in.. at least try to..
none of it really works if the impulse control button is off at the time when you're in the store.. my sympathies misc.
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Post by messymimi on Apr 6, 2010 20:21:32 GMT -5
Send another family member to the store for you, with an exact list and descriptions of each item to get.
messymimi
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MiSC
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,611
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Post by MiSC on Apr 6, 2010 20:29:42 GMT -5
Send another family member to the store for you, with an exact list and descriptions of each item to get.
messymimi My husband JUST asked me why I don't like to go grocery shopping. He asked about 5 minutes ago. I can go, but I will inevitably end up with $40 or $50 worth of stuff that's not on the list.
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catbiscuit
New Member
Joined: March 2010
Posts: 51
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Post by catbiscuit on Apr 6, 2010 22:32:48 GMT -5
Hi MiSC!
Oh boy - this is the story of my life! You know that book and movie "Confessions of a Shopaholic"? My friends and family all say that that is my life to a tee. Yesterday I went into town to deposit some cash into the bank and buy some milk. This is what I came home with:
A pair of leopardskin ballet flats A green ceramic oil burner 8 boxes of incense 2 antique flower shaped cream bowls A groovy 70's string bag 4 antique handpainted bird coasters A coffee cup with a picture of a Paris cafe scene on it A silver metallic coloured skirt Donated $50 to charity shop
Absolutely appalling! So MiSC I hear ya! I avoid going to the shops at all costs because I know I have no control over myself. I only buy my groceries at the small corner shop because they don't have a huge range so I know I can't get into too much trouble. Luckily I never went down the credit card road (I knew I could never trust myself with a credit card) but even though I spent my own money it doesn't make me feel any less sick at what I bought - I DIDN'T NEED ANY OF IT AND I FORGOT THE MILK!!!!
Catbiscuit
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Post by Butterfly on Apr 7, 2010 0:34:10 GMT -5
I like everyone else's ideas better than mine. But, I do buy a lot, okay A LOT, from Amazon because I have trouble leaving my home and also because it's hard physically to shop in stores. What I've done to help is two-fold. (This is far from perfect.)
1-I joined Amazon Prime. For $89 a year, I get free, 2 day shipping on most of my purchases. This has saved me hundreds of dollars on shipping costs.
2-If I can, when I feel the desire to buy, I put the item in my shopping cart and then leave it there for a few days. It still gives me much, okay some, of the satisfaction of shopping and I've fairly likely to delete it out of my cart later.
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Post by moggyfan on Apr 7, 2010 0:49:15 GMT -5
Catbiscuit: You are not alone. I went to Bed, Bath & Beyond yesterday.
Planned purchase: A small valance for the bathroom window.
Actual purchases: 2 large bath sheets, 2 travel mugs, bedroom curtains, a set of sheets, 4 placemats, a new toilet seat. And, oh yeah, the valance for the bathroom window.
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Post by mish on Apr 7, 2010 5:12:13 GMT -5
I DIDN'T NEED ANY OF IT AND I FORGOT THE MILK!!!! Catbiscuit !! That sounds like me! I now prefer to do the "pay extra for shipping and know that's less than it would have been if I'd gone into the store". Bleh.
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