Smart Spending
How we decide on what to buy impacts our finances and our clutter. Here is how I try to think about spending money.
There are two ways that spending occurs.
We see a sale or something enticing -> We want to take advantage -> We spend money.
We decide what we want/need -> We shop for the best deal -> We spend money intentionally.
The first scenario is very common. I might get an email advertising a sale or a product. I decide to look and see what is being offered. I end up buying something I hadn’t planned to buy. I think I’m taking advantage of the opportunity, but really, I’m being taken advantage of. Then I spend money reactively, adding to my collection of things I never really wanted.
I much prefer the second scenario. With the second scenario, I decide on what I want or need without outside influence. I identify what I want to spend my money on and then I look for a deal. In some cases, I might decide to wait until something goes on sale. Or I might decide to spend money on it regardless of the cost. In either case, I am being intentional about how I spend money.
Ultimately, smart spending comes down to being intentional. Intention can be seen in the thought process, as shown in the second scenario above. Reacting to enticing advertisings, as in the first scenario above, is what the sellers want. It might appear like a win-win, but that is often an illusion; it is a win for the seller, not necessarily for the buyer.