#2. On the fence about a purchase? Wait 72 hours before you buy it.
This one seems quite sensible, and would improve many lives more than slightly if people did it. This advice is given to thems with OCD-like shopping tendencies; it rests upon the axiom to stall a bit, to let the better angels of one’s nature (who dwell in the frontal lobes) take precedence over the fallen ones lurking in your reptilian midbrain.
Alas, Babylon! Our cellphones and iPads allow us instantaneous action on any whim that whizzes by our eyeballs. Even before we finish the fancy to purchase a new Moss-Covered Three-Handled Family Gradunza , our fingers are already typing away for Amazon to send us one, usually delivered within 24-hours. Mr. Bezos is in league with the devilish parts of our brains that grab at shiny and tasty-looking objects lest they run off. Oh the pain.
Happily there are a few forces at La Casa de Spo to stand guard against such satanic shopping. Someone is very good at ‘looking around’ before he makes any purchase. Urs Truly puts his desires first down on a list titled “Wants”, for later and more-sober inspection, before evoking the evil spirits as Amazon to send me them. It also helps neither one of us are spendthrifts; I would go so far as to say we tend towards being tight-wads. Our moss-covered three-handled family gradunza is quite worn-down and a tad rusty but we won’t replace it until it becomes absolutely necessary to do so.
“When in doubt, don’t!” remains a pretty good philosophy to go by, especially when it comes to purchasing. Perhaps it is cognitive bias (negative) on my part that I remember more the regrets than the relief of buying things. With that in mind we’ve waited 72 weeks not hours to replace the portable heater used in the in the bathroom while doing our morning ablutions. It doesn’t put out the heat as it used to, but the back of it warms up in a worrisome way suggesting it may pop any moment into real flames, not just the ersatz ones in the front. This weekend we are off to Blood Bath and Beyond to get us a new one. While it may not improve my life even slightly it will makes it at least a warmer one.
Spo-fans: how are you when it comes to shopping?
Spo-Reflections 
30 comments
January 15, 2022 at 10:47 AM
Lori Hawkins
I am not much of a shopper and have never liked ‘stuff’ and clutter. I have a stack of gift cards from Christmas and for the life of me think of anything I want or need. The main thing I use Amazon for is the reviews on products. They have changed my mind many times whether to buy something or not.
January 15, 2022 at 12:26 PM
Urspo
I am wary of on-line reviews, especially at Amazon. I continually hear of robots and paid-for reviews – even threats of negative reviews/ransomware that influence these. I read them with some wariness.
January 15, 2022 at 11:18 AM
Brian Dean Powers
Really dislike shopping, so that generally prevents impulsive buys.
January 15, 2022 at 12:26 PM
Urspo
Sounds like you have #2 down pat!
January 15, 2022 at 11:38 AM
Debra She Who Seeks
I don’t tend to be either a spendthrift or an impulse buyer, but I like what I like and when I see something I truly want, I buy it. For example, I just bought a copy of a new (2021) tarot deck — the Runic Tarot — online. It’s full of fabulous art and Norse gods and goddesses.
January 15, 2022 at 12:28 PM
Urspo
As you know (perhaps) I collect decks. I just had a look-see at the Runic deck. It’s lovely. Before I buy it will wait 72 hours.
January 15, 2022 at 12:05 PM
BadNoteB
I wonder if buying behaviors might be age-related? I used to be a compulsive shopper and impulsive buyer. Somewhere mid-30s the thrill of excessive acquisition began to wane and has dwindled to the point where I loathe the thought of needing to shop for even necessary items and will put off enduring the hassle of actually going inside of a store for as long as possible. Fortunately, my better half doesn’t mind handling most of the household purchasing chores and is far more practical (frugal) in buying behavior than I ever was.
January 15, 2022 at 12:30 PM
Urspo
I believe we become less impulsive and more wise as we age – hopefully.
This is supported by neurology that the parts of the brain known for tact, prudence, and thinking before doing develop in later adolescence and are done by early 20s. This correlates with ”bright teens doing stupid things’
January 15, 2022 at 12:13 PM
David Godfrey
I would have commented sooner, but I thought of something and placed an Amazon order. If I am on the fence, I will wait. But if I “want it” or “need it” or think it would be a neat surprise to send to someone, I buy it (you are in my Amazon ship to list.) I just spent 90 minutes walking in a shopping mall and bought nothing. We have started replacing things when we want to. If something breaks, or is showing signs of not working, if we use it, replace it now rather than wait. I can impulsive on buying books.
January 15, 2022 at 12:31 PM
Urspo
Books may be bought on impulse; this is the one exception.
January 15, 2022 at 12:43 PM
Sam
Money is just too hard to come by to waste anymore. I’ve been trying to be smart but not austere.
January 15, 2022 at 2:37 PM
Urspo
Keep on and don’t press that ‘confirm’ button until certain 🙂
January 15, 2022 at 1:34 PM
DwightW.
I certainly don’t belong to the save money on the heater and lose your life from house fire Club. We have bought two vacuums , soup, Laundry Detergent and kitchen Trash bags from Bezos. Plus two types of candy out of stock in local stores. We pay money for Prime monthly and I hate to waste it so if we have a need , I use Amazon. My hands don’t shake from nonpurchasing. Very few retail endeavors make me happy unless the merchandise is still churning 15 years down the road! I’m a compulsive grocery buyer from the days of early Covid where we tried not to grocery shop but every three weeks.
January 15, 2022 at 2:38 PM
Urspo
I buy more at Amazon than I care to admit, as it is so easy. It always makes me wonder if I could have – should have – bought it local. On the other hand local means driving/gas, and time. Time surpasses savings for me.
January 15, 2022 at 1:37 PM
Steven
Thankfully, when I am on the fence, it usually takes me less than 24 hours. I do not like “buyer’s remorse” and it’s usually cured overnight.
January 15, 2022 at 2:38 PM
Urspo
Good !
January 15, 2022 at 1:48 PM
Alicia
I am not an impulse buyer, but when I want to buy something I just buy it, usually at places I trust and that have a good return policy.
January 15, 2022 at 2:39 PM
Urspo
Good !
I hear tell on-line shopping sites have people blackballed if they notice ongoing buying/returning
January 15, 2022 at 3:56 PM
larrymuffin
I do most of my shopping online, but when I am in a store and see something I really like I have this little discussion in my head about the object. I usually know on the spot what I like and if I do not buy it write away, I will return to buy it within 72 hours. This usually happens with clothes (Italian Fashion), books, artwork, that is all I really buy on impulse.
January 15, 2022 at 7:04 PM
Urspo
I have something similar; I wish I had a name for the phenomena. I will see something I know I want and I will buy it in time, but I won’t do it right away out of some sort of hesitation – knowing darn well in time I will get it, so why not just go ahead and buy it now?
January 15, 2022 at 5:03 PM
Karen WatsonKaren
I used to dislike shopping, but since retirement and losing a large amount of weight I have become quite the on line shopper. I know what I want/ need so if it is available I buy it…..if needed and I change my mind I can send it back. I have found that supplies and items have been in quite short supply so more an incentive to buy when you see something and make a definite decision within the return policy time frame. I have regretted very few purchases…..can only think of 2. I live in an area that it is an hour drive to get to any stores that sell a more quality product so on line is the way to go for me these last three years.
January 15, 2022 at 7:06 PM
Urspo
a testimony! I have heard similar. I still find it suspicious to but close online, less they don’t fit. I also like to feel the fabric in the make of the garment.
Not too long ago I was with one of my nieces, who is interested in a certain type of dress. She immediately went to the laptop to do this online. I got the sensation the notion of going out to a store is something she has never done nor would consider.
January 15, 2022 at 11:04 PM
Linda Practical Parsimony
There are things to take into account. If I cannot find the item in a store, I will buy it online. Vitamin D is an example. Not on the shelf? I am not going to keep looking all over town. I just go to Amazon. For some purchases, I put it in the cart and decided later.
In person, I don’t mind deferring a purchase unless it is on sale and I may not find it later. I keep the receipt and can return it. Mostly, I can shop around and do not have to get something right now.
January 16, 2022 at 5:16 AM
Urspo
that all sounds sensible and I this as well.
D supplements are abundant here at Albertsons; they have heaps.
January 16, 2022 at 12:20 AM
Parnassus
In some ways I am the world’s greatest shopper–always finding bargains and making do with worn out items, which are usually better than the new version anyway. However, there are different categories of purchases. Items that are not standard items of commerce are often a one-shot opportunity. Collectors will tell stories decades later about the ones that got away because they didn’t act quickly enough–this often signifies genuine regret. As with everything, buying decisions require a sensible framework with rules, but also require judgment and balance.
–Jim
January 16, 2022 at 5:17 AM
Urspo
I admire folks like you, clever at shopping. I hope it is more habit and experience than an inability to learn.
January 16, 2022 at 1:18 AM
Pipistrello
Mr. Bezos hasn’t a foothold in this household, but Messrs Ebays is called upon from time to time, but I also flog the occasional bit back myself – kitchenalia and vintage clothing and other whatnots. Book vendors are my online weakness but for new ones, I like to stick them into a wishlist and wait for when they come on sale – often have to wait longer than 72 hours for that to happen, though! Counterbalances the times when Mr. AbeBooks and his kith and kin have me reacting faster than a greyhound out of the starting box after a rabbit when I see some elusive gem. Other handy rules are no drinking wine when poking around online, and hide credit cards.
January 16, 2022 at 5:23 AM
Urspo
last night I ordered pizza for the first time, on line at their website. I got the the ‘enter your credit card’ and pauses to get up to find it, when lo! the card information merely filled in – now how does that happen? Someone says this is my laptop but it was suspicious and worrisome.
January 16, 2022 at 12:14 PM
Robzilla, Native Of Slam Diego
I love this advice, but to be honest I give myself 48 hours. If I’m still on the fence then, I won’t buy it. I did that with N95 masks on Amazon. I spent that time reading customer reviews, and to be blunt I don’t believe there is a single honest seller on there. That’s why I went with ProjectN95 and bought some on there last night.
January 19, 2022 at 9:33 PM
Ron
What is a “Gradunza?” If I don’t know what it is I guess I don’t need a new one.