I’m a “ponder a lot before buying” kind of person. Usually I don’t get something unless it falls into two categories:
- I’ve been meaning to get something like this
- I’ve been researching and wanting this
The first type is the spur-of-the-moment sort of purchase for me. While I didn’t have that exact product in mind, or any specific product really, it’s something that has been in the back of my mind. So I’ve been considering it and when I see something that is close enough and good enough, I might just pounce. It gives me the satisfaction of an unexpected surprise but still with some forethought so I don’t feel too impulsive.
The second type is the really thought-out sort of purchase, where I noticed the product before, checked it out in store and online, and waited for a sale or good deal to come along. Sometimes I do get a nice deal on it, sometimes I just reach a point where I feel like it’s worth it at full price, and sometimes I wait so long that I miss it. When I do get an item though, it feels really rewarding – like I accomplished a goal that I’ve had for awhile.
Because I don’t usually buy things the first time I come across it, I tend to walk around a store getting tempted by this and that, putting them into my cart, then reconsidering before checking out. Much of the time, I end up walking out with nothing because I reasoned that none of the items I got were really worth it at that time. Sometimes all I needed was to hold it and have it for a brief time to feel satisfied. I’m pretty good at convincing myself out of purchases most of the time.
Of course, there are just times where I splurge on something I never meant to, but I like to think that most of my purchases are reasonably vetted. 😛 I’ve yet to meet someone who goes around a store filling up a cart only to end up buying nothing, so speak up if you’re like that too! I imagine most people either don’t put the item in the cart in the first place or buy it if they do. Do you agree?
