It's no surprise to many of you that I'm a bargain hunter.
In my quest to save a buck, I've learned some valuable lessons:
1. It's not a bargain if I don't use it.
What's the point of picking up cabbage on sale if the smell
of it cooking makes me nauseous?
On the writing front, why pick up that plotting book when
I'm a SOTP writer? It may be in the bargain bin, but no matter how I've tried
in the past I'm not wired for plotting. Oh, and don't forget the lap desk I
purchased, which sits and gathers dust in my closet.
2. It's not a bargain if I'm not sure the
product is something I'll use long term.
Buying 5 of an item when I haven't tried it before can turn
into a wasteful purchase. I did this with a skin product one time only to
discover it made me break out in a rash.
As a writer, I'm always looking for items to make my
workload more manageable. While purchasing file folders in multiple colors may
seem like a good idea, my track record for staying with various maintenance
systems is shaky at best.
3. It's not a bargain if I end up busting
the budget every week.
While getting coupons in the mail can save major George
Washingtons, I have to ask myself several questions:
A. Is there a
requirement to spend a certain amount over and above the coupon? For example,
get $10.00 off a $25.00 purchase. Our grocery store is famous for giving $4.00
off a $50.00 purchase. Their latest coupon package raised the amount to $80.00.
B. Do I NEED another
pair of shoes, pants, dress, etc.?
C. Is there a
birthday gift I'll have to purchase or other occasion coming up?
As a writer, I'm a sucker for coupons from office supply
stores. I apply the same questions to these purchases.
Writers and Readers:
What are some bargains that test your will power?
