How to NOT buy something I appear to want

[jtriplett]

This is a topic that I've been struggling with for a while.  It's like I have a little demon inside that likes to go "You should buy a ___" and my logical mind says, "that's stupid" "But you will have fun!"  "That's possibly true, but it's expensive and like everything else you've suggested, it won't last long enough in the fun zone." And on and on, the internal war goes.

This time it's gone a little too far.  The little internal demon wants a Glock. A Glock 34 to be exact.  I don't get it.  Why?  I know from past experience that I can sometimes gag the little demon, but he often eventually comes out and gets me in a weak moment for most things.

Help!  What are strategies that you have used to push aside the *urge* to buy something that you know will be unsatisfying?

[Rezdent]

My first strategy is to procrastinate and postpone as long as possible.
The bigger the price, the longer the postponement.
Want a Glock?  I'd make it at least a three month waiting period.
Three months pass, still want it?  Okay, start looking at prices next month, but drag ass and keep looking for, oh, ever.

You will be surprised at how many things you wanted that just fade and you forget or decide you don't want them.

Six months later, you still really want the Glock?  Save up the money by doing without something else, buy it and then be happy.

At least, that's what I do.

[bobechs]

Just look at all the other tools you have for punching holes in paper (or people, whichever) -even beyond arm's length- and ask yourself just how many of those can you use at one time.

[Kris]

My first strategy is to procrastinate and postpone as long as possible.
The bigger the price, the longer the postponement.
Want a Glock?  I'd make it at least a three month waiting period.
Three months pass, still want it?  Okay, start looking at prices next month, but drag ass and keep looking for, oh, ever.

You will be surprised at how many things you wanted that just fade and you forget or decide you don't want them.

Six months later, you still really want the Glock?  Save up the money by doing without something else, buy it and then be happy.

At least, that's what I do.

I think that's a good idea. Especially because much research suggests that so much of the pleasure of getting a new toy is the anticipation of it. Drag the research process out and you will be getting that pleasure for free.

[2ndTimer]

1.  Tell myself I can have it when I save the money for it
2.  Put a piece of paper on fridge
3.  Promise myself that when I reach $100 on paper, I will start a bank account to keep the money separate
4.  Write down every dollar I save.

So far I have never wanted the same thing long enough to start a bank account. 

[The Pigeon]

I love my Glock (see image). Mine wasn't all that expensive, either. Nor any sort of waiting period. And you can bang it out anywhere safely! ;-)

Here's some Glocks for sale: http://www.steveweissmusic.com/category/glockenspiel-bells

[ShortInSeattle]

The trick is to want other things *more.*

The ability to retire young and travel the world, for instance.

[morning owl]

I love my Glock (see image). Mine wasn't all that expensive, either. Nor any sort of waiting period. And you can bang it out anywhere safely! ;-)

Here's some Glocks for sale: http://www.steveweissmusic.com/category/glockenspiel-bells

Lol. I had to look up what a Glock is when I read the OP. My only thought is wow, people buy guns for fun? (No offence, OP, it's just very far outside my range of experience!)

I do think a glockenspiel would be quite fun, though :)

[jtriplett]

I love my Glock (see image). Mine wasn't all that expensive, either. Nor any sort of waiting period. And you can bang it out anywhere safely! ;-)

Here's some Glocks for sale: http://www.steveweissmusic.com/category/glockenspiel-bells

^^ That's awesome!

[jtriplett]

I love my Glock (see image). Mine wasn't all that expensive, either. Nor any sort of waiting period. And you can bang it out anywhere safely! ;-)

Here's some Glocks for sale: http://www.steveweissmusic.com/category/glockenspiel-bells

Lol. I had to look up what a Glock is when I read the OP. My only thought is wow, people buy guns for fun? (No offence, OP, it's just very far outside my range of experience!)


I do think a glockenspiel would be quite fun, though :)

Difference between the US and Canada?  There are lots of shooting competitions here of various types and that's why the 34 which is a competition gun, not so much a carry gun. 

Also lots of other things besides a firearm that would give me a lot of the same things I'm looking for.  Paintball for example. 

[votu]

I only need to calculate how many hours/days/weeks (before tax) I'll have to work to pay for it to immediately curb my desire for whatever it is.

[Salivanth]

I think of all the other stuff I "wanted" that I ended up buying that is now gathering dust and burdening me with the task of eventually getting rid of it all.

[The_path_less_taken]

I'd try and determine if I needed that specific weapon to win shooting competitions.

If not....I'd do as they say above and add your own mandatory waiting period into the mix....if it's still a burning desire in xx months and you can afford it...then seriously shop for a month or two and get the gun.

I've never heard of a "you have to have x  to shoot in this competition".

Odds are you have the firepower to win with what's in your safe now?

That said...it's a nice weapon. But how does it mesh with your savings goals?

[Tom Bri]

When I got married, I had to learn to stop flirting with cute chicks. I saw a Bible quote that said "Turn away from sin." I took it literally and it works. When you find yourself attracted to something, physically turn your body away from it, or at least turn your head away. I had to rudely turn my back on nice ladies a lot that first year or two until I got adapted to the idea of being with only one lady.
Something about the act of physically turning away from a desire really works to reduce the desire.
So when you see a pic of that nice Glock, turn your head away from it while you turn the page.

[broketriathlete]

From someone who has sold 42 personal guns in the last 6 months, pass on the Glock. I have my SBR (and my PM9 for carry) and that's all I really need. How many different ways can you punch hole in paper, much less shoot at the same time?

Invest that $500 and make money off it.

[Rosy]

You know your interests, plans, ambitions and values change during your lifetime. The best way to evaluate your current want is by looking at your current plans, if it interferes, consider the damage it might do.
Then determine if you can live with that damage or find a way around it and still enjoy your new toy.

There really is nothing wrong with either decision - go for it or let it be for now. The trick is in enjoying and using your new toy without guilt!
If I found a way to stick to my plan and still make it happen - why not go for it:)
If it puts a serious kink in my plans or jeopardizes my budget - I will hold off.

[cars+FIRE]

Do you have any other guns you can sell to pick this one up?

I have a bit of a watch habit, but I basically am at the point where I have a "one in, one out" rule, which, in conjunction with buying used/smart, makes it close to a zero sum game.

You get some of the rush of "shiny new thing" with a bare minimum financial impact.

This also helps with avoiding impulse buys, because you have to make the decision that you like this new [whatever] enough to let go of a [whatever] you already have.

[asauer]

I think of purchases in terms of how long I will have to work or how many camping trips it is (we LOVE camping).  So, last month, I really wanted a new armchair- I don't like the color of the one we have anymore but otherwise it's fine.  I started price shopping and the ones I wanted were in the $350-400 range.  I thought- damn!  That's 15 camping trips!  Fuck that.  Another time I wanted a really, really cute designer dress that was $200 (I know, dumb).  Then I thought, no way!  That's an extra week I'll have to postpone retirement to pay for that! 

Try reframing the cost in terms of something you REALLY like- chances are you won't want it quite so much.

[Left]

Try giving up an item of equal value? Don't sell it, just stop using it for a while. Or put hide the cash value away so it cost double for a while

[lifejoy]

I have posted similar questions in the past. Here is what has helped me to stop buying things I want but don't need:

-Practice!!! It gets easier over time, trust me.
-Minimalism. As I got more into owning less and only the best, it helped me to not buy frivolous things.
-I made a list of things I had felt I "had to have!" But now seldom used. Seeing patterns helped.
-Reading about behavioural economics helped. Check out "The Overspent American".
-Also read, Your Money or Your Life.
-watch movies or read books about people that have nothing. It puts frivolous purchases into perspective.

I hope that helps!

[sol]

I find it helps me resist the temptation to buy stuff by reminding myself that the only reason I want to buy it in the first place is because I have been manipulated by advertising.  Some marketing guy somewhere is fucking with my/your head. 

You don't need it, you want it, and you want it because they have carefully constructed this illusion of what your life will be like, or what kind of man you will be, if you buy it.  The reality is that the primary thing you will be, if you buy it, is poorer.  That part is certain, everything else is empty promises.

[TheAnonOne]

My one 'gotcha!' is definitely sport's cars. So I own one, and move on with my life. I have a blast and it genuinely adds happiness through experiences.

MMM, doesn't mean you can't buy anything. Arguably a large purchase once and a while will affect the FIRE date by very little. (Especially if your savings rate is high)

[BBub]

From a financial standpoint you can do the 25x thing.

Say a glock costs $500.  Once you save (and invest) $12,500 go buy yourself a glock with the next $500.  The $12.5k will pump out $500/yr in perpetuity & the purchase won't cramp your fire plans too much.  If you did this for every little gadget you'd end up with a nice sized stache by the time you satisfied all your little wants.  And you'd keep the snowball moving in the right direction.

Of course, the real solution is to align your values with your spending.  Figure out what you really want.  Are you a tournament shooter, a gun enthusiast, or do you need the glock for a dangerous commute?  Seems justified.  Or is the glock just the latest shiny object of your affection which will be replaced with something else next month?  If so, you may need to evaluate & prioritize some life goals.  Cozy up with a pen & paper, picture your life in 5, 10, 15 years.. you'll figure out what to do from there.

[bsmith]

My one 'gotcha!' is definitely sport's cars. So I own one, and move on with my life. I have a blast and it genuinely adds happiness through experiences.

MMM, doesn't mean you can't buy anything. Arguably a large purchase once and a while will affect the FIRE date by very little. (Especially if your savings rate is high)

OP specifically asked for tips to avoid buying stuff. Facepunch for you, Satan!

[Dicey]

What the FUCK? If you can't tell that this is a 100% unmitigated WANT, there may not be hope for you. My advice is that you start at the beginning and read every single MMM post. Then hop back over to the forum and continue your education here...Sheesh. There, a facepunch and damn good advice. I hope you take it.

And Pidgeon, I love you. Can we be friends?

[partgypsy]

I have this too, particularly in one area. There is something I want to buy (that costs more than a glock!)
For our household, it really doesn't make sense, until possibly 5, 6 months from now when we have a better idea of cash flow. So I'm telling myself it is not a possibility. I can just as well want to buy a 747 or a desert island, or a million bucks in the bank it is in the same realm, it is not going to happen.

However If I give myself any leeway (I can justify by a, b, and c, it is not that huge of a deal considering our overall financial situation), etc then in a weak moment (boredom, distraction, stress) that purchase may happen.

So just don't go there.