Avoiding Buyer’s Remorse
There’s a number of feelings that just all around feel icky. Getting to work and not remembering if you locked the front door, the nagging question if you remembered to call back a friend, and that ugly little feeling called “buyer’s remorse.”
Buyer’s remorse
Buyer’s remorse is really just a self-induced, purchase-related guilt trip. I deal with this a lot, but I’m a travel agent for guilt trips. They’re my specialty. Especially the self-induced ones.
Prevention
They say “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” There are some ways to prevent buyer’s remorse.
- Play the waiting game. I never make a purchase of more than $100 without sleeping on it, and checking with my husband (not because I need his permission, but because he’ll tell me if I’m crazy).
- Research purchases thoroughly in advance.
- Avoid emotionally-charged purchases.
- Work from a list and a budget for in-store purchases.
- If possible, make purchases online, to avoid impulse purchases and “upsells” (would you like a warrantee with that?).
When those steps fail, (or you fail to implement those steps in time to save you from yourself…don’t worry, it happens to me too), you’ll have to move to “cure” steps.
Cure
- Return it if you can. All new purchases at my house migrate to the coat closet for a 24 hour cooling off period. No tags are removed or receipts destroyed. I re-inspect my purchases the next day to be sure I still agree with my (yesterday) self. (This has saved me a bundle lately, while I’ve been shopping under stress and while fatigued. I find I don’t make very good choices).
- Resell it if possible. You might not recoup all of the damages, but Craig’s list, Ebay and more might help heal the pain.
- Re-gift. Sure, you don’t need the pack of 72 batteries, you only needed the package of 8, but the pack of 72, might go great with your nephew’s handheld gaming system for Christmas. Be creative and keep a “hit list” of guilt-ridden items that can be repurposed.
Ok folks, confession time—what left you with buyer’s remorse lately? I’ll be honest, for me, last time, it was actually eating out. I was in a rush, and needed some quiet time so stopped for a lunch at a diner by myself. Lunch was lousy, the diner too loud to accomplish any work, and I was out $14 that I’m sure I could have put to better use. Unfortunately, I don’t have a cure strategy for this, but if anyone does, I’d be thrilled to hear about it.
What techniques do you use to prevent or remedy buyer’s remorse?
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Author
By Jessica Ward, on Sep 2, 2011
Jessica Ward is a full-time writer and adoptive mom to two wonderful children. She writes to support her parenting/adopting habit. For frugal family tips see The PennyWise Family or @jessc098 and my google+ profile.
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I do many of the same as mentioned, with an additional caveat–I only purchase at places with friendly return policies. Of course, only new, unused items should be returned. Would you want to purchase a new item that someone else had used?
HELLO FRUGAL LADIES :)
I MYSELF SUFFER FROM “BUYERS REMORSE”. IF I AM QUESTIONING THE “PURCHASE” I WILL SIMPLY CALL MY HUSBAND, AND GET HIS ADVICE. IF WE ARE GOING GROCERY SHOPPING, I LOVE TO TAKE HIM WITH ME. HE HELPS ME STAY ON BUDGET WITH THE CALCULATOR AND HELPS ME STICK TO THE LIST. MATTER OF FACT, HE SHOULD HAVE WENT WITH ME TODAY AND I WOULD NOT HAVE SPENT $150.00 AT WALMART.
I like that you mentioned how you should shop online to avoid the upsell of warranties, extra accesories, etc. Some stores specialize in selling a product at the lowest price, and then making their money on the back-end with these things.
Best way to avoid buyers remorse is to stay away from the stores. Robin and I have not purchased a piece of furniture in years because we stay away from furniture stores.
Jeff
Lassen Sie mich auf, dass der Check, und ich werde mit der Antwort bald antworten.
I am always tempted to buy junk food – sour candy or chips, and sometimes chocolate. So, when I was in university, in order to prevent myself from spending any money at the vending machines or stores, I would simply just not bring any money with me. None. No change, no debit cards. So even if I really wanted something, I wouldn’t be able to splurge. I know we’re not talking about spending a ton of money here, but if I had given into my cravings, it could have added up to quite a bit over time.
I just hate shopping the car. I just made a mistake to look the dealer store by myself. Of cause, it is good deal. it was good deal….. but, I just have a feeling it is just not the one I wanted…. Hah…. It’s just too late now…. So, I just have to learn how to love it…..
Best way to avoid this feeling, tell the dealer you will be back later and get up, leave the store….. If that car was met to be yours, it will be there when you return….. There are tons of cars any way. Don’t get hooked on the one!!!