tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post7390943266496748543..comments2024-03-28T18:58:47.880-07:00Comments on creative savv: How do you assess what is a "deal" and what is not?Lilihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-36492292979680315412015-08-14T07:13:03.323-07:002015-08-14T07:13:03.323-07:00Hi live and learn,
Some of our wants and needs are...Hi live and learn,<br />Some of our wants and needs are big ticket items, like home repairs or car replacement, so more of our money is set aside to save for those items, and less is available for casual spending. In order to have enough saved by the time we really need one of those major items paid for, I do have to be careful on those little purchases.<br /><br />I think you make some good points about determining whether or not something is a good purchase -- need, storing and durability. I especially like the durability aspect, as I often don't want to have to be out shopping for the same item again, soon, or paying for multiple repairs.Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-84591548057699495192015-08-14T07:06:52.995-07:002015-08-14T07:06:52.995-07:00Hi YHF,
Wow! Those are some deals on bras and unde...Hi YHF,<br />Wow! Those are some deals on bras and underwear! Makes me look like a spendthrift -- ha ha!<br /><br />Time is important. I don't do as much running around to save on groceries as I once did. The Cash & Carry has been very helpful in that regard. I also don't do a lot of couponing, unless the coupons have a high dollar value -- all because of the time involved. <br /><br />It's a balance between time spent and money saved, *plus* enjoyment of the activity. Gardening takes a lot of time, but it gets me outdoors and into the sunshine, which is a good thing.Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-25770311949074579392015-08-14T04:50:55.223-07:002015-08-14T04:50:55.223-07:00I am lucky to be at a stage where I have everythin...I am lucky to be at a stage where I have everything I need, and most everything I want (within reason, I can still dream big). So while cost is certainly a factor, when I buy something I think mostly about do I really need it, do I have room for it, and will it last a long time.<br /><br />Live and Learnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13493777474885053903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-13471611760145569042015-08-13T12:12:32.787-07:002015-08-13T12:12:32.787-07:00I guess I could carry this further, the least time...I guess I could carry this further, the least time and money I spend on survival needs the happier I will be. I'm trying to whittle down the necessities to bare necessities, to free up more time and money. <br /><br />YHF<br /><br />YHFAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-84879313496987762892015-08-13T12:04:04.733-07:002015-08-13T12:04:04.733-07:00I forgot to mention the recent bras I've purch...I forgot to mention the recent bras I've purchased from Kmart this year. 99c some Olga and Playtex...in several sizes. Figured I may shrink as I grow older. <br /><br />YHFAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-14684949196870935222015-08-13T11:58:21.824-07:002015-08-13T11:58:21.824-07:00Good job on such an amazing find...I go through a ...Good job on such an amazing find...I go through a similar mental process as you do to decide whether or not to buy...need/want, value, cheaper alternatives...do I really want to list this as money spent? Although we have never lived on a budget (my goal was always to zero spend), lately I've been testing the waters to see if we could live under a theoretical fixed income budget which we will soon be living under in a year or two. So whatever I buy has become dearer to me in terms of the overall budget. This has made shopping almost no fun literally...I've cut our purchases down drastically. Every purchase has had the second and third "thinkover" lol I could cut a lot more I suppose if I wasn't so intuitive, always buying ahead of need. That's the reason I have so many crates of underwear, enough to last the rest of my life literally, many were purchased from Kmart for $1. I remember buying over 30 bras 20 years ago, and because it is not underwire, they are comfortable for doing manual work, so they came in handy the past 20 years. I'm finally down to the last. Of course I bought nicer bras along the way, but these are my all time favorites to wear to work and on off days. Panties...still got some purchased for 25 cents at Kmart. These days, I've been buying yarns and supplies for my soon to be full time craft endeavor. That's starting to add up, so just last night I told my husband that I should limit my purchases...yet I really don't have the selection I need to work with. So I guess I will have to make a decision about how much to spend on something that may have no functional or resale value other than to fulfill my desires (to someone else it may seem like craziness and a total waste of money). So far it's not been much, but as my commitment to rug making grows, so has my purchases. <br /><br /> I've realized that money is not that important to me, but time is. As long as I have enough money to not worry about money, I don't care to have more. A deal to me has to fit this overall agenda, spending too much time to save money may not be a deal to me either. Having more stuff mo matter the price, may not be a deal either. I'm going through some life changes and along with that goes some old habits. <br /><br />YHF<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-69652123590516852592015-08-13T09:11:45.800-07:002015-08-13T09:11:45.800-07:00Hi Belinda,
good point on sometimes needing to spe...Hi Belinda,<br />good point on sometimes needing to spend more on a necessity, in order to get the quality that you need and want. For me, some of my clothing falls into that category. Although my daughters find jeans that fit, look good and they like at the thrift shop for 99 cents, I've yet to find a pair there that meets my quality and fit expectations. Not that I feel I need those super expensive jeans, but I willingly spend more money on good fit for jeans at Penney's (I like Lee jeans). To me, there's nothing worse than jeans or other snug fitting pants that fit badly and are uncomfortable to wear.<br /><br />It's really great when your kids stop growing so fast, and they can actually wear out their clothes! I like to buy a new thing or two for my daughters, just because it's fun to do so, but they really do have enough clothes. My son earns enough and he's definitely old enough, that the only clothes I buy for him are as gifts for Christmas and his birthday. The rest is completely up to him at this point (it's nice when that finally happens, too!)Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-42632425972498882152015-08-13T08:27:41.787-07:002015-08-13T08:27:41.787-07:00I would definitely consider purchasing a home deco...I would definitely consider purchasing a home decor item second hand over one made in China for sale at Walmart. I love dishes and the new ones at Walmart are so, so pretty, but then I look at see that they are made in China and I don't want to support that and after all it is just a want. I definitely don't need more dishes. lol<br /><br />I am embarrassed to admit this, but I spent $20 on a pair of undies because I want and need good quality in that department. Sssssh..don't tell anyone...it will be our little secret. ;) <br /><br />What a GREAT deal you got on that mirror! I love it. I would jump on a deal like that. Great job.<br /><br />Some yard sales here are overpriced too. In my head I am thinking, "Yea, you'll be taking this stuff back inside at the end of the day." lol<br /><br />I'm like Cat, I think it varies with me as well on getting a great deal. And I am at that stage in life when my daughter is grown now and not changing sizes every six months. So the deals I used to find at yard sales, I don't need as much as I did when she was much younger. For example, I didn't buy her any new clothes or even second hand clothes for back to school as everything still fits her from last year, which is great and saved me money. Now I will probably buy her something new when I get my first check just because I want to and she would like that. I don't need any furnishings for the house anymore unless I just want to change something up or see something I really like, so those would fall under the wants category. I think I have whittled down my expectations in my mind, so that I do not need very many things to make it in life. The older I get the more I realize most things I think I need are actually wants. Except for underwear, it usually needs replacing sooner rather than later. lol<br /><br />Belindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17486895127003368291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-73086000120238698532015-08-13T06:28:44.011-07:002015-08-13T06:28:44.011-07:00Hi Cat,
And how much peanut butter did you or will...Hi Cat,<br />And how much peanut butter did you or will you buy to stock up this time? <br /><br />As for the undies -- even though Kohl's didn't have my size/style/color this time, I got Penney's $10 coupon in the mail yesterday! So I'll check there next. I do have several nice pairs now, which is a nice change from the mended ones that I blogged about months ago! Oh, and on the undies with a coupon -- if I had really wanted, I could have used the coupon online and got the size/style/color that I wanted, but I was too impatient. You can do the ship to store option with Kohl's using the coupon, and not pay shipping charges -- just an FYI.Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-55346626885794272552015-08-13T06:10:56.837-07:002015-08-13T06:10:56.837-07:00That mirror shelf is so pretty! Great buy! You h...That mirror shelf is so pretty! Great buy! You have inspired me to take my Kohl's coupon and look for undies, lol.<br /><br />As for determining great deal or not, I guess that varies for me as well. For a want, like you, I would shop around for best possible deal. For a need, I am usually willing to pay a fair "average" price if needed. An example would be peanut butter. I will pay full regular price at Aldi for their "natural" PB because I know it still beats most any other price I can find, barring an unexpected clearance sale somewhere (hasn't happened, but theoretically could) AND it still makes a very frugal lunch for my children, less than most other lunches (I am allergic so don't eat it.). However, this week, they ran it for .20 less than usual, so I know that is a great deal for this quality of PB.Cathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00396716408304381802noreply@blogger.com