Impulse Purchasing Strategy

ACraigL went on a bit of a rant said
2

[Since Meh is predicated on impulse puchasing, this may prove unpopular. So sorrynotsorry]

One of the reasons I like Meh so much is that they offer items at prices so low, it's an easy impulse decision. One of the reasons I dislike Meh so much is that they offer items at prices so low, it's an easy impulse decision.

My three Cobra Joyride Smart Chargers, and four sets of JLabs earbuds are perfect testaments to this. Good deals! Sitting in a corner of my basement ever since, unused, unloved. Worse, sometimes I find myself trying to do better than the daily offering. Take today's sale, the Energizer Lanterns for example. Two for $10! Wow. How can I not? Wait, they're only 21 lumens? That's not very bright. I can get one on Amazon that's 120 lumens for only $12.99... add to cart.

Wait, what?

Did you see what just happened? I saw this thing I didn't even know I wanted (and definitely didn't need), and instead of ignoring it, I almost purchased a similar item for more money. Why the hell would I do that? I don't even know. But I stopped, thankfully.

So, I'm trying this new (not new) strategy. I once read a Lifehacker approach to impulse buying. The gist was to hold the item in question, and if someone offered you the sales price in exchange for putting the item back on the shelf, would you? If yes, you clearly don't want the item (the money is worth more to you) and if no, vice-versa. If someone had paid me $10 to close the browser tab, I would have had done so in a second. So there.

But here's my wrinkle. If I do almost purchase again, I'm going to treat it like swear jar. Instead of just not purchasing, I'm going to take the equivalent dollars and put them in a savings account (my children's 529) instead. That way I get to spend dumb money, but get some future good from it.

But what if I pass the test, and still want the item? Sure I'll buy it. Most definitely. But I'll ALSO contribute to the savings plan in that same amount. Why? All this crap is for me, all the time (mostly). This ensures that I give something too, and that makes me feel better. Psychologically, it's also costing twice as much, so it makes me doubly sure I want the item.

So how dumb is that? Any other strategies worth sharing?