Decisions that Save Money

(Reposted from my business blog)

I often find things that I want to buy. And, darn it -- I'll admit it, then I sometimes obsess over it.

"Won't it be great when I have the money to buy that?"

"I'm going to use it everyday when I have it."

"This is the coolest new gadget out and I NEED it."

"All my friends on the message boards have one, and I think I should too."

My newest "NEED" was a Zutter Bind-it-All.Yes, for a mere $60, it could be mine. I looked it up online. I scouted Ebay for it. I was certain I needed to buy it, and that I would also then need all of the various accessories and doo-dads that it then entailed.

I wanted it so much, I thought about digging out the forbidden credit card to buy it, but then convinced myself that that was JUST WRONG.

And then...I got $50 for Christmas from my in-laws. I was sure that was what I would go ahead and buy it then.

But, then I stopped.

I thought.

I pondered.

$60. And that's not even the various things I would have to go buy for it. Huh.

I thought...would it just sit with some of the other things that I needed so badly that I thought I ached for them?

Maybe.

Did I have alternatives?

Huh -- what about book rings, I thought. Yes, what would making up little books and journals with a book ring on the side instead.

Heck...I could splurge and use five book rings on one and probably have an entire dollar invested into those book rings.

And, I will admit, a funny thing happened. Not only did I feel good that I hadn't spent the money on that Zutter. Not only did I not ache for the Zutter anymore, I realized that I didn't even really want it when I thought more about it.

I breathed a sigh of relief, and I picked up a $1.00 package of book rings on my next trip out.

Even better.

Oh...and better yet? I didn't use the $50 on myself -- I bought my family lunch, and then picked up some clothes the boys needed at Once Upon a Child. Yep...definitely better.