My spending has gone crazy over the past few months. A new set of gears for my bike ($90), yards of brown suede for new curtains ($88), two new outfits for a trip to NYC ($152), and a pricey sushi lunch ($34).
Sure, I have reasons behind each purchase (I’m doing a race in May that requires additional gears, buying fabric is cheaper than buying curtains, I had a gift card and a rare coupon for the clothing store, and I hadn’t seen my friend in months), but this kind of spending is not sustainable.
My credit card bill, which I pay off in full each month, has risen on average by a few hundred dollars. Not good. Here are two things I’m doing to shift my habits downward.
1. I only buy groceries on Wednesday. I started this two weeks ago and it has made me more aware of how much money I’m spending on food because it is easier to remember my total purchases from one day. Two weeks ago I spent $92 at Trader Joe’s, which included many staple items, beer, and wine. Last week I spent $27 on groceries. My target weekly grocery spending is $25.
Toward the end of the cycle I challenge myself to create tasty meals with what is left and finish off the last vegetables before they go bad. There is a lot you can do with beans, onions, and garlic!
2. I single out an item on my credit card statement that I didn’t have to buy. This month the dubious honor goes to an $8.10 purchase at Stamps.com. I got sucked into their $100 offer for newbies: sign up and get a $5 supplies kit, $45 in free postage (which is strung out over four months), and a free $50 postage scale (which actually sells for about $20 and is useless after my 30-day trial period unless I join Stamps.com for $16 a month).
I don’t buy enough business postage to make it worthwhile to join Stamps.com for $16 a month. So when I read the fine print the $100 sign-up package evaporated into nothing. At that point, I had already spent $8.10 to get the “free” scale mailed to me. Blerg!
I wish I had been more skeptical of the $100 intro offer, which really was too good to be true. Being greedy cost me $8.10.
What do you wish you hadn’t bought in the past month? Leave a comment and the reader with the best story wins a hot pink BargainBabe.com T-shirt, above. There are only about a dozen left!
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price.
Our microwave suddenly ceased to work after having it for about 6 years. We thought we couldn’t live without one, so we rushed out and bought a generic microwave oven at Target for $80. Fast forward to a week later and we noticed one for $20 at the local Goodwill shop. Goodwill stands behind their products and will refund purchases if you bring in the product/receipt, so by being hasty, we wasted $65. Next time we’ll comparison shop.
I purchased a waffle iron at Kohl’s. It was only $25.00 with a $10.00 mail in rebate. I haven’t used it yet and I haven’t found anywhere to store it. It was something I wanted, but not something I needed.
I have been wanting the Tory Burch pom pom flats so when it went on sale for $195 (heh, still hefty), I HAD to get them, or so I thought. But because free shipping was for over $250, I added another pair of shoes I had been thinking of purchasing, but was not on sale. They shipped the 2nd pair, told me the pom pom flats were sold out so I ended up returning the 2nd pair anyway. To top it all off, the weather’s been so bad and I know I can be bad about returns, I ended up shipping it back which costs $7. So in other words, I spent $7 for nothing 🙁
i know if i walk in a store—i can find something!!! I bought a ring for $60 at TJMaxx plus another purse i didn’t need because i had a $10 gift certificate they sent me, since i have their rewards Mastercard!!! (and spent over a certain amt) I know i cannot return these items since i love them-to much–so i have to stay out of the stores—not to mention Homegoods/Macys, etc. winter sales!!! i do pay off my cards montly!!!
Bargain Babe- I love the hot pink magenta Bargainbabe.com t-shirt!!! how can i get one? i promise to flaunt your fabulousness all over Manhattan if I ever get my hands on one.
love,
your NY sis and original fan
xoxox
Aicha
Last week I purchased a pair of tap shoes for my preschooler daughter and her ever-growing feet. Previously, I had ordered only online from the discount dance store before, and since I was going to be in the neighborhood to visit my sister, I figured I would stop by and save the postage fees.
What an ordeal! Unfortunately, there is no real shortcut from the “Valley” to the other side of town where the store is located.
En route on a surface street, we were cut off by Nissan Versa Man, who nearly crashed into us as he swung into our slow lane to avoid a pile-up in his fast lane. We had to swerve into a (thankfully) empty parking lane. After all the excitement and me laying on my horn, it took about an hour and many “Mommy, are you going the right way?” inquiries to get to the dance store.
Finally there, I thought I had decided upon the right pair of tap shoes, size 9. Normally not a picky person, I asked for another pair bc I thought the stitching might be in better shape. The gal assisting me said, “Those are new and right out of the box.” Translation: “No. I am not getting you another pair.” Uncomfortable pause. Thinking about the hour it took to get there, I reluctantly said, “Well, we’ll go ahead and take them.”
When my daughter and I got home, and I thought I would compare the new shoes to her current pair, a size 8. They were the EXACT size as the size 9 ones we had just bought! I knew I should have brought the current pair with me…
I called the next day to see if I could exchange the shoes, which the owner said would be fine. But I was dreading driving over a second time and spending more in gas than I would have saved for the discount shoes.
In the end, I didn’t have to make the trip, bc I sold the shoes to another mom in my daughter’s dance class. Next time I will go ahead and order online, and pay the darn postage! Now I am out the tax and gas, and still need to get my daughter a new pair of tap shoes – alas!
I not only bought flowers I didn’t need,it is too cold to plant! I love pansies, and they were only 67 cents apiece,but now they will sit till it gets warmer,and then they will die when it’s hot.. if only I had bought them last fall….
It’s an addiction I have, I have to stay out of the nurseries!!!!! Someone please help! 🙁
I have started “CVS-ing” and have been stocking up on supplies that they are basically giving away. Toothbrushes, toothpaste, shower soap. Things that I will always use. I just found out we are moving and now we have to donate it or move it all. So bummed that my bargain finds are not going to be put to good use by my family. It does take a lot of trips and time to find the corresponding coupons that make the purchase worthwhile.
It’s hard to believe you can eat healthily on $1 per meal. Good food is much cheaper than getting sick or buying over the counter medicines. Don’t be penny wise and pound foolish!
My 17 year old daughter wanted a pair of TOM’S shoes for her birthday in February, so I went on line, ordered them, paid for shipping. $17 for shipping–only to realize they came from Valencia and —we live in Sylmar.
Wish I’d looked into shipping fees first.
Julia, I don’t really have a poorly made purchase to discuss (but maybe my ex-husband…), but I wanted to say thanks for being so honest with your regrets. Our society has become very materialistic and if you don’t have the latest and greatest of the hot new device (ipod, car, laptop…) there must be something wrong with you. Anyway, I love your site and this piece on something that you regretted purchasing was great.
i am so mad at myself for not being more organized. I am a librarian and I did not realize that Dr. Suess’s birthday was sneaking up on me on March 2nd. I wanted to buy some bookmarks for the students to celebrate his birthday. Well when you order $20 in bookmarks and need them in 2 days you pay $30 in shipping!! Such a waste of money.
Regarding Stamps.com.: I’m guessing there’s a typo, but what is a $50 postage stamp? What did you mean? We have been with Stamps.com for several years at work. It serves us well there and is a good product. Additionally, we get discounts for certain mailings, e.g., Priority Mail. I believe you also can get discounts by using the USPS online or other online postage companies. The one drawback I have encountered with Stamps.com is customer service. It exists and can be effective, but there is often a long wait, which is not good if you need help NOW.
Regarding buying something I don’t really need, if that’s how I feel after the purchase, I make sure to return it timely. I seldom purchase online because of shipping charges in both directions, should I want/need to return an item. Also, I can try clothing on at a store.
I saw 2 darling sets of notecards, which I thought would be perfect to use for any occasion, or would be good to use for any unexpected occasions when I need a quick gift. They were on sale, so no returns permitted.
I brought them home and realized that (1) I already have plenty of notecards to use for notes and (2) apparently I have had this same idea in the past, as I have more than enough new sets to use for gift-giving purposes. What a waste of $! I need to remember to check what I have before I make new purchases! My impulsiveness again has cost me…
Do you actually have to return the postage scale to Stamps.com if you don’t continue after the 30-day trial? Why is it “useless”? The one I have from them simply weighs letters and small packages for me, much like something you’d use at home to weigh ingredients for a recipe. I used to have their battery-operated scale; this one is electric. Their creme de la creme model is more expensive and works in concert with their program.
Cross stitch is so versatile! Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work.
Darn it
I just typed a whole long message, and when I tried to submit it my FireFox crashed.
Did you get it or should I retype it all again?
That’s frustrating, Angus! But the date on your comment leads me to ask Julia if comments typically can be written nearly two months after the initial post to which we’re responding. ???