Stupid Purchases - Page 2

amyschiff · 02-23-2008, 02:31 PM

I live alone in my apartment, which means I have to grocery shop and cook for myself most of the time. What I regret most is when I buy fresh produce and it rots before I get around to cooking it

It's not a consistent thing--some weeks I'm really good about using up everything I have--but sometimes I buy produce and then forget I have it because it's tucked away in that crisper drawer in my refrigerator! I should really start posting an inventory of items on my fridge so that I can remember I have things with a quick glance.

triathing · 02-23-2008, 03:34 PM

Amen on the books and veggies. I'm trying to remind myself that I should only buy reference books -- everything else can come from the library. And as far as the veggies gone bad, I rationalize by giving spoiled vegetables to our chickens. But still.

Where I go straight to hell is on the road. I work out of the house, which is nice. But I get out about three or four times a week, to the grocery or to pick up a kid from school, etc. And I stop and get a Coke, maybe a snack. It's not much, maybe three bucks a pop. But that adds up:

Four trips/week x $3/trip = $12/week
$12/week x 52 weeks/year = $624/year

It's a bit much. And that's just me.

Believe I'm going to put myself on an allowance -- maybe one snack per week. That'd save about $500. It's frightening how much money you can fritter away without even thinking about it.

amyschiff · 02-23-2008, 05:53 PM

Yeah that doesn't seem like much at the time... but when you do the math it's scary!

72Tiger · 02-24-2008, 03:45 PM

here's something geeky to use some of that extra yarn on:

http://carissaknits.blogspot.com/200...d2-beanie.html

jdp · 02-25-2008, 08:16 AM

I've made like 35 years of bad decisions lol. I wouldn't know where to start. DVDs (unless you've rented it 5x's it probably isn't something you MUST own), Books (I have absolutely NEVER reread a book, not for principle but just because there isn't enough time to read all the ones I want to the first time), poor clothing purchases I thought were good (have since learned how to determine quality and make a truly informed purchase), baby toys, baby specific furniture - those are mainstream things - I won't list the thousands of other stupid purchases from picture frames to momentos. Yikes.

jkuo13 · 02-25-2008, 10:30 AM

Fortunately, I haven't made too many expensive stupid purchases. Either that, or I've just blotted out the memories of my moments of stupid spending.

I have bought cheap cookware and kitchen utensils because it seemed like a good deal at the time. Now that I cook all the time and have a small kitchen with limited storage space, I can't stand having crap cooking equipment.

I recently bought new training gear, and wouldn't you know it, my training partner moves to another state soon after. I guess I pulled out the plastic a little too fast on that purchase.

anitra · 02-25-2008, 10:51 AM

DVDs. We only have a few that have been watched more than twice - and a few that haven't been watched at all...

Clothing that I don't love (often bought to "match" more clothing given to me as gifts... that I don't like, either).

Computers! My husband and I are both programmers and like messing around with computers in our spare time... we've "downsized" to having only FIVE computers (for the two of us)! Only three of those get much regular use, and we could probably go down to two (one laptop and our "media PC") without too much difficulty.

I don't regret buying fiction because I primarily buy books I am certain I will read over and over again. I do regret buying many of our reference books. We buy many more than we need, because "it's a good deal" or "I want to learn about that someday". They sit on the shelves and never get used - or we use the Internet, because it's easier to find answers to particular questions.

purplefdu · 02-25-2008, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by triathing

Where I go straight to hell is on the road. I work out of the house, which is nice. But I get out about three or four times a week, to the grocery or to pick up a kid from school, etc. And I stop and get a Coke, maybe a snack. It's not much, maybe three bucks a pop. But that adds up:

Four trips/week x $3/trip = $12/week
$12/week x 52 weeks/year = $624/year

This is my husband's weakness as well, since he's a bottomless pit. We've found that since nothing you buy for snacks in lunches comes in groupings of 5 anyway (and there's only 5 days a week you need them) he can use the extras to keep on hand for a "snack" and a 12pack of soda has two extras as well. We also have water at all times so we pack a couple snacks and some extra sodas/water when we're out for that.

Although lately he's been abusing my coupon stash to get snacks with

This week was free Fuze and string cheese.

kav122 · 02-25-2008, 11:20 AM

I love all of you that overbuy on yarn!

I go to goodwill and garage sales and STOCK UP!

I do have a massive record collection that I amassed in high school, though. My husband also has a big one from his DJ'ing days. We keep telling ourselves that we are going to put up a big bookcase in the basement so we can access and play them, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

kav122 · 02-25-2008, 11:24 AM

@Triathing & purplefdu:

I don't usually shop at Sam's, but I do go about once every couple of months and buy in bulk the "snacks" that our family likes. Then divide them into their own baggie, and that has definitely cheaper than buying at the gas station. Depending on where you live, it might even work to put a small cooler in your car for those times you forget the snacks or drinks.

02-23-2008, 02:31 PM	#11
amyschiff Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lansing, MI Posts: 308 Reputation: (44)	it's actually food! I live alone in my apartment, which means I have to grocery shop and cook for myself most of the time. What I regret most is when I buy fresh produce and it rots before I get around to cooking it It's not a consistent thing--some weeks I'm really good about using up everything I have--but sometimes I buy produce and then forget I have it because it's tucked away in that crisper drawer in my refrigerator! I should really start posting an inventory of items on my fridge so that I can remember I have things with a quick glance.

02-23-2008, 03:34 PM	#12
triathing Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Southern Vermont Posts: 36 Reputation: (30)	Amen on the books and veggies. I'm trying to remind myself that I should only buy reference books -- everything else can come from the library. And as far as the veggies gone bad, I rationalize by giving spoiled vegetables to our chickens. But still. Where I go straight to hell is on the road. I work out of the house, which is nice. But I get out about three or four times a week, to the grocery or to pick up a kid from school, etc. And I stop and get a Coke, maybe a snack. It's not much, maybe three bucks a pop. But that adds up: Four trips/week x $3/trip = $12/week $12/week x 52 weeks/year = $624/year It's a bit much. And that's just me. Believe I'm going to put myself on an allowance -- maybe one snack per week. That'd save about $500. It's frightening how much money you can fritter away without even thinking about it. __________________ My blog: Diary of a Mad Triathlete

02-25-2008, 10:30 AM	#16
jkuo13 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 135 Reputation: (35)	Fortunately, I haven't made too many expensive stupid purchases. Either that, or I've just blotted out the memories of my moments of stupid spending. I have bought cheap cookware and kitchen utensils because it seemed like a good deal at the time. Now that I cook all the time and have a small kitchen with limited storage space, I can't stand having crap cooking equipment. I recently bought new training gear, and wouldn't you know it, my training partner moves to another state soon after. I guess I pulled out the plastic a little too fast on that purchase. __________________ JohnnyKuo.net \|\| Zenfulness

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02-23-2008, 05:53 PM	#13
amyschiff Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lansing, MI Posts: 308 Reputation: (44)	Yeah that doesn't seem like much at the time... but when you do the math it's scary!

02-24-2008, 03:45 PM	#14
72Tiger Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 297 Reputation: (38)	here's something geeky to use some of that extra yarn on: http://carissaknits.blogspot.com/200...d2-beanie.html

02-25-2008, 08:16 AM	#15
jdp Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 205 Reputation: (24)	I've made like 35 years of bad decisions lol. I wouldn't know where to start. DVDs (unless you've rented it 5x's it probably isn't something you MUST own), Books (I have absolutely NEVER reread a book, not for principle but just because there isn't enough time to read all the ones I want to the first time), poor clothing purchases I thought were good (have since learned how to determine quality and make a truly informed purchase), baby toys, baby specific furniture - those are mainstream things - I won't list the thousands of other stupid purchases from picture frames to momentos. Yikes.

02-25-2008, 10:51 AM	#17
anitra Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 27 Reputation: (15)	DVDs. We only have a few that have been watched more than twice - and a few that haven't been watched at all... Clothing that I don't love (often bought to "match" more clothing given to me as gifts... that I don't like, either). Computers! My husband and I are both programmers and like messing around with computers in our spare time... we've "downsized" to having only FIVE computers (for the two of us)! Only three of those get much regular use, and we could probably go down to two (one laptop and our "media PC") without too much difficulty. I don't regret buying fiction because I primarily buy books I am certain I will read over and over again. I do regret buying many of our reference books. We buy many more than we need, because "it's a good deal" or "I want to learn about that someday". They sit on the shelves and never get used - or we use the Internet, because it's easier to find answers to particular questions.

02-25-2008, 11:20 AM	#19
kav122 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 510 Reputation: (238)	I love all of you that overbuy on yarn! I go to goodwill and garage sales and STOCK UP! I do have a massive record collection that I amassed in high school, though. My husband also has a big one from his DJ'ing days. We keep telling ourselves that we are going to put up a big bookcase in the basement so we can access and play them, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

02-25-2008, 11:24 AM	#20
kav122 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 510 Reputation: (238)	@Triathing & purplefdu: I don't usually shop at Sam's, but I do go about once every couple of months and buy in bulk the "snacks" that our family likes. Then divide them into their own baggie, and that has definitely cheaper than buying at the gas station. Depending on where you live, it might even work to put a small cooler in your car for those times you forget the snacks or drinks.