A friend of mine once advised that only idiots pay full price for pizza. I learned that this was largely true, as pizza-discount coupons are as readily available as dandelions in springtime and way more frequently.
I live in an urban sprawly enough area (okay, one of the original capitals of urban sprawl) that I’m not that far from one of those Nebraska farm-sized supermarkets, where I can buy a couple weeks’ worth of groceries at very good prices. I’m even closer to several smaller markets that don’t have near the amount of stuff but seem to be just as good at having what I need. The prices are higher, though. Informal experimentation — by which I mean I sort of go through the steps without actually recording any data and then make up whatever results feel most right and probably also work in my favor — reveals that I spend less money at the more expensive markets. Since they’re so much closer, I save gas and travel time, and I can make smaller trips less frequently, buying much closer to only what I need and thus not wasting nearly as much food. Also, one of them is Trader Joe’s, and who wouldn’t fudge data in order to shop more at Trader Joe’s?
Encouraged by that successful effort at convincing myself that my preferred approach was the better approach, I’m turning my attention toward saving money by not shopping “smart.” Meaning ignoring coupons and sales and just buying what I need or want when I need or want it. Since — and please correct me if I’m wrong — the whole point of sales and coupons is to get me to buy something I wouldn’t have bought without the sale or coupon, I have a hunch I can do a whole lot of stupid, full-price shopping before I spend as much as would giving in to the merchants who are tempting me to do even more “smart” shopping.
That said, if I decide I need something and discover it just happens to be on sale, I won’t forbid myself from buying it. And it’s that gray area that probably results in more unnecessary, retrospectively planned purchases and wasted money than if I’d stuck to one plan or the other with any amount of discipline … or ability to recognize when I was fooling myself.
by which I mean I sort of go through the steps without actually recording any data and then make up whatever results feel most right and probably also work in my favor.
mddshubby2005 over 6 years ago
Sure there is, if you consider that the ‘offer’ is limited by my attention to it.
sandpiper over 6 years ago
Ends just when you decide you want to take advantage of it but can’t get to the store until the next day
garcoa over 6 years ago
I don’t need anything more from Klutterhaus
alien011 over 6 years ago
Sure there are limited offers. If something is out of production, it’s gone.
car2ner over 6 years ago
It takes a great deal of power away from The Fear Of Missing Out, when you realize that the special this week will be back in a couple more weeks
pumaman over 6 years ago
It is limited to one out of three weeks. So technically correct.
CoffeeBob Premium Member over 6 years ago
Hey look! Kohl’s is having a sale!
Richard S Russell Premium Member over 6 years ago
A friend of mine once advised that only idiots pay full price for pizza. I learned that this was largely true, as pizza-discount coupons are as readily available as dandelions in springtime and way more frequently.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] over 6 years ago
Frazz
I live in an urban sprawly enough area (okay, one of the original capitals of urban sprawl) that I’m not that far from one of those Nebraska farm-sized supermarkets, where I can buy a couple weeks’ worth of groceries at very good prices. I’m even closer to several smaller markets that don’t have near the amount of stuff but seem to be just as good at having what I need. The prices are higher, though. Informal experimentation — by which I mean I sort of go through the steps without actually recording any data and then make up whatever results feel most right and probably also work in my favor — reveals that I spend less money at the more expensive markets. Since they’re so much closer, I save gas and travel time, and I can make smaller trips less frequently, buying much closer to only what I need and thus not wasting nearly as much food. Also, one of them is Trader Joe’s, and who wouldn’t fudge data in order to shop more at Trader Joe’s?
Encouraged by that successful effort at convincing myself that my preferred approach was the better approach, I’m turning my attention toward saving money by not shopping “smart.” Meaning ignoring coupons and sales and just buying what I need or want when I need or want it. Since — and please correct me if I’m wrong — the whole point of sales and coupons is to get me to buy something I wouldn’t have bought without the sale or coupon, I have a hunch I can do a whole lot of stupid, full-price shopping before I spend as much as would giving in to the merchants who are tempting me to do even more “smart” shopping.
That said, if I decide I need something and discover it just happens to be on sale, I won’t forbid myself from buying it. And it’s that gray area that probably results in more unnecessary, retrospectively planned purchases and wasted money than if I’d stuck to one plan or the other with any amount of discipline … or ability to recognize when I was fooling myself.
Frazz by Jef Mallett for Dec 2, 2017 | GoComics
tdidog over 6 years ago
Isn’t that how most statisticians work? :)