Bargain Hunting, an Addiction?
Is it possible for a person to become addicted to bargain hunting? After reading this MSN article, “When bargain hunting is an addiction,” I learned something new. People who buy things just because it’s on sale, whether they need it or not, are called bargain junkies. LOL! Six signs that you may be a bargain junkie are:
- They hit sales and clearance racks when they feel angry or down.
- They spend more than they can afford.
- They see sales as opportunities they can’t pass up.
- They feel guilty about their shopping and hide their purchases.
- They spend so much time tracking down deals that their time with family and friends is compromised.
- They routinely forget what they bought and find things in their closets unused.
Then it hit me. My mom is a bargain junkie! I can recall a few useless things she’s purchased over the past year. Umm, let’s see.
She sent BabyGirl a pair of bright red slacks and a blazer. *blink blink*
Her thoughts, “oh she can play dress up, they were only $5!”
Then there was the superman lunch box.
Her thoughts, “she can use it as a pencil holder or something, I found for 50 cents!” *blank stare*
Or how about the sweater that was 3 sizes too small.
Her thoughts, “girl if she can’t fit it, put it on the dog! It was only $2!” *dead*
Needless to say, BabyGirl receives a new package from my mother at least once per month. But she’s rarely excited about opening them. Can’t blame her. My mom is a bargain junkie!
Have you ever bought something silly just because it was on sale?
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I am a wanna be bargain junkie…usually if it is useless my husband makes me take it back! Thank God for balance
Yea, there’s been plenty of stuff that I’ve bought b/c “this is to good of a deal to pass up” and sure enough, I’ll look in my closets or even trunk of my car, months later and say “what…when did I buy this…ohhhhh now I remember..hmmph” and still not use or wear it. I’m finally getting that under control. I definitely know a few other bargain junkies as well.
I don’t generally have this problem, but I confront it with my DH and grocery shopping. He will come home with 20 of something because it was on sale, even though we already have 20 of it at home. When I am tempted to be a bargain junkie, I think about what I already have at home and focus on what I will actually spend, as opposed to what I will theoretically save. I also focus on the clutter factor: some stuff is just clutter/junk. Cheap, no doubt, but clutter in your home can become clutter in your life and mind. I have enough going on without the extra clutter clouding my world.
But I know some bargain junkies. I have even been the recipient of a gift or two…I feel BG’s pain.LOL
This post tickled me. I’ve never bought anything silly because it was on sale probably because I’m not a random shopper. I have a plan when I go shopping and I don’t stop to look at anything else - unless I’m in the grocery store.
I am a recovering *spending* junkie, period. (I’m recovering thanks in part to your fabu blog!) But for me, the way I rationalize is that I WILL take some shyt back. I have to admit it though, I think my mom, like yours, is a bargain junkie. I get those same packages that your BG is getting, and worse, whenever I go home to visit, Mama has some bizarre clothes that she wants to give me. Her excuse is always, “Oh, they were just GIVING this away. I didn’t hardly pay anything for this.” My father just rolls his eyes, but honestly, I’m a bit worried. I think it may be time for an intervention!
Hmm I guess I’m somewhat a BJ.. when it comes to grocery shopping.. LOL *watch me justify it* but since I cook 6 out of the 7 days a week its not going to waste right? LOL
nope…J hates shopping.
But my granny would order something out a catelog in all its colors in a heartbeat!
my sister can’t refuse something that is a dollar. No matter what it is - she buys it.
that has always cracked me up
Oh yea! I use to be a serious bargain junkie when it came to clothes and clearance racks. Now I rarely go shopping and when I do, I tend to buy good quality, classic stuff so I don’t have to shop again anytime soon!
I’m afraid I have……I simply love going into Target and check out the clearance items…….last week I purchased Oil of Olay boday wash that was normally 5.99 for 2.48…….yep, I bought 5 bottles. It didn’t hit me until I got home that I had several other bottles of body wash that I pruchased earlier this year that’s still sitting in the closet………damn those bargins…..
I use to be but now is just confined to The Body Shop and their products. I love it when they have their semi-annual sale/clearance. Under my sink is full of products.
I thought it was just my mom that did that. Her pantry is filled with can goods she will probably never use but she bought them because they were on sale. I try to explain to her that if you don’t need it, it doesn’t make sense to buy it even if it is on sale. I’ve figured I may as well be talking to a brick wall.
uh yeah… I’m definitely #1… I’ve gotten better about not buying ridiculous things, but I still have items in my closet that were mostly purchased for their discount off, not their look. my mom was recently in the hospital and i found myself stopping at target every day to buy her “stuff” for her room… Or let’s be honest: i found it v. relaxing to shop for bargains away from the hospital bed. bad, bad….
I have had to tell my mom that not buying something she doesn’t need is even more economical that buying it on sale. Several times. Often to no avail…
I guess I never will be a bargain addict:) I am so lazy to follow the sales and keep up with them, though I like to get bargains for sure:) But I once bought two shoes (I didn’t need the second one) because it was buy one get second 50% off!
No I’m not. I’m cracking up just reading this. Once I purchased two pair of shoes from Pennies. I think it was buy one get one for x amount. I have wore one pair maybe three times. I’ve never worn the other pair, because i do’nt have any thing to match them. Thinking back I should have left those shoes in the store. Never again!! I will never buy anything on sale just because. Well not shoes or clothes.
I have to say I love to bargain hunt. But I do it because I am a single mom and it saves me a TON of money.Now before I had kids I used to be like your mom and just buy because it was on sale.
I used to go crazy on the sale racks, especially clothes, and then wound up only wearing them once or not at all. I’ve stopped doing that, but unfortunately my parents are the king and queen of the dollar store. They have this treasure chest of toys and treats for the kids, so each holiday they put together treat bags for all the grandkids (all 9 of them!). They love it, but I dread it because it’s usually crap that the kids don’t use or break after one use. But it gives them pleasure, so I put up with it.