I love lists. I mean, I really really love lists. Especially when shopping. To me, going shopping is like a military mission. I have my orders…I mean my list, I get in, fulfill my orders, and get out as quickly as possible. Having a list has several advantages:
- It keeps me on track. I know what I’m supposed to buy and give me a clear path to success.
- A list is representative that there has been a discussion regarding what we can afford and that we have properly weighed value against cost.
A list, and a plan, is sometimes not enough, however. Some flexibility is needed. Sometimes conversations need to be had real time to be successful in managing your finances, and getting the most from your hard earned cash. This was exemplified perfectly by my trip to Target last week.
We went to the store of the bullseye because my daughter wanted some new shorts. Once inside the store I walked away to browse on my own. Previous experience has shown the presence of the male parent is a major inhibitor when it comes to a teenage girl’s ability to find anything she likes. It’s a proven fact. With the male parent in close proximity, nothing of interest can be found. We must immediately go home. But should the male parent exit close radar contact, the store instantly becomes a gold mine. So I left my wife and my daughter to shop in solidarity.
After some time, I reestablished radar contact and took my rightful place on a “man stool” outside the dressing room. If you’re not familiar, there are uncomfortable stools outside every Target dressing room where males wait, holding purses and watching over carts and potential purchases as significant others and daughters try on clothes. It was at this time I was given a pile of clothes to hold. I noticed that the pile contained not only shorts, but also shirts and pajamas.
While my daughter and wife discussed a last minute item or two, I totaled up the prices of everything I was holding. It came to just about $200. Well over the $117 in cash I had left in my wallet from the previous weekend’s spending money. Since we just jumped back on the cash only bandwagon, this presented a potential issue for us.
Standing in the checkout line, I mentioned to my wife how much I thought the total would be. The look on her face plainly showed that she was surprised. She hadn’t expected it to add up to that much. My daughter had her purse ready to go, as the conversation at on the way to the store led to an agreement that we were willing to use our remaining budgeted funds to buy her clothes, but anything over that would be covered by her. In this case, she would be on the hook for $83 of the bill.
I knew how much money she had, and she would easily be able to cover the overage. However, the checkout line is not the right place to find out how much she would have to pay. This is what should have happened:
- A list formed as to what was to be purchased. This was loosely done (shorts!), however I think my daughter might have had she would look for other things too.
- A budget is set. This was also done. Everybody involved knew what the shopping budget was, and my daughter agreed that she would pay for anything above that.
- Items totaled and compared against the budget BEFORE reaching the checkout counter. My daughter would then have the opportunity to decide how much of her money she would be willing to part with. She could adjust the clothes taken to the register based upon this decision.
We went horribly wrong with the third bullet. My daughter had no ability to decide whether the $83 overage was acceptable to her or not. Maybe she would have happily counted out the cash and got everything. Maybe she would have decided to put some things back.
This was a great lesson for not only my daughter for all of us. Following these three rules of shopping will ensure you enter the checkout line with eyes wide open knowing what the total will be and how it will affect your budget, as well as through the exit without any regret.
How about you EOD nation, do you total up your purchases BEFORE heading to the checkout line? Have you ever had the total of your purchases be a surprise?
I’m looking forward to implementing this tactic immediately! I am HORRENDOUS about splurge spending and impulse purchasing, although I justify it with a seemingly-complicated if/can decision making algorithm in my head. Which always computes to: Can you use it? Sure. Would you? Maybe. If you don’t, would someone else? Yes. Is it durable? Blah blah blah, but then at the end, my internal computer tallies it as such: If you answered Yes, Maybe, or Sure, to any of the questions, go ahead and get it!” -_-
A bit of exagerration perhaps, but you get the idea I’m sure. Thanks so much for simplifying this silly issue and making it so painful to NOT STICK TO THE PLAN because, you’ve shown, in 3 steps, how to put a lid on it.
Cheers!
Glad you liked it…..and I hope it works for you. Come back and let us know how things are going!
We also have committed to only using cash. I bring my list with me and after each item I write down the price. So before getting in line I know how much the total will be. I also roughly figure out the tax and add that to my total.
Good for you, Anita……I love using cash only!!