Just Because You Can-- Should You?
Just because you can afford a large flatscreen HDTV now that they are giving these things away-- should you buy one right now?
It's tempting, but do you need it or do you want it? What if you bought one today and your job ended tomorrow?
Ask yourself some questions:
- Is your job secure?
- Is your emergency fund funded?
- Are all your bills current?
- Do you have credit card balances?
Should you? Really?
Just something to think about . . .
Posted by DDFD at 12/8/2008 12:13 AM 
Categories: Money Savers, Frugality, Personal Finance, Simple Living, Consumerism
Tags: Money Savers Frugality Personal Finance Frugal Simple Living Consumerism
Categories: Money Savers, Frugality, Personal Finance, Simple Living, Consumerism
Tags: Money Savers Frugality Personal Finance Frugal Simple Living Consumerism
One of the biggest problems we all have is distinguishing between want and need. It's the idea that you wrote about recently - frugal people are selective.
This is not to say we don't buy things we want, but our focus is mostly on our needs. A frugal person will make certain they are on solid financial footing before they venture off into buying expensive items based on want.
Oddly enough, your example of a big screen HDTV hits home in a couple of ways. It's expensive, and if used primarily to view TV, then that expensive item introduces a solid core of advertising into our lives that focuses almost exclusively on creating more wants. Truly a double edged sword.
Clair
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By the time my daughters get their homework and piano practice done, there is no time left for TV anyway. On the weekends they watch movies on DVD using the computer screen. The DVDs are from the public library.
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I love the library-- too many people take it for granted. Some people treat the mall as a destination, for me it's the library.
I wasn't picking on TV or TVs, rather I was thinking of any large discretionary purchases. I know quite a few people who are over extended right now, but continue to make large purchases while crying about paying their bills.
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