Shopping with your heart.
So this has been weighing on my mind tonight. What do you think of when I say: buyers remorse?
Those Sorel boots you just bought?
The second pair of Sorel boots you just bought?
The iPhone you just bought?
Er wait, that’s me…
Well I’m here to tell you that buyers remorse CAN BE AVOIDED.
(Dad, breathe—the solution does not involve your wallet.)
(… this time.)
We don’t have to sit around moping after we make a sizable purchase, or wondering what our hard-earned cash is up to, hanging out in someone else’s bank account. We don’t have to punish ourselves for buying things (within reason, of course) that make us happy and that bring us closer to being our best selves.
Those Sorels? They make the brutal Utah winters a little cozier, and a lot-more chic. Plus, they’re going to be INCREDIBLE assets to our Iceland trip this March. I cursed myself for not bringing warm boots to New Zealand this summer, so I’m learning from past experience.
The iPhone? It’s going to connect me at blazing high speed to this very blog where I express my deepest feelings and confessions to the world so I can post more often… as in, every day. Yes, with a little inspiration from a very inspirational friend today, it is my goal to post every day. And this iPhone is my first step. My goal is to touch more lives with my words, faster, and more often than ever before… to infinity and beyond, etc. etc.
How, you ask, is it possible to be OK with dropping a wad of cash on yourself every once and a while?
Shopping with the heart.
Not to be confused with ordinary shopping, shopping with the heart may sound like a made-up figment of Mollie Shambeau imagination land (omg—it’s such a fun place!), but I swear, it’s actually a very measured practice. Plain ol’ shopping goes like this: I LOVE those shoes! I want them! I’ll buy them! HOO-RAY!
Outcome: Said shoes sit in your closet for most of their days, waiting to be worn and loved. <single tear>
Shopping with your heart is more like this: I really feel passionate about these shoes, and I’ve been thinking about them for the past week. I’ve researched them and worked them into my budget, and I have valid reasons why they make sense for me. I promise to care for them, in sickness and in health, for better or worse, yada yada, etc. etc.
Outcome: Sweet bliss and eternal happiness.
I realize this isn’t the simplest technique in the world—in fact, it’s something I’m still working on mastering. But, if done correctly, you can really get in touch with determining what you need from what you want, and buying only things that will contribute to bringing you closer to your best you. Again, not to be confused with your more-materialistic you. Materialism is an unhappy little dwarf who lives under your bed eating money. Kick that bitch out.
Try this next time you’re standing in front of a shelf of products you’re considering buying. If you’ve asked the employees all your pertinent questions and feel as though you can make a truly informed decision, clear your mind of all thoughts and simply ask yourself: Should I buy this ____(item)_____ today?
The answer is within you—you just need to listen to it. It’s amazing! After asking yourself, you’ll hear an immediate “instinctive” answer in your head. If the answer is yes, indulge. If it’s no, pass for the time being. Simple as that.
Your reward for listening to my rambling today is this little gem… a preview for tomorrow’s post, all about doggie bathtime at the Shambeau/Busby household.
Dexter’s all, “MOM! Ugh… I can’t believe you’re taking a picture of us right now! I’m not dry from my bath yet!” Daisy’s mind is just repeating the words: shiny spinning fans… shiny spinning fans…. shiny….spinning…fans….
