18 – Choose Wisely

Use Everything You Buy or Don’t Buy at All

Going through the grocery aisles when you’re hungry isn’t a good idea. You end up filling your cart with extras that you may not have intended to buy, but the promise of taste and fulfillment makes it hard to resist all of the tempting delights.

A week later, much of what you’ve bought is ruined and you end up throwing it away – or what you bought on impulse wasn’t as good or fulfilling as you thought it would be and it goes to waste.

It’s the same with every bright and shiny object you’re attracted to. You pay hard-earned money because it promises success beyond what you expected and you purchase it only to find out it’s not all it was cracked up to be.

Be Your Own Boss

If you were an employer, you’d quickly get rid of an employee who made non-useful purchases time after time. Make it a point to implement all of your purchases within a two-week time period and you’ll be surprised about how much more you’ll think before you buy.

Be careful not to purchase products and then demand a refund because you can’t use it within a certain time period. That isn’t fair to the seller who has to deal with the refund in many ways that take time and effort.

The time-period you set to use a purchased item should be a tool to help you avoid procrastination and to force you to carefully think about the implications before you push the “Buy Now” button.

This one act of thinking clearly before you purchase will help you save money. If the item is just going to sit in a drawer or remain in your downloads until you forget about it, then it isn’t worth buying.

Lean is Better

Experts say that having too many possessions can be a burden in your life. A big house with a pool and lots of amenities can keep you from taking advantage of traveling to the places you’ve always wanted to see.

Too many bells and whistles in your business can keep you so busy you’re unable to focus on the real job of making your business grow. Choose your purchases wisely and avoid the shiny new object syndrome.