The Savvy Life

Hard Lessons
Over the years, I learned time and again the lesson of the importance of purchasing what you actually want or need over automatically choosing the least expensive item. Often, the cheaper item would break or not have all the capabilities I needed and I would end up having to go out and pick up the more expensive item anyway. Instead of saving a few pennies, I was spending almost double. That’s the furthest concept from being “budget savvy”.

The Happiness Factor
The biggest breakthrough I had with this impairment was when I had to purchase a new car in the summer of 2006. For the previous three years I had been driving a 1990 Cadillac that had a large dent on the side. The car had been sold to us by my husband’s uncle for just $100. Originally, it was going to be a temporary ride until we purchased a new one, so we never fixed the dent. Three years later, I was still driving the car. It drove beautifully and after awhile, I didn’t even notice the dent. For the record, if I had known I was going to drive it for so long, I would have had it repaired.

Upon the final demise of the Cadillac, I was excited at the opportunity to have a “new to me” car. I found two used cars in my price range that fit our lifestyle. The first was a beautifully cared for Nissan Maxima with a sun roof and Bose stereo. The second was a Subaru wagon. The wagon was in good shape except that the plastic molding in the back was warped and misshapen. It was functional, but not attractive. I automatically started leaning toward that Subaru because it was $800 cheaper.

I forced myself to remember that I was going to get in this car and use it two or three times a day for the next five years. I realized that if I purchased the Subaru, every time I looked at that warped interior, I would be just a little bit bummed.

I ended up driving away that day with the sunroof open in the Nissan Maxima. A year and a half later, I am still ecstatic with my purchase. In fact, I often find myself smiling to myself as I start the car. Total customer satisfaction.

The Moral of the Story
Being budget minded is smart, and researching for the best price is key. Just remember, the best price doesn’t always mean the cheapest. Weigh your options, be sure to consider value and make sure you are purchasing the right item for what you need and want.