Choosing Your Bargains

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  fossilfuel on 05/05/2017 - 20:38

  +1

  People most likely spend more money when they're on Ozbargain than if they're not. Sure, money is being saved but in the end, it's too good to not go for the bargains than to save.

  • 

    Momoni on 05/05/2017 - 20:57

    That is so true. And a bit of the same thrill as gambling to be able to snag a deal but your losses are only not getting something rather than losing your entire stake.

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  Baebs on 05/05/2017 - 21:51

  +1

  I'm trying to stick to freebies + setting a 10 cent (lol) threshold for bargains. Items I need are unavoidable.

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  Savas on 05/05/2017 - 22:00

  I am hoping the ENE dollar will go up

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  John Kimble on 05/05/2017 - 22:19

  +1

  what makes a bargain once bought, cease to be a bargain?

  Technically nothing, because the bargain is in the price, not anything that happens afterwards.

  a thing bought or offered for sale much more cheaply than is usual or expected.
  "the table was a real bargain"
  synonyms: good buy, cheap buy; (good) value for money, surprisingly cheap; informalsnip, steal, giveaway
  "this binder is a bargain at £1.98"

  • 

    Momoni on 05/05/2017 - 23:43

    That's true. The question then is phrased inaccurately.

    What I mean to convey is that by not utilising something sufficiently (whatever that means to each person) weakens the buying position. Buying uses resources like money and time, which are wasted if the purchased item is not used enough. Thus not earning enough return on the investment, and being the bargain great purchase you thought it was.

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  Cheeper on 05/05/2017 - 23:26

  +3

  LOL… we all have cupboards full of toys and gadgets we dont or rarely every use.
  Such is life, you are not alone.

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  GnarlyKnuckles on 06/05/2017 - 00:23

  +1

  Mmmyeah, I've been wondering about this recently also, on a slightly bigger scale because I have a mortgage/live in a relatively small (3BD) home. I am now thinking that rather than spending anything on 'bargains' (unless of course it is a product I will use from day-one), it makes more economical sense to chuck every spare dollar onto the homeloan. That way, I save on interest in the long term, I have more storage space, and I also save on time ('chasing' some of the bargains here on OzB takes a fair bit of time sometimes, I've learned). Time I could have used to actually earn money, instead.

  Of course, some OzB bargains are just too 'fun' to pass up, so I still throw my hat into the ring for a few of those… But I have stopped 'reflexively' clicking on anything and everything that is 'dirt cheap'.

  It's also worth considering that re things like ANYTHING electronic (etc.), they will depreciate pretty rapidly over time. So you may buy sommat that seemed like a 'bargain' at the time, but if you then store it in a cupboard for 2 years, then bust it out 2 years later, it is relatively obsolete/worthless. AND, you have wasted your time buying it, and your storage-space storing it.

  So, when is a bargain NOT a bargain? My recent realisation is, 'when you do not actually need what is being offered, within the next few months'.

  • 

    altomic on 06/05/2017 - 13:04

    yeah, 2 years ago I bought an android box that was way better than the one that I had. but I never actually used it as I found the original was fine. so the newer & better box sat in the cupboard for 2 years until I found it recently and am now like "it's now old-ish , what am going to do with it?" it has 2gb ram and a rockchip 3229 chipset so still ok. but unnecessary as a purchase

    • 

      Momoni on 06/05/2017 - 14:11

      A recurring theme here too