by Alexandra Grose

Created on: March 26, 2010

How do you know if, or whether, you should buy that item? You really want it, but when is it too much? When it comes to spending, where’s the line between paying too much and buying an affordable item?  We all have too much “stuff.” Many of us have way too much – at the expense of our financial health.

So how do you really tell the difference between, not only a want and a need, but also between how dear is too dear, when it comes to the price of the item we’re thinking of purchasing?

Sometimes we really do think we need those new shoes, despite the fact that the last three pairs are still sitting in the closet, never worn. Heck, those shoes are half price. Perhaps I should purchase two pairs. Isn’t that the way we think?

A bargain’s not a bargain, if we really don’t need the item. Sure you can buy the shoes for some future date, to wear when your other 20 pairs finally wear out. But, don’t you think by then, there’ll be another shoe store sale.

That’s the thing with buying on sale…there’ll always be another sale in the near future. Regardless of sales, there’s always something new to buy, something you think you want or need. Life is always about choices when it comes to spending money.

Do you pay a bit more, expecting quality, or less when quality isn’t an issue?For many people though, its not so much a matter of necessity, it’s more about having it all. Having more stuff, surrounding us with the nicest things, the nicest car, the nicest kitchen, and the nicest jewellery. Or about having the biggest, or the most. The biggest T.V. The most c.d.'s.

All of this “stuff” takes away our choices, in the end. We spend so much money buying stuff we don’t need, getting ourselves into debt, that our choices become limited, as our financial obligations become to great to manage comfortably. There comes a point in time where we find we have to say no to purchases, that we really wish to make, but now can’t afford.

Also circumstances change. Work hours are cut, or lost altogether, or there’s a new addition to the family. At times health problems arise and all of a sudden things are very difficult.

In buying all this stuff, you take away from your future, from your own and your family’s financial security. It’s in your best interest to work out what is a good buy and what is just more stuff.

So in knowing this, there

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