Spending More Money after Joining OzBargain?

LOzbargainJ on 30/07/2017 - 21:08

Long time OzBargain lurker. Only really made an account after years of following.

When I was a poor university student, OzBargain was a place I would go for to find all the freebies. Free cans of coke, free BOOST, free apps, free software, extended free trials on music streaming services, free samples.
Then progressed to finding all the half price items from Coles and Woolworths.
Now that I started earning money, I have been visiting OzBargain more and getting 'hooked' into buying something I wasn't thinking about buying before opening the website.

Like this deal where I bought my Sony Soundbar: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/234879
My latest confession is a Xiaomi phone (still waiting for the phone to arrive from Banggood after a month).

I am considering whether I should remove OzBargain from my favourites as I personally feel like I'm spending more money than saving them.

What are your thoughts?
Am I alone or do many feel the same way?
Or do most people go on it with a specific product in mind and don't get sidetracked?

tl;dr Used to go on OzBargain for free stuff, now spending more.

Poll Options expired

  • 55
    I have started spending MORE money on products I previously did not consider buying
  • 19
    I have started spending LESS money as I was already in the market for buying the products
  • 21
    I have started spending MORE money but finding the products bought useful
  • 9
    Other
Site Discussion

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 30/07/2017 - 21:32
    +1

    I've saved money by spending money. For example my latest purchase was the Galaxy S8. I paid sub $700 for it but my Note 4 was starting to get the to the point where it needed to be replaced. If it wasn't for OzBargain I would've ended up on a 24 month contract at about $80/month which would equate to $1920 over 24 months compared to $663 for the S8 + $36 * 24 months (Optus plan) = $1527 hence I saved almost $400 and got a better phone plan than I would've on a contract.

    I also made a lot of money from Qantas point sign ups, AmEx sign ups and ING referrals. If I were to calculate it, I have definitely made more money than lost.

    In short, my vote on the poll would be "I've made money by spending money".

    • Diji1 on 30/07/2017 - 21:50
      -2

      I've saved money by spending money

      No, you lost money when you spent it.

      • [Deactivated] on 30/07/2017 - 22:03
        +1

        You're wrong. I saved money because I ended up buying something I was going to buy sooner or later for a much cheaper price overall.

        • magic8ballgag on 31/07/2017 - 08:12

          So you're basically bragging about saving money via a website that was designed to offer you the best deals?

  • Diji1 on 30/07/2017 - 21:49

    What are your thoughts?

    It causes you to spend money that you would not have if you never visited the site.

  • supnigs super skids on 30/07/2017 - 22:05

    Do you also have a hoarding problem? " It's cheap so but 3 when you didn't need any?"

  • ihbh on 30/07/2017 - 22:09

    With OZB, Less is More!

  • Sage on 30/07/2017 - 22:10
    +6

    I often buy things just because they're recommended by other Ozbargainers.

    Overall I am smarter with my purchases after Ozbargain. You get a feel for what sales are repeated and I've found if you have a particular product in mind you'll generally see a good deal for it within a couple of months of keeping an eye out.

    This site is a great way of finding out about new products.
    I selected the first option on the poll, but I wouldn't say it's a negative.

  • Tidy on 30/07/2017 - 22:15
    +7

    Without OzBargain, I wouldn't have discovered Xiaomi Powerbanks.

    Not sure why I have 3 now, but hey, that's OzBargain for you.

    • fossilfuel on 30/07/2017 - 23:04

      Good stuff. I'm on 5 at the moment but that's Christmas sorted.

  • Baebs on 30/07/2017 - 22:20
    +1

    This has been mentioned many times before - yes you will spend more money by visiting this site but how much depends on your self control.

  • ChillBro on 30/07/2017 - 22:21
    +1

    Sure you spend more money, but you can also argue your quality of life is improving (assuming you don't impulse buy every junk deal posted).

  • Clear on 30/07/2017 - 23:49
    +1

    ImpulseBargain. I had to dedicate a room of the house for loot now.

  • tsunamisurfer on 31/07/2017 - 00:10

    I have saved more money than I have wasted on things I do not need.

    I have saved thousands of dollars thanks to this community.

    • Citibank Signature fee $395 x 4 years, plus over $1000 in rewards credits.
    • Cheap Eneloops.
    • Free Apps.
    • Free PC Games.
    • Google Rewards
    • $9 printer.
    • Officeworks $10 voucher(s).
    • Xiaomi products.

    I can think of only one or two instances where I purchased something I didn't really need, one was the Syma X5 drone for $50 and another a NiteCore EA42.

  • OldBugger on 31/07/2017 - 00:37
    +3

    I don't think I'm spending more money by going on this site, but I'm sure spending more of my time… that's something more valuable you can't get back.

    • HardQuiz on 31/07/2017 - 05:51

      Agree. Time is money.

  • pao2x on 31/07/2017 - 01:48

    I have saved more money definitely. And I am pretty hapy with most of my purchases found from OzB

  • shortgum on 31/07/2017 - 02:07
    +1

    just curious is anyone rating this a good purchase or waste? all those cheap fidget spinner deals

    e.g. https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/317160

    • PJC on 31/07/2017 - 03:10

      It is not the best shape.

  • Beanvee on 31/07/2017 - 13:55
    +2

    I have bought items just because they were cheap. Like a fitness band and Android TV box. But I only do these buys when I've got spare money in the budget that month. Seeing as I'm a bit of a tech junkie, it's basically a hobby buy to me.

    Otherwise I find it's great for saving money. When essentials are on the way out or outright broken, I put on an alert and wait for a cheap deal.

  • John Kimble on 31/07/2017 - 15:37
    +2

    I spendlose hoursdays on the forums. :(

  • skillet on 31/07/2017 - 16:02
    +1

    I control my expenses, ozbargain don't.

  • gimli on 31/07/2017 - 19:52
    ENELOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPS
  • [Deactivated] on 31/07/2017 - 19:53

    I did at first, but now I just check before I need something. I do not suffer buyers remorse so often is something I noted.

  • altomic on 01/08/2017 - 12:17
    +3

    i am spending money better and more efficiently for greater return.

    ozbargain is a teaching tool/site about value and better choices in purchasing.

    last week one of my co-workers was looking at tickets to NZ (2 adults, 2 kids). I showed her IWTF and saved her ~$300 in 5 minutes.

    then explained the best parking at the airport using the appropriate codes/hacks and saved her a further $60

  • bluedufflecoat on 02/08/2017 - 17:12

    I just bought the Lenovo laptop. If not for the deal I would get a less spec'd laptop for a lot less money. Now I've got full hd, a faster chip and ssd.

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