Bargain Hunting: Do You Sweat The Small Stuff?

Samsungnote10 on 12/01/2021 - 22:34
Last edited 13/01/2021 - 05:51 by 1 other user

A few weeks ago I was having a drink at home looking at my alcohol collection, feeling pretty proud of myself at all the bargains I had scored over christmas due to the 20-25% cashbacks that were happening almost daily at the big name liquor stores

Fast forward a few weeks, and I've had a flat tyre on a newish tyre, hot water system died, family members phone screen broke, and now a few power points in one section of my house have stopped.

The hot water system was a pain to get anyone out. I think I contacted 12 people and only got 3 replies for a $2000 job, eventually after getting a few quotes had to go with the guy who was $200 more expensive due to availability. Now I'm not looking forward to the hassles of getting an electrician out. Anyway, that $200 more I paid far exceeds the discounts I got on my booze.

Should I be sweating less about the small stuff? YOLO.

Feels kinda of pointless if multiple savings is wiped out in one non bargain. Yes, I'm still better off than had I not purchased my booze at discounted prices.eg when I purchased a car for the family years ago, I bargained hard and ended up surprisingly getting $1000 off the lowest price of all the other dealers who were all at a similar price that we were about to purchase for. I looked at as though we got the car at the price we were willing to pay for and a $1000 phone thrown in.

I also am of the mindset if you save $20 per week, that's $1000 per year, you could do a lot of things with $1000 extra cash, think phones, computers, a short holiday, a better car

What's your mindset?

Poll Options

  • 68
    I bargain/shop around on everything whether its $2 or $2million, any savings is good savings
  • 9
    I bargain/shop around on the big stuff only
  • 0
    I dont bargain/shop around at all and dont shop around
  • 4
    I bargain/shop around for everything but dont really think why/have a goal
Financial

Comments

  • SF3 on 12/01/2021 - 22:46
    +11

    It comes down to Opportunity cost.

    If it didn’t “cost” you anything to get the saving yeah go for it. If you spent so much time to save and you end up missing something more important than the money saved, it isn’t worth it. It’s easier said than done 😅

    Often it is the “high” (aka dopamine) we enjoy in the process when we score a bargain.

    "When you do score something, it feels great, so you have this burst in dopamine, and people want that feeling again, and it causes a lot of shopping errors."

    • Samsungnote10 on 12/01/2021 - 22:54
      +1

      Definitely my endorphins get going when I score a screaming bargain

      • SF3 on 12/01/2021 - 22:56

        Also this from above link ( you replied during my edit :) )

        Bargain hunting, he explained, creates dopamine rushes in consumers, as they feel an increased sense of control of the transaction – and retailers know how to nudge along that “winning feeling.”

  • sickllama on 12/01/2021 - 22:47
    +2

    I don't sweat the small irregular stuff, like buying a nice garden pot. I do my research on the major stuff (e.g. new tv) and the regular stuff (e.g. cheap made in Australia bathroom products like tooth paste and shampoo)

  • skid on 12/01/2021 - 23:00

    I bargain/shop around on the small stuff only. Dunno why.

    Your hot water plumber experience is typical. Same thing happened to me. Guess the plumbers see $2000 as small stuff and don't even bother responding. You didn't really pay $200 more as that guy was the only choice you had.

  • ozbargainsam on 12/01/2021 - 23:05
    +2

    I don't think you'll get many honest answers here otherwise they'd be risking their OzB membership.

    Me, though, I tend to go for the low effort, big reward discounts. Like the iTunes+OW stack.

    On reflection, I'm a terrible bargainer. Here, just take it…

  • kanmen on 12/01/2021 - 23:44

    I'm that person that buys all the clearance price things with special stickers at Coles/Woolies. Often it means I can get $40-50 worth of things for like $5. Happy to buy things on sale so that I can go out to a restaurant for a meal every now and again too.

  • Clear on 13/01/2021 - 00:32

    Really depends on the urgency for small stuff. If I need something then and there then why not?

  • nurbsenvi on 13/01/2021 - 02:58

    Much better off spending less and investing consistently on appreciating assets.

    Spend time wisely because it’s money as well.

  • AustriaBargain on 13/01/2021 - 03:51
    +2

    Drive across town to save 50 cents on a pack of pens, but will sign whatever the first guy offers me for my mortgage.

    • Samsungnote10 on 13/01/2021 - 10:05

      I know exactly how you feel

      Have driven to my local supermarket to pick up my favourite half price special to save a few $
      While didn't bother to shop around to save $100 for something else

      I could have bought 50x supermarket items

  • WizMuncher on 13/01/2021 - 06:46
    +1

    I've saved a hell of a lot of money on small stuff by planning ahead. You know all those little items that cost a fortune to buy in a store, but can take three months to get delivered from China for next to nothing. If you get in the habit of doing it, it really doesn't take much time - in fact you could argue it's saving you time.

    So I keep a stock of all the cables and odds and ends I need and when stock runs low I simply order more. I bought those Phillips X2HR headphones at a great discount during the sales for example - straight away I ordered a replacement pair of ear pads for a few dollars. I might not need them for years, might never need them, but the convenience of simply walking to a draw and getting them rather than order and wait forever, or god forbid have to buy them for fifty bucks at a JB-hifi or what ever they cost is worth it in my mind.

    Also it's well worth doing simple repairs. My Kindle battery was clearly on the way out and I'd ordered well in advance so there was the replacement battery with a little set of tools accompanying it that cost about $30. Changed out the battery and it is as good as new again. Saved a heap of money not having to go out and buy a new one straight away (I use it everyday) - although I do plan to buy one of the new ones when on special (better resolution and most importantly waterproof). The old one with the new battery will be a good back up.

  • PurchaseAnxiety on 13/01/2021 - 09:57
    +1

    It depends on the effort involved. For instance, if we're in Woolies and the rice (random example) seems a bit too expensive, I probably won't make a trip to Aldi just for rice. But I will look at the per unit pricing of the rice they do have and then making my choice. It's basically effortless, so might as well save a few bucks. In your case, if you had just bought booze that you would have bought anyway (and didn't travel across town to do it), then you're in the same position you would have been in anyway but with more money.

    You say the savings got wiped out, but I think that's the point of saving where you can. You add to that cash pile everyday in small increments so that when stuff does hit the fan, you've got the money there ready to go.

    • Samsungnote10 on 13/01/2021 - 10:09

      True, one part of me thinks why sweat the small stuff

      If I was buying a car for example, and I've got the dealer down to $20k for example, and its probably the best price I am going to get, I should spend another effort trying to get another $50 off, so that I don't have to bargain $10 off for a case of beer x5 for the rest of the year. The effort of 5x cases of beer is >>>$50 on a car

  • blueyez on 13/01/2021 - 09:59
    +1

    Sometimes you need to spend more, it's unavoidable. For looking after a house, car etc it's a neccessity.

    In everyday life I just try to save where I can.

  • JIMB0 on 13/01/2021 - 12:22

    You only got 25% discount on your booze? Could of done better if you stacked the deals.

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