Is it always about the price?

Good morning Dinks. I know that I always preach about buying everything at the lowest cost possible. This is mostly due to my turbulent and troubled financial past, it’s also because my new financial life preaches savings and a dollar not spent can be a dollar saved.

I love shopping around for deals; I will do my weekly shopping at three different stores if it means that I will get the best deal possible and buy my products at the lowest price. I will also go out of my way and even walk in the rain to find my bank’s ATM before I pay a transaction fee to take money out of another bank’s ATM.  I don’t think that I am cheap; I just like making sure that I get the best deal possible on the products that I need and love.

Be a financial role model

I am, what I like to call frugal. I work hard for my money, I enjoy my money and now that I am financially responsible I also save money on a regular basis.  I feel a sense of self accomplishment when my bank account, savings account and investment account balances grow. I don’t think that makes me a snob, I think that it just makes me financially responsible. I don’t brag or talk about my net worth because the sense of knowing that I am financially responsible is enough of a reward, I don’t need to talk about it.

I also like to tell my story to anyone and everyone who will listen.  I don’t mind sharing my dark financial past with others if it means that I can help someone avoid making the same mistakes that I did.  If you are drowning in debt you may be hopeless and I like to tell people that you can get out of debt and start over. I know because I did it.

It’s ok to splurge if it’s worth it

Although I try to always find the cheapest price for everything that I buy from household items, to furniture, clothing and services, sometimes I realize that it’s just not possible.  Not everything can be bought at a super low price, or should I say cheap. Buying something cheap means that you prefer one brand of toilet paper over another because it is $3 less expensive. Some items can be on sale which makes them a good deal. If you really need something and you don’t want to pay full price for it you have two choices – shop around for the same item at the lowest price or wait until the item (and brand) you want go on sale.

Then there are those times when you can’t get a discount but you buy the item anyway. For me these are experience items such as theatre tickets and other personal adventures.  I am going to New York City in a few weeks (if you are in NYC and want to meet up, let me know) and I am going to pay to see a Broadway show. I visit NYC a few times a year and every time I like to go and see a Broadway show – preferably a musical. I am trying to decide between Annie and Cinderella – what do you think?

What is the last item that you overpaid for because you really wanted it?

Photo by emdot

Kristina Tahnyak

Tahnya is a Certified Financial Planner and former Investment Advisor turned marketing and communications professional She holds a degree from Concordia University, is debt free and currently works in the field of digital marketing.