My Regret About Those $200 Boots

“why did I buy this?”

I caught myself having this thought while walking from the Nelson. I had just bought a pair of $200 Dr Martens which I thought I wanted.

“This money could be used for so many other things, and I wasted it on a pair of leather boots.” For what? Status?

The reason is unclear. The cause is obvious…

The Buying Mood

Context—I was strolling around the mall during some free time in between appointments. It’s the holiday season, so people are shopping, discounts are popping, and bank balances are dropping.

This mindset is where wants are masked as needs. I didn’t NEED anything, but when I saw the boots my girlfriend and I had been discussing, I didn’t hesitate.

Unknowingly, I grabbed them, requested a size 10 pair and swipe...

-$200

It wasn’t until later, reflecting on the purchase, that I realized what had happened. The buying mood made me impulsive, pushing me to decide without thinking.

Impulse buying often leads to regrets. But it’s preventable. Here’s how to protect yourself from it—even when you’re in the buying mood.

1. What else?

   Think about what else you could do with the amount of time/money you’re about to invest in the thing.

In our case as entrepreneurs, you could buy the shoes for $200. But the same amount would also buy you over 400,000 impressions on your advertisement which might result in a positive ROI. Framing things like this will help you see what truly matters.

2. Pause & Reflect

   When tempted to buy, take a step back and wait 24–48 hours to let the excitement wear off.

Had I waited even a few hours, I would have realized the boots weren’t as important as they seemed at the moment—and saved myself $200.

3. Ask: How much do I care?

   Think about if this purchase really even matters to you.

Do I really care if I have these specific boots or not? If so, how much? And if a lot, do I care more about them, or my business and goals?

Shower thought of the day

Sporks exist but you never see anyone eating with them.
_Source

P.S. It is one thing to acknowledge your mistakes, making them right is another.

P.P.S. I returned the shoes and should get my money back soon. Lesson learned!