There's an adage that says, a man will spend $2 on a $1 item he needs, while a woman will spend $1 on a $2 item she doesn't need. If this is generally the norm, then my husband and I fall into the totally typical category.
He is, like most men I suppose, a hunter gatherer. He identifies a target and sets his sights on it. Whether it's a power tool, a pair of shoes or a pizza, he knows what he wants, and he single mindedly pursues said objective until he acquires it. With his wallet holstered in his back pocket like a weapon, he enters a store, takes aim at the desired item and wrangles it to the register without being even a little tempted to just look around and see what else he might find.
There is no such thing as browsing in his world. Every shopping trip has a defined goal and a direct path. There is no need to peruse the aisles...no reason to check the clearance racks.
There is also no need to look for a good deal in his world either. If he needs something, he doesn't see any real advantage to checking the Sunday ads, waiting for a coupon or sale or shopping around. He'll just go to the most convenient vendor, pay the asking price, whatever it is, and call it a successful trip.
This method simply does not work for me. I do not like to pay full price for anything...not food, not clothes, not household goods. I never consider the 'original price' to be the actual price. I know there is a deal to be had on almost everything we buy, and I'm willing to work a little and wait a little to get it.
For me, paying full price feels like a waste. Everything goes on sale eventually...stores have mark downs...manufacturers offer coupons...even services are offered at discounted rates during certain times of the year. It's all about planning ahead and having the patience to overcome the instant gratification urges we all have from time to time.
But I definitely am one who will spend $1 on a $2 item I don't need...or at least don't need at the moment. Why wait until we're out of peanut butter and then have to pay whatever the asking price may be? If I can buy it today on sale, with a coupon and keep it on hand for whenever the need does arise, doesn't that make more sense?
My husband thinks it's just a little nutty to have multiple bottles of ketchup, salad dressing and bbq sauce stocked in the pantry. But he sure has benefited more than once from an extra package of toilet tissue stashed away somewhere or an spare stick of deodorant stockpiled under the sink. And he certainly appreciates the wide variety of breakfast cereals we always have on hand and the fact that he can always find a quick snack when he rolls in from work at 2a.m.
I don't want to ever get to the place where my family has to stage a hoarder's intervention, but I do enjoy the feeling of having the fridge full and the shelves well stocked. Paying only a fraction of the retail price makes that sensation only that much sweeter. So say what what you will, but I'll just keep squeezing dimes to see if I can get more than ten cents worth of something to fall out of them.
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