Comments on: When Is a Deal a Good Deal?

By: Slinky

Slinky — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:49:02 +0000

If you love it AND you use it, then you should absolutely have it. If only one of those is true, you should consider it carefully. If neither is true, don’t buy it no matter what. Something you have, but don’t use OR love is always a waste of space. In your case, you love both, but it sounds like you’ll listen to the new Janis songs more than the other songs you already know. That means you get more enjoyment per dollar spent. Better deal.

I also agree that a lot of what we buy is about who we are. My mother financed the purchase of a motorcycle at 20% interest (bad credit from a messy divorce). While I cringe every time I think of that interest rate….I still can’t say it was a poor decision…not for her. She’s the first to pull her bike out in the spring, and the last person to put it away in the winter. If it’s not raining, she’s riding her bike and she loves every single second of it. And you know what? Last month she got a nice windfall and paid it off….$7k in one fell swoop. Goodbye interest rate, hello better credit score. My mum is a smart cookie, she just doesn’t brag about it.

By: I'm Just Sayin'

I'm Just Sayin' — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:55:32 +0000

Who is Janis Ian???

By: spicoli

spicoli — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:30:40 +0000

If I want it and it is on sale, it is a good deal. If I don’t already want something and a sale makes me buy it, it might be a good deal.

By: David G. Mitchell

David G. Mitchell — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:11:04 +0000

Good catch, Princess! I am rather fond of teal but I agree that it does not belong in the article.

By: Princessperky

Princessperky — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:34:28 +0000

Teal people never did agree on finances (second to last paragraph). I think it has to do with teal being such a hard color to pin down, no two folk can agree on just how much green needs to be added to the blue…..(or is it blue added to green?)

By: Financial Samurai

Financial Samurai — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:28:07 +0000

A good deal is any time you think the price you purchased is cheaper than the intrinsic fair market value.

Just don’t get hooked on getting good deals, b/c you’ll end up spending too much money and going broke!

Hope to see you over at FS.

By: persephone

persephone — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:05:51 +0000

I don’t like any deal that I have to accept or reject immediately. If there is a time pressure on making a decision, I usually assume that it is a bad purchase unless the item is one of a kind or uniquely available.

By: Len Bevy

Len Bevy — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:44:49 +0000

Your analysis makes a lot of sense. Most people woudn’t put half the thought into a purchase as you have. But we all need to. I read youngmoney often for different topics and I’m glad I’ve found this site as well. I often tell my kids that they have to decide if its a need or a want. A simpler distinction, but a good one.

By: Ann

Ann — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:28:18 +0000

Timely article!

One of my worst problems is when I go on-line to buy various tools and supplies and “deals” pop up. I happen to love tools that do what they’re supposed to and have just recently learned that, unless it’s something I’m really going to use, it’s not worth it at any cost! Also, for things like diamond files, unless they can tell me the grit and how the grit is bonded, a “deal” may be the cheap version and not worth my while. So now, I only order what I’m looking for… unless the deal is for something I know, like and use frequently.

Grocery and other shopping has to be approached the same way — particularly watching expiration dates! Ten large cans of diced tomatoes, which I tend to use a lot of, are not a deal if they expire in a month.

By: John DeFlumeri Jr

John DeFlumeri Jr — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:43:27 +0000

It’s a deal if you were going to but it anyway. Not it they put the idea into your head.

John DeFlumeri Jr