The Divide Between Wants and Needs: overcoming the urge of frivolous spending!!!

Hae Hivians 🤗

Image credit is CANVA

Recently, I had a fairly juicy offer to purchase some relocation items that were of good quality and reasonable prices. This was of course unplanned and not an emergency; it was however a good opportunity to buy. The items ranged from electronics (air conditioner, Bluetooth speaker) to furniture and kitchen appliances (bed frame and mattress, gas cylinders). The prices were quite tempting, as though they were used items, but went as low as 50% below their original prices. I considered some items a little too expensive for used items, although I did not make a bargain for them.

Relocation items are generally cheaper because the owners would need to dispose of them since they cannot be carried to their intended relocation sites. Also, these items may be well used considering the type of people who are relocating and wishing to sell them. I feel relocation items are good buys when one is opportune to encounter them, and especially if the funds are available.

Image credit is mine

I also have a bitter experience in relocation sales where the in-built oven I bought six months ago has not worked (the technician I invited could not fix it; perhaps I would find another). I bought the kitchen cabinet with the in-built microwave and oven for N220,000 ($300), and I spent N50,000 ($67) fixing it and replacing the marble top with a wooden board.

I have made up my mind to be wary and skeptical of any used electrical appliances, as the cost of repairing them may be as much as getting a new one.

At this point, I could only opt for the gas cylinders and the furniture for fear of faults in the electrical appliances. I looked at my account balance, and I knew at once that I was going to extremely inconvenience myself if I bought those items, even though the prices looked fair enough. I have a 12.5Kg stainless steel cylinder already that I am using and bought new for N42,000 ($56), and the seller had two neatly used stainless steel cylinders for N12,000 ($16) each and a 25Kg gas cylinder for N25,000 ($34). These prices were fair enough, and I felt I could buy one of the cylinders to use at my family's house. Well, my mattress has been on the tile floor, and I have thought of changing it and also getting a bed frame for it.

After much review of the items, I made the following resolutions:

I had no money in my account for it.

I was going to inconvenience myself by emptying my account and probably taking out soft loans if I ended up purchasing those items.

Money can run out, but items to buy will always be in the market (including relocation items).

I would be incurring more debt if I needed to meet other life’s demands after purchasing those items.

These items are things I want but can live without at the moment.

Life should be taken one step at a time.

After the above resolutions, I let the opportunity slide and I seem to have peace of mind especially knowing I did not have to incur debts to meet up with wants of life.

Thank you for reading. I would love your comments and contributions 🤗