Signs you should really put down that shirt/watch/suit and walk away
This has been posted as a classic before, but there’s an inordinate amount of temptation out there right now. It’s never a bad idea to get reacquainted with the signs that tell us not to buy something. No matter what that something is. Originally Published 6/13/11 Above photo credit
1. You already have something similar.
2. Especially if you already have something similar and you rarely wear it.
3. You can afford it off the rack, but not if it needs tailoring.
4. You already didn’t put any money into savings this pay period because, y’know, you needed new pants.
5. You’re pretty sure it’s too big, but the salesman vehemently says it’s not.
6. Sure you can afford it, but then you won’t be able to afford to go anywhere IN it.
7. You’re pissed about something that happened at work, and you’re trying to “treat” yourself.
8. It’s full retail, just came out, and you’re completely convinced your size will go on sale. But you don’t want to wait.
9. You have a $10 rewards card that’s about to expire, you sorta like it… and it’s $40.
10. You can’t remember the last time you bought your significant other flowers.
11. It’s from a brand you’ve had terrible luck with, but you think “this time will be DIFFERENT!”
12. The shipping and return shipping is outrageously expensive.
13. You’re counting on a bonus or tax return to pay for it.
14. You don’t have any more room in your closet.
15. It’s an awesome sale. You’ve never seen the price on that item that low. And you’re using the sale to rationalize your purchase when otherwise… you probably wouldn’t buy it.
Leave any additions or disagreements you may have in the comments below…
These are all great reasons not to spend your hard-earned cash. #3 especially: Always factor tailoring costs into whatever deal you’re getting.
Also, track your clothing spending (or more preferably, all your spending) in some sort of finance application like Quicken, Mint.com, or even an Excel spreadsheet. You might sometimes be surprised (read: horrified) at how much you spend on clothes.
#12 is all me…shipping and handling do scare folks..but the whole list is all encompassing to say the least. I have a budget that includes an allowance for clothing but still, I prefer to get items I NEED and not those that I may just WANT 🙂 But then again, I lost my whole wardrobe and thus have more of an incentive than the average person but still…Joe, your right on the money once again !!!
16. You don’t completely love it.
That may sound stupid but it’s something I’ve learned over time, and I think it was even mentioned in What Not to Wear at some point. If you’re feeling slightly iffy about something, especially as you’re trying it on, don’t get it. Especially if it’s only something like the price that’s tempting you, or if you think you need to get it because it’s the only cotton blazer in the right pattern that you’ve been able to find, etc.
If you don’t completely love a watch, jacket, shirt, pair of shoes, etc. during the honeymoon phase, it’s never going to get any better. If you can’t get excited about wearing it, you WON’T wear it, and if you don’t wear something then you might as well have tossed the money out your car window.
I think most of us have had the experience of buying something for reasons beyond our own excitement about wearing it. Unless you are literally required to do this (like a work uniform or something), then I highly recommend against it.
P.S. This holds true for online purchases as well. If you buy something online and don’t love it when it arrives, return it. Better to waste a few dollars on shipping than a lot of dollars on something you only sort of like.
This is one of those stages in the “sartorial journey” that signifies a huge level of maturity once reached, and I’d say one has reached the next level of the game once one gets there.
These are great. However, i think it is a good idea to stock up – once you find something that just works, might as well get a lifetime supply and forget about it.
for the amount of money that Dappered makes me want to spend, it’s quite nice to hear a few reasons to not immediately go out and buy two of everything that gets showcased on here.
Of all these, I’m guilty of #15 most often
17. “If after I take it home and decide I don’t like it after all, I’ll just eBay it and make all my money back!”
Word.
15#…
This. There are few subcategories:
“I normally don’t wear cropped dresss pants, but it’s such a good deal.” Chances are, you’ll wear it once. Or you’ll wear it a few times and then it will be out of fashion and probably not worth the amount you spent v. number of wearings.
“I’ve never seen a Ferragamo dress shirt for such a low price.” In this situation, it’s usually still very expensive from any objective standard, just not as expensive as it was. A dress shirt that was $300, but is on sale for $150 is still an expensive dress shirt. Blue Fly is notorious for this.
or a combo of the two:
“I normally don’t wear black and green pinstriped pants, but they’re Armani.” Luckily, I’ve largely grown out of this phase, but I admit, I am sometimes tempted.
I kinda feel like this was re-posted just for me…
SO guilty of #8, #9, #12, and #15.Also adding in #16, you’d feel bad not buying it because the salesman was helpful, attentive and not pushy; and #17, just because you don’t have something in that color (IE, my ongoing contention with my growing collection of Bonobos chinos, lol).
7. You’re pissed about something that happened at work, and you’re trying to “treat” yourself.
But… what if I’m in the Army and a f***n bomb almost blew me up?
7. You’re pissed about something that happened at work, and you’re trying to “treat” yourself
LOL… Isn’t that the TRUTH.. PREACH brother!
Yeah… I had my “Mint.com” spending epiphany recently. Oops…
Plan on practicing most of these guidelines from here on out. Nice pist
Great list. I’ll definitely have to refer back to it when i’m on the fence about purchasing something.
Is this available in wallet-card form? LOL.
This needs to be bumped for eternity