Are You a Needs-First Buyer or a Retail-Therapy Queen?

Calculating income and expenses. Keeping an eye on tour money.

We’ve all been there – email pops up: “Buy two pairs, get 20% off.” Suddenly, Clarks is calling our name louder than our kids shouting “Mum!” from the bathroom.

I’ll confess: I usually order online, then pop to my local Clarks to collect. That way, if I need to exchange sizes, I can do it straight away. But here’s the danger: every single time I’m in the shop, I spot something on the “Reduced” rack and whisper, “Well, it would be silly not to…”

Now, my daughter is brilliant at trying to outsmart me. She says, “Mum, I’m actually saving money if I buy this now because it’s on sale.” To which I gently laugh and reply, “No,

darling, you’re actually losing money because you weren’t planning to buy it in the first place.” Cue the eye-roll.

So, ladies and gents, let’s get real:

• Are you an impulsive buyer? (that 2 am Amazon scroll 👀)

• Do you ask yourself: Is this a want or a need?

• Do you believe in retail therapy? (“I’m sad, so let me buy a scented candle.”)

• Or are you more like me – “If I buy something to cheer myself up, the guilt will make me even sadder.” 😂

• Or are you from my part of the world, where we buy uniforms for celebrations, and there are so many of them, trust me, for example, birthdays, funerals, and even 10-year remembrance of a death, etc.

• Or you are the type that enjoys spending money lavishly before you have only one life to live, but regret later when there is no money left till payday.

• Delayed gratification is supposed to be the smart way: take care of needs first, then treat yourself to a want. But sometimes, that “want” makes a busy mum’s week feel brighter.

  So tell me – which type of buyer are you?