How do you decide whether to spend or save?

[TheOGCCL]

I'm torn between the seasons changing and lots of new bits in the shops (but don't actually NEED anything) and wanting to pay down my mortgage as much as possible before our cheap fix ends (and I'm on a low buy mission). I have been out today and seen a few things I'd like for Autumn including a new handbag (£36) and a jumper (£25) and part of me says you can afford this (we are overpaying our mortgage by over £1000 month at the moment - but could always save more) and life is too short, and thinking this is just a waste. Does anyone have similar dilemmas?

PS I appreciate this is a first world problem!

If your overpaying by that much it implies you have plentiful enough money to also enjoy life and buy things

It's a pretty small spend compared to the mortgage overpayments you're making, so I wouldn't stress too much on that front.
I always err on the side of Fuck It and buy the thing, but also try to use an 'is it worth that much to me' test. So separate to how much something is worth - ie are the materials decent, is it well designed - how much is the financial hit worth in terms of the happiness it might or might not bring.
Will the jumper make you £25 happy because you'll look forwards to putting it on every time, or would an extra £25 of mortgage overpayment or a meal out or a different jumper make you happier. A variation on Marie Kondo's does it spark joy, I guess.

I appreciate this is a first world problem!

My God how I hate this phrase! You surely don’t honestly think no one outside the ‘first world’ worries about prioritising paying for their home or indulging in shorter term pleasures? They’re not all homeless and naked …

It's just a way of saying she realises it isn't a serious problem which it isn't. 🤷.

I'd buy the jumper and bag if I had already put an extra £1000 into the mortgage this month. If I hadn't overpaid I'd consider whether I really wanted them or not. But with such large overpayments I think you could buy them without worrying about it.

How about giving yourself an allowance and then enjoy it knowing it’s budgeted for and you can afford it?

Life is short, but that isn’t a justification for buying tat and let’s be honest that is what it is. I have emigrated twice and I’m both occasions. I have filled, skips full of rubbish, broken children’s toys, handbags where the class of come off all that sort of thing. It’s actually very sobering to sit there and look at £20,000 worth of shit in a skip going to a landfill.

Hi OP,

I’ve seen you posting before on the no buy challenge and secondhand threads, so my question relates to this - are the items one-off finds in charity shops that you won’t find again if you don’t buy then and there?

You could always try to walk around the block and think about it, or even toss a coin and see your immediate reaction to the outcome - it’s sometimes quite telling!

Do you feel the need to justify the purchase to yourself? Try asking if the item fills a gap in your wardrobe, can you think of 5 other outfits to wear it with, does it make you feel happy, etc.

Ultimately tho, as PP says, if it’s not going to get good use, it’s just tat and can be left, no matter how much you can afford it

If these are brand new items, you’ll probably be able to find them on Vinted. Or something v v similar. I think I have cut my clothing spend by about 75% this way, I’m amazed.