Do you ever spend more to save?

I worked at Wal-Mart for a couple of months in 2007, and everyone who worked there referred to sales like that as "gimmick" sales. They're designed to get customers to spend more money than they would have normally spent. Doesn't necessarily make them bad things--if you stick with things that you need, or will need soon, it can help you save quite a bit. But if you're just throwing random stuff in your cart so you can get to $50 and save 15%, it's not worth it, especially if you spend more than you end up saving in the end. Personally, for me it really depends on where I'm shopping. If a grocery store were offering a similar deal, I'd probably take advantage of it if they had some good sales on meats going on. I'd just stock my freezer, and probably not have to buy any meat for at least a month or two. Other than that, it would really depend on the store and if I could really use anything they were selling.

I believe I would have spent the $50 if it was on things that I was going to use anyway instead of things that I wouldn't have ever bought otherwise. I know that a lot of the stores here have buy ten items and save sales and sometimes I will take advantage of those while other times I won't because it all depends on what is on sale. If the things that are on sale are things that I don't usually use, I won't take advantage whereas if the things are items that I use on a regular basis, I will take advantage.

sure, when there is a sale, we usually stock up too. this week our grocery store has a number of things on sale for a dollar and we bought extra for that reason!

This is so funny Cutepenguin! Oftentimes, we think we're able to save because of BIG discounts but by the time we arrive home we just paid for things we never really need. And we were just sort of "magnetized" by the HUGE sign screaming, "50% off!" I have to admit that I am often get myself "victimized" by this. :). But I am learning to stay calm whenever I see that screaming sign. Thanks for this discussion. :)

Well you said it is all stuff you used so it was not such a bad thing to do. You can think of it this way yoy paid $50.00 to get $58.00 worth of stuff. I have to admit I have spent more money then I wanted to in order to use a coupon or take advantage of a sale. That can be a bad thing but if it is stuff you regularly buy and know you will use then it is not so bad as you were likely going to buy it eventually anyways so you might as well take advantage of a good discount. Now if you buy things you don't want or need to get a discount then it is not worth it.

I am a sale fanatic, I admit it. Sales like that, I'd definitely take advantage of - if it's stuff I'll have to buy later anyway. If I saved 8 bux, I'd go back and get 8 bux more worth of stuff! See, incurable fanatic! Of course, it all depends on what else is happening in your piggy bank :o) If the rent is due and you'll only have 20 bux left after you pay it, then I'd skip the sale. But it would probably bug me all week, thinking about how much I 'could have' saved.

I always go through and do the math first to see if the price per item is worth it. Sometimes you can beat the sales if you wait for a sale and a coupon to come along at the same time. I keep a book that has things I buy often in it and when a great price comes along I write down the date, price and where it was at. There are times each year that certain things are cheaper then others.

Depends on if I really needed the stuff. Certain things you know you will always need. Toilett paper, tooth past, shampoos. Things like that, I would love to keep a stock pile of. Mostly I do ignore sales, there is not that much of a savings in them unless you are real good with coupons and a really great shopper. Most things I see on sale I can get cheaper by buying generic anyway.

I look for bargains whenever possible. I also shop at the Dollar Store for cleaning products and paper products. I also buy snacks because they are cheaper. If a sale is good I would definately do it. Also, my best friend and I go to Sam's Club and buy things in bulk and split everything evenly down the middle. This cuts costs.