SavvySugar

Why You Shouldn't Buy a Fragrance at First Sniff

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 03:10:54 PDT

The scenario goes a little something like this: you walk into Sephora searching for a new fragrance and walk out with a scent you adored in the store, only to realize two days later that you actually can't stand the smell. It's a classic case of first-sniff buyer's remorse, and it's exactly why you should never purchase a fragrance based on an initial spritz. To find out why you should wait on fragrance, just keep reading.

Have You Ever Had eBay Bidder's Remorse?

CasaSugar — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 07:00:15 PDT

I recently asked if you'd ever had buyer's remorse over buying furniture. Unfortunately, most of you agreed you had, but there was one response that resonated with me in particular. CasaSugar Community member Sundown321 wrote, "I used to get buyer's remorse after eBay purchases. I would get caught up in the excitement of the bid and found myself overpaying for an antique piece of furniture. Later, I learned not to get caught up in that . . . pick a price and stick to it. Also, research what you are buying, shop around as much as possible. Find out the manufacturer of the furniture you are interested in and make sure you are getting the best deal possible. If you put the time and work into it you are less likely to regret your purchase!"

I don't know about you but I have definitely been there before! I actually still have silly things I've bought on eBay sitting unused in closets around my house. My solution, though, wasn't so much to pick a price and stick to it but to steer clear of eBay altogether. How about you? Have you fallen prey to the rush of eBay bidding?

Have You Ever Had Furniture Buyer's Remorse?

CasaSugar — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 12:00:00 PDT

CasaSugar Community member Zooey1118 recently asked the CasaSugar Q and A group, "Have you ever had buyer's remorse on a furniture purchase? I just bought two chairs today and now I'm wracked with remorse."

I once bought a coffee table that I'm not completely happy with. But it wasn't too expensive, and it filled the need I had at the time, so I wouldn't say I'm "wracked with remorse" over the purchase.

How about you? Have any of you regretted a furniture purchase? Have you ever returned a piece of furniture? Have any of you had trouble with return policies? Please tell me in the comments below.

Maxed Out: Binge Shopper Fills Void by Using Credit Cards

SavvySugar — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:30:34 PDT

This episode of Maxed Out is about Alicia, a 30-year old woman who works in advertising and has trapped herself in a pattern of binge spending. A couple years ago she was $20,000 in debt and got a consolidation loan she got to help her pay it off. After paying down about $10,000, she started using credit cards again and increased her debt load to $20,000 once again. Alicia maxed out three credit cards in just two months, and Allison Griffiths develops a plan to help Alicia regain self-control. Find out what happens with Alicia's debt problem when you

Her two biggest problem areas are eating out and shopping, and she estimates that any given shopping trip could total between $150 and $500. Alicia says she's filling a void by shopping and admits that she doesn't feel like getting up on days she can't spend, but springs out of bed when she knows there's room on a card and goes straight to the mall.

Allison calculates that Alicia has a monthly shortfall of $720, and at the rate she's going it will take over five years to pay off her debt. Allison suggests that another consolidation loan is in order and will save Alicia $3,000 in interest and cut the amount of time it will take to pay off her total debt. Along with the loan, Allison puts Alicia on a shopping diet where she must put an item on hold for 24 hours and then go home to fill out a shopping questionnaire, tells her to track her spending, and asks her to think of another way to fill her void.

Alicia is able to break the cycle of spending, debt, and regret, and ends up with a monthly $420 surplus. She tries to fill her void by volunteering instead of shopping, spending her time with a program called Dress Your Best that helps low-income women put outfits together for job interviews.

Source

I'm Asking: When Was the Last Time You Had Buyer's Remorse?

SavvySugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:08:48 PDT

Buyer's remorse sets in when we second (and third, and fourth) guess ourselves after making a purchase that usually falls more in the want than the need category. Sometimes it leads us to dragging ourselves back to the store and returning the item, and other times we simply get past the feeling with some clever rationalization. Can you remember the last thing you purchased that made you kick yourself with buyer's remorse?

Source

Your Two Cents: Is Compulsive Buying a Mental Disorder?

SavvySugar — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:33:06 PDT

Buying things to make yourself feel better, getting the high for a short while, coming down with hateful guilt, and repeating the process until you're deep in debt is the basis for compulsive buying. It's an addiction that millions of people struggle to overcome and there are support groups like Debtors Anonymous to aid in recovery. According to a study in the American Journal of Psychiatry, 5.8 percent of Americans suffer from this kind of compulsion.

For years the American Psychiatric Association has been discussing including compulsive buying in its manual of mental disorders - do you think it should be identified as such?

Source

How to Overcome Buyer's Remorse

SavvySugar — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:36:21 PDT

That regretful feeling we know as buyer's remorse has a way of getting into the heads of most shoppers I know. And it doesn't seem to distinguish between well-off pocketbooks versus struggling ones - remember in Clueless when Dion asked Cher, "Dude, what's wrong? Are you suffering from buyer's remorse or something?" Cher responds, "God, no! Nothing like that." Because buyer's remorse is, like, a totally serious thing. To find out how to battle buyer's remorse just

There are really only two options to get rid of remorse: either return the item or simply learn to accept your purchase. If you choose the latter, put the item to use immediately because once you've gotten something out of your purchase you'll start feeling less like you want to kick yourself. Whichever direction you choose, make your decision quickly. What's the point in stressing about an article of clothing or a pair of shoes? We have so many other things weighing on us at all times and buyer's remorse should be the last thing giving us premature wrinkles.

A quick Google search of the term generated hundreds of results, but interestingly most were aimed at stores and services with tips on how to prevent buyers from returning goods. All of them were dishing the same advice: provide your customer with reassurance and confirmation that they're making the right choice. One familiar tactic involves a follow-up contact that makes you feel appreciated, and in turn your positive feelings are directed toward your purchase and the provider of your new item.

Do you have any unique tricks for overcoming purchases lacking conviction and filled with regret?

Source

Do You Ever Get Buyer's Remorse?

FabSugar — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 00:55:55 PDT

Source

7 Basic Things to Keep in Mind When Buying Engagement Bling

Emily Co — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:15:05 PDT

The engagement ring may be one of the biggest expenses of your wedding, and as with buying any big-ticket item, you need to do your homework. We tapped Jerry Ehrenwald, the president of the International Gemological Institute, for some quick guidelines on what couples need to do when they're buying an engagement ring.

Learn about the four Cs. "Before purchasing a diamond, learn all about the four Cs - the color of the diamond, the clarity of the diamond, the quality of the cut of the diamond, and the carat weight of the diamond."
Check out reputable stores. "Shop at reputable jewelry sources. Make purchases from a jeweler who has been in business for a number of years. If you are not familiar with the jeweler or online site, check their reputation and rating with the Better Business Bureau before you buy."
Buy a certified diamond. "Certified means that a diamond rating report has been issued by an independent, unbiased gemological institute. This way, the consumer has the opportunity to compare one diamond’s quality to that of another, with regard to the value and quality of the diamond they’re looking at."
Grading report. "Purchase diamond jewelry accompanied by a grading report. The grading report provides an unbiased assessment of a jewel’s four Cs. It informs you if a stone is synthetic - in other words, man-made or laboratory grown - or has undergone any treatments, which may dramatically affect the value. Be sure an accredited gemological institute, such as IGI, has graded the diamond jewelry to the one internationally accepted system for diamond grading."

Read on for more.

Why Does Rent Keep on Rising?

Business Insider — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 03:05:00 PDT

If you're frustrated by the increase in rent, you're not alone. Business Insider sheds some light on this phenomenon.

With mortgage rates at record lows and a rental market flooded with previous homeowners, most experts agree that now's the time to transition from renter to buyer.

That's easier said than done.

Today's reality is that consumers left battered and bruised by the recession aren't exactly the most attractive candidates for home loans - especially at a time when lenders are choosier than ever with loan applicants.

The result is a new wave of frustrated renters, says Citi Habitat President Gary Malin. Edged out of the housing market by foreclosure or turned down by lenders, they're left with no choice but to rent at some of the highest rates in years.

In Manhattan alone, the first quarter of 2012 brought the highest monthly rent average since 2007, tipping past the $3,400 mark, according to the brokerage firm's latest data. The city's vacancy rate is hovering just about the one percent mark.

"In Manhattan, in general, the housing market has yet to fully recover," Malin says. "Look at the cost of acquisition and the cost selling. If you don't have a long enough time, you might not get your money out."

Read on for more.