Making a Purchase: Justify Your Big-Ticket Items with This Strategy

There are things we need and things we want, but there’s also a whole lot in between. Sometimes, we fool ourselves into thinking that something we only want is something we need.

Sometimes, we need to justify a purchase (especially a large one) to alleviate the guilt. But if you have to explain something, it usually means that it can’t stand alone as the right thing to do.

You don’t need to justify retirement savings or an emergency fund.

So does this mean that we can never buy expensive things unless we’re swimming in cash? Not necessarily. Turn your desire for something nice into motivation for responsible spending practices.

Money Is a Tool

My father had a saying: “Money is for spending.”

We grew up modestly, and my father worked very hard, doing manual labor to support our family. Though we were frugal, we were never in severe need, and sometimes, we’d even splurge.

Oddly, knowing that money didn’t come easily, all of the kids in the family were always a little more concerned about our personal finances than the grown-ups. It’s when my father would break out his above saying.

He didn’t mean it in a way to justify being careless with money. He knew that money was a tool to get the things we needed.

Like with any tool, identifying the optimal way to use it will take time. Abuse it, and it’s useless when you need it.

When Is the Extra Expense Worth It?

There are times when the additional cost of something is worth the price tag, provided you have the funds available and are not going into debt over it.

When It Will Last Longer Than the Cheaper Alternative

Some things are more expensive because they are quality products. The materials may cost more, or the people making it may be more skilled.

High-quality clothing can last a lifetime, while many big-box store items barely survive a season. Fast fashion is designed this way—brands know most pieces will be discarded within a few years, either due to wear or because they quickly go out of style.

I have a dress shirt that I had tailor-made.

It gets professionally laundered, which is harsh on the fabric. I probably paid three or four times what you’d pay for something that wouldn’t fit as well at a nicer clothing store off the rack.

It still looks as new as the day I bought it – twenty years ago.

When It Will Save You More Money Than You Spent

Some things that will save you a lot of money in the long run have a pretty high initial cost. This is because it takes money to save money.

Solar panels offer long-term savings despite their high upfront cost, reducing electricity bills over time. If you generate more energy than you use, net metering programs provide credits that help lower your future bills.

Leasing solar panels eliminates the initial expense, but the leasing company typically reaps most of the financial benefits. Since you won’t own the system, it can affect your property value and limit your access to incentives like tax credits.

When It’s the Only Option

There are expensive things that have no alternative. Yet if they’re necessary, you’re stuck. Unfortunately, some medications or medical procedures fall under this category.

The key is to prepare for those things. Knowing that they exist, you should keep some money in savings for those unavoidable costs. You never want to be caught in a situation that forces you to make a challenging and highly consequential choice.

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When Are You Just Fooling Yourself?

Then there are times when your justification is only an excuse (and not a very good one). There are things we tell ourselves to make us feel better about an unnecessary expense.

You’re Getting Reward Points

Whoever invented credit card reward programs deserved that corner office they probably got. This one thing has perhaps made credit card companies billions of dollars over the years.

It’s true even if you pay off your entire balance every month.

Vendors pay the credit card companies a percentage of each purchase in transaction fees, which the vendors eventually add to the price of everything you buy.

You Only Live Once (YOLO)

Variants of this are “You can’t take it with you when you die” or “You’re only young once!” While these statements in and of themselves are correct, they’re not necessarily great rules for living.

This mode of thinking assumes that the older you get, life isn’t as valuable or that frugal living is the equivalent of a wasted life. That is toxic thinking.

While you shouldn’t be afraid of experiencing life to the fullest, free-spending is not necessarily the best way. Living out the remainder of your life in perpetual debt and insecurity is usually the consequence.

No one ever gets into their golden years saying, “Gee, I’m sure glad I spent all my money in my 20s”

It’s an “Investment”

Some people believe that purchasing something with a noble purpose is considered an “investment.” Examples of this would be a computer for school or a car for getting to work.

While few would deny that these are good things, elevating them to the status of “investment” is a weak attempt to justify the cost. Investments are always prudent and don’t need justification.

These are tools, and like all tools, they need justification. Investments need no explanation because they clearly expect to grow in value.

The Value of Planning and Budgeting

Planning comes a lot easier if you have a solid budget you know you can adhere to or one you already follow. With a reasonable budget, you know how much you’re saving and what your cash flow is each month.

If you don’t have the cash on hand for the large purchase, you’re going to have to do some forecasting. Going into credit card debt or taking out a massive loan to get something bigger, shinier, or cooler is not a good plan.

If your budget is good enough, you can purchase the item now with a 0% APR credit card and pay it off before the interest rate kicks in. But be careful.

Most 0% APR offers contain many caveats and exceptions, and being late on a payment or carrying a balance after the 0% period is over could be quite painful.

Read and understand the fine print.

Practical Tips for Your Personality and Habits

People have very different views about spending. Add to that particular hang-ups or habits you may have, and it’s hard to find a universal method of developing smart spending ideas that will work for everyone.

Here are some more specific ways to justify your big-ticket item and create good financial habits in the process.

If You’re Impulsive

The problem with impulse purchases is that you feel that you must make a decision now, or else an opportunity will pass you by, or you will regret making a terrible decision afterward.

Given enough time, most everything will wane. And how do you harness the power of time? Layaway and rent.

When you get the urge for instant gratification, take a timeout. Put the item on emotional layaway. Table the purchase for a few weeks and see if the desire remains. The more expensive it is, the more time you should take.

Often, the wanting will pass, or you’ll just forget about it. Either way, you will have saved some money and possibly some regret.

If you still tend to purchase things hastily and regret them later, perhaps you should consider renting. I don’t mean habitually or as a new lifestyle, but it gives you time to back out of things if you can’t help yourself in the heat of the moment.

Renting, in the long run, is not budget-friendly. You’re sacrificing long-term financial goals for short-term satisfaction.

If You Like High-End Things

“There’s no accounting for taste,” or so the saying goes. And for some things, you want the best of the best.

There’s nothing fundamentally wrong with that. But that desire should not lead you down an irresponsible path with your money.

Sometimes, it’s OK to splurge – occasionally. That applies to everyday things as well as big-ticket items.

For example, you can buy a pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream for about the same price as a half-gallon of some cheaper brands. That’s four times as much for the same amount.

But the enjoyment I get from the premium ice cream makes me eat less and feel more satisfied.

Sometimes, the difference in cost is only because of its name. And that difference carries a long-term opportunity cost.

If you know you need to invest more and spend less on expensive things, one thing you can try is to get that same thrill from seeing investment growth. Purchase the less expensive item and invest the difference in dollar amount.

Recognizing the value growth could be incentive enough to keep doing this. Instead of just looking wealthy with your flashy stuff, be wealthy with your prudent investments.

When You Should Be Saving

No one is born with a love of saving. The most diligent savers probably started as massive spenders like me. But, like many good habits, sometimes it takes a little push initially.

Why not use your love of spending as a motivator?

Saving money can seem like a chore. At least it’s not nearly as fun as spending it. But that nagging thought of putting away your money just can’t seem to go away.

Most will tell you that if you want something, save and pay for it in cash. That’s good advice, but it won’t help you build your savings.

If you also want to build your savings account, resolve to create two savings piles – one for the thing you want to buy and the other only for savings.

Every dollar you put into your spending pile, put one in your savings pile. Only once you reach the full cash value of that thing you want to buy are you allowed to withdraw from your spending pile to buy it.

The impressive part is that you will not only get that thing you want guilt-free but also grow your savings. After a few times of doing this, look at your savings account and then those things you bought that are probably already starting to show their age.

Which makes you feel more secure? Do this right, and you might turn into a super-saver.

Less Guilt, Not Guiltless

If you’re looking for a free ticket to spend whatever you want whenever you want, you’ll never get it without a healthy dose of fooling yourself. The key is to put yourself in a situation where spending on things you want doesn’t trip up the rest of your financial plan.

A healthy amount of guilt is not a bad thing if it motivates you to be more fiscally responsible.

You don’t see a carpenter feeling guilty about using a hammer. With some foresight and planning, even hefty purchases can be okay.

While you’re at it, it doesn’t hurt to consider donating to a charity. If you’re going to go hog-wild with your money, why not direct it to a good cause? Sometimes, the feeling of just doing something good can scratch that lavishness itch. As a bonus, it’s guilt-free.