Comments on: What’s Your Financial “Achilles Heel”

By: Dasha

Dasha — Wed, 17 May 2006 21:04:15 +0000

Mine is buying things on clearance. I simply can’t pass up an item that’s 75-90% off (what I consider clearance). I was justifying shopping by the fact that my bill was never over 20 dollars. But all those small ammounts still added up and I often found myself buying something because it was a good deal not because I really needed it or liked it. Now I am much more careful to buy only the things I really like, I sleep on it, save up the money and end up with something I truly love and value.

By: Debt Hater

Debt Hater — Wed, 17 May 2006 03:35:13 +0000

My hair. When it comes to a black woman’s hair, we don’t skimp. I do it myself mostly now and that’s all but free, but when I go to a salon I can pay $70 to $300 and I don’t care as long as it looks great!

By: steve

steve — Tue, 16 May 2006 03:18:21 +0000

Massages. Yes, terribly true, but if I have 10 extra minutes and 10 extra dollars and happen to be in the vicinity of a Chinese Tui-Na Massage place, I will stop in and get a back rub.

By: John

John — Mon, 15 May 2006 23:37:07 +0000

Dining out. It’s hard to resist going out with friends or family and enjoying a nice meal or night on the town.

By: dianefromPA

dianefromPA — Mon, 15 May 2006 14:08:48 +0000

A very interesting book called Trading Up by Silverstein and Fiske addresses this consumer trend. Although written primarily for businesses it was fascinating for me to see myself in many of the examples. Most of it was an easy read for even the non-business person.
It seems that consumers are now willing to pay a premium for goods and services that are emotionally important to them while being bargain hunters in all other categories. Hence the sight of BMWs in the Wal-Mart and Target parking lots! It’s beginning to look like businesses can no longer be average, they must either address an emotional issue and be perceived as delivering values of quality, performance and engagement. Or they must be perceived as the place to go to get the best bargains.

By: Wanda

Wanda — Mon, 15 May 2006 07:00:29 +0000

Skincare products – I always think, is $30 that unreasonable for my skin, my hard-working largest organ of the body? :p

By: Nick

Nick — Mon, 15 May 2006 03:42:00 +0000

My financial Achille’s heel is the bookstore. If I’m in a Border’s or a Barnes & Noble I can spend all day picking out books I want to read and placing them in a basket or bag. Usually I’ll get out of there real quickly without buying anything and head on over to my public library, but every once in a while I’ll break down and splurge on the books that I don’t need and probably don’t have the time to read anyways.