.thirty-one days of minimalism: sales.

A penny saved is a penny earned.

Clearance. Sale. Buy-one-get-one. Coupon.

Those words. Sometimes they seem irresistible. I have to check it out. I could be missing on a really great deal! I am the queen at finding a great deal on something I never even new I needed.

Oh wait.

If I never knew I needed it, I probably don't need it. Rats.

Resisting a good deal is hard for me. Really hard. Think of all the money we're saving by buying this on sale!

Don't get me wrong.
Sales have their place.

Coupons are amazing.

But I personally struggle with buying something on a whim because it is on sale, and then realizing that I don't really need it. And then I get rid of it. And even though I bought it on sale, I still spent money I didn't have to.

So I am working on a new philosophy when it comes to sales.

Pause when I see that red sticker (I'm sure you know what I am talking about), and ask myself a couple questions:

Is this something I use already and is this a deal that would be hard to find later?

If it is - great! Health and beauty products often fall into this category: I know we will always use toilet paper, razors, shampoo, those sorts of things.

Is this something I will have to replace soon?

Kids clothes, I'm looking at you.

Was a different version of this item already on my list that I can replace this with for a better price?

This is more concerning food. Sometimes an unadvertised sale can provide a better price than what you had originally intended to purchase.

Lastly, is this item something I will likely get rid of in the next month or so?

If yes, walk away. Leave that clearance item to be someone else's special find.

Also, even if something is free, ask yourself these questions. Often, the free items are especially the items that just bring clutter into my home. If you don't use it, don't get it! Then you don't have to struggle with managing it later.