How Much Does Price Influence You?

[Snicks]

I have found that too much shopping around for the best prices actually costs me MORE money. The more I put my face in front of merchandise, the more stuff I think i want or need. So, really for me, my best approach is to just go look for what I want and then buy it. I might check another place or two to compare and then buy.

[disneysteve]

I have found that too much shopping around for the best prices actually costs me MORE money. The more I put my face in front of merchandise, the more stuff I think i want or need. So, really for me, my best approach is to just go look for what I want and then buy it. I might check another place or two to compare and then buy.

Not really an issue if you do your comparison shopping online. Do a search for the item you want and check prices for just that item at various retailers. It only takes a couple of minutes and you’re not wandering through stores seeing other stuff you might like.

[Snicks]

Not really an issue if you do your comparison shopping online. Do a search for the item you want and check prices for just that item at various retailers. It only takes a couple of minutes and you’re not wandering through stores seeing other stuff you might like.

Exactly. Prior to the internet, I would run around price checking at a lot of different stores, then I realized, i am spending MORE money, lol. After that I limited my shopping to a couple stores that I prefer and just bought what I needed when I needed it. I may have paid more for some things but overall it saved me time and money.

[bjl584]

It depends.
Big ticket items it influences me a lot.
I spend considerable time and energy researching and comparing prices.

Everyday stuff, not so much.
Just last night I went to my local grocery store for some odds and ends.
I could have saved a few dollars by driving 15 minutes to Walmart, but I didn't want to deal with that.
My time and convenience was worth more to me

[frugal saver]

I think of things as "cost per year." So the $10 item that you'd be lucky if it lasts a year is actually more expensive than the $50 item that will end up with your grandkids.

I generally use Amazon as a Sears catalog and check out all the varieties, and then read every review. I'm amazed at how many bad reviews there are for not-cheap items. I miss when we used to have quality items. Or I'm just not looking at the right websites.

[HundredK]

I look for the best price on the item I want that has the quality I want. If it so happens that a better item with more features can be had for less or the same cost, I'll go for it. Did this with our car and very happy.

[amarowsky]

It depends.
Big ticket items it influences me a lot.
I spend considerable time and energy researching and comparing prices.

Everyday stuff, not so much.
Just last night I went to my local grocery store for some odds and ends.
I could have saved a few dollars by driving 15 minutes to Walmart, but I didn't want to deal with that.
My time and convenience was worth more to me

This is something I'm working on.... I have such ridiculous choice paralysis on the DUMBEST purchases. I'll sit in the Jam aisle at Meijer/Kroger for 20 minutes trying to find the lowest sugar count to best $ per oz ratio (were talking at BEST a $2 difference, in a 10 oz product that lasts for a month). One reason I like costco, the massive opportunity costs at normal stores leaves folks like me w/ Hardcore choice paralysis. That virtually goes away @ costco, because everything is marked up 15% + high quality (so I am almost assured that i'm not getting totally screwed - or at least my brain makes this knee jerk calculation). And I can walk in and out w/ all my stuff in 1/4 the time.

Mines like:
Tons of research for everything.

Where I'm trying to be:
Big Ticket = Lots of research (no change)
Middle ticket = Lots of research (no change)
Small stuff (Groceries clothes) = SPEND 50% less time & do not spend too much time deciding (if within budget) <---- will require a LOT of work to change my behavior. And I'm working on "caring less" here.<--- + drives my wife nuts... and I love her and want to grow here.

[kork13]

This is something I'm working on.... I have such ridiculous choice paralysis on the DUMBEST purchases. I'll sit in the Jam aisle at Meijer/Kroger for 20 minutes trying to find the lowest sugar count to best $ per oz ratio (were talking at BEST a $2 difference, in a 10 oz product that lasts for a month). One reason I like costco, the massive opportunity costs at normal stores leaves folks like me w/ Hardcore choice paralysis. That virtually goes away @ costco, because everything is marked up 15% + high quality (so I am almost assured that i'm not getting totally screwed - or at least my brain makes this knee jerk calculation). And I can walk in and out w/ all my stuff in 1/4 the time.

Mines like:
Tons of research for everything.

Where I'm trying to be:
Big Ticket = Lots of research (no change)
Middle ticket = Lots of research (no change)
Small stuff (Groceries clothes) = SPEND 50% less time & do not spend too much time deciding (if within budget) <---- will require a LOT of work to change my behavior. And I'm working on "caring less" here.<--- + drives my wife nuts... and I love her and want to grow here.

Confession: I often have the same problem. Grocery shopping takes me forever because I'm frankly a little neurotic & constantly look to balance the same things you do (quality vs cost), and easily get overwhelmed by the large number of options. One crutch I use to help is that on our shopping list, I have "normal" unit prices on most items we get often, to give myself permission to get something if I see something comparable. Otherwise, we likewise do alot of our shopping at Costco, because there are only a few options, and the prices are generally at least reasonable.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Price influences me a bit. But I live 1.2 miles from costco and gas station. It is the closest normal grocery store, I like 0.5 miles from an much nicer "whole foods" type store. That is a rip off but I'd rather spend my money there than whole paycheck. Quality is way better, so if i'm going to blow some dough it's there.

That being said since Costco is closest store and then safeway that's the order. If I need just a little something I stop at safeway. I do not shop circulars really except for Coke and maybe chicken for $1.99/lb. but otherwise I suck it up and shop at costco knowing that I am getting the best deal for a large quantity. I am an executive members who has a large rebate. But I have two kids and lots of neighbors kids eating out food snacks. We easily can through fruit, veggies, eggs, meats all the time. Around $200/week in just groceries since we don't really go out to eat.

I guess I could try to beat it by shopping circulars, but it's way easier to do 1 trip to costco and be done. I usually go during the week and it's not busy. Plus their return policy is amazing. So maybe I should shop around more but groceries wise i think it's not worth it.

It is worth shopping sales for other stuff. I just bought a Breville toaster oven regular $399 a BBB on prime day shopping for 20% off and $50 extra cash back! Sweet deal. I had been waiting. I am going to buy the 3 in 1 blender food processor for $93 regular $199 on black friday from BBB and I carefully waited for stuff I wanted/needed including my coffee grinder. I'm not saying that you shouldn't buy stuff you need but why would i not saving $100 on something I needed with minimal work versus how much effort to save $100 on groceries?

I am also about to have the cars oil changes done and I'm going to shop and save 20% if possible on it. So say I saw $20 each car for 30 minutes of work booking and looking for a coupon for an oil change. What will it cost me to do that on groceries?