I Am an Impulse Shopper
Dec 17th 2009
Julia LondonGoddess Grins & Julia London
A couple of weeks ago, I almost bought a new car. I didn’t need a car–mine is paid for, it’s a luxury model, and it works just fine. But Jack London told me about the new Honda Accord Crosstour while at breakfast. There happened to be a Honda dealer across the street. I said, let’s go look. We did and I drove, and we went home and I figured out how much I’d get for my car and how much I’d have to put in it to get a new car. I told Jack London, “I am going to buy that car.” He was shocked. He told me not to. I said, “I want it.” And I spent the next day calling around and getting quotes. I was very close to buying that car when it suddenly dawned on me that the only difference between that car and my car was that it had a thingie that would play an iPod. That’s what I was getting, which I suddenly realized I could get that for a couple of hundred dollars.
I am serious: I was this close. Those silly car salesmen are still calling me.
I did it again the other day, but this time, I actually bought it: a Venetian Santa Claus from Neiman Marcus. I am not a collector. I don’t have any Santas, I don’t even know what I will do with this Santa. But a friend told me about them and showed them to me online, and I bought one. Just like that. Now this Venetian Santa is on his way to me, and I am wondering why I thought I needed one. My only consolation is that I did not buy the $850 to $1000 Santas you can get thru Neimans.
I don’t normally impulse buy, thank the good Lord above, but there is something about the holidays that brings out the worst in me. I even booked facial for early next week because they sent me an email and told me it was 25% off. I have better things to do with my time and money, but I clicked “add this to my cart” and went through with it. I contributed a lot of money to the Christmas Bureau that, on the surface, may look like a noble thing, but the truth was that they had a basket of luxury sauces and mustards and spreads and wine that I thought I wanted. It was shopping to me, charity to them.
I am lucky that I work at home and order a lot of Christmas gifts online, or I fear I could do some serious damage to my bank account this time of year. The sales are so alluring!
Do you impulse buy? What’s the most outrageous/silliest/costliest/special thing you ever impulse bought? And how do you like my Venetian Santa?
47 Comments »
47 Responses to “I Am an Impulse Shopper”
Bronte on 17 Dec 2009 at 2:27 am #
I like your venetian santa! I think I need one. Today I impulse bought a black and white cat with a santa hat that sings Jingle Bells. It vaguely resembles my own cat so I felt it was necessary. Thank goodness it was only little. I’m a very bad impulse buyer. Its quite often silly little things that I really don’t need. I did impulsively acquire both of my cats. Ostensively for free however both had health issues (that I did know about) and even with a staff discount they have ended up costing me several thousand dollars. They are now fixed though and I don’t regret the impulsiveness.
MizMacgyver on 17 Dec 2009 at 4:55 am #
Your Santa is beautiful, I used to have all kinds of stuff like that but as I got older, I got over it. If it isn’t useful, I don’t buy it. I was terrible about impulse buying, clothes, collector items, food, just about everything was impulse. You are a member of a huge club.
Trini on 17 Dec 2009 at 5:58 am #
I really like to be an impulsive shopper, I hope to be an impulsive shopper some day… Now I have to “count” my money, I have too many bills to pay…
I want to buy every thing I see…. books, dvd’s, cd’s, food, clothes, parfumes, phones, useless and idiot things…. I think is better for me haven’t enough money because if I were millionaire I would ruin to me in a very just short time….
I don’t lose the hope, someday I’ll be rich and be able to become an impulsive shopper…. until that I loses everything and then…. as we say here…. “they can’t take that away from me”…
Angela on 17 Dec 2009 at 6:21 am #
Love your Venitian Santa! Gorgeous! I impulse shop on Boyd’s Bears and Barbie Dolls. I don’t need them, I want them. Bad of me. I still have the little kid in me who wants cute things around.
Deb Marlowe on 17 Dec 2009 at 7:19 am #
Hi Julia–that is a way cool Santa!
I do occasionally impulse buy–but it is almost never an item for me! I’ll see something that a friend or family member will love and it’s hard not to get it!
LoriHandeland on 17 Dec 2009 at 7:36 am #
Love the santa, Julia!! It’s gorgeous.
Let’s see the most special, costliest think I ever impulse bought?
An iphone.
I do impulse buy and plan to do a lot of it today as I finish my Christmas shopping.
Pesky on 17 Dec 2009 at 7:42 am #
I love your Santa!
I impulse buy but it’s odd things like books and music.
As to cars, I decide when there is a breaking point where the repair is worth more than the car in the long term, then I go buy the new car. Buying the car is a fairly painless process, I find a series of cars that fit my criteria, go test drive them, then I look them up online, then I go buy one.
elsiehogarth on 17 Dec 2009 at 7:49 am #
Julia, I love the Venetian Santa. It reminds me of Puss n’ Boots. I think he would have liked that outfit.
I’m not an impulse buyer but a bargain hunter. Every Saturday morning, as soon as the store opens, I go to stores like: Macy’s, J.CPenney’s, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Old Navy and Home Goods. I scope out what is out there, check out the prices to see what I might be interested in for the near future.
Barb Chansky on 17 Dec 2009 at 8:06 am #
Love the Santa! I became an impulse buyer as soon as I got my first job – but it was easier then since I was living with my parents and did not have to worry about rent and utilities:) Of course, I had to strart watching myself when I moved out on my own; now I try to stay in the middle, so to speak – waisting money is dumb, but you need frivolous purchases now and then:) Plus, you want to know my biggest impulse buy? My first romance novel:) Now I own an extensive collection which includes a lot of your works , oh lovely goddesses! It’s my pride and joy; plus, I love to share it with my friends.
Karen Rose on 17 Dec 2009 at 8:10 am #
Love the Santa! Biggest impulse buy – a full size van way back when DH and I were first married. We had dogs and had to drive them places! We spent YEARS recovering from that purchase.
Funnest impulse buy – my Venezuelan fertility goddess who smiles down at me from a shelf above my desk. But she was only about 10 bucks.
Julia London on 17 Dec 2009 at 8:32 am #
Bronte — I had two labs. I went to get one. I came home with two. I would have come home with five puppies had my mom not been there to stop me.
MizM — so glad I am not alone, but not sure I take comfort, LOL
Trini — here’s another one you can use to feed your impulse shopping: You can’t take it with you
Lori — I won’t go NEAR that Apple store right now! I was eyeing my perfectly fine laptop the other day thinking, “wonder how much longer you’re going to last?”
Pesky, I usually drive my cars into the ground, which was what was so strange about my almost impulse buy.
Julia London on 17 Dec 2009 at 8:33 am #
Barb — what a great impulse buy! And we are all eternally grateful that you bought that novel on impulse!
KarenR — If I counted up all that was spent in the name of dog….I think I’d have heart palpitations.
Julia London on 17 Dec 2009 at 8:34 am #
Oh, P.S. The Venetian Santa arrived yesterday. I have no idea where to put it. Right now, it’s on the mantel, and Jack London or the CPE has not noticed it.
Sabrina Jeffries on 17 Dec 2009 at 8:41 am #
I confess I’m not much of an impulse buyer. Once in a while, I do buy something, however. Usually at Christmas, just because I happen to be in stores more. I tend to catalog shop, and I mark things to order … then I talk myself out of them. The one thing I DO buy more than I should is Christmas stuff–ornaments, etc. This year I bought a pirate nutcracker at the museum pirate exhibit. He’s way cool!
Archer on 17 Dec 2009 at 8:53 am #
My dad is the big impulse buyer in my family. I spend a lot of time talking him out of buying. I think that maybe because I work in finance I’m a little more cautious with what I buy. No big impulse buys, but I love trying out new things so I’m always buying little things at drug stores
Archer on 17 Dec 2009 at 8:55 am #
Cute santa btw. I was in Venice last month and it took all of my will power to avoid buying a cape. I still want one :-/ Although I did get a very cute mask
Rachel Gibson on 17 Dec 2009 at 9:11 am #
Fabulous Santa. Of course you had to buy him.
I’m not an impulse shopper . . . except when I walk into Sephora. I was just there last night and ended up with stuff I didn’t need. All I needed was some bath stuff for my oldest daughter, and I walked out with lip stain, an eyebrow pencil, and bronzer for myself.
SuzyQ on 17 Dec 2009 at 9:14 am #
I hate standing in line at the checkout because I always end up buying something hanging there. They just call out to me “buy me! buy me!”. My biggest impulse purchase was a millennium Lladro, but it was so worth it. I walk by it every morning in the display case.
Love the Santa btw. Would have definitely bought him!
Michelle B on 17 Dec 2009 at 9:15 am #
Love the Santa, Julia! Sometimes you just gotta have it. I don’t usually impulse shop big items, I think it comes from years of living on a string. I do impulse shop little things because I tell myself,”It doesn’t cost much.” Or, “It’s such a good bargain.” If I added all the little things up I would probably have heart failure. My biggest weakness is clothing, especially if it is on sale or clearance.
Alicia on 17 Dec 2009 at 9:16 am #
I used to be a HORRIBLE impluse buyer! I’ve gotten a lot better, except for recently when our hospital auxillary had a Handbag and Jewelry sale! I bought so much jewelry, and it wasn’t even real stuff….costume jewelry! It wasn’t even gifts! It was ALL for myself!! I just cannot resist jewelry, be it real or not!
Louisa Cornell on 17 Dec 2009 at 9:44 am #
I love the Santa, Julia. Very different and classy.
I try hard NOT to be an impulse shopper, but I don’t always succeed. Fortunately I don’t have enough money to go nuts. If I did I would be in SERIOUS trouble!
Bookstores are my downfall. If I am actually in one and turn onto the romance aisle I am SUNK !! If there is a single book there by one of automatic buy authors and I don’t have it at home that puppy is going IN the basket. End of story. And good Lord keep me away from sites like Alibris or AbeBooks because I will plug in a Regency research topic and when that list of books pops up I have Library thing up on one window and the list on another. If I don’t have a particular book it is just too much temptation. I have to have it.
So far the only thing I haven’t succumbed to is Laudermilk’s Regency Companion. If I hit it on a day when I have a couple of extra hundred dollars in the bank it is ALL over!
Julia, I actually did buy a car on impulse right after my husband died. My little Hyundai was paid for. Some of my students took me out to test drive cars to cheer me up. I drove a Mustang GT 5.0. And then I bought it. A V-8 muscle car. Drove it for a year. After the third
Louisa Cornell on 17 Dec 2009 at 9:45 am #
Speeding ticket for doing over 90 MPH in a 55 zone I had to give it up. That car was going to get me in trouble!
evlqn on 17 Dec 2009 at 10:08 am #
Love that Santa!
I try to curb myself but I am an impulse buyer, especially books, music and movies. We had to buy the new Harry Potter release as soon as we saw it in Walmart, but that’s a good thing because the price went up this week.
Julia last weekend we rented a car to go to a B-ball tourney and feel in MAJOR love! It was a Nissan Altima, oh my giddy aunt it drove like a dream! We put 250 miles on it and used less than half a tank of gas. We have snapped out of it now because the only thing wrong with our Taurus is the brakes and a leaking hose. $300.00 or $30,000.00? Brake job here we come.
Janae on 17 Dec 2009 at 10:10 am #
Books, magazines, and clothes get me everytime. This week I went to Old Navy to get a skirt that my daughter saw when we passed the store a couple of weeks ago. We didn’t go then because I had a $10 gift card at home. When I went back I ended up getting 2 skirts – one of which I have to return because it’s too big (and it’s a xs!!), and 4 shirts. I’ve been to Borders twice this week. The first time I went in, I needed to pick up one book for a present, and I walked out with 2 more just for myself. Last night, when I was with my kids, picking out books for their book exchange, and I held my ground and just bought 2 books. only because I didn’t want to buy any books for them. It would have taken FOREVER for them to pick something out, and it was kind of late with homework to do at home.
Julia London on 17 Dec 2009 at 10:15 am #
Sabrina, that’s my problem at Christmas — I am actually IN stores for a change and it’s like I just arrived from the tundra. I am sucked in by the pretty lights.
Archer, here is another impulse buy I made — a seriously expensive Murano glass pig that I just had to have when I was in Venice. Yep…
Rachel, your impulse buys are my necessities, ranking right up there with toilet paper
SuzyQ, my other impulse buy problem is that stupid checkout. I buy people and US weekly because I just have to know if Tiger’s wife is leaving him THAT INSTANT.
Julia London on 17 Dec 2009 at 10:17 am #
Michelle, I am really bad about clothes and shoes, too. Especially given that I work at home. How much of a wardrobe does one chick need when she never leaves the house? Apparently a big one.
Louisa, my Kindle has introduced a whole new level of impulse book shopping. At least when you are in a bookstore, you can feel the heft of what you’re about to spend by carting the books around. With a kindle, you just keep pressing little buttons and it adds up.
Evlqn, you should see this Santa in real life. He’s beautiful. Apparently Neiman’s puts out a couple of different Santa’s each year, and if you’re rich, you can collect them, LOL. They had a highland Santa, too, and I was sorely tempted — but this Venetian Santa was just too beautiful. I guess I should be happy that I only allowed myself one.
Kim on 17 Dec 2009 at 10:27 am #
LOL! I thought you were crazy when you said you were going to buy that car. And your Santa is adorable!
I’m not much of an impulse buyer at all. I pick up crap, fill my cart to the rim and then put it all back.
Madeline Hunter on 17 Dec 2009 at 10:43 am #
Julia, I am a serious impulse shopper around the holidays. I don’t know why, maybe it is a “in for a penny, in for a pound” mentality that sets in. But this has become a habit of sorts. Worse, DH exhibits the same inclinations (and he DID buy a car, LOL. But that one you were looking at sure is fine, let me tell you. I’m going to google it and learn more. (. . .no, Madeline, don’t! Keep that hand away from the mouse! Do NOT go there because—-!!!)
However, I have learned that online shopping is even worse. Free shipping really pulls me in. See, in the mall, you have to carry that stuff around and that alone will discourage some of the impulses. Online, however, well,——
I tell myself I am saving tons because of the deals. They are good deals too! Really. In my own way, I am being frugal, see. . .
Love your Santa!
Nicole Jordan on 17 Dec 2009 at 10:51 am #
Glad you resited the new car, Julia! And my mom would love your Santa! She has several decortative Santas like that — can’t remember from which countries.
I almost never impulse buy — but I did last month. Went into Best Buys with dh, looking for a wireless mouse to replace mine that died. And I came out with my Xmas present — a darling little mini laptop Netbook (weighs 2 1/2 pounds) for under $300 that I absolutely love. I call him “Junior.”
Junior has freed me from being chained to my office! I can surf the Web, check e-mail, and since I loaded Word and Corel Word Perfect, I can also write or jot notes — in the comfort of any room in the house. Of course I could have moved my regular laptop anywhere, but it weighs three times as much as Junior and I’d have to unplug monitor, usb hub, mouse key, and printer from my laptop. Junior is so light and portable, it’s like carrying a hardback book around.
I feel like a new woman! Or at least a new writer. That beats a new car any day.
Julia London on 17 Dec 2009 at 11:00 am #
Madeline what is really maddening about the whole thing is that I am struggling trying to think of things that people can get me. You know how the MIL always asks….when really I guess they could just do some of my impulse shopping for me. Ha!
Nicole, I have seen those little netbooks! They look so fabulous. Can you actually work on them? Because I have to go to best buy later…
Janae, at least Borders has some great deals right now, right? And your XS was too small? What’s next???
Kim, I KNOW you don’t impulse buy. You are the thriftiest person I think I have ever known besides my stepmother. both of you can stretch a dollar into two.
evlqn on 17 Dec 2009 at 11:27 am #
My sister makes a Highland Santa out of bread dough and paints the clan tartan on it. We love her “Little dudes”
Janae on 17 Dec 2009 at 12:12 pm #
Julia – I guess, we’re back to the toddler section. It’s just hard because weightwise, she’s probably about a 3T, and heightwise 5T or xs. Some of the toddler stuff is just too babyish for a 6 yo.
Oh, and I love the Santa.
Julia London on 17 Dec 2009 at 12:43 pm #
Oh my goodness, Janae, I thought you were talking about YOU.
Claudia Dain on 17 Dec 2009 at 1:07 pm #
Am I an impulse shopper? I don’t think so. Now, others may say I am…cough, Big D…cough, but I’m not! I actually =need= another four or five books on the history of England. I do. And besides, it’s a business expense.
Nicole Jordan on 17 Dec 2009 at 1:32 pm #
>>Nicole, I have seen those little netbooks! They look so fabulous. Can you actually work on them? Because I have to go to best buy later…
Yep, they have a regular size keyboard, although if I’m going to do much heavy writing on it, I plug in my extra ergonomic keyboard into a usb port, then put them both on a lap desk. Switching from an erg keyboard to a regular keyboard can be so frustrating.
My decision to buy Junior was inpulsive at first, but dh and I spent a full hour standing there in the store, discussing what options I had and whether or not it would really benefit me. And I splurged because I could call it my early Xmas present.
Plus, as Claudia says, I can call it a business expense.
But you should avoid the computer section at Best Buys, Julia, if you don’t want to spend more money, lol.
Margaret on 17 Dec 2009 at 1:58 pm #
I am an impulse buyer and would be more of one if I had the money. Those infomercials just draw me in. I don’t “do” malls. The one thing that saves me from ordering infomercial stuff is the s/h charges. They are typically very high. I saw a new food processor call Ninja the other night. Even taped the show so I could go to their web site. The product was $99.00 which could be split into 3 payments. S/h was $29.95. A third of the product price. Also, I’m not sure if they put a whole your card for the whole amount and take the monthly payment. I can’t find anybody to enlighten me about it.
I did make an impulse buy yesterday. More of an emergency back-to-the wall buy. My furnace turned up it’s toes sometime in the wee hours of Monday nite. Repair guy said it’s irreparable & stuck a Red Tag on it. Now, there’s way too many guys here installing the new furnace.
Me? I’m having sticker shock over the next-to-lowest price of the thing. But I’ve been freezing at 28F. So Merry Christmas to me.
Margaret on 17 Dec 2009 at 1:59 pm #
Brain freeze. I meant I’m not sure if the put a hold on your card for the whole amount. (sigh)
Fiona on 17 Dec 2009 at 2:35 pm #
I impulse buy books and movies. I love bookstores. I’m good about sticking to my list with most other things, including the grocery store.
I do most of my Christmas shopping online, so that helps.
Gwynlyn MacKenzie on 17 Dec 2009 at 2:36 pm #
I love your Santa! I have one dressed in a kilt that is currently on the mantle surrounded by ceramic deer my one grandmother painted many years ago. Love it.
At Christmas I tend to impulse buy, but not for myself. I see something that brings a friend or family member to mind and that’s that. It’s theirs. Most of the time, that gift is right on the money—even when it’s right OFF the budget.
Alicia on 17 Dec 2009 at 2:36 pm #
Oh Lord! I didn’t even think about books! Books are a HORRIBLY WONDERFUL impulse buy for me! EVERYTIME I go to the store I come out with at least one book, if not more!
Janae on 17 Dec 2009 at 2:36 pm #
I wish I were talking about me. I wish I were xs, but I’ll settle for a medium.
Julia London on 17 Dec 2009 at 4:35 pm #
Margaret! I hope you get that furnace up and running. That is awful. I had a dryer conk out last week, followed by a leak under the sink. Why don’t these things happen in August when nothing is going on?
Alicia, I think on this blog, the books probably go without saying for us all, right?
Thanks, Gwynlyn! I was very tempted to get the kilt Santa. HE as a cutie
Margaret on 17 Dec 2009 at 6:11 pm #
Thanks, Julia. I have a shiny new furnace and, get this, it came with a talking programmable thermostat. Way cool. Maybe I should say way hot. It feels good to come out of my cocoon I’ve lived in for 3 days and feel the heat all around me.
Books are also impulse buys for me. Especially now that I have a Kindle and it’s sooo easy to order up a book at 2am. Oh well. I can always live on rice and beans.
evlqn on 17 Dec 2009 at 6:49 pm #
I discovered quite by accident I can get e-books on my cell phone. i don’t know if I will make use of it but it’s nice to know.
Margaret so glad to hear you have come in from the cold. Last week we had single digit temps.
Lisa G on 17 Dec 2009 at 11:20 pm #
Books, movies and chocolate are my iimpulse items. I often find myself buying things for my granddaughter too, it’s so easy to pick up things for her.
Patricia Barraclough on 17 Dec 2009 at 11:40 pm #
The Santa is lovely.
Most expensive impulse buy: an antique pump organ at an auction. The grain in the wood is nice. It plays, but I don’t.
Leslie on 19 Jan 2010 at 3:20 pm #
I do not impulse buy as often as I used to but the highlight of my impulse buying occured after my divorce. I bought a necklace and bracelet from Tiffany’s. My heavens I didn’t have enough for groceries for a couple weeks after but I do love that necklace. The bracelet sits in my jewelry box untouched.
I do impulse buy myself flowers from time to time. I love flowers and I learned from my ex that if I want them I best buy them for myself. Luckily my new husband is 100 times better about it but I still buy them for myself when he is in a lull. I know women that think they are such a waste but what can I say? I love them.