Impulse buying

Well as I have just purchased a 61" RCA HDTV for 2600 dollars, which doesn’t quite fit into my living room-a fact I knew BEFORE I bought it, I was wondering if anyone else made any impulse buys of financially unaffordable items.
I have also purchased, for the sake of spending creditor’s money: an expensive air rifle, 100’s of dollars in books I KNOW I won’t read, gifts for no one in particular, video games I do not have time to play, fancy french meals, and countless other items.
I guess what I’m wondering is, AM I ALONE IN THIS BIZARRE CRAZE?? I guess my ultimate goal is to spend so much money that I will be unable to pay it off…EVER.
Anyone else out there in this state of dementia?
I was quite normal this summer, hell last year I managed to save several thousand dollars…

Well, musicians (and musician wannabes) are particularly susceptible to something called Gear Acquisition Syndrome (G.A.S. for short.) It’s the strong urge to get another effects pedal, a new guitar (I could really use a six-string), a better amp, another soundmodule, etc. etc.

We can always rationalize our purchases by saying that art is more important than saving money. But, speaking for myself, I think I’d be doing more to serve art if I spent more time practicing and less money on toys.

I think those home network shoppers (or whatever they’re called) as well as eBay buyers get into trouble that way, too. Can you return the TV for a refund? Hmm. Fancy French meals… :wink:

Hmm. Returned fancy French meals…

I can picture it now:

“One slightly used Fancy French Meal. Yours for 9 easy payments of $19.99 and your immortal soul. Act fast, supplies are limited”

Yes, in fact, as both a musician and camera collector I am prepared to vouch for the fact that musical G.A.S. (totally unrelated to Classical Gas) is far more insidious than photographic G.A.S..

PS: Will they be serving slightly used Fancy French wine with that slightly used Fancy French meal?

G.A.S. is even worse when you’re an arty type in an art supply store!

The last time I was in a Michael’s, I bought a fake bough of roses for my room, about fifteen canvases, a box of charcoal sticks, some black-on-white scratch board, a metal tool to scratch with, and a couple of teeny tiny paintbrushes. These were all impulse purchases. Okay, I wanted some canvases, but I hadn’t expected to go home with fifteen.

Also, what is it with tiny little paintbrushes? Every time I see one that has a microscopic tip and needs to be handled with tweezers, I have to get it. And we all know that the price goes up as the brush size goes down.

Whatever little money I have, I always find something for my computer to spend it on.