ZestyMuffin
ZestyMuffin

How do you justify expensive purchases to yourself?

I have been pursuing some aspirational products like Apple Watch SE, Airpods Pro 2, PS5 etc. since a long time. I go to the Amazon page and add it to cart but then my conscience questions me as to is it worth spending so much on it? I earn decently and live in BLR but still I dont fully understand to give my mind a valid reason for purchasing a 40k Watch that shows time, some metrics and some automation. Also 20k for listening music, 50k for playing games.

It feels as if is it sane to spend much on these personal material stuff? How do you folks look at this while making purchases?

15mo ago
Talking product sense with Ridhi
9 min AI interview5 questions
Round 1 by Grapevine
GroovyMarshmallow
GroovyMarshmallow
Google15mo

For some ps5 is not about price, it's about their dream to buy since college days (many ppl I know bought it) and same goes for other stuff as well.

ZestyMuffin
ZestyMuffin

But 50k for playing games. How do you justify it?

GroovyMarshmallow
GroovyMarshmallow
Google15mo

U don't need justification to fulfill ur dream, everything nowadays has become expensive, so it's hard to get anything good at less price

GroovyMarshmallow
GroovyMarshmallow
Google15mo

What the purpose of working so hard, If u think too much to buy what u want

ZestyMuffin
ZestyMuffin

I am a software engineer just like other people in BLR. In current times almost everyone is working hard. Just the thing is software engineers get paid a lot. The question is not about working hard, the question is if we are wasting a lot of money on certain material stuff which are overvalued a lot.

ZestyMuffin
ZestyMuffin

There are brands selling tshirts and shoes at fucking hilarious prices. And people are buying them. The prices are 5-10x the same thing at a decent quality. Its just that they printed a fucking ugly art on it and now boom it's a hyped thing. Where is our financial consciousness going if we don't reason them? Or am I being too stingy?

SillyMochi
SillyMochi

You live only once. Just go ahead and buy that BMW you wanted to buy one day

ZestyMuffin
ZestyMuffin

Bro how did you know I have a dream of buying a BMW. Had that dream since I was 8 years old and came across a Black shining one parked beside me with that beautiful blue-white logo. But still taking into consideration I can buy it on a loan, would buying it by taking YOLO into consideration be a safe bet? I don't think so.

SillyMochi
SillyMochi

It was a wild guess on you. I applied myself in your POV, most of the Indian dream to have BMW one day, so it’s a was easy guess. Don’t think much. Go for it.

ZestySushi
ZestySushi
Amazon15mo

I have a bunch of gadgets. Keep cycling between subscriptions to Medium, Audible, Kindle etc. . Yet i call myself an intelligent spender. Because if there's anything I feel that can up my productivity or happiness, I don't mind splurging cash on it. . For eg I own a pair of decent wireless headsets for when I'm riding scooty, a pair of expensive over the ear noise cancellation headphones (Sony WF-1000XM4) for distraction free work. And AirPods Pro (1st Gen) for listening to anything when I'm on bed. Put together that costs over 40k, but I've never regretted. I use each one of them on a daily basis and they make my life simpler and happy. . I also have an iPad 9th Gen which I only bought and use like a Kindle e reader. Then I have 2 JBL speakers, again used pretty much everyday during WFH. . But I never spend a dime on anything to brag. I make informed purchasing decisions with deliberation. . Hence I never feel guilty and have to seldom justify myself

ZestySushi
ZestySushi
Amazon15mo

I'm not even going into 2 ultra wide monitors, Fitbit tracker, an extra scooty in another city that I frequently visit, 55" 4K TV .. (the list goes on) . All worth it till owning them has a positive effect on my life .. .. Just clarifying not bragging here, but making my point that essential or even luxurious purchases shouldn't make you question your character. And if something does then you probably shouldn't buy it

ZestyMuffin
ZestyMuffin

Understood. Basically if something adds value to your life. Price shouldn't be a blocker for buying it.

CosmicQuokka
CosmicQuokka

If you seek justification from random internet strangers to spend your own money on things that you desire.

Something is completely off.

Just try to experience the utility/joy of that thing and buy, no need to overthink it.

In gadgets there's a point of diminishing returns of marginal gains, and after that it's just the feel good and vanity factor.

For example now I've got 25k earphones they're marginally better than 10k ones which I previously had, those were significantly better than 2k ones used during college which were 100x better than 200₹ one during coaching era.

Same thing holds true for cars also, in my experience having driven kwid okay meh << Swift nice <<< Vento really good << 3er best yet still not night and day difference.

ZestyMuffin
ZestyMuffin

@tbk as mentioned in the post, I am not asking for justification I am just asking for their perspective or how they think about spending on expensive stuff which in a way are overpriced.

I understand its easy to wear the hat of not question about any product that we buy and just follow the heart. But....that won't be possible for long right?

CosmicQuokka
CosmicQuokka

I don't understand the point "perspective or how people think" before buying stuff. It's generally not a scientific process, people like or desire stuff they buy that, If one finds that it's overpriced they don't buy, there's no guilt in doing this or that.

SqueakyNugget
SqueakyNugget
Vahan15mo

I have been mostly frugal my life even after earning well. Phone etc i bought i.e less than 1 week salary. Recently bought a drone also in same amount. Thought for days before buying it. I think this is due to my bania household upbringing.

ZestyMuffin
ZestyMuffin

@Tathays yes, the middle class household upbringing for me. Earning money and saving them and not spending it on expensive material stuff even if you like them is ingrained in our habits. And its not that I complain about that. It was done when it was necessary.

However, now that I am part of a profession that pays comparatively well I find it difficult to part ways from that thought process. That's where the dilemma lies.

DizzyMarshmallow
DizzyMarshmallow

I feel you .... I can't help but before buying a 3k sketcher shoe... My rational mind reminds me of the actual value of 3k instilled in my mind while growing up... Think of all you could buy in 3k... That vs just a shoe... That's how it becomes a tough decision

BouncyBurrito
BouncyBurrito
Student15mo

Bhai ghumo peeyo kharcha kro, SIP krte krte mar jaoge have a balance. Spend and save both.

ZestyMuffin
ZestyMuffin

It's nice to see "ghoomo phiro aish karo" change to "ghoomo piyo aish karo"😂

BouncyBurrito
BouncyBurrito
Student15mo

Piyo mt bhai sorry for emphasising on it. Bolne ka mtlb tha memories banao bindaas

GigglyRaccoon
GigglyRaccoon

I have recently build a Rig. RTX 3080 (Not 40 Series as I got 3080 at a steal) , Ryzen 7 7700X, 2 TB NVMe Gen 4, 32GB DDR5 RAM, AIO, ARGB and othe4 stuff.

Costed me a good 1.25 Lakhs Including SSD and UPS (Just to protect my rig in case of sudden spike or power outage)

Already had monitor. Also bought a 10K Mouse. Couple of games so in total 1.5 Lakhs.

I have no regret. Even though I don't stream or do video editing. My mom surprisingly didn't scolded me just said that - Itne paise computer pe kaun kharch karta hai. Which i think is valid for her too say.

Running behind material possession is not good

But, Restricting yourself so you become miserable is even worse.

Live your life. Don't overspend, bu don't restrict yourself as well

ZestyMuffin
ZestyMuffin

@BroCodeComeOn "Live your life. Don't overspend, but don't restrict yourself as well"

Got it. Need to find a sweet spot in between.

ZestyDonut
ZestyDonut

“You have needs -- satisfy them. You have as much right as the rich and the mighty. Don't hesitate to satisfy your needs; indeed, expand your needs and demand more."

ZestyMuffin
ZestyMuffin

There's a difference between needs and the wants.

WigglyPotato
WigglyPotato
Zepto15mo

Mat kharid bhai itna sochna padh raha hai to

ZestyMuffin
ZestyMuffin

Matlab jo bhi kharido bina soche kharido?

PerkyMochi
PerkyMochi

If you are thinking so much, it goes on to say that it’s something that you used to think will give you pleasure/satisfaction but that is not true anymore.

I have been thinking of buying PS5 but never do because I know it’s more of an impulse and feeling of “haan mere paas bhi hai”. I’ll spend some time playing few games and then I’ll get bored and move on to the next thing.

I’d rather spend this money on experiences and things I love doing now rather than things I used to like.

Discover more
Curated from across
Personal Finance
by BubblyPenguinSquadstack

Crossed 25 lakhs Net Worth

I am 26 years old and currently have a monthly take-home salary of 1.75 lakh. I grew up in a very poor family, having lost my father when I was just 1 year old. My family survived on my grandfather's pension, which was around 20k by the ...

Top comments
user

These kind of people motivate me, no celebrities, no heroes no sportspersons

user

This is really good. Congratulations.

user

Bro this is not about how much you saved. This is all about the people you have made proud of , this is about smile...

Adulting
by BubblyCupcakeStaff Engineer

How do you determine which expenses need your attention ?

Someone recently told me not to spend time on expenses which are less than 1% of your total net worth.

I don’t know if I can do that. I think of this way, if it satisfies the below rules only then I don’t give it a thought

  • If its ...
Misc
Misc17mo
by SwirlyPretzelBusiness Analyst

Purchased nothing phone 2

This is very new for me to spend 37k on a phone, it is not financially bad decision for me at this point of my life. But people talk about roots, I grew up in a lower middle class family with a frugal mindset. I am confused. How do you f...

Post image