cheapskate vs. health nut

Does anyone?s innate cheapskate ever thwart their diet plans?  Today I was grocery shopping, and saw that those sugary Easter cream eggs were 80% off (20 cents each).  I grabbed about 8, thinking ?What a great deal!? 

As I was walking, I started eating one, and stopped in horror as I realized what I was doing.  I found a trash and dropped it in the garbage, returned the six to the bin (I kept one so I could give it to the cashier to charge me for the half-eaten one, then returned it). 

My diet-self is easily overcome by my bargain-hunter self.  If something?s a good deal, I can?t pass it up, and end up buying a lot of junk.  How do I reprogram my shopping brain to think health not savings?

As we speak I am disposing of a "save $1 on hershey truffle kisses" coupon that I actually considered using - thanks for the push!

Well, maybe remember that not buying easter cream eggs is 100% off the original price? ;)

Wow!  I totally feel your pain!  I work at Lewis (a store kind of like Kmart or Pamida) and they always set that stuff up by the checkstands.  There is this BIG bowl full of cadbury cream eggs that are only $0.24 and I have to look at them for my whole shift when I'm there!  It stinks!  Sometimes I cover them up with an ad so that I don't have to look at them anymore!  I did well the other day though and didn't eat any of them!

haha ;)  Thanks librarygirl--I need to remember that.  The scariest part was that I didn't even think about it.  I can't wait until I get to the stage where healthy eating comes naturally--this does happen, right?

I think of my budget on the whole.  Even an extra $1 or $2 on candy or other crap can be used to buy a bag of carrots or something else good for me.  Also it helps not going down the candy isle and sticking to having a "mission" for my shopping trips.

If I'm there to buy milk and diapers or whatever... I put that stuff in my cart and try to avoid randomly bargain hunting.

The best bargains in the world are those you avoid purchasing.   Junk food isn't missed.  Heck buying yet another of some item you don't really need because it's cheap isn't really a good deal either.

I've somewhat become a bit of a minimalist.   Not a full on one yet... but I see the beauty in not filling up every inch of space with something.   So i save bargain hunting for when I need something and want a great deal on it.   Not when I'm just randomly at the store and see something that's too good a deal to pass up.

Do i ever feel you on this one.

I try to think of it as if I weren't going to spend money on this in the first place, then I am not saving money by buying it. I also put on the blinders and rush past before I can contemplate it anymore.

This tip helped me, but it's tough... ready?

"THE ONLY WAY A SALE SAVES YOU MONEY IS IF YOU PUT THAT AMOUNT IN YOUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT INSTEAD OF THE STORE REGISTERS."

When's the last time you "saved" money? :):)

Keep the bargain hunting instinct but switch it over to healthier foods, like fruits and vegetables.  (My "bad" is when the whole wheat pasta is on sale for a buck.  I'll stock up, even though I still have plenty at home.)

I have to disagree... If you're going to buy a product anyway (ie: bread, milk, cereal)... And you can get it for $2.50 at one store... And it's $3.00 at another store... You're SAVING $.50 by buying it for $2.50...

What always saves me is that there are invariably healthier things on sale. Rather than snatch up "that great deal" on a bunch of candy I can't eat (and therefore, don't need), I just look for deals on canned veggies, long-grain rice, or lf yogurt.

I think my grandma said it best: "If you don't need it, you aren't saving any money by buying it. You're just wasting two dollars."

My mother always says, a sale only helps if it's a product you were planning to buy anyway.

Similar to hybrid, I suppose.

But 2perservere was talking about buying something B/C it was on sale - and s/t unhealthy to boot - what're ya saving?

A free Quizno's small sandwich sure felt like a bargain when I was working there, now I'm paying since I gained five lbs!!  Weight loss supplements and time spent exercising!  Haha!  They got me!

Louise

I agree with you all--I would have lost more (health-wise)than I saved if I bought those candies--which is why I put them back when I rationally thought about it.  I suppose my "instinct" is to snap up a deal when it comes to me. 

But my instinct is also to eat cheesecake when it comes to me too :)  so I guess working to control my instincts is all I can do, and hope that one day my brain will register "unhealthy" rather than "deal" when I see a sale on chocolate.

Yes, then I feel bad so give it away and my inner-cheap skate is angry and tends not to be so rash. I like finding cheap fruit tho :D

Haha, I just did the same thing while I was out at the store a couple of days ago! I didnt even touch or look at them though too long because they are my *absolute* FAVORITE! And they were less than a quarter too! If I would have looked at them too long then I probably would have started putting them in my cart, and like you did eating them and then realizing "Okay, dont need this junk!" :) I think that is a great step you made, not only to pay for it after eating half of it, haha, but the fact that you put the other ones back!

*Amber*

Boy! you hit it on the head, there!...   I am a sucker for stocking up and the "large economy size..."  Always do my menu's around the sale items...   but when your dieting it just doesn't work..  I am having to make the conscious effort to do the fat free..  low cal and stick to the basics....  and not to stock up because it is a challenge!  If it is there,  I will eat it!  Know just how you feel about all that candy and treats for 80% off....  funny thing is...  went the whole time without the candy.... because I knew it was bad for me but when it has a sale sign on it...  seemed like a good thing!   Just have to reprogram the head and try for the "healthy foods for the happy,  healthy lifestyle change!"   Thanks for sharing with me... Made me realize,  I'm not the only one!  YES!  we can do this!  ;-)

It's easy to find bargains on things that are good for you too. Besides, when I decide I'm going to eat a "cheat" item, I make sure it's worthwhile. It's not going to be discounted Easter candy or chips. It's usually something more decadent and expensive!