Mindful shopping: The ultimate test

10 June 2013

I gave a talk about organizing and decluttering last Thursday and I ended the talk by suggesting that people shop mindfully. I advised the audience to ask themselves the following questions before buying something:

Do I love it?
Will I use it?
Does purchasing this item add to my vision for my space?
Where will I store it?

Immediately after the talk, I paid a visit to the south St. Louis county Office Depot store, which I knew was having a closing sale, with deep reductions. I was hoping to pick up some packing supplies I knew I’d be needing for a client.

Turns out most of the packing supplies were gone. And I found myself surrounded by office supplies at a deep discount. That’s my version of being a kid in a candy store.

Honestly, I think if I hadn’t just given that talk I might have bought a lot more. it was really hard to walk away from pens marked down 60 percent. But I knew I didn’t need any pens and I didn’t know if I’d even like those particular pens. I walked away from a set of See Jane Work stacking letter trays, marked down by half. So pretty, but I didn’t need them.

It’s not like I walked away empty handed, though. Here’s a photo of my haul:

All this stuff for only $125!

I got a bunch of bargains, including three sizes of Post-It® Big Pads (largest size: 15 × 15”), a USB headset that retails for $65, an iPhone cover for a friend who needs one (regular price $35), and something that about once a year I get a hankering for: 8.5 × 11 full-sheet Avery labels. Those labels retail for $40, so I’ve never bought any. But I was willing to pay $20 and I figure they’ll last me for the rest of my life.

My spent a total of $125 for that haul. And I’m very happy. And proud of what I passed up—I feel no regret for not pouncing on those items while I could.

It’s nice when life gives me such a pointed reminder to practice what I preach!

Tagged with: mindful shopping, office supplies, shopping