Resist the temptation of the "special"

Why do we spend money on things we don’t need or even want? What about the marketing industry is so powerful that it usurps even the most grounded among us?

Take tonight at dinner for example. We don’t have our things yet from the moving company, so we were out for dinner. The waitress told us that the house brew was on special, and that it was similar to a Stella. After a busy day we figure a beer would be nice. But for some reason instead of ordering a beer we know we will like, in the hopes of saving a dollar we both order the special. And let me tell you, it was no good.

One of the life principles I have adopted is that life is too short to consume things you don’t enjoy. This presumes of course that there are options, and that you are not in a situation of poverty or service. Sometimes it takes an extra effort, or extra self control. Sometimes its awkward to send something back at a restaurant. But when given the chance, even if it costs a little more, its better to enjoy your food and drink. Eddie taught me this. I never used to send things back at restaurants because I felt like I was insulting the server or the kitchen; but now I realize that if you are paying for the food or the service you are allowed to voice your opinion.

This not buying what you don’t need or don’t want applies to more than food too. Sales have the power to seduce us, and often I think they wind up causing us to spend more money not actually less. Its one thing to buy toilet paper in bulk because its on sale, because even if you don’t need it now, you will. Its quite another to buy pants you don’t really like because they were a good price, or a kitchen gadget you never considered owning before because it was on sale at costco, or granola bars you don’t ordinarily eat because they were 20 for a dollar. If you don’t need it or want it, you won’t use it.

So adhering to this principle we sent the beer back and ordered some Kilkenny. And they were good. And when we got the bill at the end of the night, she didn’t even charge us for the beer we didn’t drink.