Chasing the Fionist Dream

This is not a post about about how to lower your grocery bill. (We actually have two of those, which you can read here and here 🙂 ). This post is about big purchases and how to make them wisely and responsibly. We’re talking new appliances, new furniture, vacations, clothing – really anything that will cost you hundreds or thousands of shekels. And while we ❤ love ❤ second hand, this post is about new items.

So how do we shop?

1. Shop end of season sales. Stores have to get rid of their inventory before the next season’s merchandise comes in. Believe it or not, this isn’t only for clothes. Housewares and other types of stores offer 40-70% off when the seasons change. If you’re reading this post hot off the press (February, 2024), now is a great time to buy that thing you’ve been meaning to buy (and have the funds for). Just remember not to let the sales suck you in to buying something you don’t need.
   
   
2. Check the item’s price on the store’s own website. While you’re standing in the store. On your phone. Yes, we’ve done this and it worked. Some stores charge more in their brick and mortar stores for the same items they sell for less when ordering online. Ask them if they can meet their online price. They might surprise you. If not – order the item online.
   
   
3. Read reviews. Always do your homework and read reviews before purchasing a big ticket item. It doesn’t matter how inexpensive something is, if it ends up being garbage, it’s a waste of money. Make sure to read the one- and two-star reviews as well as the five star ones. Sometimes the feature that bothered other people wouldn’t bother you. Sometimes it would. Years ago, we booked a few nights at a hotel here in Israel and saw a bunch of low ratings by European tourists who complained there was no meat at the breakfast buffet. We decided that was something we’d be okay with. 😂
   
   
4. Comparison shop. Found an item you like? Great! Now see if you can find it or something similar somewhere else for less. We like using Zap for comparing online vendors. When shopping in person, we walk into multiple stores near each other and compare. You can also pit them against each other and ask them to match or beat their competitors.
   
   
5. Do you love it? If not, (and you’re not desperate for a new fridge or something) don’t buy it. Keep looking until you find the thing that makes your heart sing. If you don’t love it, chances are you won’t use (or wear, etc) it that often and it will be a waste of money (and clutter your home).
   
   
6. Gift cards. Do you have any physical or digital Buyme, Tav Zahav, Max Card, Nofshonit, or any other gift cards you may have received years ago and forgotten about? By law, gift cards must remain valid for five years, so chances are your forgotten cards are still good. Before you make your next major purchase, check if you have any such cards and which stores they cover. You may end up saving yourself hundreds of shekels (or more!).
   
   
7. Wait. Never decide in the moment that you must buy the expensive thing. If you didn’t know you needed it when you got out of bed this morning, you don’t need it now. Go home and think about it for a few days, or preferably a few weeks or months. In that time, either the impulse will have passed, or you can make a plan for how, where, and when to buy the thing. The only exception to this rule is in emergencies, when the expense can’t be delayed. This is what an emergency fund is for.
   
   
8. Ask about return policies and warrantees. While this item may seem like the greatest thing in the world right now, what happens if you bring it home and decide you regret buying it and don’t want it anymore? What if it breaks or stops working? While Israeli law does require vendors to accept returns in some situations, you want to know what it means for you and this product. Perhaps the store’s policy goes above and beyond the law. Perhaps it doesn’t. And if the item needs fixing, how long does the warrantee last? Would you personally have to schlep the item somewhere far from your home or would it be picked up? What parts does that warrantee cover? What doesn’t it cover?
   

We generally use a combination of the above when buying new expensive things. We can’t end this post without reminding you that no matter how big a sale is, it’s cheaper not to buy the thing at all. We believe in you. 🙂

What things do you consider when making big purchases?

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