The UK is a nation of hoarders and impulse buyers. Research shows that the average UK household has £650 worth of gadgets, bits and bobs and general tat which really could be put to better use elsewhere. These impulse buys maybe on trend, simply seem like a great idea or be a gift, in every case it’s not long until they’re shoved to the back of the cupboard.
The latest research suggests that across the UK there is £16.6 billion’s worth of wasted gadgets languishing in cupboards. Items included on the list include fitness DVDs, exercise equipment, film subscriptions, foot spas and the once popular chocolate fountain. It seems despite tighter economic times people still seem to be unable to control the urge to splurge.
Below we’ve got some sterling advice to ensure your cupboards aren’t packed with gadgets you’ll never use and they’ll also help you keep off the dreaded ‘buyer remorse’. Rather than acting impulsively and thinking about selling your Xbox 360 within weeks of buying it, keep these points in mind for the future.
Read Reviews
Do your research before making any purchase. If you see a product in-store before you buy it go home and check out the reviews. Search for the item in question and see what others think. If it has generally good reviews across the board then go for whilst if there are more than a few questionable reviews that make sound points then consider passing it up this time. If you’re looking forward to the release of a brand new product it’s worth giving it a few weeks to see what people think before jumping in.
Do You Need It?
Think about what you’ve already got at home before you make any purchases. If you have a notebook do you really need a tablet? If you have a vacuum cleaner can’t you just use an extension cable rather than buying a specific car vacuum? New gadgets are promoted to make you feel like you can’t live without them and need the latest thing but in reality you can probably live happily without them and continue using your already effective kit.
Check Your Bank Balance
Plenty of people impulse buys on credit. This is a slippery slope and something you should stop as soon as physically possible. Making a purchase you can’t actually afford will put you in an uncomfortable, stressful situation and this is further perpetuated if it’s a product you didn’t need.
Look at your bank balance before making any purchase and again ask yourself, do I really need it? It’s very likely you’ll change your mind on most occasions and your home will be much less cluttered with those gadgets you simply didn’t need and won’t use.
Take Your Time
We’ve already said you should go home and do your research and in line with this is the concept of waiting and taking your time to make any purchases. This stops impulse purchases from happening at all and gives you time to contemplate your needs before taking your next disaster gadget home.
Keep these tips in mind and you might skip the next big craze that lasts no longer than a month or so.