Confessions of a Discount Junkie

When Bargain Hunting Becomes an Identity

If you're addicted to discounts, get a rush when you find a bargain or jump for joy at the sight of a 50% off sale tag, you're not alone. Trust me, I'm right there with you.

My collage creation courtesy of Pinterest

My Bargain-Hunting Confession

I feel like buying things on sale and opting for cheap items over luxury brands has become part of my personality. But I want to talk about how that’s probably not a great way to be. Keep reading and I’ll explain why.

I gloat about my penny-pinching and try to impress others with my dollar-saving skills. The other day, a friend told me about this cute product she bought through a Facebook ad and sent me a link. What did I do? I immediately looked it up, decided it was an overpriced drop-shipped item and found the same item cheaper on eBay.

Discount shops are an excellent go-to for affordable versions of useful items. And don't even get me started on charity shops. That's elite-level discount treasure hunting right there.

My ‘keep it in the cheap’ shopping rules are pretty simple:

• An item of clothing has to be under $30 or at least 50% off, or I won't buy it.

• If there’s a bigger ticket item we need, my first point of call is to look for 2nd hand options on Facebook marketplace and then scope out stores with sales on.

• I'd rather buy what I need from somewhere affordable like Kmart or a discount shop than a brand name store.

• Plus, I feel out of place at brand-name stores anyway. I picture myself being shuffled out the door like Julia Roberts in Pretty Women because I don’t look up-market enough in my over-worn Kmart kit.

It Runs in the Family

I inherited this love of discounts from my parents. Particularly my mum. She'll buy anything if it has a sale tag, even if it's something she doesn't want or need. And I get it. Finding something on sale is like coming across a treasure chest. You know it's worth a lot, but YOU paid close to nothing for it, so it becomes even more valuable in your eyes.

My parents have always taken pride in their cheap purchases and affordable lifestyle. I remember my uncle bragging about his expensive golf club membership, and my dad would respond with pride about his $10 yearly membership at the local Bowls Club. And don't get him started on how cheap the food was there.

It was inevitable that this viewpoint and approach to spending would rub off on me too and I doubled down on it when meeting my husband who has a similar approach to spending.

Now here’s a great example. For our wedding, I researched options to get the dream wedding I wanted for an affordable price. We decided against bridesmaids and groomsmen, booked a photographer for a few hours instead of the whole event, kept guest numbers low and I even bought my wedding dress 2nd hand off Facebook marketplace. Our Bali honeymoon was discounted too because of a minor volcanic eruption threat (thankfully that wasn’t an issue by the time the honeymoon occurred).

There I go again gloating about my penny-pinching. Sorry. I can’t help myself it seems!

The Other Side of the Coin

For some people, 'discount' is a dirty word, especially if you combine it with 'shop'. Brands and items that are considered cheap are beneath them.

It reminds me of a time in my childhood when my fancy Uncle and Auntie visited from Sydney. They only wore designer clothes and owned nice, expensive things. We were at a shopping centre together and wanted to go into the discount shop. They refused to join us and mockingly said they didn't want to be seen in there and would be embarrassed if someone they knew saw them enter the shop. Keeping up appearances was very important to them.

So What's the Point?

Here's the thing. Some people love discounted and cheaply priced products, while others like more expensive luxury items. Many fall somewhere in between, opting for lasting luxury with particular items and choosing cheaper options for others. There's no right or wrong way to spend your money. It's your money, you do what you want with it.

But the point I’m trying to make here is I hope we can look beyond making our purchase choices part of our personality. The price of the stuff you buy and own is not a reflection of who you are as a person.

Our lives are so transfixed by material things that we adopt them as a reflection of who we are. We all do it. There’s no escaping it. I love kawaii, so I buy kawaii things. My dad loves the Rabbitohs rugby team, so I buy him Rabbitohs stuff for Christmas and Birthdays. But transfixing personal interests to purchasable items isn’t where the problem lies. Instead, it’s the price we pay for an item that shouldn't be factored into our self-worth.

If I bought an item I wanted, even though it wasn’t on sale, I shouldn't guilt trip myself over it because I decided bargain shopping was a personality trait. Similarly, I shouldn’t judge others for the price paid for a particular item.

But at the end of the day, whether you're a bargain hunter like me or a luxury lover like my aunt and uncle, it doesn't define you. Your values, your actions, your relationships – that's what makes you who you are. Not the price tag on your shirt or the brand of your shoes.

So next time you're about to brag about a killer deal or feel ashamed of walking into a discount store, remember: You're more than what you buy.

Are you a bargain hunter, a luxury lover or a bit of both? lot me know in the comments below!