The Downside of Convenience
When I need to get something I rely on my bike. Grocery shopping, errands and the occasional window shopping all involve me donning my helmet and pedaling to the store. In one sense, it’s quite convenient because I take care of everything without using a car and I get exercise at the same time, which is satisfying. But at the same time, everything that I need and everything I purchase has to be carried back in a back pack and involves a relatively steep uphill climb for the final leg of my trip. Making it up that hill with a heavy pack is substantially less enjoyable.
However, making shopping as inconvenient as possible has done wonders for curbing frivolous purchases.
One of my favorite activities is perusing bookstores. I love bookstores, but they’re dangerous places because there are so many wonderful books to read. It’s also hard to remember the free alternative. When I went to bookstores in a car, I needed to bring my license. And since I have a tendency to lose things, my license stays in my wallet. With my wallet comes access to money and once I’ve found something I want, my willpower simply isn’t that good.
Alternatively, when I bike I don’t carry my wallet (and rarely carry my backpack) unless I need something specific. If I see something I really want, after all, I can always go back later and get it. For necessities like groceries, it works just as well. Rather than simply avoiding using my backpack, the question becomes “is this item worth carrying all the way back?” or “Can I fit it in my bag?” Shopping this way keeps me going overboard on those items that look tasty but I don’t really need.
This method also has a two-fold advantage: I force myself to wait before purchasing things and the shopping experience becomes more enjoyable, if less convenient. I experience the benefit of exercise and a change of scenery without the guilt that accompanies impulse buys. Like the snacks and gum in the checkout aisle, it’s easy to buy something you don’t need just because it’s convenient. Instead, these splurges can be avoided by making them as inconvenient as possible.
Elizabeth: This is excellent insight into how to switch up the part of our routines that causes us to splurge. With those Maine winters just around the corner, do you find that you spend more money when you’re back to driving?
Since I don’t actually own a car, shopping becomes even less convenient because I have to find someone who is willing to give me a ride or pay 7 dollars an hour to rent a zip car. Fortunately, Waterville is quite good about snow plowing so biking remains relatively safe, and a 2-3 mile walk isn’t that bad, especially if you bundle up. It also means I’m more at the mercy of the weather and will often put off a trip until the weather is improved. This often means that by the time the weather is decent enough to venture out, I’ve either forgotten what I was going to look for or have made do without it.