I blame the Bag-Shop-Bouncer ??
Samantha Rolfe
Property Investment Specialist & Finance Broker | Founder @ Your Money Home Loans
‘This feels so exclusive,’ I whispered to my friend as we slid behind the rope and into the queue outside the shop.
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I’d had no idea the shop was having a sale—but of course, I knew about their designer handbags. So when my friend mentioned that she was stopping by after work to shop, I said I’d go along with her.
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Just to take a look, of course ??
We’d gone straight to the shop after our workday at the bank (because this was 7 years ago when I was a credit analyst).
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Right when we got there, we saw the line that stretched down the street.
The rope to keep everyone in a single file.
A Bag-Shop-Bouncer who was letting people in just a few at a time.
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Immediately, my mind started being taken over by excitement and anticipation.
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Everything about this screamed luxury and high-end and exclusivity.
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‘This is a big deal,’ I thought to myself as we waited our turn to enter the store.
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I watched women walk out of the store with fancy bags and big smiles.
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We moved up in the line.
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I got a tiny glance at the bags through the window and couldn’t help picturing myself with one on my arm.
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We moved up in the line.
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My friend described the bag she was hoping to buy and how she’d never be able to buy it at this price again.
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We moved up in the line.
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By the time the Bag-Shop-Bouncer allowed us to walk through the door, I was sold.
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I was going to buy one of these bags.
We walked in and I started browsing, and before long, I had a bag in my hands and was heading to check out.
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I was handing over my card, ignoring the queasy feeling in my stomach when the shop assistant told me the total.
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I was walking out the door, fancy bag in tow, feeling that mixture of excitement and anxiety reserved ONLY for those moments after you’ve bought something really expensive when you really shouldn’t have.
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Because truthfully, I’d never seen this bag before in my life.
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I hadn’t been saving for it.
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There was no line in my budget that said ‘EXPENSIVE BAG FUND ??.’
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I justified it by telling myself…
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I’ll use it every day.
It’s such great quality, it’ll last forever.
This is such a great deal.
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And to be fair? I have used it A LOT. It did last. And I STILL love it to this day, 7 years later.
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But, that’s not the point.
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No, the point is that I didn’t actually need it and truthfully (*gulp*) I wasn’t in a position where I could have been affording luxuries like those.
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It was purchased emotionally—NOT intentionally.
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It’s easy to get swept away by the ‘never-again-low-price’ or the exclusivity or the FOMO.
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Because before we got to the store? I didn’t even want a new bag.
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But that didn’t stop me from buying it.
If I had stepped back, shaken myself out of it, and asked myself, ‘Does this align with my priorities/values right now?’
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I would have saved A LOT of money.?
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(Like. A LOT.)
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Real talk: We all deserve to spend our money on things that aren’t ‘necessities.’
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Things that make us happy, our lives more enjoyable, and our days a bit (or a lot!) easier.
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There’s no shame in buying things.
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Not even in buying expensive things!
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But that spending HAS to be aligned with your values and your budget. Otherwise, those goals you’re working towards (whether it’s saving for your deposit, paying off debt, whatever)—they’ll always stay far off in the distance, like a finish line that never seems to get closer no matter how hard or fast or long you run toward it.
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Impulsive purchases can sabotage your financial goals, but they aren’t impossible to resist.
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If you booked a Game Plan Session with me hoping to map out your spending plan so you could work toward saving for your dream vacation or rental property, one of the first things we’d do is a spending audit.
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And look, I know that talking about spending can sometimes feel uncomfortable.?
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That’s why my approach is always non-judgmental and completely tailored to your situation. No bank statement can scare me—and no purchase is too silly.?
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(*points to self* Impulsively purchased a very expensive bag I couldn’t really afford, remember?)
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Together in our session, we’d look at your purchases to see where you are spending your money and if you could make changes.
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We’d have a conversation that I truly believe could change everything for your finances.?
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A conversation about value-based spending.
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In this conversation, I might ask you:
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??What do you love to spend money on?
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??What is a recent purchase you were excited about? What made it meaningful?
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??Are there any purchases you regret or feel you overspend on regularly?
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??What’s one area where you feel frustrated with your current spending?
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??If I gave you $5000 right now to spend guilt-free, what would you spend it on?
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??What’s one purchase you’ve made that you would never take back, no matter the cost?
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??If you had to cut one area of spending to make room for something more meaningful, what would it be?
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??Which of these spending values resonate most with you?
??Do your current spending habits reflect your most important values? If not, where is the misalignment?
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And then we’d make a plan, with your answers in mind, to help you tailor your spending and your budget to make space for the things that really matter to you.
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The best part?
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You could grab your notebook right now and start jotting down answers to these questions. Or plan a little Dollars Date with your partner and go through this list together!
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But, of course, if you want support taking your answers and using them to create a budget and savings plan that will help you reach your biggest financial goals, that’s exactly what the Game Plan Sessions are for.
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By the end of your one-hour session, you'll walk away with a list of doable steps, empowering you to make informed decisions and gain real momentum toward achieving your property and financial goals.
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Because when it comes to truly getting closer to those goals??
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You need to know exactly what to do and how your actions will support those goals.
I want to give you that clarity, so you can spend and save with confidence on your own unique path toward financial success.
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THIS WEEK’S LITTLE LUXURY
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I’m not exaggerating when I say I get a little thrill every time I spritz a bit of my favorite perfume before I walk out the door each morning.
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Patchouli Muse smells like Coco Mademoiselle but for WAY less.
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(On second thought, maybe that’s why I get that little thrill ??)
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And it literally lasts all day.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
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Q: Is it a good idea to buy an off-the-plan property?
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A: This might go against popular opinion, but I personally really like off-the-plan properties and believe they are a great option depending on your circumstances, and if you can find a developer you can trust!
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One of the positives with off the plan is that you can put down just 10% upfront and then get your finances sorted closer to settlement. Plus, with interest rates and the cost of living currently high, and the potential for rates to decrease in the future, this could allow you to take advantage of any economic improvements by the time the property is finished (just a possibility—not a guarantee, of course!).?
Please also remember that there are risks like market fluctuations and possible delays in construction that could impact the final outcome! Feel free to hit reply or book a free Loan Consultation if you are considering purchasing an off-the-plan property. We can chat more about it together!
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all questions are anonymous
Being intentional with your spending is hard—but it gets easier the more you practice it, the more you review your purchases, and the more you talk about it.
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I’m here if you need me—we can take the values you live by and make them come to life in your budget together in a one-hour Game Plan Session.?
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Have a takeaway you can’t wait to share? DM me and tell me all about it! I love celebrating your wins with you.
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UNTIL NEXT TIME, CHEERS!