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Take This Quiz: Are You an Under-buyer or an Over-buyer?

Editor’s note: This is a guest post from one of my favorite bloggers, Gretchen Rubin of The Happiness Project.

I love a good self-diagnosis quiz.
What kind of clutterer are you?
Are you organized?
Are you at risk for dropping out of your exercise program?

Here’s a new quiz that you can take to determine whether you belong in one of two opposite groups: over-buyers and under-buyers.

As members of each category will freely attest, it’s not particularly productive to be in too deep in either camp; both offer certain advantages but also some definite drawbacks.

Does either of these descriptions fit you?

You’re an over-buyer if.

You buy several summer outfits for your as-yet-unborn baby, then it turns out he outgrows those clothes before the weather warms up.
You often lay in huge supplies of items like shampoo or cough medicine.
You often make a purchase, such as a tool or tech gadget, with the thought, “This will probably come in handy.”
You have a long list of stores to visit before you travel.
You find yourself throwing things away — milk, medicine, even cans of soup — because they’ve hit their expiration date.
You buy items with the thought, “This will make a great gift!” without having a recipient in mind.
You think, “Buying these things shows that I’m responsible, organized, and thoughtful.”

You’re an under-buyer if.

You buy saline solution, which you use every morning and night, one bottle at a time.
You often scramble to buy an item like a winter coat or bathing suit after the point at which you need it.
You’re suspicious of specialized objects and resist buying things
dedicated very specific uses, like suit bags, special plastic plates and
cutlery for children, hand cream, or rain boots.
You often need to come up with a makeshift solution, such using soap because you’ve run out of shaving cream, because you don’t have what you need.
You often consider buying an item, then decide, “I’ll get this some other time” or “Maybe we don’t really need this.”
If you must buy something, you buy as little as possible - say, by putting $10 of gas in the car.
You think, “Not buying these things shows that I’m frugal and not a consumerist sucker.”

Me? I’m an under-buyer.

Under-buyers feel stressed because we don’t have the things we need. We make a lot of late-night runs to the drugstore. We’re surrounded with things that are shabby, don’t really work, or aren’t exactly suitable.

Over-buyers feel stressed because they’re hemmed in by stuff. They often don’t have enough storage space for everything they’ve bought, or they can’t find what they’ve bought. They feel oppressed by the number of errands they feel like they need to do and by the waste often created by their over-buying.

So under-buyers-buy what you need, without procrastination! Don’t wait for the first morning of your ski trip to buy ski gloves! Over-buyers-think it over before you whip out your wallet! You don’t need a ten-year supply of toothpaste!

To read more from Gretchen, check out her blog, The Happiness Project, or subscribe to her feed.

Take This Quiz: Are You an Under-buyer or an Over-buyer?

Editor’s note: This is a guest post from one of my favorite bloggers, Gretchen Rubin of The Happiness Project.

I love a good self-diagnosis quiz.
What kind of clutterer are you?
Are you organized?
Are you at risk for dropping out of your exercise program?

Here’s a new quiz that you can take to determine whether you belong in one of two opposite groups: over-buyers and under-buyers.

As members of each category will freely attest, it’s not particularly productive to be in too deep in either camp; both offer certain advantages but also some definite drawbacks.

Does either of these descriptions fit you?

You’re an over-buyer if.

You buy several summer outfits for your as-yet-unborn baby, then it turns out he outgrows those clothes before the weather warms up.
You often lay in huge supplies of items like shampoo or cough medicine.
You often make a purchase, such as a tool or tech gadget, with the thought, “This will probably come in handy.”
You have a long list of stores to visit before you travel.
You find yourself throwing things away — milk, medicine, even cans of soup — because they’ve hit their expiration date.
You buy items with the thought, “This will make a great gift!” without having a recipient in mind.
You think, “Buying these things shows that I’m responsible, organized, and thoughtful.”

You’re an under-buyer if.

You buy saline solution, which you use every morning and night, one bottle at a time.
You often scramble to buy an item like a winter coat or bathing suit after the point at which you need it.
You’re suspicious of specialized objects and resist buying things
dedicated very specific uses, like suit bags, special plastic plates and
cutlery for children, hand cream, or rain boots.
You often need to come up with a makeshift solution, such using soap because you’ve run out of shaving cream, because you don’t have what you need.
You often consider buying an item, then decide, “I’ll get this some other time” or “Maybe we don’t really need this.”
If you must buy something, you buy as little as possible - say, by putting $10 of gas in the car.
You think, “Not buying these things shows that I’m frugal and not a consumerist sucker.”

Me? I’m an under-buyer.

To read more from Gretchen, check out her blog, The Happiness Project, or subscribe to her feed.

Posted on 21 November 2007 in Finance & Family, Happiness |
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Comments (29)

Tina Su - Think Simple Now Says:

November 21st, 2007, 20:02 pm

Hi Gretchen,

I’d love to see advice for people who fall into the either categories. :)
What should I do if I’m an over buyer? or under-buyer?

Tina

grace Says:

November 21st, 2007, 20:24 pm

I am an under-buyer. However, I always top off my car. It gives me a sense of security knowing I could flee in an emergency. Other items I must keep an ample stock of are toilet paper, hand soap, and floss. They dont expire and I would have a hard time substituting them. Almost everything else I can make do or do with out until the next time I’m bundling my errands.

When It comes to seasonal items, I’ve learned that in this metro area you better get a parka when it first shows up in August, or you won’t be seeing any until next year. The consumers here are voracious and the retailers start selling spring items in January. Heaven forbid your child loses their jacket in late December. There aren’t even sale items left. So, Hi! Ho! Hi! Ho! It’s off to the Salvation Army we go.

Alphonse Says:

November 21st, 2007, 20:29 pm

A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead an prepares for them; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences–Proverbs 22:3
It is better to risk being a little early when securing your families essential supplies than a few hours to late.

zero255zero Says:

November 21st, 2007, 20:55 pm

a cross between under and over..work in progress

Keane Says:

November 21st, 2007, 21:47 pm

None of your links for the quizzes work.

South Carolina Guy Says:

November 21st, 2007, 21:52 pm

Well, I’m closer to being an under-buyer than an over-buyer but I’m clearly a hybrid. I love to “go long” on items with a long shelf life such as soap, toothbrushes and canned food. And I certainly would never put less than a full tank of gas in the car. What’s the sense in that?

But I would never buy a gift without a specific recipient in mind. And no, I don’t buy single-use appliances. Where would I put them all? And I hate clutter so I try not to buy more than I need. And it kills me to throw things away after an expiration date. So I don’t over-buy perishables.

Online Classifieds Says:

November 21st, 2007, 22:05 pm

I guess I am a over-buyer when it comes to the essentials. Like I have a spare mouse and a spare keyboard at home. Extra toilet rolls and stationary lying around somwhere in storage.

Else, gifts and seasonal items are at a minimum.

A good article for readers to reflect on their spending habits before the festive season. Watch that wallet people!

Albert | UrbanMonk.Net Says:

November 21st, 2007, 23:52 pm

Heh heh…I’m an over buyer for things I have a passion for and an under buyer for boring things like groceries and petrol.

Miss Gisele B. Says:

November 21st, 2007, 23:57 pm

What an excellent quiz Leo!

That was quite entertaining but it also forces you to take a look at yourself in the mirror.

After carefully reading the description for the under-buyers and over-buyers, I find myself in a “no-man’s-land” because I’m never. I will never run out of toothpaste because I buy them on sale and stack up, but I would never anything that doesn’t have a basic use (toilet paper, soap, rubber gloves) just in case I need it later.

If there’s a sale on basics I’m there. But if there is a sale on pyjamas, I won’t buy them even if they sell for $0.50 … just in case I need them. If I need to replace a pair of pyjama that’s a different story … and in that case, I’d buy only one. If there’s a sale on toothpaste, I’ll buy six tubes and be done for a while…until the next mid year sale.

I absolutely hate clutter … so I guess I’m sort of a cross between the two shopping personalities you’ve described … depending on the item.

Interestingly, before I go on vacation I don’t visit many stores, because I usually have the stores I’ll be visiting while on vacation all line-up ;-)

Thanks for the fun post!

Gisele
http://www.mybeautymatch.com

Eugene (Editor, Varsity Blah) Says:

November 22nd, 2007, 1:38 am

Yup, I’m an under-buyer too! I guess it works well for things like grocery shopping because those tend to spoil quickly. Also, it makes sense for me to have a “just-in-time” system seeing as I pop into the store everyday after gym. It’s efficiency at its best!

Cass Says:

November 22nd, 2007, 1:50 am

Under buyer here, and it bites me in the rear more often than I care to admit. Of course, for years, I bought too much. Maybe one day I can strike a good balance, LOL! Thanks for the eye opening chuckle at myself.

Maria P. Says:

November 22nd, 2007, 2:32 am

I am an under buyer for the most part. However I am also careful with my time. I always fill up my tank because I don’t want to keep coming back for more gas. Oddly I will make small and frequent grocery trips when I am low on funds rather than making a big one. It usually works against me too because I don’t buy in larger quantities which usually saves me money.

Also when I do have to spend a lot of money on something that is important - I spend a lot for the best so that I can get the most use out of it and won’t have it breaking on me.

When I am shopping - my rule is that I have to almost immediately love it - or I won’t buy it. I love a lot of the stuff I do buy. I don’t buy a lot of “stuff” either.

Lodewijkvdb Says:

November 22nd, 2007, 7:19 am

I’m definitely inclined to be an underbuyer. Only when I see great deals for items without a shelf-life do I negotiate myself into buying way more than I need. In the end they are good deals :)

But not topping off the gastank…why on earth would you do that?

tim Says:

November 22nd, 2007, 13:01 pm

The links don’t work, and where’s the quiz anyway?

Richard Rinyai Says:

November 22nd, 2007, 13:32 pm

I would have to say that I am an Under-Buyer, since I try to save as much as I can and spend as little as possible.

My wife on the other hand is an Over-Buyer. You should see how much stuff she orders online each month. The good thing is that she usually returns items that she doesn’t really want.

I suggested to her that we should set up a budget spreadsheet for her to track her expenses. This worked wonders and is getting very close to coming within her monthly limit each month now.

Discipline is the key!

Thanks,

Richard Rinyai
http://www.theprofessionalassistant.net

Lodewijkvdb Says:

November 22nd, 2007, 13:57 pm

To make the links work, just copy the link, paste it in the address bar and remove the that’s in the link.

That’s a simple fix until Leo repairs them.

Lodewijkvdb Says:

November 22nd, 2007, 13:59 pm

Just take out the stuff that’s not supposed to be in the link. It’s br and /a, including the pointy brackets.

Gotta love previews…please put it back on Leo, you had it before ;)

Leo Says:

November 22nd, 2007, 15:18 pm

Sorry for the broken links, guys! Not sure what happened there. I would have fixed them earlier, but I was out all day at different Thanksgiving festivities. Fixed now!

XIIIzen Says:

November 22nd, 2007, 18:00 pm

I think I’m a bit on the under-buyer side, of course not really there, but some of the definitions did fit me. I guess it’s not too bad, but I will keep a check on taht to know further about my own ways.

Thanks for this great quiz Leo.

Tabatha Says:

November 22nd, 2007, 18:31 pm

Under-buyer for sure. It does cause a lot of unnecessary stress.

Stephen Hopson Says:

November 23rd, 2007, 9:08 am

I woiuld say that I’m definitely an under-buyer. I had to smile when I saw the one description in this article about substituting soap for the shaving cream that just ran out. Haha. That’s happened a few times! :)

Great post. I’d be interested in an “analysis” of what it means to be an overbuyer versus underbuyer. Like for example, do you think underbuyers are insecure, believe in lack or do you believe they are just being “smart”?

What about overbuyers? Are they of the abundant mindset, not worried about the ability to pay for their purchases? Or are they being reckless to the point of being careless?

That would make for a very interesting debate, for sure.

Pam Baugh Says:

November 23rd, 2007, 12:42 pm

This was such fun. Definitely I am an underbuyer. I think for many overbuyers, shopping is a hobby; they love it! Personally I do not enjoy shopping for shopping’s sake.

There is so much waste and excess in this country. However I still am not keen on shopping thrift stores for used stuff. What’s up with that? I do donate my clothes that are in good condition. Not averse to getting hand me downs, in fact loved getting our seasonal box from cousins when I was a kid!
Lots of story ideas in the replies here.
Thanks

chris Says:

November 23rd, 2007, 13:43 pm

i am an under byer for all of the common sense things…
frustrating
and i am an over byer for all of those bright idea things that people just shouldnt bye …. the ones that just get lost in the clutter piles of other things i douldnt have bought and then you have no idea where they are when you need them…. more frustration…

Jean Says:

November 23rd, 2007, 14:55 pm

Thanks Gretchen for this wonderful post and great, great thought-provoking question! This was such a great read for me, and it evoked ideas for much consideration. Thank you Leo for inviting the talents of guest writers. I am loving the expansion of ZH!

After rolling around this question for 2 days, it’s provided tremendous insight to some possibilities for the stress I continually experience. The rhythm of my day has improved greatly. But, even though I have a rather simple, decluttered lifestyle/environment, I’m aware of mini-stressors that pepper my daily routines - just couldn’t pinpoint their source. As I gradually created a minimalist home space, I trusted former feelings of being overwhelmed, disorganized and unprepared would vanish. It’s been more of a slow phasing-out, and perhaps for me, this is the best speed.

Mostly, I under buy. With the exception of bath tissue and food for my cat, there is nothing else that I stockpile. This has some advantages: I shop for food frequently (greater part of my eating raw vegetables). When I get dressed for work, a look in my closet finds only a few items of clothing I hadn’t realized the stress this has been producing. Clearly, I have under-bought what I need for my office job. Not buying enough has surely resulted in not having what I need at the appropriate time (”hello, saline solution?”)

Gretchen’s post prompted me to consider a possible shift in how I regard what I under buy/ over buy. Two examples are clothing and paper. I began by focusing on my wardrobe needs (real, very real - under buy). Later, I looked at my already streamlined “collection” paper files and reading materials (aka: room-length wall of books - over buy). A few hours of chipping away and re-evaluating “needs” vs. “requirements” vs. “not necessary” resulted in more acquired space and a feeling of calm. Many books have now been designated for donation and lots of paper files eliminated - Why was I keeping this stuff?!!! Perhaps this has been my lopsided approach to balancing out my tendency to under buy? :-)

My intention is to find that place of balance where I have all that I truly need, a little of what I desire and the peace of mind that comes from knowing that there will always be enough of both.

Jean

Sean Sandag Says:

November 24th, 2007, 21:02 pm

Hi, I’m a PR student at the University of South Florida and we are studying the growing popularity of blogging. If I wanted to get an influential blogger’s attention such as you, how would I go about getting my issue out to the masses?

Rebecca Says:

November 25th, 2007, 16:29 pm

As the adult child of an underbuyer who can vividly remember Mom shifting the car into neutral so we could coast on the downhills and use less of the (empty) gas tank on the way to the filling station, washing dishes with laundry detergent or our hair with dish detergent, substituting tissues for toilet paper, trying to get lather out of a toothpick-thin sliver of soap–well, I could go on and on.

The point is, that I am an overbuyer and I’m convinced that I have a fear of running out of things, especially the essentials, in reaction to all of that childhood anxiety and deprivation. But Mom was a child of the Depression so her way was a reaction to the forced frugality of her childhood.

Jen Says:

December 4th, 2007, 20:40 pm

I was all set to read this and happily declare myself an under-buyer, but unfortunately it’s not so! I *am* the type to buy one bottle of saline solution at a time, but I am never stressed that I am not going to have things I need. I seem to have some kind of as-yet-unreported super power, as I am always acutely aware of what I have and what I need to buy soon. When I start running very low on shampoo, toothpaste, toilet paper, etc., I make a note that I need it, and I buy it when I go to the store! I would much, much rather do it this way than have to store all these extra bottles in my cabinets.

The only time I stockpile is when there is a *tremendous* deal on the item (and if I have room for the volume). One recurring stockpile item is 9Lives brand cat food. Full price it’s $0.50, and on sale it’s $0.30. How can I resist taking home all the Chicken Dinner and Super Supper they have in stock? It stacks so nicely in the cupboard. But my medicine cabinet simply doesn’t have that kind of extra space for shampoo, conditioner, soaps, lotions, etcetera, ad nauseam. Buy what you need, when you need it, I always say. No stress here.

Lily Says:

March 31st, 2008, 9:28 am

I became a wiser shopper and quite an under-buyer, which helps when you live in 45 square metres :P
I like clothes and such but I’m picky, so it’s unlikely for me to buy many items together. 2 pairs of shoes? Never!
My wallet can breathe…

Meg Says:

April 6th, 2008, 17:37 pm

A couple years ago, I was meeting some of the overbuyer criteria- I once bought a USB stick or $60, never used it and I have NO IDEA where it is. Now I’m a bit more of an underbuyer, I think. I’ve been using Vaseline for makeup-remover (hey it works!) for a few months because I don’t want to spend the $7 on a tiny tub of wipes. On the other hand, buying the makeup in the first place isn’t exactly frugal eh? I don’t think I fell/fall too far into either.