The purchase of mundane things
Todays after work chore was a quick trip to the local grocery store for some essentials. We needed some food, snacks and toilet paper. I don’t know about you but when I go for groceries I always end up with more than I went for, especially if I’m hungry. But at the same time I almost always have forgotten the key item that sent me out in the first place. Hopefully some time soon a random geneticist will come up with a reason for this trait in men; then I won’t get it so much trouble.
Purchasing things that you need is most often boring. I just recently posted about buying light bulbs and here I am again complaining. You are confronted with a raft of possible products to fill the need and generally you have no idea which to pick. The difference between the options are usually unclear or non-existent. I’ve often went to this type of decision making: “Mmm, this one smells better.”, “Two dollars cheaper?, I choose you.”, “Oooo, shiny!”, etc. As you can see it is not a very scientific process. Over time you are able to start adding anecdotal experience to the process like this: “Cheaper but tastes like crap, next.”, “Hmm, got in trouble for buying that one sooo…”, etc.
Standing there in front of the Wall-O-TP (TP = toilet paper for those not in the know) I started into the process.
Hmm, cheaper but caused dirty looks to be shot my way. Bright shiny packaging, nice. Would have to walk a few steps to evaluate, nope. Wait what is this?
“What was it?” you ask. Well I happened to notice the following:
Yes indeed a portion of my purchase would in some way go to Breast Cancer, sold! I’m sure by now you’ve become aware of my support of that particular cause. So the choice was thankfully easy. It seems that charities are starting to figure out this whole Capitalism thing that we’ve got going. Off the top of your head I’ll bet you can name at least two products that when purchased support a cause. I’ll help you out with a hint: colorful rubber bracelets. Lance Armstrong is an amazing fellow.
Speaking of light bulbs, I know there’s been a lot of hoopla over these new tiny fluorescent ones that initially cost more, but use a fraction of the energy and last a lot longer. My entire home in London has converted to them. They’re a bit of a pain in that it takes a few seconds for them to power on once you flip the switch, but the light is much purer and you can’t help but feel pride that you’re doing something good not only for your pocket but also for the environment.
I always like to buy the cheapest TP unless my girlfriend is watching.
Oh Greg, TP is an essential component that cannot be skipped on!
As far as fluorecent lightbulbs there are so many studies and articles saying that if we all switched over to fluorecent bulbs from incandecent ones that there would be a huge savings of energy.
Primarily my comment stands though, don’t save on TP.
Oh and for two items, red iPods, and I remember seeing some candles.
I still haven’t made it to Canadian Tire to pickup real light bulbs yet so given the impassioned pleas I will pick up fluorescent ones instead. Thanks for the tip.
Buying cheap TP feels good at the checkout but not at any other time, hehe.
Buying cheap TP shows you are a man. If you use more then 1 ply you are probably starting to grow a vagina