Are You Shopping Savvy?

Mark Lichtenstein

How much do you spend on groceries per week?

Groceries? I order out for everything!

I let my butler handle that.
$50

$100

How much is a gallon of milk?

I dunno... $10?

What kind of milk? Soy milk or free range fair trade organic magic milk from the Himalayas?
I steal it from Starbucks.

$2.20 to $4.05 depending on the state

Do you shop for groceries with a list?

Nah

Again, I let my butler handle that.
I shoplift with a list.

Of course I do

How do you shop for non-prescription drugs?

I buy them from my neighborhood family owned drug store.

I subscribe to them on Amazon.
I steal tons of samples when I visit my doctor's office.

I buy them from Amazon or my local Walgreens, whichever is cheapest.

Do you have a set everyday carry or are you constantly replacing things?

I'm always running out of things, so I buy them on the go.

I carry a Mont Blanc and a dolphin skin wallet with me every day.
I steal my pens from the bank, and my wallet is a bent paper clip.

Sure do. I have my trusty space pen and my old wallet.

How often do you buy something you thought you were out of and then find out you still have some laying around?

All the time

When I do it, which is often, I figure it isn't like I'm going to stop needing toilet paper or toothpaste.
I never do that!

Not often. Only with things like staples and batteries.

Do you use a cost comparing service when shopping online, like Honey?

What is that?

I have people for that.
I have all the cost comparing apps. I have apps that compare cost comparing apps.

I use them religiously on Amazon and the like.

Do you use a barcode scanner to cross check prices, like ShopSavvy?

Nah

I ask friends.
I do, all the time.

I do, but sometimes convenience is worth more to me than a lower price.

Do you bring competing advertised prices to retailers when shopping?

No. Why?

I wouldn't want to offend the retailer.
Not only do I do that, I make up fake ones like a 65 inch TV for ten dollars, etc.

I do for major purchases, but not everything.

Do you read reviews of products before buying them?

No

I do, and I like to test drive them, like when I was deciding between an Aventador and a 911.
I read everything anyone has ever said about the product and the brand.

I'll read the 3 star reviews on Amazon, because they are the least emotional.

How much independent research do you do when making a purchase?

None

Some, but I usually outsource it.
I spend months obsessing.

I'll spend an hour or two if it's a purchase I have to live with a long time.

Do you buy generics when it comes to prescriptions?

No! I don't trust them!

No, I can afford the real thing, and I own stock in the manufacturer.
I do if I can't just get free samples from the doctor.

Of course I do

Do you buy generics when it comes to groceries?

No! I like my brand name cheese.

No, I like to buy the most opulent brands so people know I can afford it.
I only buy generics.

I do it for the staples, so I can do things like buy the fancy chocolates when I want them.

Do you buy generics when it comes to office products?

No! My company can afford gourmet copy paper.

No. I like the feel of resume paper even when it's just a printing test.
I do, because then stealing them for use at home means I'm not costing my office a lot of money.

Sure. Paper is paper.

How often do you replace your phone?

Whenever a new one comes out

Whenever a new iPhone comes out
When it dies and can't be fixed

When I've paid it off and buying a new one will deliver a meaningful change in performance

How often do you replace your computer?

Once or twice a year

Once every few years because I get the most powerful one so it will last
I'm taking this quiz on my 286

When repairing it costs too much like buying a new one

How often do you replace your car?

When those rubber things on the wheels get worn down

Whenever the new 911 comes out
When it catches fire

When repairing it costs more than the price I could get for it used and working

How often do you replace your primary writing implement?

Just about every day

When I see a fancy new fountain pen I like the look of
When it can no longer scratch shapes into things

When they stop making ink refills for it

Do you compare costs when you travel?

What does compare mean?

Sure, I compare going to Hong Kong to going to Switzerland.
I compare flying to Alaska to hiking to Alaska.

Sure, I go on Priceline, etc.

Are you part of a travel rewards program?

Travel is its own reward.

The Villa d'Este doesn't have one of those.
Yes! They make me dress up like a pilot and claim I'm deadheading.

One World Alliance FTW!

Is a two for one sale a deal if you only want one thing?

Sure! I can sell it on eBay!

That depends. I think I could find a use for two Gulfstreams.
No!

No, but if you know someone else who wants one, you could go in on them together and get it at half price.

Do you buy more things just because there is a sale?

Of course! I love a bargain!

That depends on the thing. Black truffles are something I never get tired of.
No, but I try to find a stranger to go in on the purchase with me, so we can both take advantage.

Of course not

Do you have a monthly entertainment budget, or do you wing it?

I wing it

I try to keep it under ten thousand dollars
My budget for entertainment is zero

Yes, but I keep separate ones for just me, or me and my significant other.

How much of your shopping do you do online?

I do most of my impulse buying online

I buy all my electronics from Apple.com
I do most of my shopping on Tor

I like to shop online to compare prices at places like Amazon

Do you visit sites like Woot and Overstock to see if they can give you a better deal?

No. Why would I do that?

Oh, are those poor people sites?
I only shop on Overstock, when I'm not buying my daily essentials on Craigslist.

I do, but usually Amazon is on par, and I think customer service is worth a few extra cents, on balance.

Do you use any credit cards that give you discounts on the daily staples you need to buy?

No, but boy do I use credit cards.

The Centurion Card is a charge card, not a credit card.
I charge everything to my Amazon Mastercard.

I put all my major purchases on a card that gives me points I can spend at several places, depending on need.

Do you sit at your computer with bated breath on Prime Day?

No. What's Prime Day?

What do I look like? A peasant?
I shop for the year on Prime Day.

I take an hour or two on Amazon on that day I wouldn't normally.

Do you buy new electronics, used electronics, or refurbs?

I buy the latest, bleeding edge tech, even if it means eating Cup o' Soup for years.

I buy the best looking, high status tech I can afford.
I pull things out of the trash and try to fix it.

I see if I can find a good used to refurbished example.

Do you buy things that are more expensive but better quality over things that are cheap but not very good?

What? No. I want a bargain, so I go for el cheapo.

I buy the expensive things because I like them.
I own a few very nice things because they are so bulletproof they will never need replacing.

The everyday stuff I use is on the nicer side, so it lasts long and doesn't need to be fixed too often.

How much do you go over your monthly budget?

Every month

Most of the time, but then I have my fund manager make up the difference.
Never, because I'm always under it.

Sometimes I go over, if there's a medical emergency or the like.

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Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

With so many ways to make our daily purchases, it's so easy to find the right deal. It's also very easy to impulse buy things we don't need, or not bother looking for the best deal. Are you shopping savvy? Find out with this quiz!

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