Discounts and Savings Winn Dixie does it. Bealls does it. Each time I shop at one of these places, they try to tell me how much money I have saved. Winn Dixie makes you use a little card to get a discount, but this is how Beall’s does it: Let’s just say I need a new pair of khaki’s and a button down. After perusing the sale racks, and doing the mental gymnastics of the color coded percentage off floor pricing, I pick out some Dockers and a linen Izod. I have calculated my cost to be around 50$ because of the 40 and 50% off discounts. The store associate rings up the outfit and then will announce that my total is $54.72. With gusto and a smile, s/he will add, “You saved $42.35 by shopping with us today.” My wife tries to stop my response, but I just can’t help it. “No. I didn’t save anything in this transaction. All I did was spend. There is no more money in my bank account after we are done than before. I don’t want to be rude, but I sure wish you guys would quit saying that.” If they are new to the Jack Treatment, they might even try to plead their case. They will explain that IF I had paid full price or the manufacturers suggested retail price then I would have spent much more. I then have to explain that I DIDN’T pay the MSRP and that I WOULDN’T pay that price anyway. They usually give up by this point and my elbow is throbbing because Sandra is pinching so so hard this late in the conversation. The more seasoned employees recognize me now and just smile and say “I know…” (This amuses me and I appreciate their spirit!) At the end of the day, there is a real difference between spending and saving. Spending less does NOT equal saving more. It cracks me up to see how far people will go to get a discount, as illusory as it may be. I know folks who will drive 20 miles to save $5. They end up spending just as much in time and gas, but they always seem to feel better about themselves. I remember my mama buying 30 jars of marshmallow creme because it was on clearance and she got a great deal! I think she still has some of that stuff in the pantry! Too often, we make this mistake in the other non-financial aspects of our lives. How we spend our time, emotional energy, and mental focus can be just as deceiving. Recently, as I have watched the new political commercials, I realize that the same mechanism is at work. Politicians tell us what they are against, but never what they are “for.” Being an anti doesn’t make you pro-anything. It’s easy to be critical and judgemental, but that doesn’t mean you are producing a solution. Spending less mental energy may not make you less stressed. Ignoring a problem relationship doesn’t make it more healthy. Admitting you need help is a step, but it’s not the full solution. Sometimes, we have to spend more to get what we need. This week, I want you to look at how you spend your time and energy. At the end of our days, we will all have spent away our lives. We will have spend every hour, every dollar, every smile, and every tear on something I want you to spend your life’s energy in places where you get a good deal. I love how Jesus said it in Mark 8:36: “What good is it if you gain the whole world and forfeit your soul?” The faith of Jesus was about being saved FOR something, not just being saved FROM something. Invest your emotions in your family and friends where it will produce the most results. Spend your time doing things that matter and make a difference. Find a place to volunteer your service where you can see the results of your labor. We all get 24 hours a day. We all have the capacity for love and friendship. Spend your life on others and you just may end up saving your own. Love one. Love another. Jack
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 12:45:19 +0000
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