11 Tips To Make Big Ticket Purchases (Nearly) Stress Free

A few years ago, I nearly had a meltdown in the middle of Pottery Barn. Over a sofa.

And when I say ‘meltdown’ I don’t mean the pretty, swoon-y kind. (“Can you believe this buttery leather? Wouldn’t this be perfect in the living room?! I’m melting!”)

I mean the panicked, hyperventilating kind: “Ack, this is two month’s rent! Do I really like leather, anyway? What if it doesn’t fit through the front door? I FORGOT TO MEASURE THE FRONT DOOR. This salesperson is going to think I’m an idiot when I tell her I don’t know if this will fit through my door. Maybe not having a sofa at all isn’t that bad?!”

So. Believe me:

I know how incredibly stressful + intimidating it can be to purchase big ticket items for your home.

I am intimately acquainted (both personally and professionally) with the Big Ticket Purchase conundrums. The “pillowtop or memory foam?” debate. The, “do we really have enough overnight guests to validate a sleeper sofa?” debacle. And the “Are we really going to have more dinner parties if we buy an 8-person dining room table?” paralysis.

It’s all this stress, indecision, and self-doubt that condemns SO many of us to living with…things we have had forever, hand-me-downs we don’t love and items that don’t reflect what we truly need or want.

But when we make active choices about our space, the items in it, and the kind of home we deserve, big changes happen:

We sleep better.
We argue less + play more.
We’re more likely to invite friends over.
And we’re more likely to create work we’re proud of.

So let’s pony up and make some of those big purchases. It’s time to say goodbye to Aunt Marilyn’s sofa and your particle board desk from college.

Here are 11 things you can do to make your big ticket purchases way, way less stressful.

1. Plan ahead and pick 2-3 places that have items you might love. If you love streamlined, modern design, you can skip the antique store. If you’re looking for light fixtures, and your usual haunt only has a handful, give them a pass this time.

2. Write down exactly what you’re looking for and what purpose it will fill – in your space AND in your life.  Get incredibly specific: color, measurements, finish, materials. Is this desk going to help you write your first novel? Are you buying this dining room table to have meaningful conversation with your family every night?

3. Set aside an appropriate amount of time.  Give yourself plenty of time to make an informed decision so you don’t have to rush around and beat up on yourself for not deciding again. This usually means a few hours, if not a whole day.

4. Remember to eat something!  This is especially important if you’re bringing your honey. We’ve all been guilty of questionable purchases or snapping at a loved one when we’re hangry.

5. Take breaks.  No matter how badly you need a new sofa, no one needs to look at couchs for eight hours straight.

6. Make the experience luxurious.  Plan a nice lunch before or in the middle of your shopping day. Before you head out, research a nice restaurant that’s in the neighborhood. You could even peruse the menu ahead of time, so you’ll have something specific to look forward to. (Chocolate souffle is always a welcomed break in my book!)

7. Understand that these big decisions are often loaded with all kinds of emotional stuff.  Nostalgia for your childhood sofa, the feel of “success” you associated with your Grandpa’s rolltop desk, what a Big Deal it was when you bought that old bed-frame with your first paycheck —  these are all things that come up when you’re buying pieces for your home. Expect that you will have feelings, and allow yourself to feel them.

8. Give yourself permission to leave the store,  take a little walk to process feelings, and come back.  The bed frame will still be there when you come back. And you’re not contractually obligated to buy something just because you talked to a salesperson for 10 minutes. Promise!

9. Be gentle and keep breathing.  You’re a smart, capable, loved human being. That won’t change if you don’t find the sofa of your dreams today.

10. Close your eyes and visualize how the piece will look and feel in your space.  Sure, you might feel silly closing your eyes in the middle of Restoration Hardware, but what matters is how that piece looks in your home, not in the mall. When you envision your new space, do you feel happy? Calm? If so, you’re on the right track!

11. Celebrate after you make a purchase! Wahoo!  Look at you, making tough decisions and big purchases with panache!

TAKE ACTION!

In Your Home:  Measure doorways, stairwells, and the space you’re looking to fill. How do you feel about the pieces you have now? Why aren’t they right for that space? How would you like new pieces to be different?

In Your Heart: Before you go shopping, think about the way you want to feel in your home. What words come to mind when you think of an ideal space? And: what do you want your shopping experience to feel like? Set an intention or two for how the day will feel.

In The Comments Below: What struggles do you have when it comes to home shopping and making decisions? Can you relate to feeling paralyzed around a big ticket purchase?

Sending Love,

Rebecca

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