I could not afford it but now I can.

In the past, my mattresses cost between $150 to $400 each. I am usually not very picky and the price is more important a consideration. 

My last mattress was a queen size mattress from IKEA that cost about $400. Maybe, a bit lesser than that.

However, as I age and am more prone to aches, I have become more aware of why I should get a good mattress that is suitable for me. So, I decided to "invest" in a good mattress in the hope of sleeping better. 




OK, we can have a debate on whether a good mattress is an investment or a consumption item later.

Anyway, I visited quite a few stores and two of them were branches of big local chain stores. There were so many brands available and almost all of them had some kind of special offer going on. The many different types of mattresses on offer were impressive.

Some salespeople were very good while some really needed more training. Some stores had more ammunition to help their salespeople get more business too.

I lingered on a couple of mattresses because I rather liked them. They cost between $3,000 to $4,000. 

Almost right away, the salespeople would say how I could pay for them with easy instalments and that I should not have to worry about the seemingly high prices.

OK, it might be my fault for giving them the impression that I needed to pay by instalments because I was wearing a very worn (and some parts torn) cargo pants and a ratty looking t-shirt. 

However, I wondered how many people bought those mattresses even though they might not have been able to pay $3,000 to $4,000 in a single payment?


"I could not afford it but now I can."

Sounds good?

That sentence is incomplete, actually.

"I could not afford it but now I can because they are letting me pay in instalments."

Doesn't sound so good anymore, does it?

In fact, even if we had the money to pay $3,000 to $4,000 for a mattress in a single payment, we might want to try delaying gratification. Put the money to work and, then, buy the mattress 10 years later.


OK, I can imagine some readers getting ready to give me a piece of their minds on this matter now. 

Just because I waited almost 20 years to get an atas mattress doesn't mean that others must do it too.

Well, it doesn't have to be a mattress per se but you get the idea.



Could be mistaken for a mattress.

Payment by instalments for consumption items is really giving in to instant gratification. 

It does nothing to create wealth and, in fact, holds us back for as long as it takes to make full payment for these purchases. The opportunity cost could be quite astounding too.

So, what would sound good?

"I could not afford it but now I can have it and keep my money too."

Wait, I close my door first. OK, you can start throwing things at me now. Nothing explosive, please.

Related posts:
1. The evil instalment schemes and their minions.
2. The Millionaire Next Door.
3. An easy way to improve cash flow in life.