Quite often when a person makes major purchases they experience what is known as buyer's remorse. This term describes the feelings of guilt and regret that often associated with purchasing large ticket items (e.g. cars, computers, assorted luxery items). THis is a big deal to me right now as I've made two significant purchases in the past two weeks.
On Friday, September 17 I called Apple Computer to order a new 15" PowerBook G4. I was very proud of myself in the fact that I did not go overboard ordering lots of expensive options. I opted for the video RAM and the 5400 RPM hard disk drive. I also included an external 3.5 inch floppy disk drive. THe best part, of course, is the $200 mail in rebate on the 20 GB iPod that I can get because I am a student via their "Cram and Jam" promotion. (This is in addition to the student discount that was already applied to the price of the PowerBook.)
The second major item came on the following Monday when I took home a 1999 Jeep Cherokee Sport (see the gallery). It was pretty much everything I had been looking for, with the exception a factory towing package of which I would rarely make any use. It has the SelecTrac transfer case (with full time 4-wheel drive), 4.0 litre inline-6 engine (the good one), a CD player, power windows and doors, and air conditioning. The price was also reasonable.
The PowerBook hasn't been delivered yet and I've been driving the Jeep for a week now. Yet I still haven't had that "I shouldn't have done that" feeling in my gut which normally comes with other purchases (even those that cost significantly less). The primary thing that comes to mind is that I have been intending on buying both for quite some time now. I've been looking at used Jeeps all summer. I also decided sometime last spring that I wanted a PowerBook. Even after pondering this all summer, I still wanted them. It only took some initiative to actually get off my chair and part with some of my money.
