Or Have You Just Outfoxed Yourself?
Do you know that feeling? The urge to treat yourself to something special, like a new pair of shoes. Or perhaps you're on the hunt for something practical for everyday life, like a mixer or a mattress. Or maybe it's something entirely different that makes your heart skip a beat. And so you embark on a enchanting journey through the endless expanse of the internet, in search of the perfect deal.
You compare, you research, you sense the energy of possibilities. It's normal to invest a certain amount of time to research and find the best deal.
But today, I want to share a story with you that, in hindsight, seems "cute but not very bright." Because sometimes, even the thrifty fox can get in the way.
A FOX, A CREATURE OF REMARKABLE INTELLIGENCE, IS OFTEN SEEN AS A SYMBOL OF WISDOM AND CLEVERNESS. SOMEONE ADEPT AT SPOTTING THE BEST DEALS IS LOVINGLY DUBBED THE "THRIFTY FOX".
So there I sat at my desk, ready to order two printed materials for a valued client. I had checked the prices on the website of the print shop I usually trust a week ago. Today, a week later, those same products were about CHF 1.50 more expensive than just last week. What? Another price hike, really? "No problem," whispered the thrifty fox within me, "there are other online print shops out there. Why not take a quick look at what the competition is charging?"
Done and done. The journey led me to another online print shop, where I found one of the products to be CHF 1.60 more expensive and the other a remarkable CHF 2.90 cheaper. There it was, the secret of the thrifty fox: The art of casting a net in different waters to discover the golden treasure of the best price.
Now, allow me to insert a brief explanation here. When you order printed materials from an online print shop, the print data must have a bleed. Since everything is automated, and the printing press, for example, prints a roll of 1000 flyers that are then trimmed in the next step. This bleed varies from one print shop to another.
So, I created new print data for one of the two products, got everything ready, and placed the two orders.
With the orders successfully placed, a sense of satisfaction from what seemed like a fantastic deal washed over me. I sat on my terrace, felt the warm breeze against my skin, and let my thoughts wander. Glancing at my smartphone, the clock revealed 12:22. I had invested nearly an hour to save a proud CHF 2.95.
MY INNER THRIFTY FOX WINKED AT ME, A TOUCH OF IRONY IN ITS GAZE. REALLY NOW?
As I mentioned, "cute but not very bright." This story isn't unique. How often have I ventured down such paths and later wondered: Was it really worth it?
Seated on my terrace, enveloped in the magic of the moment, I began to reflect. What propelled me? What energy infused life into my decisions? Excessive frugality often stems from a sense of lack. What old patterns and beliefs do I still carry within me? Isn't it time to release them and create a new reality? Because investing 50 minutes to save CHF 2.95 brings neither joy nor sense 😂.
A "I don't have enough" could transform into "The universe gifts me with everything I need and more."
Each of our decisions leads to an experience, and even if we occasionally choose paths that don't necessarily yield the greatest contribution, that's okay. I always feel gratitude when I recognize such situations and become conscious of the choices I've made. This empowers me to chart a different course next time.