Is My Impulse Buy a Bad Decision?

Over the weekend I dropped some serious cash on a new toy for our freshly renovated basement. The decision was impulsive, and now I am second-guessing the purchase. Did I make the wrong move?

I bought my first home almost a year ago and I’ve been renovating the place ever since. The basement was the last major project. It's transformed it from a dark, dated cave to a bright, airy media room. What does every media room need? A TV. An awesome TV.

I've been dragging my feet on buying a TV because the process of researching, selecting, and actually buying a TV is exhausting. And they're expensive. But Saturday night, as my house filled with friends and we crowded the living room to watch TV, I said out loud, “Let’s go buy a TV for the basement right now.” Not so shockingly, the three 20-something men did not protest.

Off to Sam’s Club we went. Here’s what I wanted:

50" or bigger
Smart TV
Vizio, LG, or Samsung
Less than $800

Here’s what I didn’t know: 1080p HD or 4K UHD.

4K UHD is newer technology. I don't know much about it, but I'm sure I'll learn soon since the new iPhone will shoot 4K video. 1080p could be phased out in favor of this new resolution with a noticeably clearer image.

We narrowed down the TV to two choices. One was a 60” 1080p HD that fit all the requirements. The other was a 55” 4K UHD, but with tax and accessories went over my budget by nearly $200. After an hour of weighing the options, we picked the pricier 4K option and the boys proudly wheeled it to the register.

You went with the 4K? Nice. Except that it doesn't work with anything. You can pay for the premium Netflix subscription, but there's only a few 4K shows.

That's what the man at the register said to me. In that moment I second-guessed the entire thing and even said, very loudly in exasperation, "Why would you tell me that?" Another man leaned over and said:

Relax! You're investing in a TV for the future. Soon, 1080p will be out of date and you'll have the newest technology.

Now I was really torn. Still, we brought the TV home, mounted it on the wall, and started watching 4K clips on YouTube. I was immediately obsessed with the remote control because WHY HAVEN'T WE THOUGHT OF THIS BEFORE? A full keyboard on the bottom? Yes.

A few days later, I really like the TV, and my dogs seems to approve of the purchase. But I can't help but worry that I made an impulsive decision.

WJBQ.com