Buying decisions are emotional decisions – full stop. We think we are making a cold, logical calculation, but that is only after we have already made an emotional decision and need to back it up with facts. Without facts, we risk our friends and family thinking we are crazy. I am not referring to the types of buying decisions where you are choosing between two things that give you the same result, like laundry soap. In that case you have already made the emotional decision that you like wearing clean clothes. I am talking about the bigger purchases, the ones that are large enough to make you hesitate: jewelry, houses, cars, and of course, boats. Understanding and accepting that emotions make the decisions on what you buy is freeing. When your uncle asks you why bought the candy-apple-red-two-door-roadster while you have three kids under 6; “because it’s fun!” is an honest answer. I own boats because they give me access to a lifestyle that makes me feel good. It opens the door to friendships and experiences that I enjoy. Owning a boat makes no sense from a cold, analytical financial perspective… and I don’t care. Whatever your buying decision is, realize that logic is not truly part of the decision, only the justification.
I am not suggesting that you run out and make financially destructive purchases. However, if you can afford the purchase, quit worrying about it making sense, because it probably does not.
Todd Powell Boats 