Once I'm fixated on something, I will move everything in the world to make it happen. I'm talking about vintage furniture, obviously. When I see a table or sofa or lamp I love, I know that's the one I want. The chair that's mostly, almost, kinda-sorta like the chair I want? It might be close, but it's not going to make me feel the same way. It has to be the specific, exact thing I love.
The issue is that vintage is often one-of-a-kind, so if you don't jump on the perfect piece today, it might be gone tomorrow—and lost to you forever. But even if I want something and can afford to buy it, I need to think about it and ask myself a few questions. Do I like it or love it? And: Do I love it *and* do I need it? Will I use this and love this five years from now? I've found that it's better to take my time rather than buy reactively, even if I wind up missing out on a score.
For me, setting aside time to think through a purchase (24 hours, a week, maybe a month—you know what's right for you) is the best way to avoid overspending and buyer's remorse. And when you choose to buy only what you truly love, there's an emotional payoff, too: you won't surround yourself with stuff that bums you out because it's "almost." As with everything else, it all comes down to intention.
