The One About: Spending on Albums

I'm obsessed, I make carts of all the latest albums I want and when I see the price it reminds me that maybe I don't want to spend $100 just to put an album on my shelf. But then the next week the urge strikes again and I have to talk myself down. So I want to spend some time focusing on albums in a way that might not cost me so much money, even if one( or more than one) gets purchased in the process. 

Above: A screenshot of my current cart at choicemusicla.com 

NPR' podcast Life Kit Newsletter hit my inbox with tips on choosing when or when not to spend. Their website is linked above, specifically a page with various articles on good financial decisions. 

So ... to better understand if I need these albums I am tuning into Onew's 'PERCENT' album and going through some questions to ask before spending money. 

1. Is your cash flow limited? 

     Praise the Lord it is not, most of my money goes to food and Kpop concerts but the 'rest' is saved. 

2. Are you trying to fill an emotional need?

       a. HALT - Are you hungry, angry, lonely or tired?

       With it currently being past 10pm I am definitely tired. I think I want to purchase albums to either commemorate something (me being in the presence of physical albums) or as a reward. To be fair, kpop albums weren't always as easily accessible in my time as a kpop fan. I either had to drive to my local Korea town or as my dad to buy one online. Now that I have money and greater access to albums, the number of times I have to say no has increased greatly. But in these instances, I would say I am perhaps a bit lonely or greedy if anything. Perhaps there is the feeling the album will fill a need - the need being stickers and music in my car. As for kpop albums as rewards, I am probably tired or angry when in that circumstance.

3. Is this part of a pattern? 

        a. Are you doing it for the dopamine hits 👊🏽?

        Is it part of a pattern - Yes - I would say I have been buying one or a couple of albums every few months since the beginning of 2024. The majority of my collection is from after I started working almost two years ago. Unboxing albums is fun; I'm not into collecting all the photocard versions so that's a dopamine hit I miss out on. I started compiling them recently to listen on my commute. Although the albums do end up on my shelf (which is practically full) I rotate them out frequently, so they aren't just a one-time enjoyment. 

4. Are you trying to impress someone?

    No, at least I don't think so. 

5. Are you going to buy it without doing research?

    No, I try to compare prices between sites and support the right business. 

6. Are you feeling so-so about it? 

    Somewhat, the albums that I felt so-so about I took out of the cart. I am also relistening to the albums to make sure I want to listen to them on repeat in my car. 
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So basically I treated myself to the albums but they haven't arrived yet. 😭