The ‘now or never’ sales pitch

“If you don’t buy now, tomorrow you will see prices continue to go up – until you can’t afford it … ”

“This is the last unit left that fits your budget and criteria. But we already have a few buyers waiting to submit their cheque. If you can’t make a decision by today, I really can’t hold it for you any more … ”

Do these sayings sound familiar to you?

They come everyday from your property agent, your bank relationship manager, or someone trying to sell you an investment opportunity.

Especially that ‘inflation phobia’. You may notice that more and more people are getting it these days. They suddenly tell you one day that they really have no choice, but to take the plunge now.

For us ladies, we face this ultimatum or ‘now or never’ situation more often than guys.

When we go shopping, whenever we are hesitating to buy something, we can hear the salesperson saying,

“For your size (or the color you want), we only have one last piece in our warehouse. I am actually reserving it for a customer. I’ve been waiting but she hasn’t collected it yet. You want me to spare it for you?”

Yes, give it to me! If I don’t buy it right away, it will be gone forever!

That’s the reason why we ladies often end up with a full wardrobe of clothes and shoes, with most items we wear just once or hardly ever wear at all!

When I was a freshman in college, a lecturer spent his first lesson explaining why girls should put our emphasis on dating over studying while in college; and focus on marriage over career when we start working.

“If you girls can’t get hold of a guy in your four years here, you’ll probably never be attached and will end up on the shelves forever.”

I still remember vividly how his statement caused a stir among the girls in class. I’m sure that many would go home wondering whether we should seriously consider someone, even though he might not be our type.

Make hay while the sun shines. This can be ‘now or never’ you know.

As years passed by, after we witnessed so many new and failed relationships, marriages, separations, divorces and second marriages, we old girls finally realize what the lecturer had missed in his speech on that day:

– That the marriage game is not about getting hitched but about finding the right person.

– That being not in any relationship is far better than being stuck in a lousy relationship.

– That for many ladies, we kiss at least a few frogs, before we may or may not find the prince.

The moral of the story: Next time when a salesperson is spreading the fear of inflation, or practicing his ‘now or never’ trick again, tell yourself this:

It only worth your time and money to invest in an asset when:

– You buy cheap before everyone jump in to bring up the price; or

– It offers good value-for-money or great return right away.

Afterall, if you are asked to part with your hard-earned money just to get it earlier than other buyers, to avoid missing the (sinking) boat, or to beat the single digit inflation with a so-called asset that might end up to be a double-digit depreciating liability, please, ask yourself this question first (say it with a local accent),

“For what?”