Tag Archives: options

Accepting What You Can Get

Sometimes you just have to accept what you can get.  We all learned a lot about this at the start of the pandemic…back when whatever brand of toilet paper you could find was good enough.  Then with paper towels.  Then with disinfecting wipes.  These are all things where having something is much better than having nothing, even if it’s not the exact thing you wanted.

This past week the availability of Covid vaccines opened up to an expanded group 1A in Pennsylvania.  This means that my parents (who are in their late 80’s) are now eligible for the vaccine.  But getting scheduled for a vaccine appointment is quite the challenge…especially in the part of rural Pennsylvania where they live.  Because technology isn’t their strongest skill, they reached out to me for help with the process.  And I very quickly learned that getting them scheduled near their home was going to be a challenge.  Even using my best Ticketmaster concert ticket purchasing skills, I struck out on day one.  On the second day of my efforts I expanded the radius and was able to secure them appointments about 60 miles from their house in mid-February.  Is it ideal?  No.  But it is something.  And something is better than nothing.

There will be a lot of times in your life when this kind of choice will come into play.  It could be something little, like having to buy a different brand of soup than you really wanted.  It could be something huge, like finding the perfect home to buy…with the exception of the fact that it is the same color as Pepto Bismol.  These are situations where you take something less than perfect because you need something…and something is better than nothing.  Pretty much any financial decision you make in your life will leave you wondering if the choice you are making is right.  Because perfection almost never happens.  So you have to focus on the option that meets your needs, even if it isn’t perfect.  Because sometimes you just have to accept what you can get.

Explore Multiple Options

This weekend I found myself standing in line outside the Bryce Jordan Center, attempting to get tickets to see Bruce Springsteen.  The Boss has been on my bucket list since I first heard Born In the USA when I was in high school.  And now he’s coming to State College and I have enough money to buy nosebleed tickets, so I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss this opportunity.

Springsteen

The problem with concerts in State College is that the cheap seats tend to sell out.  Sometimes very quickly.  I wanted to make sure I pursued all available options for ticket purchase.  So I participated in the wristband lottery for a right to stand in line at the BJC.  But when the number called to start the line put me near the back, I was prepared for that.  When the ticket sale started at 10 am, I started working the Ticketmaster app on my smartphone.  Turns out I was able to get tickets through my phone right away, so I stood in the cold for no reason (other than the amusement of the whole adventure—which was quite worthwhile).  The folks standing in line right behind me watched in amazement as I secured my tickets online and left them standing there, hoping.

The reality is that it’s always best to explore more than one option.  If you’re making a purchase of any sort, you want to make sure that you do your research.  Check prices at more than one store.  Read reviews to make sure you’re getting the best whatever it is that you’re buying (within your price range).  If you need a new coffee maker, for example, you don’t want to just grab the first one you see at whatever store you happen to be in.  Look at online reviews of various models.  Compare prices and sale flyers to see where you will find the best price.  Explore more than one option.

Whether it’s a coffee maker, Springsteen tickets, a new car, or anything else, it’s always good to explore more than one purchase option.  That way you’ll walk away confident that you got the best deal possible.  And you’ll likely be happier in the long run.