Monday, August 3, 2009

Ceci N'est Pas Une Bargain

Slow down Samurai Shopper. "On Sale" does not a bargain make.

Do you suffer from "One Day Sale" mania? These five steps to smart
sale-shopping will help you avoid buying everything you don't need.

1. Count To 10.
Used in many hot-head situations, taking time to step away, breathe and calm down really works. Give yourself 20 minutes before going to the register and let your dopamine levels come down a bit.

2. Lemmings. They're All Lemmings.
Remember you are an individual. Competition fuels desire. So avoid the frenzied crowd mentality which drives people to humiliate themselves by fighting over Elmos.

3. Pay With Greenbacks. Quid. Or Pesos.
Paying with cash eliminates that faux "safe" barrier when paying with a credit card. We spend more money when we use our cards.

4. Why Is This Marked Down Anyway?
Nobody wanted the item at full price, Silly.

5. Stop Tripping.
Focusing on your guilt for buying something will leave you dissatisfied and more likely to continue spending unnecessarily.

Now off you go Grasshopper. Don't spend it all in one place.