Top Tips to Prevent Post-Shopping Regret
By: Grace Cook
Fight the temptation. Just because there's a sale, it doesn't mean you have to go crazy.
Picture this...
You go crazy at a sale. Then, when you get home, it hits you. You've bought a whole lot of stuff that you don't really need. In fact, research reveals that women on average buy 71 items of clothing each year, but around eight are never worn. Though this number may strike you as relatively OK--it is not. Why? Because having to shell out money for things you never use is simply whole lot of waste.
Most women (myself included) have been in the "nutty shopping scenario" a lot of times. Apparently, it's a widespread phenomenon--so much so that psychologists have a name for it. It's Post-Shopping Regret. (If you ask me, though, I think this is just a variation of good old impulse buying.)
To help you curb the urge to buy stuff you don't need, here are some tips:
1. If you're going anywhere near a sale, just carry enough cash for things you need. Make a list of items that you intend to buy and stick to the budget you have projected for your purchases. Packing plastic is dangerous because, believe me, you'll end up having that card swiped more times than you can afford. The cash limit serves as a very effective deterrent to overspending.2. Don't get too excited when you encounter retail enticements. The words, "sale," "up to 80 percent off," and "everything must go," were designed to lure shoppers into the store and make them think that they're getting great bargains. Sometimes these retail come-ons are for real, sometimes they're not. So, don't get into a frenzy when you find yourself in the middle of these types of promotions. Instead, take time to inspect each item that you're planning to get.
3. Do the what-if math to clear your head. If you think you can't summon enough willpower to stop yourself from going shop-crazy, then let the numbers talk you out of splurging mindlessly. If out of the 71 items you purchase on a whim each year, you don't use eight items and each item costs about $50, then that means you wasted $400. Think about it. What if you had used that money to pay off your credit card debts?
These three tips should serve you well in your bid to be free of Post-Shopping Regret. Ultimately, it's really up to you if you want to keep wasting money on things you don't need.
Credits: Image from Wikimedia Commons.
Suggested Resource: Get into the habit of living within your means. Sign up for Simpleology 102: The Simple Science of Money and say goodbye to money-related regrets.
Comments
Great article as always!
Does this item / these items have a home in your house? Do you know exactly where you are going to put them? Is there room?
Consider the cost of storing the item. I.e. Over crowded closets, rooms you can walk in, not being able to find things when you need them, the embarrassment of how your house looks etc.
The cost of the item if you did not need it or never used it.
The mental cost of feeling bad when you look at the item because you never used it.
Here is a little tip…. Only look at the sale papers when you know that you need to purchase something, and then look to see if it is on sale. If you always look at the sale papers to see what is on sale you are giving your power away by purchasing things you most likely don’t need.
Remember sales are designed to get rid of things they couldn't sell in the first place. If you see something you really need, that is a special time to buy and enjoy. Other wise be wise!!!!
Frugal is my ultimate goal by this year. But , sometimes shopping time is very tempting specially bargain sale is affordable , but then its true mostly you have some regrets after all you don't need the item. My lesson is that I always see to it that I carry my item list every time I go shopping to avoid implose buying.
I love sale, but it is very seldom I use the offers.
One thing is sure, take a female friend with you and most of the time they will tell you:"It's not you". Specially if you think you'll do a wonderful bargain.
The money praxis in Simpleology 102 helps you identify money boosters and money leeches and keeps you in control
This happens not only during physical sales but also when you are on the internet and you encounter these online specials. And it can happen to man also.