Sane Spending and Personal Responsibility
Thursday, September 9, 2010

The sign in the window flashed - "Buy 3 and get one free."  Your personal "mind leadership" is telling you to just look, and that you must be accountable to your budget plan. You are sucked into a store where you never shop because you are intrigued about what you can save.  Here's an idea; you didn't even think of buying it so why even open the door?  A team of researches tried to find out what really goes on when faced with the decision to buy from a business. Backed by taking personal responsibility for your choices, here are some considerations.

Don't do it!

1.    Leave the kids at home because you will buy 40% more.  You have trained your kids the techniques to trick you into buying more stuff.  "I'll feed the dog for the month if you buy me this toy" or the terrible public behavior like having a tantrum in the middle of the store.

2.    Shop with a list. If it's not on the list don't buy it.  This is especially useful for Holiday shopping. Give yourself a budget for each person. Consider taking the amount of cash you need for the gifts on your list.  Curb the temptation of spending $10 or $20 more just because you saw something they might like!

3.    Don't get a cart and if you do, choose a small one or a small basket with handles.  People buy roughly 30% more with a big cart.  Feeling self-conscious spurs this behavior.  Having two oranges and a quart of milk in some oversized cart makes many people subconsciously uncomfortable.  Dopamine, an addictive substance in your body, increases in anticipation of any kind of reward and that includes shopping. These heightened levels of this self made drug in your brain increase when a big cart is filled with stuff you don't need.

4.    Eat before you shop. Sniffing good smells increases your tendency to buy.  Why do you think the entrance to stores is surrounded with the smell of cinnamon roles, fresh baked goods and rotisserie chicken? Your nose has a direct link to the sense of well being through emotions and memories.  This gives you a powerful surge of comfort and domesticity and the "gut response" has kicked in. Bulk up before you leave the house and buy!

5.    Take a debit card only and leave your credit cards at home.  The "unlimited funds" thinking behind credit and credit cards is very dangerous.  Unless you have a money tree in your back yard, you do not have unlimited funds at your disposal.

In the USA, there are approximately 17 million shopaholics and people addicted to the pleasure of buying junk they don't need. Why give yourself the stress of having to dig yourself out of debt?  Don't become a Toxic Person because of your uncontrollable spending! Take personal responsibility for what you buy!

See Also : Discount Barbecue Tools & Accessories Store BBQ Tips for All Holiday Buy Cheap BBQ Accessories

Posted byJessica at 9:50 PM  

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