8 Shopping Tricks That Will Save You a Lot of Money

There have probably been times when you went into a store to buy 1 or 2 things and ended up filling your cart up to the rim. That’s because stores know how to entice you with their nice music and the arrangement of the aisles. Also, many stores put their floral department near the entrance so people will immediately feel good and get a mood boost. Not only that, but the aisles are also getting bigger in order to encourage people to push around large shopping carts that make them buy more products than they need.

1. Drink water before you go shopping.

A study at the University of Twente in The Netherlands found that drinking a lot of water before going shopping might be good for your spending. They concluded that having a full bladder and trying to control it also helps people control their urge to buy unnecessary stuff. Maybe they are in a hurry to leave and get to the nearest toilet, and that’s why they only buy the things they really need.

2. Use new, crisp bills.

Another study showed a connection between carrying fresh, crisp bills with spending less. Old and possibly dirty bills make people feel like they have to get rid of them and therefore buy extra items. On the other hand, brand-new money makes them feel more powerful, and they make an effort to keep them in their wallet for longer, if possible.

3. Don’t be too friendly with the sales assistants.

While out shopping for clothes, you often get greeted by a sales assistant who will try and help you with whatever you’re looking for. In their effort to be good at their job, they might provide you with extra choices. In this case, instead of buying the one thing you wanted at first, you might end up finding other things that you like too. Not only that, but you might also buy something out of obligation to the person who helped you so much and showed you so many items.

4. Don’t use a big shopping cart.

Imagine being inside a large store where they have hundreds of thousands of options for you to buy. Getting a shopping cart seems only logical in case you find things that aren’t on your list. However, this is a reason why you might end up spending more than you initially planned and buying things you don’t really need. So, instead of a cart, grab a smaller basket or use your hands to carry the very few things you actually need.

5. Wearing high heels might help.

Those who enjoy wearing high heels, might need to start wearing them while shopping. A study at Brigham Young University found that people wearing heels focused on keeping their balance more than anything else, which means that they will most likely buy a mid-range product instead of an over-priced item. The same effect is believed to be created after going to a yoga class or riding an escalator.

6. Leave your credit and debit cards at home.

This might seem unconventional in the day and age we live in, but research has shown that you might spend more when paying with a card. When you get the cash out of your pocket, you see exactly how much money was taken out of your pocket. On the other hand, cards give you the illusion that you can spend more when, in reality, you don’t have the ability to do so.

7. Enjoy a mint while you’re shopping.

Stores often use the power of smell to attract customers and make them spend more than they intended. For example, gas stations that have increased the smell of coffee see an increase in their coffee sales. What you can do to avoid falling victim to this trick is to suck on a mint or chew minty gum right before you go shopping. The smell of the mint might be able to block the scent of a store and therefore keep your spending under control.

8. Choose the busiest store to buy from.

Imagine being in a crowded store where you have people’s heads and backs all around you. This means that you don’t have a good view of all the items. Because of this, you might buy things that you never intended to.

On the other hand, being at an empty store gives you all the opportunity in the world to browse, try on, and finally purchase unnecessary stuff. So, next time make it a goal to shop at a very busy store in order to spend less money.

Do you have any other suggestions that might help people spend their money more mindfully when shopping?