We regularly make impulse purchases and often regret them. Some things we buy turn out to be really necessary, such as the Canadian online casino games. But others just don’t make sense. And these tips will help you avoid buying unnecessary goods.
Buy the Product, Not the Image
Almost every commercial creates an image of a successful and happy person. Buy this watch and you are the master of the world, start washing things with this powder and your family will love you 3 times more, and these shoes will make you a millionaire!
Of course, when you buy products, you are not buying images from advertisements. Remember that the product is a product, not a magic wand that will dramatically change the world around you and yourself.
Do You Really Need It?
Each time you ask yourself this question and answer it thoughtfully. Other leading questions will help:
- What exactly would happen if I bought this product?
- What won’t happen if I don’t buy it?
- What happens if I don’t buy it?
- What are my needs it meets? Can I meet them without buying it?
- Is my desire to buy this product justified or have I been so influenced by advertising and public opinion, by fashion?
Here it also makes sense to remind you of the modern trend of ecological consumption. Think about whether you really need the tenth pair of shoes, or another gadget, a piece of household equipment. Is there room in your home for a new purchase? Have you given the items you already have a chance for a second life? Do you want to buy a lot of cheap but low-quality goods, or would you rather pay more for a good, reliable thing that will last you a long time? This kind of reasoning will make your purchases more deliberate.
Learn to Recognize Tricks and Manipulation Techniques
If you know the tricks and manipulations that marketers use, you will automatically shop more consciously.
After all, no one is likely to want to buy an unnecessary product if they understand that the product has been foisted on them, and they even know exactly how it was done. If you know exactly how you can be manipulated, you know how to avoid such influence.
Take Your Time
If you are limited by time or the number of offers, that’s no reason to make impulse purchases. Buying unnecessary things just because you cannot do it later is not the most conscious decision.
Always stop and consider the appropriateness of your purchase, ignoring the limitations of the offer. You can ask yourself, “Would I buy this product or service if there were no time or quantity restrictions on offers?”
An “Exclusive” Offer Is the Same as a Regular Offer
Take it as a rule of thumb and don’t make a distinction between a special offer and a general offer. Rate them the same, don’t let any personalized terms bribe you.
If, for example, you have a unique opportunity to buy a product at half the price of what it costs for others, it’s not necessarily a fluke. Let’s imagine that you don’t need the product at all, so you’ll just waste your money. Yes, you’ll end up losing half as much as others, but that’s little consolation.
Set Your Buying Criteria
Determine what is really important to you in the product. Its usefulness, fashionability, price, anything else? You can make a list and base your purchasing decision on it.
If the product does not meet your true needs, but “for some reason” you want to buy it – ignore the imposed desire, do not give in to impulse.
Develop Critical Thinking
Developing critical thinking will help you avoid unnecessary purchases. For example, an advertisement says “9 out of 10 experts recommend!” This does not mean that 90% of the experts prefer that product to the rest, as it might seem. Rather, it is more likely that the survey gave the experts multiple choices and that some competitors were recommended just as often. Know how to analyze product information and see possible tricks in it. Become an informed buyer.
