Lux Retail Therapy: The Science Of Shopping
What makes for a successful shopping expedition? Having a plan of attack! Here are some helpful tips when it comes to your next spree so you don't completely break the bank. These will be awesome to keep in mind as holiday shopping approaches and you are off and running...
Make a list. Have in your head what you are there for. Pants and a shirt, a specific event outfit, basics or a pair of black boots. Many people overspend or buy things they don’t want, don’t need and never end up wearing because they haven’t properly thought it through. You work hard for your money -- it's worth it just to take a minute to prep your retail therapy!
Create a budget. This is the danger zone. If you have no budget set for yourself for a specific shopping run, they you better be cool with a wallet drain! Bottom line, it's just not a smart way to shop. You don't necessarily need a set number, even a ballpark figure will work just to give you range of spending. Make it a guilt-free experience and enjoy what you end up getting by sticking to it!
Cash. The research is clear: we pay 20 – 50% more when we shop with magic plastic, whether it’s using a credit or debit card. There’s something about that magic plastic that can make us feel like we’re using play money. So once your list is prepared and you have a realistic budget you can stick to, withdraw your funds in cash and use only that cash for this shopping trip.
Give yourself a shopping window. Don't wind up creeping around store after store without making good use of your time. Give yourself an hour or two hours to get what you need done! Giving yourself a time frame, will eliminate aimless browsing and useless spending.
Shop in the right mood. Shopping can be quite tiring. This is especially true if you aren't finding that white blouse you want to complete your look for an upcoming party! You want this to be a fun experience, so make a note to not shop at a time that may rush you or cause added stress. Shopping when the malls and stores are most busy (such as late night shopping and Saturday mornings) can lead to shopping fatigue where you end up super irritable. This makes way for lazy spending saying things like, Ugh, I guess I will just get that.
Remember that our physical environment affects us and overcrowded, jostling environments can bring us down. So, pick a time to shop when you are going to be at your most alert and positive!
Ask “do I really need this?” Too many of us buy impulsively with no thought to what we need or even want. One way to eliminateimpulse buying is to imagine that you already own the item you are considering buy. Fast forward through the immediate gratification part of buying and imagine that this item, the one you are holding in your hand right now, belongs to you: you purchased it and now it’s yours.
Picture the purchase infused in your wardrobe. What could you pair it with? Do you still like it? Do you even need it? Are you still excited about it? That answer will help your navigate the final decision of the purchase.
