5 Moments You're Most Likely to Overspend
Little things can trigger impulse buys. Knowing these unexpected times when you may be getting spendy can help you keep them in check.
By Candace Braun Davidson
When You're Buying Something Embarrassing
If you've ever bought some candy, a magazine or a collector's edition Seinfeld DVD box set to deflect from what you really need to pick up (ahem, antifungal foot cream), you're not alone: almost 80 percent of people spend money on unnecessary extras to divert the cashier's and other shoppers' attention, finds a July 2013 study in the Journal of Consumer Research.
If the thought of buying just the item you really need makes you anxious, search for a distraction purchase you'll use, like paper towels or toothpaste. It may even save you a 10 p.m. grocery-store run in a few weeks.
If the thought of buying just the item you really need makes you anxious, search for a distraction purchase you'll use, like paper towels or toothpaste. It may even save you a 10 p.m. grocery-store run in a few weeks.
Published 09/20/2013