7 Ways to Trick Yourself Into Spending Less

Your money-saving strategy for the mall is to chug down at least five cups of water, wait for 45 minutes (while browsing) and then hold it in. When subjects in experiments at the Netherlands' University of Twente did exactly that, they made significantly better monetary decisions. The explanation: The effort involved in holding in it has an "inhibitory spillover effect"—a boost in overall self-control, concluded the study’s researchers. (Who knew Kegels have so many benefits?)

Bonus: Research has found that mild dehydration is a cause of mild depression. If you're the type to shop when you're down, those five cups of fluids—not the $280-an-ounce royal jelly rejuvenating cream —may help lift the blues.