3 Weird Ways Technology Makes Us Overspend

Pleas to "Act now!" and not wait may sound like they're from another era, but they still work. They've just been retooled slightly ("Only a few left in your size!", "Only two seats left at this price"). The thinking behind the offers is still the same: Create a sense of scarcity and urgency, and customers will buy. So before you start typing in your credit-card number, ask yourself whether it's minor panic that's driving you to click "Buy"—or if you really want the item.