7 Ways to Trick Yourself Into Spending Less
These easy strategies actually save you money—and offer insight into your financial unconscious.
By Jena Pincott
Clean Up Your Dirty Benjamins
And the Hamiltons, Jacksons and Grants, too. Subconsciously, we think old, grimy-looking bills are worth less than clean, crisp ones. And so...we generally spend them faster and more freely, found a study published in the Journal of Consumer Research. Luckily, there's a simple solution: If possible, ask for newer bills when getting cash back.
Bonus: Paying with clean bills might get you a better deal: A field study at a farmers market found that sellers more frequently overcharged customers after touching grubby banknotes than new ones.
Bonus: Paying with clean bills might get you a better deal: A field study at a farmers market found that sellers more frequently overcharged customers after touching grubby banknotes than new ones.
Published 10/28/2013