Christmas is a season for giving, yet that is no reason to break your bank when you make a trip to the mall.
It takes tremendous willpower to stick to your budget when the holiday sales are up, but there are smart spending tips that you can pick up when visiting a mall to avoid impulse buying.
Psychology of spending habits
The first simple rule to remember is to spend as little time as possible at the mall. This is easier said than done because from the moment you step foot into a mall, your senses are overwhelmed by the lights, sounds and design of the place. The Christmas tunes playing in the air, the bright lights and shiny tinsels may just make shoppers happier to spend longer time and open their wallets.
The idea takes after the Gruen effect, the brainchild of Vienna-born architect Viktor Gruen who wanted to build experiences and design malls as a community space for shopping, food, relaxation, and greenery.
While you cannot dictate how malls should be decorated during the holiday seasons, there are a few steps you can take to overcome temptations and spend wisely.
How to spend wisely
- Make shopping a chore, avoid mixing it with dining or meeting up with friends
- Be disciplined, create a shopping list and stick to it
- Use cash as much as possible to avoid overspending
How to avoid impulse buying
- Avoid the shopping crowd. Seeing a group of bargain hunters flocking towards the discount items creates a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out). Stay away to avoid impulse buying
- Do not immediately head to the cashier once you pick up an item. Walk around with the item, or even take a photo of it and send it to a friend. There are chances that you may have changed your mind before reaching the checkout counters
Remember the above tips by heart and you are well-equipped for becoming a fearless soldier in the “shopping warzone” to fight against temptations. Off you go!
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