Just Can't Stop
Spending it? These Tips Could be of Help
Studies find drinking lots of water, wearing
high heels for shopping will stop you from splurging
It might sound outlandish, but a study at the
University of Twente in the Netherlands found that the self-control required to
hold a full bladder extends to restraint in purchase decisions. Contradicting
earlier studies suggesting it would reduce control, the research claimed that
people in such situations were more likely to delay gratification or hold out
for the bigger prize, resulting in better decisions.
Women shoppers may find that high heels can lead
to better buying decisions too. According to research by the Brigham Young
University in the US, the effort required to maintain balance on high heels has
a moderating effect on spending as well. Of course, the same result can be
achieved by doing things that require balance, such as yoga.
Another study published in the US Journal of Consumer
Re search found that people carrying crisp and mint-fresh notes spend less.
Dirty and mutilated notes make a person want to get rid of them. Carry new
notes and you are likely to spend less.
Also, avoid stores and websites that use a lot
of red. Various studies show that the colour stimulates, urging shoppers to
spend more. One such study, `The Effect of Red Background Colour on Willingness
to Pay' in the Journal of Consumer Research, found that shoppers on eBay bid
more aggressively for products shown against red backgrounds. Another way to
rein in the spend thrift in you is to keep photos o bigger goals linked to you
and your family in your purse. Researchers at the universities of Toronto and
Virginia found that such pictures help people spend less, because i is a
constant reminder of the goals they have set. Another antidote to splurging may
sound counterin tuitive: During sales, head for the busiest shops. People tend
to spend less and make faster purchases in crowded stores perhaps, because they
want to get out of the place as fast as possible.
Soft-piped music is a ploy retailers use to make
people spend more time in the store and buy more. On the other hand, music with
fast beats and tempo makes them sift through the store faster. However, according
to Psychology Today, overstimulation can also result in lower self-control and,
hence, more impulsive purchases.
Lastly, avoid becoming too friendly with the
sales staff and do not agree to a soft drink or beverage offered by the store.
You might end up buying out of a sheer sense of obligation.
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Riju Mehta
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ET4MAY15
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