Comments on: Safe Shopping with Psychology

By: ThatWench

ThatWench — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:31:16 +0000

@Laura Yan@twitter I love mbmargarita’s idea, also. But in your shoes, I’d totally walk right into the grocery store. Most supermarkets in this town are always trying to do the “buy 6 bottles of wine and get 10% off all of them deal”, but of course, when I’m shopping for groceries and going through the wine aisle, I just need a bottle for that night’s recipe. (I also grocery shop on foot/mass transit, so weight is usually a major issue; while I can carry six bottles of wine, that plus the groceries I’m buying at the same time is not good.)

So, six of your favorite $10 bottles, minus 10% = $54 = $4 out of pocket to feel like you’re super-prepared for the next time you feel like wine with dinner, or friends come over, or whatever else.

Or, if stocking up on $10 bottles sounds too close to practical, stock up on $20 bottles for the out-of-pocket cost of $10 bottles.

By: Megano!

Megano! — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:50:58 +0000

@Roxanne Rholes@twitter Yeah I do that too. But sometimes I am super far from home and have to decide there.

By: Dan@twitter

Dan@twitter — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:09:34 +0000

I got a $500 amex cash card after a brutal stretch at work as a spot bonus. I sat on it for a few months until this week, not really considering anything as “special” enough to qualify using it. I’ve had some indulgences I’ve paid for otherwise, but mostly things for my wife and I, and this was MY bonus… which my wife was ok with.

And then I got my car inspected and needed $900 worth of fixes to the drive train so it will pass inspection. Hoo. Ray.

By: mbmargarita

mbmargarita — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:59:36 +0000

@Laura Yan@twitter I got $150 in AmEx gift cards from work and I’ve been loving spending them away slowly at Starbucks. I get to treat myself to the indulgence of a $5 latte 30 times– it feels amazingly extravagant and this gift card seems to be lasting forever! I’m going to be devastated when it finally runs out.

By: Roxanne Rholes@twitter

Roxanne Rholes@twitter — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:53:45 +0000

@Megano! My mom taught me a great trick: leave the item at the store, and if you still think about it two days later, go back and get it. If you don’t really love it, you’ll forget or be too lazy to go back to the store. And if it isn’t there anymore, that’s $X you didn’t spend, so good job!

By: Megano!

Megano! — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:23:19 +0000

@redheaded&crazy Well usually my size is gone by the time it’s on sale, so like, I also have to gauge whether or not I want to take that risk!

By: redheaded&crazy

redheaded&crazy — Wed, 09 May 2012 03:20:42 +0000

@Megano! haha you know how you’re supposed to be like “ok I like this at the sale price but would I still like it at the real price?” I so try to do this and then I’m like yeahhhhhhhh okay I would still like it at the real price I guess but it’s not at the real price it’s at the sale price which is a great price soooo *dollar signs in eyes*

By: oatmealshrapnel

oatmealshrapnel — Wed, 09 May 2012 02:01:22 +0000

I do this all the time, searching for the absolute PERFECT purchase that will solve all my problems and make me so happy that I’ll forget whatever depression was in one big shit-eating grin. I end up leaving so many stores empty handed, which makes me feel virtuous yet slightly rumpled that I’d wasted so much time.

By: Megano!

Megano! — Wed, 09 May 2012 00:19:00 +0000

I don’t do this with a gift card, but when I do go clothes shopping, especially when it’s a bit more than I would usually pay, I’m like, “OK, I like it, but do I $50 like it? Do I have to have it now? Or can I wait until it goes on sale?” It probably works 80% of the time.

By: chic noir

chic noir — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:32:46 +0000

@Laura Yan@twitter – Really, Macy’s? Oh I find it so easy to use Macy’s cards since Macy’s has a good selection on mid price range handbags and a good selection of beauty brands. I get Macy’s gift cards from my Discover card.