Once I start shopping for Christmas gifts I have trouble cutting it off. I’m not even talking about more gifts for the special people in my life… I’m talking about shopping for myself.
It’s like gambling in a way… when I am buying for others, I think about all the stuff I NEED. It’s an impulse stronger than any I’ve ever felt at a slot machine. Stuff I simply can’t live without? Nope… it’s mainly stupid stuff with a few not-so-stupid items thrown in for good measure.
It’s primarily the sales that hook and drag me in.
Nord VPN is 77% off if you pay annually for 2 years. That pair of shoes I like that I’ll never wear are on sale too. OooOOo… Swan Creek Candles has a huge mark-down today only and I sure do love those. (I have a least 10 jars I haven’t lit yet.)
The temptation is real. It’s even worse after you purchase something for someone online and the company sends an order confirmation email with 30% off your next purchase if you buy before Christmas. Of course, I found items I wanted on those websites… and it’s 30% off, after all!
For example, my kid wears EXPENSIVE cologne. I ordered him a bottle for Christmas and when the order arrived, it had 2 samples inside. I LOVE one of them… have that 30% off coupon… and I even put the product in my cart before stopping just before spending $285.
Make a “wait until January” rule and stick to it!
I have a “wait until January rule” that helps me back-out before clicking the “place order” button. Here’s why:
- A lot of impulse buys lose their appeal after a few days
- January sales are often better anyway
- It turns temptation into a future reward, not a denial
Now you know: After a woman recognized a copy of the rare NES game Stadium Events at a goodwill store, she bought it for $8 despite having just $30 in her account. When she took it to a used video game store, she was offered all the money in the cash register for it. She declined, then sold it online for $25K.