Preventing yourself from becoming a victim of a businesses' marketing department.

     Many businesses have a marketing department whose sole purpose is to devise ways to make you want to purchase items regardless if you need them or not. Their techniques are mainly aimed for promoting impulse buying. Avoid impulse buying by making a list of all the items you are shopping for and stick to that list. If you see something you really like, stop for a minute asking yourself if you really need that item or not. If you do not need that item, then do not purchase it. Another idea is to leave the store without purchasing that item. Afterwards, if you realize you did not need that item, then you made a wise choice by not purchasing it. Otherwise, return to the store to make the purchase. In any case, you can save yourself money by waiting and thinking before making the purchase. Also, upon returning home you realize an item purchased is not necessary, then return the item for a refund.

     Do not always reach for the first item you see. Many times that item was placed on the shelf in such a manner and location as to influence your purchase. Look around, there is most likely a comparable item offered at a lower price.

     You may realize a large number of items you purchase are not necessary and are not wanted. Save a lot of money by thinking before buying. Businesses do not want consumers to think for themselves! Businesses want to do the thinking for the consumer!

     Research the quality of items prior to purchasing them so you are not purchasing a low quality product. A great resource is Consumer ReportsŪ who offers research material through their magazine subscription and also through their web site for a small fee at http://www.consumerreports.com.

     Do not justify the purchase of items because you think, "I have earned it". Instead, think about the bigger picture of your future goal as opposed to the short-term immediate reward. You will typically only feel good for a short period of time, then after a while you will feel bad again requiring yourself to begin the cycle again to make yourself feel good again. If you have a habit of spending money regularly on a particular item, then learn to break that habit. Marketers want you to establish a routine of spending money on certain items daily such as coffee, donuts, and bagels.

     Teach your children at an early age showing them how products are marketed to hook them into desiring things. Reduce the amount of time spent watching the television and do not use the television as a babysitter. Explain to your children the difference between normal programming and advertisements by pointing out the marketing tricks in the advertisements. You can even tell them how the shows themselves are designed as a marketing tool. Reduce the amount of time spent in malls. When going to the mall, explain to your children what you intend to buy and stick to the plan. Discourage your teenagers from using the mall as a social activity and as the location for your family to spend time together.

     Change your own habits by not craving a big car or house or the newest toy or gadget. Your children will eventually learn from your example. Do not try to keep up with the Jones because most likely the Jones are deep in debt. Do you really want to keep up with the Jones amount of debt? I do not think so. Think about how you are going to pay for the items purchased including how long it is going to take to pay for that item and what will be the total cost including interest? Ask yourself if you really need the item or are you simply purchasing it to make yourself feel good?

     Once you get a handle on controlling impulse buying and breaking spending habits, you will be able to realize your future dreams and goals can be achieved much easier and with less money.


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