Shoppingisagamewithtwoteams—shoppersandretails(零售商).Her...

Bargains and Impulse (冲动) Shopping

Limit the number of stores you go to. The more “legwork” you put in, the more you may feel the need to “reward” yourself for your effort.

Don’t make friends with the sales staff. The more you interact (互动) with the sales staff, the more likely it is that you will buy something. This is because you feel like you don’t want to let down someone who has helped you.

Leave your credit cards at home. Research shows people are willing to spend more money with plastic than with cash. The less immediate the payment the more easily people will spend.

At the Supermarket

Slow down and double-check what you’re picking up. Stores can make sales very specific and confusing, such as placing a sign offering 50% off a 2kg ham wedged (嵌入) between the full-price 3kg ones. Shoppers could wind up grabbing the wrong one and paying full price.

Don’t think when you buy in bulk (大批量) you’re getting a better deal. That’s not always the case. In the produce department, for example, individual capsicums are almost always cheaper than those in the multi-pack.

Don’t buy something in bulk just because it’s on sale. The ten-for-$10 promotion is one of the most effective. This is what stores do to get volume out the door—even if they’ve raised the unit price to do it.

Shopping Online

Hide your cookies. Companies use online cookies (a piece of data from a website stored on your web browser that informs the site of related net activity) to target shopper with relevant ads, but they can also reveal information from your browsing history. Stick to budget-friendly sites to bump into lower offers. And use your browser settings to block third-party tracking cookies.

Look online first. Even if you choose to shop in store rather than online, check sites with user reviews and ratings, such as and , to find products with the most positive feedback. If the highest-rated items are cheaper online, including delivery, ask the store to match the total price.

Geo-blocking is what some multinational retails do to charge different prices for the same product in different markets. With a little more effort, you can get around geo-blocking. Apple, for instance, will let you shop in their US store by using US iTunes gift-cards that can be bought online.

Play the Game to Get Instant Bargains

Speak up! Not happy with the view from your hotel window, or the way the burger is cooked? Don’t be forced to put up with the poor experience, give honest, polite feedback and we’re almost certain you’ll be treated to what you expected—and paid for.

Find better online actuation (驱动) deals. Misspelled it! One of the best ways to find great deals on eBay is via auctions (拍卖) that have misspelled words. For example, an “Xbox Connect” will often sell for less than an “Xbox Kinect” since fewer people search for the wrong version. Website helps you find these listings. With thousands of items listed on eBay with spelling mistakes each year, you’re likely to find what you’re looking for at much lower prices.