An index to help you make better money decisions, 60 seconds each.
Shopping decisions.
5 decisions documented in this category.
Why 60 percent off is not always a saving
I bought a jacket I did not need because it was 60 percent off. I told myself I saved $90.
I did not save $90. I spent $60. The version of me who was not going to buy the jacket would have $60 more in the account.
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Why extended warranties rarely pay off
I was buying a laptop online. At checkout they asked if I wanted to protect it for $180. I said yes without thinking.
The question was not about the product. It was about the fear that arrives the moment you buy something expensive.
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How the first price you see anchors you
I clicked the first price I saw on the website. By the time I finished checkout, the total was 50 percent higher.
Two minutes in a second tab usually finds the same item for $100 less. Almost nobody opens the tab.
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How a free shipping threshold makes you add more
My online order was $67. Free shipping unlocked at $75. I added a $20 item I did not plan to buy.
I saved $8 on shipping. I spent $20 I was not going to spend. The math is not subtle.
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Stop buying clothes you already own
I bought a black t-shirt last week. I have five black t-shirts at home. Three of them still have the tag on.
I did not look in my wardrobe before going to the shop. I never do. The shop is easier to remember than the drawer.
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