You can also write about impulse buying.
We all do it: we see something we just have to have and without thinking, it suddenly becomes ours.
Snakes have very simple nervous systems. They receive stimuli and simply respond. There's no discretion or thinking involved at all. Is that not what we're doning when we buy impulsiively? Are we simply ignoring our advanced nervous system?
The Causes
Two major developments in our society that have allowed us to buy easily, and thus impulsively:
- The wherewithal: The late 1960's ushered in a new concept: the universal credit card. You didn't need to have a card or an account in every store, you could simply use the card that was "accepted everywhere you want to be."
- The collapse of time: Today we can pick up the phone or go online immediately after seeing something advertised on TV and purchase it. There's no thinking involved from the time you see it to the time you buy it. Due to the collapse of time, no cognitive dissonance is involved.
Awareness
Simply becoming aware that the two major causes exist is a great first step toward eradicating the problem. Becoming conscious of what you're doing is very important.
Think about what you're giving up by spending impulsively. Take into consideration how much better you'll be in the long run financially. It's difficult to think about retirement, which may be a long way off, when you have the gratification today if you buy what you see.
Questions for the Cure
If you're having problems with the suggestion above, here are two simple questions you can ask yourself when you see something you just have to have:
- How did I ever live this long without it?
- How long do I have to work in order to bring home the money to buy it?
There are things in your house you've never used, and were probably purchased impulsively. Think about what you could have done with those dollars.
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