How to Overcome The Urge Of Buying What Advertisers Want You To Buy

Advertisers are out to get us to think as they do. Some have our best interests at heart but many do not. They want to separate us from our money. That makes it extra sweet when we get a leg up on the system. Here are ways that you can beat the system and carve out a better life for you.

First, let’s talk about how the system works against us. Think about grocery stores and coupons. Some coupons give us fifty cents off or more on products that we may not even use. The deal sounds so good that we purchase it anyway. What we haven’t realized yet is that we have paid twice as much even with a discount than we would have for the leading brand.

How about cars and other high dollar items? They are in on the plan too. Offering zero percent financing for a new car or no money down sounds great. What we don’t count on is the fine print. The loan that you get from a car company will end up costing you more of your hard-earned money on the back end.

We all love to shop so clothing also has a hook. Advertisers make us believe that we need one product so much that our kids won’t be quiet until we get it. Or, maybe it’s you who is talking non-stop about a new sweater or pair of shoes. What we end up with is something that is overpriced when we could have spent our money more effectively on a non-popular name brand.

So, what is an average consumer to do? To start, get wise to the hook. There is nothing that we need to buy from advertisers that can’t wait a week or so. This gives you time to think out your decision and make an informed choice.

The information comes in the form of reading articles, reviews, finding deals and looking for cheaper but equivalent quality alternatives. Knowledge is power – the power to keep your money in your pocket.

Let’s go back to the grocery store scenario. Most people are learning that name brands and store brand products come from the same supplier but have a fancier box. If the ingredients are essentially the same (after a bit of label comparison), the store brand is going to be sold for a lower price.

What about cars? You don’t have to finance with a car dealership. You can shop around for a car (new or used) that is in your price range.

Then, visit your bank or credit union and talk over terms of a loan. Credit unions typically have lower interest rates than banks and definitely lower than the car finance company. When they offer you a deal on your car, believing that you will finance with them, kindly inform them that you have secured financing elsewhere and thanks for the deal.

When you take the time to weigh your decisions, you find other ways to get what you want and need without breaking the bank.