In a society that seems to have created an Olympic sport out of consumerism, we find ourselves in competition to fill our lives with the most stuff possible. Now many of us have more than we can use, more than we need and, amazingly, more that we really want. In order to stop buying things… Continue reading How to Avoid Buying Things You Don’t Really Need
Category: Retail Psychology
The Parable of the Lorelei
A mermaid, beautiful and alluring, sings from the top of a rocky point in the most dangerous section of the Rhine River. Like the sirens of the Homer’s Odyssey, she causes sailors to jump overboard and captains to forget about the deadly dangers surrounding them. Is this German legend about a seductive mermaid a parable… Continue reading The Parable of the Lorelei
When Everything is Taken Away, We See Who We Truly Are
Becoming Minimalist blogger Joshua Becker shares the story of Gracia and Martin Burnham, who were kidnapped and taken hostage by terrorists in 2001. The couple spent a year in the jungle, and her husband was killed during the rescue attempt. She talked with Becker about her experience and what became important when they had no… Continue reading When Everything is Taken Away, We See Who We Truly Are
Stop Being So Mean!
Sometimes we’re kinder to other people than we are to ourselves. Jill Chivers writes about body image, and the voices in our head that are not always supportive. If a friend spoke to you like that, would you still be friends? Chivers says, “…we keep these ‘awful’ friends who live inside us…drip feeding us the… Continue reading Stop Being So Mean!
A Quick Question That Could Save You Hundreds
“Do I feel lighter or heavier with the thought of purchasing this item?” This is the question blogger Jill Chivers suggests asking next time you’re tempted to make a purchase. She used this technique on a recent shopping trip when she found a heavily discounted sweater that she fell in love with. As she went… Continue reading A Quick Question That Could Save You Hundreds
The Pursuit of Something Greater
Becoming Minimalist blogger Joshua Becker reflects on what holds value in his life now, as compared to his younger years. Sharing the story of his infatuation with his first car and how it lost its glow as he moved on to bigger and newer vehicles, Becker realized that “when something better comes along, the old… Continue reading The Pursuit of Something Greater
The Truth About Bargain Shopping
“Remember: it’s only a bargain if you needed it in the first place, otherwise it’s a waste.” Live Simply by Annie’s author reminds shoppers of the pitfalls of sales, which include the marketing professionals who know exactly what it takes to make us whip out our credit cards. She discusses the chemical changes that occur… Continue reading The Truth About Bargain Shopping
Self-Worth to Net Worth: 12 Keys to Creating Wealth Inside and Out
This wise and comprehensive book begs to be read—and digested—very slowly. In it, Cia Ricco and Belinda Rosenblum have managed to make important and highly sophisticated psychological concepts very, very accessible. From the get-go, they emphasize the importance of personal responsibility, going so far as to ask the reader to sign an agreement to further… Continue reading Self-Worth to Net Worth: 12 Keys to Creating Wealth Inside and Out
“If Money Doesn’t Make You Happy, Then You Probably Aren’t Spending it Right”: Part 2
In the earlier posting on this article, we looked at Dunn, Gilbert, and Wilson’s persuasive assertion that “examining the basic scientific facts about happiness” would enable people to significantly increase the happiness their money could bring them. We also looked at the authors’ first three (of eight) principles for doing so: buy experiences rather than… Continue reading “If Money Doesn’t Make You Happy, Then You Probably Aren’t Spending it Right”: Part 2
Influence. You Already Have It.
Becoming Minimalist blogger Joshua Becker write of influence: “…{I]t would be wise for us to stop always asking how to acquire more and instead, start asking what to do with the influence we already have.” Becker believes that once we realize the scope of our influence, we can begin to focus on being a positive… Continue reading Influence. You Already Have It.