Posts tagged Spending Habits

12 Questions to ask yourself before making an impulse buying

Consumer Behavior Self development Spending money July 22, 2019

Impulse buying can be triggered by many things, but one of the most prominent reasons is to feel good, as in retail therapy. On the flip side though, when you don’t have the money and still make the purchase let’s say on credit, you end up feeling worse, you feel the “buyer’s remorse”, regretting what you just bought - later when you go home.

Impulse buying has left so many people in debt, making them buy things they don’t need, and sometimes not use it altogether. With today’s buying on credit availability, if you are not careful, impulse buying could lead to serious repercussions of not only debt but also your psychological well-being.

Do you fix things or replace them?

Self development Spending money July 14, 2019

In my hopeful attempt to declutter my too many stuff, I found many clothes I didn’t love - and for that, I feel blessed I can let them go.

I even discovered some clothes that I haven’t worn for a while, they were fairly new and I absolutely loved them. It was like I just came back from a shopping trip - that was nice.

There were also some clothing items that I wasn’t wearing not because I didn’t love them, or they didn’t fit, but rather because they needed some repairing. Something like fixing the zipper.

Last Friday, I gathered my energy to go to a tailor recommended by a friend…

Which one of us doesn’t like free stuff?

Consumer Behavior Consumer Marketing Sales skills Spending money June 23, 2019

I broke one of my necklaces, so I had to go to the mall to fix it.

I was somewhat dreading that trip - as simple as it was. I dropped it off and left.

On my pursuit of spending less, I try as much as I can to avoid the mall visit… I ignore the sale text messages and pretend I have never received them.

Ring, ring. I get a phone call. My necklace is ready for collection. I once again went to the mall. This time though I didn’t leave right away. I thought, well, let me have a look. That’s what we do right? Some of us at least.

Wandering around and checking all those sale signs, trying to not get influenced, by the buy 2 get the 3rd for free promotions, I stumbled upon ladies representing one of the make-up brands, Gosh. They try to talk to me and I think they are trying to sell me something. Perhaps even let me try something for free… of course, so I can buy it once I like it. I tell them I am not looking for something.

They look at me and give me a bag… and tell me “This is yours.” I say, “What?” They tell me, “This is yours.” I am confused…

Why did I start wearing that special occasion dress in a typical day?

Self development Spending money June 20, 2019 2 Comments

While I intend to do the “spring cleaning” and do the occasional cleanup, I don’t get rid of as much stuff as I should.

Any messy person like me, who made the attempt to try to be more “organized”, and did a little Googling, will find Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-Changing Magic Of Tidying. Although I had a pretty failed attempt on following her footsteps, as I mentioned in I couldn’t be a minimalist and here is why, I did come up with the conclusion of having, keeping and buying only the stuff that I fall in love with. Stuff that makes me feel beautiful. Stuff that makes me happy.

I can’t help but notice though that I do have many many things that I keep for a special occasion. That dress that was on a special sale I bought 4 years ago and never “had” the chance to wear it. The silver heels that I bought for that special occasion and only have worn it once at that special occasion. The candle lights that I will light up when I want to pamper myself at home. The jewelry that will only be suitable for that special occasion… that by the way, doesn’t happen that often.

Refund your Deposits

Spending money June 19, 2019

Three years ago I moved from Abu Dhabi to Dubai. It was such a thrilling change. Even though it was only a 2-hour drive, it dramatically changed my life.

City girl. What can I say?

In both cities, I rented a place… and in both cities, I paid a deposit for my electricity and water bill. When we move-in, we incur a lot of expenses, and we somehow swallow the money we spend on the deposit because it is refundable once you move out.

Funny thing is though many people move out and even leave the country without refunding their deposits…

What is the biggest lesson you learned in your travels?

Self development Spending money June 18, 2019

Someone recently asked, “What’s the biggest lesson you learned in your travels?”

I didn’t have to think twice. The first thing that popped into my mind was…

Do not buy pre-arranged travel packages. Period.

Some of the beautiful ladies from The Solo Female Traveler Network mentioned, 50 Travel Tips on Spending Less, that one of their ways to make sure they stay on budget is to purchase everything in advance - that way, you know what you are getting yourself into.

I would agree if that was done by me as an organizer, using booking.com, Expedia or Airbnb.

I, however, have fallen into the trap that was fed by my urge to make an impulse decision - to book a last minute ticket through a travel agency, Holiday Factory. Apologies to myself for making this decision, and here is why I apologize to myself - and promise her to not ever fall into that trap ever again.

Do impulse decisions screwup your finances?

Self development Spending money June 14, 2019 1 Comment

Let’s talk about impulse decisions because I definitely fall victim of those ones. Not to say that I don’t enjoy those decisions. In fact, most of the time I actually do very much enjoy them, and perhaps that’s the reason why I keep on embarking on those impulse decisions. One… right after the other.

And if that wouldn’t impact my financial situation, I guess it wouldn’t bother me that much, or let’s say, it wouldn’t trigger me to think about it in the meantime… but it is.

You see, while reading, researching and trying to understand why we buy the things we do, and what triggers us to do it, I completely wiped out the impact of which generation you are part of. Each generation has different triggers and that is because they have grown up in specific atmospheres that impact their spending behaviors.

The Money Illusion… is it enough? | Tales of an Excessive Spender

Uncategorized June 1, 2019

Talking about my pursuit of savings with one of my friends, and he tells me one thing, there is no “Baraka” here… in Dubai, when it comes to money. “Baraka” means you don’t get the most out of your money in Arabic… or in other words, you get the money, spend it, and don’t know where on Earth did it go.

He just came from New York a few months ago and even though he is getting paid more here, he tells me, he can’t save. He was able to save though in New York.

Why do we hang out in expensive places?

Cognitive Bias Consumer Behavior Spending money May 30, 2019

A few weeks ago, I was passing by a not so fancy neighborhood, and I found an iftar offer that was so cheap… even cheaper than the Entertainer discount, without actually having to ask for a discount. It could be the same exact food, just a different neighborhood and… cheaper.

Depending on the city you are living on, the expenses would also beg to differ.

But then again, why do people choose, including me, to go to some places over other cheaper places?

50 Weird but effective tricks for spending money while traveling

Spending money May 25, 2019 2 Comments

Being on my spending less mission, I asked women from all over the world a simple question, in one of my favorite groups on Facebook, The Solo Female Traveler Network

What do you do to not overspend in vacations?

In just a one day, I have received more than 300+ responses. Crazy impressive, right? It’s beautiful to be part of this community that would support women from any spot of the world, traveling to any part of the world, even if that support was just emotional.