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The Guardian
6 hours ago
- Business
- The Guardian
A good deal or a good deal of waste? How to be more conscious about your consumption during sales periods
Whether the discount is offered on social media, via email or in a banner on your favourite website, if a business you've ever been a patron of is having a sale you can be sure they'll find a way to tell you. 'Temporary sales events are aimed at leveraging FOMO,' says Jason Pallant, a senior lecturer in marketing at RMIT University. 'The idea is to make consumers feel like they will miss out on a great bargain if they don't buy something right away.' While it can feel good to click 'buy now' in the moment, ending up with piles of barely used impulse purchases leads to a particular kind of shame, regret (and clutter). With the end-of-financial-year sales period upon us, here are some strategies to ensure you are being conscious about your on-sale consumption. Believe it or not, our brains are wired to encourage us to buy things at a reduced price, especially when there is a sense of urgency – ie during sales and promotions. Cathrine Jansson-Boyd, a professor of consumer psychology at Anglia Ruskin University, says this is because of three things. 'When we see a price tag that we perceive as a good deal, the part of our brains that deals with pleasure is activated,' she says. Then, when we make a purchase, we get a dopamine hit that makes us feel good and, finally, when there is a time limit on the availability of the discounted price, it triggers heightened adrenaline. This combination means sales shopping can make people 'feel giddy with excitement'. Being aware of this dynamic and recognising it when temptation arises is the first step to exercising self-control and resisting the urge to make an impulse purchase. The second step is to take 'a calm pause between looking at an item and purchasing', says Dr Kate Luckins, the author of Live More With Less. This should help to 'counter the frenzy of the sale'. If you're shopping in store, one way to do this is by holding on to the item while you continue browsing and delay heading to the checkout. Or, if you're shopping online, stand up and walk away from your computer or put down your phone and do something else to see if the shine of the product wears off. Alternatively, sleep on it. 'In that pause, you will either obsess over the item you're considering, or you will move on and forget about it,' Luckins says. So as not to miss out on the savings promotional periods offer, Stephanie Atto from Australian Consumer and Retail Studies recommends keeping a list of products you are looking to buy and sticking to the list during sales periods. 'To resist sales pressures, consumers should focus on being informed and assertive,' she says. 'Be prepared by understanding your needs, doing your research and setting a budget.' The popularity of this strategy is borne out by data. Pallant says the increased frequency of sales periods has trained consumers to wait to make purchases. 'A recent shopper survey from Mailchimp suggests 76% of consumers use these events to buy products they were planning to buy anyway.' Although it might feel like being increasingly online gives retailers an advantage, Pallant suggests inverting this dynamic by keeping track of what you want to buy, what a good price is and gathering your own data. 'Do your research about how often these brands or products go on sale and what a good discount really is,' he says. 'There are so many sales events now that if you miss out on one, you might only have to wait a couple of weeks for another.' Given the frequency of email and social media marketing, you can do yourself a favour ahead of time by 'setting tech limits', Atto says. This can be as simple as running through your inbox and unsubscribing from brands and retailers that always seem to be communicating promotions, or unfollowing social media accounts that do the same. As the designer and poet William Morris said: 'Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.' Regardless of how much your dopamine-hungry brain is calculating you will save with the purchase of an item, once you've bought it, it's yours – so it's worth assessing whether it is a good investment. Try exercising some reverse Marie Kondo (the decluttering expert) and ask before the purchase: Does this item truly bring me joy? In six months, when I am cleaning out my cupboards, is its quality so good that I will still be proud to own it? The flip side of this is that shopping on sale can be an opportunity to buy something of beautiful quality or craftsmanship that might normally be out of your budget. 'Buying one piece or product we love rather than a bunch we kind of like at a discount is much more satisfying in the long term,' Luckins says. If you're having trouble using the form, click here. Read terms of service here.
Auto Blog
12 hours ago
- Business
- Auto Blog
Walmart is selling a ‘durable' $400 metal storage cabinet for only $149, and shoppers say it has ‘plenty' of space
Autoblog aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. Storage solutions are the easiest way to make your workspace clutter-free and organized. Whether you want to organize your tools, extra household products, gardening supplies, or small appliances, a storage cabinet is a must-have. Right now, the Gangmei 72-Inch Metal Storage Cabinet is on sale at Walmart for only $149. With an original price tag of $400, you can save hundreds on this sleek and high-quality unit that will fit perfectly in your garage, basement, office, attic, or closet. Gangmei 72-Inch Metal Storage Cabinet, $149 (was $400) at Walmart Made of sturdy metal, this cabinet is coated with an epoxy finish, making it resistant to scraping, rust, chipping, and corrosion. It features two swing doors with a handlebar and four adjustable shelves that can each hold up to 180 pounds. For added security, you'll find a three-point locking system and two keys to keep everything safe and secure. 'Great purchase!' said one shopper. '[I've] had it for two weeks already, and it's very sturdy. Plus, [it's] quite spacious and easy to assemble.' 'Very nice cabinet,' said another customer. '[The] cabinet was very well packaged and easy to assemble. Sturdy shelves with plenty of storage space. Best cabinet I could find in its price range and would recommend it.' The cabinet itself weighs 101 pounds and measures 36 inches wide and 72 inches tall. Its slim design won't take up too much space in your home and many shoppers mentioned buying multiple units to arrange next to one another. One customer said, 'The cabinet is durable and is what we expected. We have bought four.' While another added, 'A great cabinet for a great price! We purchased it to store outdoor toys and tools in.' Organize your home with this $169 metal storage cabinet. Grab it now while it's still 58% off at Walmart. About the Author Victoria Garcia View Profile
Khaleej Times
13 hours ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Dubai Summer Surprises begins: Up to 75 per cent discounts; win 30 gold bars in raffles
Summer in Dubai just got more exciting for shopaholics, families looking for leisure activities and visitors seeking fun experiences. The 28th edition of Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) kicked off today, packing in exciting bargains, free activities, live entertainment and world-class gastronomy offers to make this season more enjoyable for everyone. This edition runs for 66 days, from June 27 to August 31, with pocket-friendly prices and great value for everyone. Whether planning a staycation, shopping spree, or weekend outing, DSS is packed with ways for residents and visitors to enjoy more of the city for less. Epic bargains and mall promotions An epic 9 weeks of unbeatable promotions and exclusive in-store offers kicks off today as part of the summer-long DSS Sales Season, starting with the Summer Holiday Offers until July 17. Shoppers can enjoy discounts of up to 75 per cent at more than 800 brands and over 3,000 stores, along with chances to win incredible prizes through a line-up of exciting mall and retailer campaigns. 30 gold bars, 9 new cars Shoppers can also win the season's biggest-ever prizes in citywide raffles, including the Dubai Shopping Malls Group DSS Raffle from June 27 to August 31, which is giving away the keys to nine brand-new cars; the Dubai Gold & Jewellery Group Raffles from June 27 to August 30, offering 30 gold bars to 30 winners; and the Visa Jewellery Programme from June 27 to August 30, with 50 winners receiving a share of Dh175,000 in jewellery vouchers. Several more chances to win will be announced in the coming weeks. Dine out for less Summer Restaurant Week invites diners to experience some of Dubai's best-loved restaurants at exceptional value from to July 4 to 13. Exclusive set menus will be available at more than 55 casual dining destinations, with two-course lunches priced at Dh95 and three-course dinners at Dh150. Bookings are open now, exclusively through OpenTable. For the first time ever, DSS is introducing 10 Dirham Dish from August 1 to 31, celebrating the richness of the local dining scene by offering dishes at an accessible price point of just Dh10. The DSS Entertainer returns for 2025 with over 7,500 Buy One Get One Free offers across premium and casual dining, brunches, delivery, attractions, leisure, spas, salons, fitness, and more. Free things to do On Friday, June 27, Dubai Festival City Mall hosted Japanese dance crew Sabrina and Palestinian-Jordanian pop artist Reina Khoury, while Abri & the Band and singer-songwriter Noel Kharman takes to the stage on Saturday, 28 June. At City Centre Mirdif, Syrian vocalist Al Shami and Jordanian indie rock band Jadal will perform live on Saturday, June 28, with roaming entertainers and energetic live acts.
The Sun
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Fashion fans race to high-street store to buy £27 summer dress that flatters chunky arms and ‘looks expensive'
SHOPPERS have been rushing to pick up this high-street summer dress that's flattering for all body types. The £27 maxi dress is perfect for the hot weather with its airy design and stylish puffed sleeves. New Look Puff Sleeve Midi Dress, £26.99 (was £29.99) BUY HERE New Look has slashed the price by 10% ready for warm weekend, taking it down from £29.99 to £26.99. The Black Puff Sleeve Midi Dress features a ruched bodice and a flared skirt that will give a cinched appearance on all figures, finished with an elasticated waist. Everyone loves a dress with pockets, and the practical feature makes the dress even better for everyday wear. It comes in black, white, pink, red and navy colourways, while the green version has already sold out. Sizing is limited for the dress, as it has become a bestseller on the New Look website in recent days. The versatile design could be styled with just about any look, from trainers for the office to sandals and a rattan handbag for summer holidays. The New Look number could also be dressed up with heels and chunky gold jewellery for special occasions. High-street shoppers have been raving about the midi dress online, and it's received an impressive 4.7-out-of-5 star rating. One reviewer wrote: "This feels so much more expensive than it is - lovely natural fibre blend and pockets too! BUY HERE It's nice to have a properly long dress as I find they often hit at an unflattering point, but this looks very elegant. I genuinely might get another one because I like it so much." Another added: "Beautiful, simple, black square neck maxi dress. Fits well and looks lovely. I dress it up with heeled sandals or wear it casually with trainers, both look really good." New Look's £27 dress isn't the only affordable fashion find catching shoppers' attention. Last month, Sainsbury's released a summer dress that flatters mum tum, and it's still available in select sizes (despite being hugely popular online). The dress comes in butter yellow (the season's hottest colour!), and supermarket shoppers have been gushing over the £28 find. Both the New Look and Sainsbury's dresses would also be great choices for those shopping for an outfit for Wimbledon, as both can be dressed up or down. what to wear to Wimbledon and other summer occasions. The one downside of the gorgeous sunny weather is the possibility of chafing, but fashion fans have been picking up a pair of £36 cooling shorts that smooth out lumps and bumps.
CTV News
16 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
Road trip tips
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