Living the Simple Life by Elaine St James

Author:Elaine St James [James, Elaine St]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Self-Help / Stress Management, Self-Help / Personal Growth / Happiness
ISBN: 9780316335584
Publisher: Hachette Books
Published: 2014-04-22T04:00:00+00:00

Another thing we found helpful in the process of changing our buying habits was to become aware of the early warning signs of a potential buying transaction. There were at least two major signals we could learn to recognize and do something about.

First there are the physiological signs. You may find yourself innocently browsing when you quite unexpectedly come across something you think you’d like to buy. You’ll begin to feel a slight palpitation of the heart. Soon your pulse starts to quicken. You feel a rush of adrenaline. Part of you wants to hold back. Another part of you is reaching for your credit card. You may experience shortness of breath. You might even salivate. In extreme cases you start to drool, though not so much that anyone would notice.

Then come the psychological rationalizations. You hear yourself listing all the reasons you should have this thing. You need it. It’ll make your life better. You deserve it. You’ve earned it, for godsake. It’s on sale! It’s been ages since you splurged a little. We only live once. It’s only a hundred bucks. Your whole psyche is itching for this thing.

The itch is a critical juncture. Once you start to scratch it, it’s all over.

This is where you train yourself to pull out your thirty-day list—the list on which you write down every significant item you feel you have to have but that you refuse to buy immediately. Keep it wrapped around your credit card, or in your check register.

When you reach for your thirty-day list, you can trick your mind into thinking you’re reaching for your money, which gives you a slight relief from the itch and reduces the urge.

In that brief moment, the part of your brain that the advertiser has a hold of relaxes a little, and you come back to reality for a moment. The reality is that you don’t really want this thing, you have no conceivable use for it, but an extremely clever advertising and marketing campaign has gotten you to think you do.

Immediately write down on your thirty-day list the date and the name of the item. Put the list back in your pocket. Turn around and leave the premises posthaste.

You’ll be amazed at how just being aware of the warning signs will simplify your life.

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