Okay. So, have you ever felt like every time you walk into a store, it's like you're battling like a wave of temptations?

You know, you walk in and suddenly everything looks amazing and you need it.

Yes.

Like, where did that come from?

Right.

Well, today we are going to dive deep into a real life conversation between two friends to try to learn something about the psychology behind our own shopping decisions.

Yeah, that's a great point. So much of shopping is about you know, what we buy, like the actual thing, you know, but but what about like why we're buying it? Like what's going on in our minds that's making us even want it in the first place?

Yes.

So, that's what we're going to look at today. And hopefully by listening to this conversation between these two friends, we can learn something about ourselves.

Yeah. All right. So, our shoppers today are two friends, Sarah and Emily. They are planning a shopping trip. And it sounds like Sarah is the one who kicks things off. She's got a wedding to go to.

All right.

And so, she's thinking, I need a dress for this wedding. Emily is like, "Oh, I need some new shoes." So, right away, I'm already seeing that they're not just like, "Let's go to the mall and wander around."

They have a plan.

They have a goal in mind. They have a reason to go.

Yes.

And I think that that's already huge because so often we just go out and shop for like no reason. We're just like, I'm bored. Let's go to the mall.

And that is a recipe for disaster.

Yeah. For sure.

Because you're going to end up just like you said, you know, battling temptations, buying things you don't need.

Yes. Buying all the things.

But when you have a specific goal in mind. Like in Sarah's case, she needs a dress for a wedding.

She is much less likely to stray from that and buy a bunch of, you know, random stuff.

Yeah. And that is like a huge psychological thing.

It is. It is like having that goal in mind. It helps you resist those impulse buys. It keeps you focused.

Yeah. Have you ever gone shopping for something and you get home and you're like, "Wait, I didn't get the thing I went for, but I got all this other stuff."

Oh my gosh. All the time. happens me way too often.

Yeah.

All right. So, they've got the plan. They know what they need. They decide to hit the mall.

Okay.

Now, the mall, which as we know can be a mixed bag.

The mall. Yeah. It's a fascinating place. It's a fascinating place. The mall.

It really is.

It's like you walk in and it's just this assault on your senses. You've got the lights, the music, the smells. Like, everything is designed to make you want to buy stuff.

It's designed to entice you.

And for some people, that's exhilarating. They love it. They thrive in that environment. They love the buzz. They love the energy.

Other people find it overwhelming and stressful.

Oh, for sure.

So, it's really interesting to think about where you fall on that spectrum.

Yeah.

Are you a mall person?

Yeah.

Or do you prefer to, you know, maybe shop online or in smaller boutiques where it's a little more curated?

Yes.

I feel like I am more of a boutique person, but I can handle them all if I have a plan.

Yeah. You need a strategy.

If I know exactly where I'm going and what I'm going to get. I can get in and out and it's fine.

Yeah. You're like a surgical strike.

Exactly.

Get in, get out. No casualties.

Exactly. All right. So Sarah, very smart as they're planning. She says, "Don't forget accessories."

Accessories. Yes.

Such a good point.

So important and so often overlooked. People think of accessories as like an afterthought, like, "Oh, I've got my outfit. I'll just throw on whatever." But no, accessories can completely transform an outfit. can. They really can.

They can elevate your style. They can add personality. They can add a pop of color. Like, think about it. A simple scarf, the right earrings. Like, those little details can make all the difference.

Like, what is it? Coco Chanel who said, you know, before you leave the house, take one thing off.

Oh, right. Right.

I think it's the opposite with accessories.

Yeah. Maybe add one thing. Add one more thing. A little something extra.

Yeah. It's like that time I bought a hat. I never wear hats, but I saw this amazing hat.

Okay.

And I bought bought it and I wore it and I felt so fabulous. You know, it's like just adding that little extra thing.

It completes the look.

It really does.

It adds that extra something special.

Yeah.

And it can be so simple, you know? It doesn't have to be something expensive or elaborate, just something that you love, that you feel good in.

Yeah. Okay. So, they're thinking about the accessories and then very smoothly Sarah throws in there, any sales happening?

Ah, yes. The sales

always thinking ahead. a true strategic shopper. Yes.

She's not just going to go in there and pay full price for everything. No,

she's going to do her research. She's going to find the deals.

Yes.

And that's something I think we can all learn from because honestly, who doesn't love a good sale?

Yeah.

Like it's that feeling of getting a bargain, of knowing that you got something for less than it's worth.

Yeah.

It's psychologically rewarding.

Yeah. Totally.

But it's also important to be mindful.

Yeah.

Oh, for sure. Because sometimes sales can be a trap.

Oh, yeah.

Like you get so caught up in the excitement of the sale that you end up buying things you don't need. Yeah.

Just because it's on sale.

Exactly.

So, it's important to be strategic like Sarah.

So, it sounds like both Sarah and Emily both are list makers. Yes. Which I will fully it I am very hit or miss on list making.

Lists are so helpful though.

They really are.

They keep you organized. They keep you on track.

They prevent you from forgetting things. Yeah.

And Emily actually brings up a really good point. She's like, I'm pretty good about lists. She says, "I just get distracted sometimes." And that's something we all have to watch out for, right? Those distractions, the shiny objects, the things that catch our eye that weren't on the list.

But having that list there, it's like a little reminder. It's like, "Hey, focus. This is what you came for."

Yeah, it's so true. I'm definitely a distracted shopper. It's like, "Ooh, shiny." I went up for socks one time and came home with a bread maker.

A bread maker?

Yeah. I don't even seeing socks. Like, I completely went off the rails.

You were like, "Fresh bread. I need fresh bread in my life."

Yes. I was very excited about it.

That's amazing.

But yeah, I definitely need to work on my list making skills.

Yeah.

All right. So, they've got the plan. They've got the lists. They're ready to go. And the last thing they talk about, which I love,

is they're going to grab a coffee first.

Ah, the pre-shopping coffee.

It's essential.

It's so smart.

It's so smart.

And it's more than just about the caffeine, although I love caffeine.

It's a good motivator.

It is. But it's also about taking a moment to pause and stretch. ize before you enter the shopping arena.

Yeah.

Because shopping, especially at the mall, it can be mentally exhausting.

Yeah.

All those decisions, all those choices, it can lead to what's called decision fatigue.

Oh, yeah.

You know, where you just get tired of making decisions and then you start making bad choices. You start impulse buying. You start settling for things that aren't quite right.

Yes.

So, taking that break, grabbing a coffee, it allows you to reset, to clear your head,

to go in with a fresh perspect. perspective.

Yeah, I know that when I shop hungry, watch out.

Oh, yeah. That's dangerous.

It's dangerous. It's dangerous.

That's a recipe for disaster.

Yes.

Low blood sugar and shopping do not mix.

No, they do not.

All right, so let's recap. We've learned a lot from Sarah and Emily's pre-shopping conversation.

We have.

First of all, they had a goal in mind.

Yes.

They had a plan before they even set foot in the mall.

Exactly.

They were thinking about accessories, which is something we often forget.

Mhm. They were sales savvy.

Yes,

they were using lists and they were taking a break to have some coffee before they even got started.

All incredibly smart strategies that can help us make more mindful and intentional shopping decisions.

So, as you plan your next shopping trip, think about Sarah and Emily.

Mhm.

Think about their strategies. Are you a Sarah? Are you an Emily?

Or maybe a little bit of both.

Or maybe a little bit of both. Right.

We all have our own unique shopping personality.

Yes, we do.

The key is to be aware of it.

Yeah. and to use that awareness to make choices that align with our values and our goals.

And most importantly, think about what you learned today.

Think about these strategies and think about what one thing you can apply to your next shopping trip

to make it a little bit more mindful, a little bit more enjoyable,

and hopefully a little bit less chaotic. Happy shopping.

Happy shopping.

Okay. Entonces, alguna vez has sentido que cada vez que entras en una tienda, es como si estuvieras luchando contra una ola de tentaciones?
Sabes, entras y de repente todo parece increble y lo necesitas.
S.
Como, de dnde vino eso?
Cierto.
Bueno, hoy vamos a profundizar en una conversacin de la vida real entre dos amigos para intentar aprender algo sobre la psicologa detrs de nuestras propias decisiones de compra.
S, ese es un gran punto. Gran parte de las compras se trata de, ya sabes, lo que compramos, como la cosa real, ya sabes, pero qu pasa con por qu lo estamos comprando? Qu est pasando en nuestras mentes que nos hace siquiera quererlo en primer lugar?
S.
Entonces, eso es lo que vamos a ver hoy. Y con suerte, al escuchar esta conversacin entre estos dos amigos, podemos aprender algo sobre nosotros mismos.
S. Muy bien. Entonces, nuestros compradores de hoy son dos amigas, Sarah y Emily. Estn planeando una salida de compras. Y parece que Sarah es la que inicia las cosas. Tiene una boda a la que ir.
Muy bien.
Y entonces, ella est pensando, necesito un vestido para esta boda. Emily dice: "Oh, necesito unos zapatos nuevos". Entonces, de inmediato, ya estoy viendo que no es como, "Vamos al centro comercial y deambulemos".
Tienen un plan.
Tienen un objetivo en mente. Tienen una razn para ir.
S.
Y creo que eso ya es enorme porque muy a menudo simplemente salimos y compramos sin ninguna razn. Simplemente decimos: "Estoy aburrido. Vamos al centro comercial".
Y esa es una receta para el desastre.
S. Por supuesto.
Porque vas a terminar como dijiste, ya sabes, luchando contra las tentaciones, comprando cosas que no necesitas.
S. Comprando todas las cosas.
Pero cuando tienes un objetivo especfico en mente. Como en el caso de Sarah, ella necesita un vestido para una boda.
Es mucho menos probable que se desve de eso y compre un montn de, ya sabes, cosas al azar.
S. Y eso es como una cosa psicolgica enorme.
Lo es. Es como tener ese objetivo en mente. Te ayuda a resistir esas compras impulsivas. Te mantiene enfocado.
S. Alguna vez has ido de compras por algo y llegas a casa y dices: "Espera, no consegu lo que buscaba, pero obtuve todas estas otras cosas".
Oh Dios mo. Todo el tiempo. me pasa con demasiada frecuencia.
S.
Muy bien. Entonces, tienen el plan. Saben lo que necesitan. Deciden ir al centro comercial.
Okay.
Ahora, el centro comercial, que como sabemos puede ser una mezcla.
El centro comercial. S. Es un lugar fascinante. Es un lugar fascinante. El centro comercial.
Realmente lo es.
Es como si entraras y fuera un asalto a tus sentidos. Tienes las luces, la msica, los olores. Como, todo est diseado para hacerte querer comprar cosas.
Est diseado para atraerte.
Y para algunas personas, eso es estimulante. Lo aman. Prosperan en ese entorno. Aman el bullicio. Aman la energa.
Otras personas lo encuentran abrumador y estresante.
Oh, por supuesto.
Entonces, es realmente interesante pensar dnde caes en ese espectro.
S.
Eres una persona de centro comercial?
S.
O prefieres, ya sabes, quizs comprar en lnea o en boutiques ms pequeas donde est un poco ms curado?
S.
Siento que soy ms una persona de boutique, pero puedo manejarlas todas si tengo un plan.
S. Necesitas una estrategia.
Si s exactamente a dnde voy y qu voy a conseguir. Puedo entrar y salir y est bien.
S. Eres como un ataque quirrgico.
Exactamente.
Entrar, salir. Sin bajas.
Exactamente. Muy bien. Entonces Sarah, muy inteligente mientras planifican. Ella dice: "No te olvides de los rios".
rios. S.
Qu buen punto.
Tan importante y tan a menudo pasado por alto. La gente piensa en los rios como una idea de ltimo momento, como, "Oh, tengo mi atuendo. Simplemente me pondr lo que sea". Pero no, los rios pueden transformar completamente un atuendo. pueden. Realmente pueden.
Pueden elevar tu estilo. Pueden agregar personalidad. Pueden agregar un toque de color. Pinsalo. Una simple bufanda, los pendientes adecuados. Como, esos pequeos detalles pueden marcar la diferencia.
Como, qu es? Coco Chanel quien dijo, ya sabes, antes de salir de casa, qutate una cosa.
Oh, claro. Cierto.
Creo que es al revs con los rios.
S. Quizs agregue una cosa. Agregue una cosa ms. Algo extra.
S. Es como esa vez que compr un sombrero. Nunca uso sombreros, pero vi este increble sombrero.
Okay.
Y lo compr y lo us y me sent tan fabulosa. Ya sabes, es como agregar esa pequea cosa extra.
Completa el look.
Realmente lo hace.
Agrega ese algo especial extra.
S.
Y puede ser tan simple, sabes? No tiene que ser algo caro o elaborado, solo algo que te guste, con lo que te sientas bien.
S. Okay. Entonces, estn pensando en los rios y luego Sarah, muy suavemente, agrega: Hay alguna venta?
Ah, s. Las ventas
siempre pensando en el futuro. una verdadera compradora estratgica. S.
Ella no solo va a entrar y pagar el precio completo por todo. No,
ella va a hacer su investigacin. Ella va a encontrar las ofertas.
S.
Y eso es algo de lo que todos podemos aprender porque, sinceramente, a quin no le encanta una buena oferta?
S.
Como esa sensacin de conseguir una ganga, de saber que obtuviste algo por menos de lo que vale.
S.
Es psicolgicamente gratificante.
S. Totalmente.
Pero tambin es importante ser consciente.
S.
Oh, por supuesto. Porque a veces las ventas pueden ser una trampa.
Oh si.
Como que te dejas llevar tanto por la emocin de la venta que terminas comprando cosas que no necesitas. S.
Solo porque est en oferta.
Exactamente.
Entonces, es importante ser estratgico como Sarah.
Entonces, parece que tanto Sarah como Emily son creadoras de listas. S. Lo cual ito completamente que soy muy impredecible en la creacin de listas.
Las listas son tan tiles.
Realmente lo son.
Te mantienen organizado. Te mantienen encaminado.
Evitan que te olvides de las cosas. S.
Y Emily en realidad menciona un punto realmente bueno. Ella dice: "Soy bastante buena con las listas". Ella dice: "Simplemente me distraigo a veces". Y eso es algo a lo que todos debemos prestar atencin, verdad? Esas distracciones, los objetos brillantes, las cosas que nos llaman la atencin y que no estaban en la lista.
Pero tener esa lista ah, es como un pequeo recordatorio. Es como, "Oye, concntrate. Esto es a lo que viniste".
S, es tan cierto. Definitivamente soy un comprador distrado. Es como, "Ooh, brillante!" Sub por calcetines una vez y volv a casa con una mquina para hacer pan.
Una mquina para hacer pan?
S. Ni siquiera recuerdo haber visto calcetines. Como, me descarril por completo.
Estabas como, "Pan fresco. Necesito pan fresco en mi vida".
S. Estaba muy emocionado por eso.
Eso es increble.
Pero s, definitivamente necesito trabajar en mis habilidades para hacer listas.
S.
Muy bien. Entonces, tienen el plan. Tienen las listas. Estn listas para partir. Y lo ltimo de lo que hablan, que me encanta,
es que van a tomar un caf primero.
Ah, el caf previo a las compras.
Esencial.
Es tan inteligente.
Es tan inteligente.
Y se trata de algo ms que la cafena, aunque me encanta la cafena.
Es un buen motivador.
Lo es. Pero tambin se trata de tomarse un momento para hacer una pausa y estirarse. izar antes de entrar en la arena de compras.
S.
Porque ir de compras, especialmente en el centro comercial, puede ser mentalmente agotador.
S.
Todas esas decisiones, todas esas opciones, pueden llevar a lo que se llama fatiga por decisin.
Oh si.
Sabes, donde simplemente te cansas de tomar decisiones y luego empiezas a tomar malas decisiones. Empiezas a comprar por impulso. Empiezas a conformarte con cosas que no estn del todo bien.
S.
Entonces, tomar ese descanso, tomar un caf, te permite reiniciar, despejar tu cabeza,
entrar con una nueva perspectiva. perspectiva.
S, s que cuando compro con hambre, ten cuidado.
Oh si. Eso es peligroso.
Es peligroso. Es peligroso.
Esa es una receta para el desastre.
S.
El nivel bajo de azcar en la sangre y las compras no se mezclan.
No, no lo hacen.
Muy bien, recapitulemos. Hemos aprendido mucho de la conversacin previa a las compras de Sarah y Emily.
Tenemos.
En primer lugar, tenan un objetivo en mente.
S.
Tenan un plan antes de siquiera poner un pie en el centro comercial.
Exactamente.
Estaban pensando en los rios, que es algo que a menudo olvidamos.
Mhm. Eran expertos en ventas.
S,
estaban usando listas y se estaban tomando un descanso para tomar un caf antes de siquiera comenzar.
Todas estrategias increblemente inteligentes que pueden ayudarnos a tomar decisiones de compra ms conscientes e intencionales.
Entonces, mientras planifica su prximo viaje de compras, piense en Sarah y Emily.
Mhm.
Piensa en sus estrategias. Eres Sarah? Eres Emily?
O tal vez un poco de ambos.
O tal vez un poco de ambos. Derecha.
Todos tenemos nuestra propia personalidad de compra nica.
S, lo hacemos.
La clave es ser consciente de ello.
S. y usar esa conciencia para tomar decisiones que se alineen con nuestros valores y nuestras metas.
Y lo ms importante, piensa en lo que aprendiste hoy.
Piensa en estas estrategias y piensa en qu cosa puedes aplicar a tu prximo viaje de compras
para que sea un poco ms consciente, un poco ms agradable,
y con suerte un poco menos catico. Felices compras.
Felices compras.