Recently, I made a resolution to stop using my weekends for groceries and other household shopping. Most of my purchases for the week were made on Sundays and it was frustrating waiting in huge line-ups, especially around this time of year.
The truth is that even if the price is the same or even a bit lower, it costs you much more to buy things on the weekend. Firstly, it takes much more time to purchase things. Line ups are just one additional time waster - additional waits occur dealing with the traffic getting to the retailer, negotiating the parking lot, and navigating heavily congested aisles.
Spending time waiting distracts you from getting the most value from your purchases. It also leaves you much more prone to getting annoyed by the constantly repeated shopping music and announcements. You get hungry, cranky, aggravated, and you just want to get the hell out of there! How can one possible get the best deals in this frame of mind?
Mob mentality sets in when you’re surrounded by a crowd pulling something off a shelf. You figure, “If everyone else thinks it’s a deal, I better get it…” Of course, it usually isn’t and you end up with 20 boxes of denture cleaner that you didn’t need in the first place.
The best bet is to avoid shopping when everyone else usually shops. Early morning, early evening, and dinner hour are usually the best time to enjoy a relaxing wealth-accruing experiencing. Avoid the crowd and you’ll get much more value out of your time.
