Comments on: Does Tiredness Make You More Susceptible To Unnecessary Spending?

By: Hoffmann

Hoffmann — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 00:58:10 +0000

this argument based on a line of your own experience which seems inconclusive and unconvicing

We need furthur evidence to support it

But it is now in my underlying “common sense “m now

By: Brip Blap

Brip Blap — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 01:20:14 +0000

It’s the same rationale that says don’t go grocery shopping while hungry. It’s not at all off-topic. You’re offering a tip to save money, and if that’s not on-topic I don’t know what is!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 15:58:39 +0000

Prime Time is more expensive because that is when the shows with the highest ratings are on. If American Idol was on at 8am, it would still be very expensive. There are also more viewers, the cost per point is not always more during prime time, but if it is a very popular show and there are a limited number of spots for ads, the demand goes up. Just thought I would add this info, I am a media buyer and buy televsion spots for a living.

By: rstlne

rstlne — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 15:05:59 +0000

I usually do grocery shopping late at night because the supermarket is open 24 hours and there are no crowds. So far, I’ve had no problem just getting what I need and using coupons too when applicable.

By: PF

PF — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:57:41 +0000

Anyone who has a palm OS PDA needs to download the free program HandyShopper. It does what Dave M describes but on your palm.

I find that when I’m tired, I probably stick more to my list just to get the heck out of there as fast as possible!

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:56:22 +0000

it’s more expensive per viewer because they’re expecting more of the 18-35 demo to be watching at that time and those viewers are worth paying more for, for some reason.

By: Dave M

Dave M — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 13:42:41 +0000

One of the best ways my wife and I have found to stick to a list is to make up a master list of 95% of our usual items, organized by the layout of our local supermarket. The list is easy to make up since we just circle things as we run out or need for a special occasion, and it’s easy to follow in the store. The less time you spend in the store, the less likely you are to grab things on impulse.

By: Trent

Trent — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 11:43:15 +0000

Penny, I actually say at the bottom that it is based on observation and that I would love to see studies on it.

Also, if you compare ad rates at primetime versus at other times, you’re going to see that it’s more expensive PER VIEWER, even figuring in the higher audience.

By: Penny

Penny — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 11:27:23 +0000

Interesting post, but it seems your arguments are based more on speculation and anecdotal evidence than scientific studies. Your second point seems especially unsubstantiated. “tired minds are likely more susceptible to advertising as well. That’s likely why, if you look at the cost per viewer for advertisements, prime time ads are more expensive than ads at other times on the schedule.”
Top dollar is spent to advertise during prime time programming not primarily because the advertising industry understands the viewers are fatigued, but rather because they know that this is the time of day when TV ratings are the highest. While a tired audience may be an added bonus, the premium is paid for the hope of grabbing the attention of the captive masses.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 05:22:53 +0000

In the same way, don’t go grocery shopping hungry or without a pre made shopping list( made up in peace and quiet with a rational, untired mind and a full stomach. You will spend less,eat better ( less junk). This article is very valid.

By: !wanda

!wanda — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 05:15:04 +0000

Not sleeping enough makes you hungrier, too, and hungry people will buy more food at grocery stores.

If stores are open late at night, the employees will be tired and grouchy, too. The cost in employee morale might balance the gains from tired customers.

Abhijit: You could try preparing things beforehand, when you aren’t tired. For example, you could try prepping a week’s worth of food on the weekends, so that cooking dinner doesn’t involve more than sticking a pan in the oven. For the public transit thing, I guess you could try planning beforehand what bus to take or what route to walk.
I also find that sticking to a routine helps. If you can do tasks on autopilot, that makes them easier to do when you’re tired and not thinking clearly. After all, do you not brush your teeth at night when you’re tired?
Even being aware that you’re tired and therefore more prone to eating more or spending more helps a lot. You can take your level of tiredness into account when you ask yourself Do I need this? before you buy something. If your answer is I don’t know, I’m too tired, then sleep on it.

By: Abhijit

Abhijit — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 04:59:00 +0000

I suppose tiredness has a direct bearing upon expenditure if you’re living in a metropolis, where people have a generally hectic lifestyle. It often seems a justifiable excuse to

- avoid taking public transport or walking short distance, and taking a cab instead
- order take-out instead of spending 15 minutes to cook a decent meal

or take the easier, more expensive way out of several other activities that are a lot more fun on a lazy Saturday morning than an exhausted Wednesday evening.

The tough part (for me personally) is: how can you approach these things after a hectic day, just as if you would approach it on the weekend?

By: David

David — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 04:07:06 +0000

This is a very interesting topic. I do think you think less when you are tired and lazy and will spend because of your laziness. But I also have been to the mall when I am tired and look around for a while and am just like “I need to get out of here,” but that might also be because of the swarm of sometimes annoying people around me. Good post. Tough to measure.

By: Amy K

Amy K — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 01:25:30 +0000

I know that for a while Meijer (24 hour grocery store in the Great Lakes region) was doing midnight to 6am specials. I would guess that it was a way to stay busy during their off hours, but they probably snagged some extra sales off of tired late night or groggy early morning shoppers.

By: SJean

SJean — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:12:15 +0000

Overall I don’t disagree with your premise, but the claim that the best stuff is on prime time for this reason seems like a stretch to me!

By: The Financial Blogger

The Financial Blogger — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:00:14 +0000

Tiredness automatically implicates laziness. Therefore, you are more incline to pay for stuff. Especially for food! Grocery store vs delivery… hum… I wonder who wins when we are tired!
FB.

By: Anne

Anne — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 22:45:47 +0000

Lately I’ve been seeing Big Lots coupons that are only valid from 6-9pm. I wonder if this is why…

By: ThickenMyWallet

ThickenMyWallet — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 22:34:07 +0000

I believe being tired and being busy have the same effect on how much money I spend. I noticed when I am really busy (and usually tired as well), I do not take any time to do comparison shopping or think things through- I just buy things as quickly as possible to get it over with to do the next thing (or go to bed).

By: Mitch

Mitch — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 22:31:55 +0000

Yes. Many kinds of decision making are impaired in tired individuals, and according to consumer psychologists grocery story decisions tend to use an abbreviated decision process that does not consider all of the relevant attributes carefully. Automaticity, familiarity, and other “unthinking” processes become important.

By: Lynnae (Being Frugal)

Lynnae (Being Frugal) — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 22:28:30 +0000

Being tired has everything to do with finances. When I’m tired at dinnertime, I’m more likely to call my husband and ask him to bring takeout home. When I’m tired and grocery shopping, I’m more likely to just throw things into the cart, without comparing the prices of the different brands.

I’ve learned that like you, I need to shop in the morning. And I also need to have some easy dinner ingredients on hand at all times.