Why We Buy More When Things Cost Less

Last week, my friend Lin went to a supermarket sale.

The sign said "Buy two, get one free," so she bought six bottles of shampoo.

At home, she already had four bottles.

"I know it's too much," she laughed, "but the price was so low that I couldn't stop." Lin is not alone.

Many shoppers feel happy when they see a red discount tag, even if they do not need the product.

Stores know this feeling well.

They use big signs and countdown timers to make us feel excited.

When we think an offer will end soon, our brains tell us to act fast.

This is called the fear of missing out.

Another trick is the "original price." A shirt may say "200 yuan, now 80 yuan." The high number makes the low price look like a great win.

However, smart shoppers ask one simple question before they pay: "Would I buy this at the normal price?" If the answer is no, the discount is not really saving money.

It is just spending money on something you never planned to buy.