Feeling regret about having bought something is a very unpleasant sort of unhappiness. Even with my under-buying ways, I sometimes come home with something I didn't really need to buy. Stores use extremely clever strategies to winkle customers into making purchases. Here are some strategies to make sure you don't make purchases you regret:

    買了東西又后悔是種非常不愉快的感受。即便像我這種“少買”的人，有時還是會買回一些不需要的。商店采用極其聰明的手段引誘顧客消費。下面這些方法能讓你買了東西不至于后悔：

    1. Be wary of the check-out areas. 留心收銀臺區。

    There are lots of enticing little items here; ask yourself if you really need something before you add it to your pile. How many times have I picked up a jar of Balmex?
    
    那里有許多誘人的小商品。在把它扔進購物車之前，問一問自己是不是確實需要這件東西。有多少次我拿起了一罐Balmex尿片？

    2. Get in and get out. 速戰速決。

    The more time you spend in a store, the more you're likely to buy. Even better: don't even go in the store. Then you definitely won't buy.

    你在商店花的時間越多，買的就越多。最好連去都不要去，這樣你就不會買了。

    3. Question the need for an upgrade. 對升級的需要提出質疑。

    You might want that device with a slick new function, or to get the improved version of what you have now, but do you really need it?

    你想買一個有花俏新功能的東西，或者用升級版替換掉你現有的那個，但是，你真的需要嗎?

    4. Be polite to salespeople, but don't feel like they're your new best friends. 對銷售人員要禮貌，但別把他們當成你新結識的最要好的朋友。

    Don't buy something because you're worried about hurting their feelings or having made them do a lot of work helping you or explaining products to you. At the same time, be respectful of clerks' efforts.

    不要因為擔心傷害到他們的感情而去購買，也別因為他們的努力幫助或解說就非得買某樣東西。同時，還是要對店員的努力表示尊重。

    5. Don't shop when you're in a hurry or when you're hungry. 不要在匆忙或饑餓的時候購物。

    6. Stick to a list. 嚴格遵循購物清單。

    I've found that after I've decided to buy one thing, I'm far more likely to throw in other impulse items, because I know that I'm committed to going through the hassle of paying.

    我發現在決定了要買一件東西后，總容易一時沖動買其它商品，因為我知道不管買多少，付款的繁瑣都是免不了的。

    7. Beware of sale items. 當心促銷品。

    Beware of sale items, which make you feel like you can't afford not to buy, or limited-time offers, which make you feel like you have to take advantage of a special deal. If you don't need or want something, it's not a good deal, not matter how cheap it is. A friend of mine told her husband, "I got this 50% off!" and he answered, "That means it was 50% ON."

    當心促銷品，因為它們會讓你感到自己不能不買。也要當心限時優惠，這會讓你感到占了便宜。如果你不需要或不想要某樣東西，不論價格多么便宜也別買，這不是一筆好買賣。我的一位朋友告訴她的丈夫：“我五折買下的這件東西！”她的丈夫回答：“那說明原來賣貴了一倍。”

    8. Don't buy anything that you don't know you need--this is especially important with clothes. 不要買自己都不知道是否需要的東西，尤其是衣服。

    If you're not careful, you can buy a pair of pants marked down 75%, then realize that you can't really wear them unless you buy the right shoes to go with them.

    如果你不小心，你可能會買下一條標價2.5折的褲子，隨后發現只有再買一雙鞋和它搭配，否則根本穿不了。

    9. Choose cash or credit card. 選擇用現金或信用卡。

    Some people find it far harder to spend actual physical cash; other people find that paying cash makes a purchase seem trivial, even when the dollar amount is high. Know whether you're more inclined to overspend with cash or credit cards--and leave that payment method at home.

    有的人購物時，如果是付現金，就覺得不舍得買了；而有的人相反，花現金讓他們感覺買東西只是小事情，不管那東西有多貴。知道是現金還是信用卡更容易讓自己亂花錢，然后，舍棄那種付款方法。