We may sit down and make a holiday budget full of determination to stick to our priorities, but if those good intentions go down the drain, it might not be all your fault.
As holiday shopping revs into full gear, here’s a look at some of the tricks companies play to get you to buy more:
Putting out alluring scents
Research shows shoppers tend to purchase more premium products in stores with warm scents, like vanilla and cinnamon.
Research suggests music and background noise may influence shopping habits. A study out of Beijing found shoppers in stores with fast-paced music were more likely to make impulse purchases.
Grouping
Products placed together like a set seem to make shoppers more willing to impulsively buy the items in the display, even if they don’t need them.
And beware: These tricks aren’t limited to brick and mortar stores.
Online retailers are using technology to track your spending habits so they can tailor their advertising with items curated specifically for you.