This recent article on Yahoo! Finance listed the 8 instances where we inadvertently pay more than we intended.  I’ve fallen victim to at least a couple of them, and I’m sure everyone has.  Which ones have taken you in?  Let’s take a look at the list, compiled by Jodi Helmer:

1. Paying with plastic - Yup, did that a few times.  I find that the physical act of counting out the bills makes the purchase seem more “real” to me.  Swiping a credit card sort of insulates you from what you’re about to binge on.  If you’re on a budget, leave the plastic at home!

2. Listening to music - I guess that’s why department stores play that crappy elevator music - not just to assault our ears, but also our wallets.  I counteract this tactic by bringing my own music on my iPod.  Somehow, Rush and Zeppelin inoculate me from impulse buying.

3. Buying in bulk - I know I don’t need a 5 gallon jar of pickles, but look at that low price!  It may seem counter intuitive, but I don’t shop at Sam’s Club or Costco.  I always wound up buying more crap that I didn’t really need.  We once bought, oh, about a gross of Hot Pockets when my son was on that kick.  We just threw out the remaining expired portion.  Buying in bulk can be a money trap.

4. Dieting - I have a lot of experience in this area.  If you can’t indulge your food cravings, why not splurge on something else that makes you happy?  The way I handled this one was to look forward to buying just a couple new items of clothing after I shrunk my fat ass down to a normal level.  I get some satisfaction without blowing my budget.

5. Tracking exact costs - When we go food shopping, I have an Excel sheet that we fill out beforehand.  It has a lookup table with my best guess on the latest prices, and populates the shopping list with an estimated total.  Factor in a plus or minus 5 percent, and we’re good to go.  No underestimating.

6. Buying clearance merchandise - I won’t buy something that I don’t need just because it’s on sale.  See my reason above for avoiding bulk purchases.  This does take discipline to say no.

7. Shopping without a list - We have a rule in our house - if it’s not on the list, it doesn’t go in the cart.  Case closed.  There are few absolutes in life; this is one that we adhere to.

8. Falling for clever pricing tactics - Salesman use anchoring all the time.  After showing you the expensive model, they’ll show you a cheaper version, which is a bargain in comparison.  A bargain, until you realize it’s still way over your budget.  Stick to your guns.  And don’t fall for any high-pressure tactics, either.  Do what I do - just walk out.

Did the article miss anything?

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