Is it easier to lose control with online money?
Online shops and online auction sites are great places to find bargains but do we actually spend more money now that we can buy things online? Paying with online money is so easy and more people than ever find it safe enough to fill the shopping basket and complete the purchase. With services such as PayPal or just using your credit card spending your online money is almost too easy. An evening at home in front of the computer can drain your account in no time.
The scare scenario used to be waking up with a massive hangover and your pockets full of credit card receipts but these days waking up with square eyes and an inbox full of purchase confirmations is just as frightening.
But just like the old trick of laminating your credit card before a big night out, there are things you can do to make it hard to buy online without thinking. If you apply a couple of simple rules you can take control of your online money spending.
- Check your account balance before you buy - subtract the amount and see where it leaves you
- Sleep before you buy - Usually your bargain won't be gone in the morning.
- Shop around - especially if it's a generic product. Maybe the deal's not as great as you thought.
- Do you actually need it or do you just want it? If you just want it - find something in your closet to sell in exchange
- Finally, if you're out of control - close your PayPal account and eat your credit card with a nice Chianti
If you're really good at controlling your online money spending, the internet is an absolute heaven. It's easy to compare prices, find product reviews, buy special edition products and best of all you've got all the time you want and no annoying shop assistants asking if you're alright.
If you find an absolute bargain, you sleep on it and still really need it, but find that you can't afford it till next pay day. Then you know that Cash Doctors provide short-term cash loans that might work out cheaper than waiting and buying the product at normal price.
The conclusion to whether it's easier to lose control with online money would have to be "yes, it is". But if you apply the above mentioned rules you'll find yourself enjoying online shopping instead of fearing it. It's just like everything else out there in the big world. Be sensible but not boring, take advantage but don't overdo it, spoil yourself and your friends but leave a bit for later.
Find us on