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:

买了东西又后悔是种非常不愉快的感受。即便像我这种“少买”的人，有时还是会买回一些不需要的。商店采用极其聪明的手段引诱顾客消费。下面这些方法能让你买了东西不至于后悔：

1. Be wary of the check-out areas. 留心收银台区。

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?

那里有许多诱人的小商品。在把它扔进购物车之前，问一问自己是不是确实需要这件东西。有多少次我拿起了一罐Balmex尿片？

2. Get in and get out. 速战速决。

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.

你在商店花的时间越多，买的就越多。最好连去都不要去，这样你就不会买了。

3. Question the need for an upgrade. 对升级的需要提出质疑。

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?

你想买一个有花俏新功能的东西，或者用升级版替换掉你现有的那个，但是，你真的需要吗?

4. Be polite to salespeople, but don't feel like they're your new best friends. 对销售人员要礼貌，但别把他们当成你新结识的最要好的朋友。

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.

不要因为担心伤害到他们的感情而去购买，也别因为他们的努力帮助或解说就非得买某样东西。同时，还是要对店员的努力表示尊重。

5. Don't shop when you're in a hurry or when you're hungry. 不要在匆忙或饥饿的时候购物。

6. Stick to a list. 严格遵循购物清单。

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.

我发现在决定了要买一件东西后，总容易一时冲动买其它商品，因为我知道不管买多少，付款的繁琐都是免不了的。

7. Beware of sale items. 当心促销品。

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."

当心促销品，因为它们会让你感到自己不能不买。也要当心限时优惠，这会让你感到占了便宜。如果你不需要或不想要某样东西，不论价格多么便宜也别买，这不是一笔好买卖。我的一位朋友告诉她的丈夫：“我五折买下的这件东西！”她的丈夫回答：“那说明原来卖贵了一倍。”

8. Don't buy anything that you don't know you need--this is especially important with clothes. 不要买自己都不知道是否需要的东西，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，你可能会买下一条标价2.5折的裤子，随后发现只有再买一双鞋和它搭配，否则根本穿不了。

9. Choose cash or credit card. 选择用现金或信用卡。

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.

有的人购物时，如果是付现金，就觉得不舍得买了；而有的人相反，花现金让他们感觉买东西只是小事情，不管那东西有多贵。知道是现金还是信用卡更容易让自己乱花钱，然后，舍弃那种付款方法。