Chow Down, Spend Less
By Catey Hill
Sent: Friday July 16, 2010
Catey Hill is the money editor for the New York Daily News online and the author of "Shoo, Jimmy Choo! The Modern Girl's Guide to Spending Less and Saving More."
Snack before you shop
A new study suggests that hunger might hurt your financial decision-making, while a full belly could be better for your pocketbook.
In the study, researchers at University College London put participants on different diets, which influenced their metabolism. Then, they gave them the option of playing various lotteries, some riskier than others.
The results: study participants were more likely to choose the riskier option when they were hungry than when they weren't.
Eat, bubula, eat!
The researchers also observed “an immediate effect of a calorific load.” (In English: they saw changes in people’s risk-taking tendencies immediately upon feeding them).
So what might this mean for you? Increase that calorific load when you have some tough spending choices ahead:
Catey Hill is the money editor for the New York Daily News online and the author of "Shoo, Jimmy Choo! The Modern Girl's Guide to Spending Less and Saving More."
This article was also featured on Shecky's.
Catey Hill is the money editor for the New York Daily News online and the author of "Shoo, Jimmy Choo! The Modern Girl's Guide to Spending Less and Saving More."Snack before you shop
A new study suggests that hunger might hurt your financial decision-making, while a full belly could be better for your pocketbook.
In the study, researchers at University College London put participants on different diets, which influenced their metabolism. Then, they gave them the option of playing various lotteries, some riskier than others.
The results: study participants were more likely to choose the riskier option when they were hungry than when they weren't.
Eat, bubula, eat!
The researchers also observed “an immediate effect of a calorific load.” (In English: they saw changes in people’s risk-taking tendencies immediately upon feeding them).
So what might this mean for you? Increase that calorific load when you have some tough spending choices ahead:
- Carry PowerBars when entering Target. (Evidence: MP spent $332 @ T when she "ran in" for "a phone charger" before lunch.)
- Read catalogs after dinner, not before.
- Make investing decisions on a full stomach.
- Don't book your vacation during your lunch break.
- Save this post for the holidays and save a bundle!
Catey Hill is the money editor for the New York Daily News online and the author of "Shoo, Jimmy Choo! The Modern Girl's Guide to Spending Less and Saving More."
This article was also featured on Shecky's.
