On Tuesday I taught a teleclass on Adult ADD and Money Management at ADDCLASSES.COM. During the class someone asked me a question on how they can reduce the impulsive purchases on items advertised on infomercials. One suggestion that I made was to wait 24 hours before making any infomercial purchase. This will give you the time to determine whether you actually need a product or if you were just influenced by watching the infomercial.
The more obvious answer to reduce infomercial purchases is to reduce the amount of time watching television. Not only do you have to deal with impulsive purchases that you can buy directly from television programs, but you are subjected to a barrage of commercials that subconsciously influence impulsive purchases at stores. Here are a couple of ways to reduce the amount of time that you watch television:
1. Put the television inside a cabinet with doors, or put a sheet over the television.
If you have to do something physical before you watch TV it will give you more time to think whether you really want to watch a program or are just turning on the television because there is nothing better to do.
2. Have set times when you are allowed to watch the television.
Establish times when you sit down and watch your favorite programs. If you structure time when the TV is off you will not have the opportunity to watch and get influenced by infomercials.
3. Reduce the number of televisions that you have in the house.
If you have a television in almost every room of the house then you will be likely turn on the television as background noise when you are doing tasks. This will reduce the number of advertisements that you hear.
On Tuesday I taught a teleclass on Adult ADD and Money Management at ADDCLASSES.COM. During the class someone asked me a question on how they can reduce the impulsive purchases on items advertised on infomercials. One suggestion that I made was to wait 24 hours before making any infomercial purchase. This will give you the time to determine whether you actually need a product or if you were just influenced by watching the infomercial.
The more obvious answer to reduce infomercial purchases is to reduce the amount of time watching television. Not only do you have to deal with impulsive purchases that you can buy directly from television programs, but you are subjected to a barrage of commercials that subconsciously influence impulsive purchases at stores. Here are a couple of ways to reduce the amount of time that you watch television:
1. Put the television inside a cabinet with doors, or put a sheet over the television.
If you have to do something physical before you watch TV it will give you more time to think whether you really want to watch a program or are just turning on the television because there is nothing better to do.
2. Have set times when you are allowed to watch the television.
Establish times when you sit down and watch your favorite programs. If you structure time when the TV is off you will not have the opportunity to watch and get influenced by infomercials.
3. Reduce the number of televisions that you have in the house.
If you have a television in almost every room of the house then you will be likely turn on the television as background noise when you are doing tasks. This will reduce the number of advertisements that you hear.