February 14, 2025

Images: Shutterstock [{ "selector": ".eojjb-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "500ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "opacity": 0, "visibility" :"visible"}, {"offset": 1, "opacity": "1", "visibility" :"visible"} ] }, { "selector": ".tzibd-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "750ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "opacity": 0, "visibility" :"visible"}, {"offset": 1, "opacity": "1", "visibility" :"visible"} ] }]

Marketers use several psychological tricks that influence your choices even without you realising it. Here are 5 tricks that make you spend more.

1. The Decoy Effect

A slightly lower-priced option is offered to make the high-priced one look like a steal. For example, a medium coffee at ₹180 makes the large one at ₹190 look like the best deal. Source: nytimes.com

2. The Scarcity Illusion

The “limited stock” warnings play into our fear of missing out (FOMO), prompting hastier purchasing decisions. The perceived scarcity makes the item seem more valuable than it is. Source: nytimes.com

3. Loss Aversion

People fear losses more than they value gains. Marketers ease this by offering “risk-free trials” or “easy returns,” making purchases feel safer and nudging you to buy. Source: nytimes.com

4. Reciprocity

Reciprocity is a human behaviour that leads to buying a particular product as a way of returning the favour for free samples or gifts. Source: nytimes.com

5. Anchoring

Your brain fixates on the first price you see. A tag that says “Was ₹2,999, Now ₹999” makes ₹999 look like a steal, even if ₹2,999 was never real. Source: nytimes.com

5 essential money lessons for children

Thanks for reading! See next Read Now