Hi there! I’m John Green, and welcome to my salon! Today, we’re diving into some fun and quirky money-saving tips that you might not have heard before. Let’s get started!
Did you know that wearing high heels while shopping can actually affect how much you spend? A study from BYU found that people in high heels tend to make better purchasing decisions and avoid overspending. But don’t worry if heels aren’t your thing—leaning back in a chair, riding an escalator, or even doing yoga poses can have similar effects!
On the flip side, a study from Columbia Business School discovered that being in a calming environment with classical music and comfy seating can lead to spending 15% more. So, keep that in mind next time you’re shopping in a relaxing store!
When it comes to negotiating, steer clear of overly pushy salespeople. A study presented at the Society for Neuroscience found that people who used testosterone gel were less likely to make fair deals. So, stay calm and confident during negotiations.
If you have a cat, consider toilet training them instead of buying kitty litter. This could save you around $1,500 over your cat’s lifetime! Check out the Charles Mingus method for effective cat toilet training.
When you’re at the grocery store, look at the top and bottom shelves. Stores often place the most expensive items at eye level. Also, keep fresh, crisp bills in your wallet—people tend to spend less when their money looks new.
Thinking about living past 100? New Mexico might be the place for you, as centenarians there are exempt from state income tax. Love pumpkins? Buy them in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Iowa, where they’re tax-free if you promise to eat them!
In Hawaii, you can get a $300 tax deduction for raising exceptional trees. And if you’re in Illinois, buy Whoppers candy—they’re taxed less than other candies.
If you’re craving chocolate, try playing with modeling clay for 10 minutes—it might help reduce those cravings. And if you’re tired of buying printer cartridges, switch your font to save on ink.
To save on gas, avoid aggressive driving. It can significantly lower your gas mileage, costing you more in the long run.
Now that you’ve saved some money, what should you do with it? How about renting the country of Liechtenstein for a night? It’s been offered for $70,000! Or, consider renting a village in Austria or Switzerland for a lower price.
Remember to contribute to your 401(k), drink tap water, and don’t feel the need to buy a new phone every year. Thanks for joining us at Mental Floss on YouTube. We hope you enjoyed these tips! Feel free to leave your mind-blowing questions in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe!
Try an experiment next time you go shopping. Wear different types of shoes, like high heels or sneakers, and observe how it affects your spending habits. Write a short report on your findings and share it with the class.
Pair up with a classmate and role-play a negotiation scenario. One of you will be the buyer, and the other will be the seller. Practice staying calm and confident, and discuss what strategies worked best for making fair deals.
Visit a grocery store and conduct a scavenger hunt. Look for items placed at different shelf levels and compare their prices. Take notes on where the most expensive items are located and share your observations with the class.
Choose one of the quirky money-saving tips from the article, like switching your font to save on ink or playing with modeling clay to curb cravings. Try it out for a week and report back on your experience and any savings you noticed.
Research the tax benefits of different locations mentioned in the article. Create a presentation on how these benefits could influence where someone might choose to live or shop. Present your findings to the class.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
—
Hi, I’m John Green. Welcome to my salon! This is Mental Floss on YouTube, and did you know that wearing high heels while shopping can influence your purchasing decisions? According to a study from BYU, shoppers in stilettos tended to pay fairer prices and didn’t overspend as much. That’s just the kind of unique financial tip we love here at Mental Floss, especially since we’ve been saving for our pork chop party forever and not making much progress.
Today, we’re sharing a variety of unusual financial tips in this video brought to you by our friends at Wells Fargo.
Now, we know not everyone wants to shop in high heels, but there are other ways to make smart shopping decisions. Researchers found that leaning back in a chair, riding an escalator, and doing yoga poses while shopping can have similar effects. However, a study from Columbia Business School showed that when subjects were placed in calming environments with classical music and comfortable seating, they overspent on items by 15%.
There was also a study presented at the Society for Neuroscience that advised people to avoid negotiating with overly assertive salespeople. When mild-mannered subjects used testosterone gel, they were less likely to make fair deals.
Here’s a tip for cat owners: consider toilet training your cat instead of spending money on kitty litter. This could save you around $1,500 over your cat’s lifetime. You can look up the Charles Mingus method for toilet training your cat, which is said to be effective.
For smarter grocery shopping, check the top and bottom shelves, as stores often place the most expensive items at eye level. Another tip is to keep fresh, crisp bills in your wallet; studies show people are more inclined to spend newer-looking bills.
If you’re planning to live past 100, consider moving to New Mexico, where centenarians are exempt from state income tax. If you enjoy pumpkins, buy them in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Iowa, as they are exempt from sales tax if you promise to eat them.
In Hawaii, there’s a $300 tax deduction for people who raise exceptional trees. And if you’re looking to save on candy in Illinois, buy Whoppers, as they are taxed less than other candies.
Researchers have found that if you have a craving for chocolate, playing with modeling clay for 10 minutes can help reduce those cravings. If you’re tired of buying printer cartridges, consider switching your font to save on ink.
To save on gas, avoid aggressive driving, as it can lower your gas mileage significantly.
Now that you’ve saved some money, what should you do with it? You could rent out the country of Liechtenstein for a night, which has been offered for $70,000. Alternatively, consider renting a village in Austria or Switzerland for a lower price.
Finally, remember to contribute to your 401(k), drink tap water, and that you don’t need a new phone every year. Thanks for watching Mental Floss on YouTube, made by a wonderful team. Please leave your mind-blowing questions in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe!
—
Let me know if you need any further modifications!
Money – A medium of exchange that is widely accepted in transactions for goods and services. – Example sentence: In economics class, we learned how money facilitates trade by acting as a common medium of exchange.
Shopping – The activity of purchasing goods from stores or online platforms. – Example sentence: During our psychology lesson, we discussed how emotions can influence our shopping decisions.
Negotiation – A discussion aimed at reaching an agreement between two or more parties. – Example sentence: In our economics project, we practiced negotiation skills to settle on a fair price for our mock business deals.
Savings – Money that is set aside for future use rather than spent immediately. – Example sentence: Our teacher explained the importance of savings and how it can provide financial security in times of need.
Grocery – Items of food sold in a supermarket or grocery store. – Example sentence: We analyzed how grocery prices can be affected by supply and demand in our economics class.
Tax – A compulsory financial charge imposed by a government on individuals or businesses. – Example sentence: In economics, we learned how tax policies can influence consumer behavior and business decisions.
Cravings – A strong desire for a specific type of food or item. – Example sentence: Our psychology teacher explained how cravings can sometimes lead to impulsive buying during shopping trips.
Driving – The act of operating a vehicle to transport goods or people. – Example sentence: We discussed how driving efficiency can reduce costs and environmental impact in our economics class.
Efficiency – The ability to accomplish a task with the least waste of time and resources. – Example sentence: In economics, we studied how businesses strive for efficiency to maximize profits and minimize costs.
Psychology – The scientific study of the human mind and its functions, especially those affecting behavior. – Example sentence: Our psychology class explored how consumer behavior is influenced by psychological factors like perception and motivation.
