---
title: An Economist Explains What Not to Do When You're Shopping
description: Economist Teresa Ghilarducci explains why you shouldn't behave the way she does when she's out shopping.
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published: '2015-11-16T20:43:08.000Z'
modified: '2024-04-16T07:30:32.000Z'
section: Personal Finance
tags:
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![Screen Shot 2015-11-09 at 5.51.43 PM](https://img.money.com/2015/11/screen-shot-2015-11-09-at-5-51-43-pm.png)

Labor economist Teresa Ghilarducci explains how to not make the same money mistakes she makes when she's shopping.

Have you ever walked into a store, only to be lured into buying something out of your price range?

This is a problem many people have, including Ghilarducci. It's easy to fall prey to a sales pitch, to become enamored with an article of clothing or an object in order to impress people. We tend, however, to lose track of what's important: the price tag.

"It's a whole category of mistakes," says Ghilarducci, "I buy lots of services and I buy things for other people, to be a big shot."

***Read next: [The ABC’s of Taking RMD’s From Your IRA](https://money.com/required-minimum-distribution-ira-rules/)***

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