# Stores where you ALWAYS spend more than you intended to, you can't help it... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 16, 2001, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stores-where-you-always-spend-more-than-you-intended-to-you-cant-help-it/50333 "2001-01-16T15:51:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stores-where-you-always-spend-more-than-you-intended-to-you-cant-help-it/50333/1 "2001-01-16T15:51:00Z")
Me, it’s bookstores, and specifically Barnes & Noble. I can walk through a WaldenBooks or a B.Daltons with my hands in my pockets, whistling, and come out again 20 minutes later with credit card unbroached, but the minute I walk through the front door of BN, my Evil Book-Buying Twin takes control, and the next thing you know, I’m standing in the checkout line with a coffee table book on the Etruscans, three Nancy Drew original edition reprints, and an Ordnance Survey 1:190,000 Motoring Atlas of Britain. The Better Half says, “Okay, the Etruscans and the Nancy Drew I can understand, but a road map for Great Britain? Is there something I should know?” Anybody else have this problem? ---
**Author:** ![Zumba\_The\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/779978/32.png) [@Zumba\_The\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zumba_The_Cat)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stores-where-you-always-spend-more-than-you-intended-to-you-cant-help-it/50333/2 "2001-01-16T15:57:54Z")
My problem is Harris Teeter. I can walk through any other grocery store and just pick up what I need. If I go to Harris Teeter to by bread I end up with a cart and $50 worth of groceries. They pump some sort of drug into the air I am sure. ---
**Author:** ![Tiburon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e36b37/32.png) [@Tiburon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tiburon)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stores-where-you-always-spend-more-than-you-intended-to-you-cant-help-it/50333/3 "2001-01-16T15:58:33Z")
I’m with you on the Barnes & Noble thing. The place where I always spend more money, though, is at these places like Wal-Mart or something when I go to get household stuff. It’s because I pick up little things here and there and it all just adds up so quickly. Get some vitamins, razors and Advil in your cart and boom, you’ve spent $25 more than intended. I’m actually pretty good at the grocery store. I’d prefer to spend tons of money at Best Buy. Why Why WHY must I be a gadget freak?? Tibs. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stores-where-you-always-spend-more-than-you-intended-to-you-cant-help-it/50333/4 "2001-01-16T16:03:57Z")
I can go through a B&N without spending a scent. But if I drive just one block to the Borders, I’m screwed. Books Music Movies Coffee I’m going to have to start taking my visa out of my pocket before going in there. ---
**Author:** ![Lyllyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@Lyllyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lyllyan)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stores-where-you-always-spend-more-than-you-intended-to-you-cant-help-it/50333/5 "2001-01-16T16:04:09Z")
**I** don’t have that problem, but Mr. L. is notorious. He cannot walk out of Costco for under $200. He has been known to go 3 times in one week. Ok, I lied, I do have a problem, but only at the various bookstores. ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stores-where-you-always-spend-more-than-you-intended-to-you-cant-help-it/50333/6 "2001-01-16T16:08:01Z")
Hello, my name is **screech-owl** , and I am a bookaholic. Yup, B&N and Borders have a implanted a small homing device attuned to their stores. Bumpersticker on my car - “Warning - I brake for bookstores.” My real problem is Wal\*Mart. No matter how much my resolve, no matter the shopping list, no matter the “I am only going to buy bread and that’s it dammit”, I still spend at least $50-100 a time in there. Case in point: Walked in needing new hair dryer (the old one caught fire - not pretty hearing screech-owl screech!). Walked out with: A few groceries (to tide me over til my regular Sunday shopping). 3 yards of fabric. New underwear. New socks. New sneakers. A tire gauge. A box of crayola markers. A bag of cat litter. Fishing tackle box (for my art supplies). Rope. A fabulously adorable cookie jar. And no hair dryer. I guess it’s off to B&N to get a couple dozen books on self-control and impulse buying (hey, they were on sale!). ---
**Author:** ![racerx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5e9695/32.png) [@racerx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racerx)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stores-where-you-always-spend-more-than-you-intended-to-you-cant-help-it/50333/7 "2001-01-16T16:14:55Z")
Target. always Target. no matter if i’m just popping in to grab some small necessity, i always walk out with more. and i can’t possibly leave w/o visiting the toy department. ---
**Author:** ![A\_girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c68b51/32.png) [@A\_girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_girl)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stores-where-you-always-spend-more-than-you-intended-to-you-cant-help-it/50333/8 "2001-01-16T16:15:56Z")
99 cent stores… I go in there for a calendar or something, and there’s so much good stuff in there for a buck or two for a buck…crap I don’t even need, but it’s so cheap! or Pic n Save… I don’t know what happens in here, but it’s more cheap stuff. Target and Wal\*Mart. Same deal A girl ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stores-where-you-always-spend-more-than-you-intended-to-you-cant-help-it/50333/9 "2001-01-16T16:18:23Z")
Oh, and even worse is the fact that the special order person at Borders will call me to buy a book (she knows my eclectic tastes in various subjects: \ “Hey **screech-owl** , this is So-n-so at Borders. I had a special order for two books on “The Complete History of Drama”/“The Punnic Wars”/“Falconry”/“New Biography of Verdi”/etc., and the customer only took one. I can’t send it back, do you want it at half price?” Let me get this straight… Brand new book ? Unread? On a topic I like? **He-all yes!** Next life, I’m coming back as something illiterate. It’ll save me some money. ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stores-where-you-always-spend-more-than-you-intended-to-you-cant-help-it/50333/10 "2001-01-16T16:23:48Z")
For me its [amazon.co.uk](http://amazon.co.uk). It wasn’t too bad when it was just books, but now whenever I go there for a book, I always wind up looking at, and usually buying something from the music, DVD, and software sections. I rarely get out without spending around £100! ---
**Author:** ![pezpunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@pezpunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pezpunk)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stores-where-you-always-spend-more-than-you-intended-to-you-cant-help-it/50333/11 "2001-01-16T16:24:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by racerx \* > \*\*Target. always Target. no matter if i’m just popping in to grab some small necessity, i always walk out with more. and i can’t possibly leave w/o visiting the toy department. \*\* Beat me to it! That’s is exactly what I was going to say. Evil place that Target is. In Maryland they have a 2 story one! It’s twice the fun! ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stores-where-you-always-spend-more-than-you-intended-to-you-cant-help-it/50333/12 "2001-01-16T16:35:46Z")
**Costco** - We call it the $100 store. **Trader Joe’s** - eclectic grocery store, always something new and different to try out. **Home Depot** - Hello, My name is Bumbazine, and I’m a toolaholic. ::hangs head:: Even worse is a place in Eugene called **Jerry’s,** biggest, baddest hardware store anywhere! I cannot go **near** a bookstore, any bookstore. ---
**Author:** ![Egad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Egad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Egad)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stores-where-you-always-spend-more-than-you-intended-to-you-cant-help-it/50333/13 "2001-01-16T16:39:29Z")
\*\*Candian Tire. \*\* Which you’d only know if you’re canadian. Imagine a Wal-mart crossed with a Home Depot, only smaller. Less lumber, more car parts. So many tools, so little time… ---
**Author:** ![Tretiak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@Tretiak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tretiak)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stores-where-you-always-spend-more-than-you-intended-to-you-cant-help-it/50333/14 "2001-01-16T16:40:55Z")
Border’s Border’s Border’s…Damn You Border’s, damn you straight to hell! And another one is Best Buy. I don’t always buy something,but I find myself there when I don’t need anything and before I know it I have bought a Digital video camera or some speakers or some upgrade or software for my PC or some DVDs or some music or … ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stores-where-you-always-spend-more-than-you-intended-to-you-cant-help-it/50333/15 "2001-01-16T16:57:54Z")
Auto parts stores. ---
**Author:** ![tevya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@tevya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tevya)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stores-where-you-always-spend-more-than-you-intended-to-you-cant-help-it/50333/16 "2001-01-16T17:04:27Z")
Count me in as another victim of **Target’s** evil seductive powers. There is also a fantastic, stupendous, and amazing grocery megaplex here called **Jungle Jim’s** that I always get lost in for hours and spend entirely too much money in. The good thing, though is that it is a “small” (i.e. non-corporate, locally owned) company. It has ethnic foods, a fantastic wine and beer selection, a coffee bar that is out of this world, sushi, etc!! ---
**Author:** ![katie1341](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/91b2a8/32.png) [@katie1341](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katie1341)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stores-where-you-always-spend-more-than-you-intended-to-you-cant-help-it/50333/17 "2001-01-16T17:16:56Z")
Bed, Bath and Beyond. I LOVE that place. The first time I went into one, right after it opened, I went in to buy a new tablecloth for Thanksgiving and came out with said tablecloth, a set of dishes, new napkins, a set of Caphalon cookware, and Christmas wrap. I’ve been back a few times and NEVER seem to get out for under $150. I also have trouble spending reasonable amounts of money at Barnes and Noble. I drive a lot in my job anad I love audiobooks. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stores-where-you-always-spend-more-than-you-intended-to-you-cant-help-it/50333/18 "2001-01-16T17:21:12Z")
Any bead store. I’m just going in to get some Softflex wire – I’m almost out. That’s all I’m buying. Oh, yeah, need some headpins, over there by the seed beads. Wow, what a cool color! That reminds me, I was gonna look for something to make for Billie’s birthday, and I need some more screw-top jars and I’ve been meaning to pick up some of these nifty crimping pliers . . . and on and on and on and I’m $75 lighter when I finally leave. ---
**Author:** ![Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bottle_of_Smoke)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stores-where-you-always-spend-more-than-you-intended-to-you-cant-help-it/50333/19 "2001-01-16T17:27:33Z")
**Menards** I can’t help it. I go in needing just one thing, like a bag of lawn fertilizer or a drill bit or something, and I always wind up wandering around. “Oh, look! They have combination squares on sale! Do I need one? Hmmm…well, I’m sure I’ll need it eventually. Hey, look – router bits!” And now Home Depot just opened two stores in Madison. God help me. ---
**Author:** ![fish\_in\_the\_sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7ba0ec/32.png) [@fish\_in\_the\_sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fish_in_the_sky)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stores-where-you-always-spend-more-than-you-intended-to-you-cant-help-it/50333/20 "2001-01-16T17:29:56Z")
Bookstores, specifically used bookstores. New books I’m pretty good at turning down, because I think, pff, that’s brand new, I can find that any time, anywhere, _everybody_ has that book. Besides, shelves with 20 copies of the same book turns me off. But used books… ::drool:: The equisite variety of books and the uniquness of each one, the crinkly yellow paper, the musty basement smell of hundreds and hundreds of books… ::swoon:: Once a year in the summer the local library sells off books withdrawn from circulation, $1 for hardcovers, 50 cents for paperbacks. Last year I bought so many one of the workers there had to go in the back and find a cardboard box for my books, which was so heavy the big-strong-man of a cashier offered to carry it out to my car. :😊: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stores-where-you-always-spend-more-than-you-intended-to-you-cant-help-it/50333.md?page=2)