Kinda like going into the backcountry, have a plan/itinery and don't deviate from it. I know that if I change my travel plans it could potentially cost me dearly, just like coming home with a bunch of stuff that wasn't on my list when I left the house.
You know, thats so true. "Hmmm, I can't remember, don't I need this....." I try and pay with cash most of the time cause its much easier to "see it go" and makes it a bit easier to stick to what I came in for. But now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure there's actually something to the psychological aspect of shopping big box stores that might account for that "mindless shopper" syndrome. Isn't product placement and store design done in such a way to encourage buying more stuff and maybe capitalize on impulsive behavior? You know, like how casinos have no windows so you don't know what time of day it is. I imagine that walking between thousands of products perfectly packaged to say "BUY ME!" its no wonder people wind up in a daze after a while.