Author: Mccabe's Tavern

Have you noticed that the moment a promotion or sale sign goes up outside a store the place is flooded with people? It seems that everyone, regardless of their bank account balance, is drawn to a promotion in the same frenzy like style that a shark is drawn to blood in the water! Why are consumers so obsessed with promotions? Is it possible to make any sense of this timeless fact? Let’s take a quick look.

The Inner Bargain Lover

It’s human nature to love to get a bargain. People adore it when they don’t have to pay as much for an item as they feel it should be. It seems that the happy endorphins and chemicals we release when we reach such a state of satisfaction are enough to drive us back to sale and promotion signs time and time again.

In fact, we could even say that some consumers get quite a ‘high’ from sales shopping. Finding an item on a rail that is marked as $5 yet the price tag shows it initially cost $50 can put the consumer into such a state of excitement and contentment that the happy feeling can last for hours if not days! Surprisingly this applies even if the item is not something the consumer was looking for or even needs for that matter!

Consumers who find such bargains on sale rails and in promotional stores will usually try to justify why they should purchase the item. Often it is a case of it being too good a bargain to pass over. This phenomena also explains why so many people have wardrobes and homes full of clothing and items which have never even been used or worn!

The Budget-Based Mind

Another factor that comes into play and which is rather linked to our first is that of being budget minded. For many people, budgeting is simply part of life. We have a certain amount of money that comes in and we need to make sure that it can stretch to all of the outgoing needs that we have. This means that is we can save in one area of our outgoings, we get to spend the saving on another area. This could also be why people flood to promotion signs the moment that they clamp eyes on them! Their inner budget self already sees the potential saving as having a positive impact on other areas of their life. However, is this really the case?

Sometimes it rings true. Finding several items which the consumer needed to purchase at a discounted price will indeed save them money. They can then use this saved money for another purpose, perhaps something more enjoyable, for instance. However, often another situation arises. Entering a store which has a promotion on opens up a whole world of temptation. The consumer sees signs everywhere such as ‘50% off everything in this corner‘, ‘buy 3 get the cheapest item free’ and so forth. What starts to happen? In a word; panic! The consumer feels that they need to make use of all of these sale offers and finds that rather than simply purchase the few items they needed at a discount price they end up spending more than they ever planned for. To the seller, this is exactly what they had in mind, their goal has been accomplished, however, to the consumer they suddenly find themselves having to take money which was meant to be spent on other outgoings rather than save money as they had planned!

Indeed, consumers are obsessed with promotions, it is a timeless fact and likely one that will never change! Perhaps you know from personal experience exactly what we are talking about! Nearly everyone has an inner bargain lover side, as well as a budget-mind. When we see a sale or promotion sign it awakens these parts of our character in a way that is more powerful than we ever give it credit for. So next time you see people flooding into a store that has a promotion sign plastered on the window, take a moment to remind yourself of the reasons behind the common situation you are seeing unfold right before your very eyes!

We live in a world where technology seems to be making the impossible possible on a daily basis. We have Smart devices in our homes that control everything from temperature to our schedules. We have other versions of these devices that will listen to us and make available all the information we could ever wish while at the same time allowing us to order our favorite meals or consumer goods online. We see fabrics invented that keep us comfortable no matter what the conditions. With all this innovation in artificial and man made materials why do some materials which have been around for thousands of years still remain popular? Take for instance cotton sheets.

One of the reasons that cotton linen remains so popular is that it simply offers a superior nights rest and comfort. It may not be immediately apparent but the quality of a the sheets that we use at night directly affects the quality of our sleep – and more sleep means a better quality of life and greater productivity.

So just why are cotton sheets so comfortable? Firstly it is because the material is breathable. The natural nature of cotton means that the weave allows the material to conduct heat away from the body making for a more comfortable night’s sleep. Cotton sheets absorb and dissipate heat from the body as it fluctuates during the course of the night maintaining an even temperature. Amazingly the same properties will allow cotton sheets to keep a person warm during the colder months of the year. This is the difference between cotton and for instance man made materials such as polyester which absorbs body heat rather than radiating it away from the body.

One of the simplest reasons that people still buy cotton sheets when there are cheaper alternatives on the market is that cotton feels ultra luxurious and comfortable against our skin. This is especially important for sleepers who may have more sensitive skins. For those who suffer from allergies to man made materials cotton is the perfect solution – it is hypoallergenic and will not cause skin irritation.

The question of cost is always one that will be asked when people are shopping for bedding and especially sheets. As mentioned there are many man made materials such as polyester which are far cheaper. However cotton has the advantage over many of these materials due to a simple fact and that is that cotton – with proper care outlasts the man made products. In fact some bedding experts estimate that cotton (again with proper care and depending on the weight and weave) can last up to twice as long as the man made options. Given this fact you may be paying more upfront for your cotton sheets – but over the long run the sheets will pay for themselves over and over again and the homeowner will actually save money.

The longevity of cotton sheets may depend on proper care but many people seem to think that caring for cotton bedding is a complex and time consuming business – nothing could be further from the truth. In fact cotton sheets are machine washable at normal temperatures and require no special treatment other than to avoid mixing the cotton bedding with man made materials. The ability to simply throw cotton bedding into a washing machine means that there is no time consuming hand washing required, no special procedures for drying and in fact no ironing. Simply pop it into the dryer at a low temperature, take it out when still a bit damp and hand to dry.

Cotton offers comfort and luxury as well as a great return on investment over the long run – invest in cotton sheets today.

Couples need to be very careful when they choose their bed. This decision will influence the quality of their sleep, as well as their life as a couple. If you can’t get a good night rest, you’ll become grumpy and you’ll tend to blame your partner for your sleep troubles. You can avoid such issues by investing in a good quality bed and in a top notch mattress. Let’s see what type of bed is ideal for couples.

First of all, you need to ensure that both of you will have enough room for a comfortable sleep. The bed should suit the tallest of you, so make sure you know how tall your partner is before making your purchase. In fact, the best way to shop for a bed is to do it together. Like this, you’ll both have your say in regard to the various features and specs of the ideal bed.

If one of you moves a lot during sleep, you may want to buy a bed with two separate mattresses. Such beds allow you to have a comfortable rest even if you have to share your bed with a restless partner. Nonetheless, some people may not be too happy to choose this solution, as it will prevent you from sleeping in each other’s arms. If you don’t want to hug your partner during sleep, the separate mattresses will be a viable option. Furthermore, this will enable you to choose different types of mattresses. If, for instance, one of you prefers to sleep on a very firm bed, while the other prefers a softer and more elastic one, sharing the same mattress will be a huge problem. A bed that accommodates two mattresses will allow each of you to choose the firmness of the mattress as you like. This is also a good choice in case there’s a very big weight difference between you and your partner. If you were to sleep on a shared mattress, the heavier of you would make the bed lean toward their side. This isn’t the most comfortable sleeping position, so you may end up with back pains and morning stiffness.

In terms of size, most couples prefer their beds to be as wide as possible. If your bedroom allows, going for a king size bed would be ideal. It’s always nice to have enough room for moving as you like. Besides, if you want to watch movies in bed, you may need some room for a laptop or tablet computer. Although a king size bed would work best, it might be too big for your bedroom. In such situations, you may have to choose a queen size bed. This isn’t a too bad option, either. However, anything smaller than that may lead to problems, particularly if one or both of you are overweight or obese.

In conclusion, the best bed for a couple is the one that caters to the sleeping habits and preferences of both partners. Choose it together and you’re both going to enjoy a good night sleep.