Martin Lewis is encouraging shoppers to use a free Money Saving Expert card designed to help avoid impulse purchases and items they may later regret, with Christmas only weeks away.
What is the Money Mantras card?
The wallet-sized Money Mantras card can be printed and kept in a purse or wallet. It has two sides: one for when you are short of money and another for when you are not. Before buying, shoppers are urged to look at both sides.
The card is available to print in colour or black and white, and can be cut down to credit-card size.
Lewis on opportunity cost
Lewis noted the difficulty of self-assessment, saying: "Perhaps the most difficult to self-assess is 'will I use it?' which examines what economists call Opportunity Cost - in other words, could you get better use or pleasure out of the same cash buying something else?"
The consumer champion has urged people to try the card and see how they get on, as it could save them money in the run-up to December 25.
