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You can’t help yourself. Every time that you get on an airplane, you pick up that Sky Mall catalog and flip through it. You convince yourself that you’re just passing the time to relax before you land and get down to business. You tell yourself that you just want to browse the latest gadgets and laugh a little about them. But the next thing you know, you’ve racked up a credit card bill buying an old-fashioned hot dog maker that you probably didn’t need.

So, should you take out the laptop and get to work instead of browsing through the airline catalog? Not necessarily. Sometimes buying from catalogs can actually get you a good deal. You just have to be smart about your shopping. If you’re the kind of impulse buyer who isn’t going to be able to resist spending hundreds of dollars on things you don’t need, keep your hands out of that pocket in the seatback in front of you. But if you’re able to choose your pieces wisely, you can get some smart shopping done during your short business flights.

The things that are smart to buy from those catalogs are things that you’re actually going to use. The catalogs have many items that make business more efficient and productive and those items can help you in your daily life. The pen that’s a USB card and a clock can be a great travel tool but it only makes sense to buy it if you’re going to want to take it on your next flight. Ask yourself before you buy whether this is going to make your life simpler. If the answer is yes and the price is right, purchase away.

Catalogs are also great for gifts. People love to get little novelty gifts that they wouldn’t buy for themselves. If you’re pressed for shopping time because you’re in the midst of business travel, you can use your flight time to be a productive shopper.

Tags: Airlines | Business Travel | catalog shopping