To many foreign professionals, the best part of being in the United States is shopping for a literally unlimited variety of products. To Americans, shopping does not necessarily mean parting with one's money; visit the local mall on any Saturday and you will see thousands of people window-shopping, strolling, planning, and simply browsing through the merchandise available. Despite the sluggish economy of the 1990's, consumerism is alive and well in the United States. The availability of the vast selection of products occasionally overwhelms new arrivals. Remember: consumer credit is readily available in the United States, and is frequently tempting. Each year, thousands of people incur tremendous amounts of consumer debt because of uncontrolled credit card spending. Visit any local department store, and they will eagerly sign you up for a consumer credit account. If you lack the personal self-discipline, it is very easy to amass far more debt than you can reasonably pay off in a short period of time. Since these credit cards invariably charge excessively high rates of interest, you may wind up paying for years on a very small purchase. Credit is useful and has its purpose, but remember to part with your money carefully and to not spend more than you normally would.

As a foreigner, you may be an easy target for unethical salesmen, vendors, insurance agents, etc. Maintain a healthy skepticism and remember that if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Consult your colleagues before making any major purchasing decisions and remember that you, the buyer, are the decision maker. Do not let yourself be forced into spending money on something that you really can do without.