Well, my group hasn't been in a town with a gold limit above 4000 gp yet, which makes things easier for me (they can buy anything they like, not that much available below that price anyway).
However, I'd think that the fact that everything they sell is a half price and everything they buy is at full price should be enough motivation for them to use what they get. If they *really* want another item, they'll have to make a major sacrifice.
If it's just spare money, let them buy what they want. NPCs and monsters in my world don't go running around with hundreds of pounds of gold pieces in their pockets however (they prefer to spend it on things that make them more powerful, just as the PCs would).
I also like my simplified appraise/sell system: I just tell them the exact value of anything they find, then I use a modifier to the 50% price they can always get depending on a mix of Appraise/Sense Motive/Bluff or Diplomacy and possible relevant Professions or Crafts. It's only a couple percent, but definitly worth investing in the skills in the long rung (with Appraise being the most important one of course).
However, I'd think that the fact that everything they sell is a half price and everything they buy is at full price should be enough motivation for them to use what they get. If they *really* want another item, they'll have to make a major sacrifice.
If it's just spare money, let them buy what they want. NPCs and monsters in my world don't go running around with hundreds of pounds of gold pieces in their pockets however (they prefer to spend it on things that make them more powerful, just as the PCs would).
I also like my simplified appraise/sell system: I just tell them the exact value of anything they find, then I use a modifier to the 50% price they can always get depending on a mix of Appraise/Sense Motive/Bluff or Diplomacy and possible relevant Professions or Crafts. It's only a couple percent, but definitly worth investing in the skills in the long rung (with Appraise being the most important one of course).