Consumerism, What is It?
Consumerism is mental slavery based on the constant purchasing of consumer goods and is the cause of fear based behavior that leads to depression and severe anxiety. Slavery today means being enslaved to ideas and beliefs.
Consumerism it not fatal, we can be cured although it will take developing some discipline, self control. and a big adjustment in our thinking. We can and should use our resources more efficiently which means to cut back on impulse shopping, save for retirement and work smart by creating multiple streams of income. Our consumer behavior is influenced by those who can control it. Most of us match our lifestyles to the amount of money we make and live beyond what we can really afford. Consumerism or over consumption is an obsession with the owning things a definition of our buying power.
The power of credit cards can create the illusion that you can afford to buy when you do not have the ability to pay it back. We make credit purchases for the items we must have and bank on being in a better position to pay for it by the time the bill is due.
A well known top economist, David Rosenberg say “The process of bringing our wants and our needs into realignment is going to involve years of savings and frugality.” We will all be required to change our behavior and habits of uncontrolled spending.
The fact is we are consumers and need to consume resources to survive. Due to the drastic change in the economy some consumers don’t have much choice but to cut back on spending. How do we change our behavior and learn to preserve our money to plan for retirement or keep the house from going into foreclosure? What can we do differently that will make a difference?
Raises aren’t being given at the rate expected to keep up with inflation and barely covers the increasing gas, the rise in food prices or other goods and services. Realistically everyone is feeling the crunch, just look at the prices of liquid detergent for example, the 64 oz does not exist any more, the choice is the 50 oz. concentrated for the same price. Sounds like a bargain, not by a long shot, the fact is hat you will use the same amount per load that you used when you purchased the 64 oz size and use it up faster, so you will need to repurchase sooner.
I may be overly concerned about this and sound like an alarmist but paying attention to how the economy effects my spending is how I try to avoid being in debt. School loans and extended is a set up for failure if you don’t have a plan. The economic crisis is causing panic and people are getting creative in their methods of making money, Some go to farmers markets to shop and stretch their dollars, others have yard sales. Officials in the state of Indiana are considering a law to limit the number of yard sales a resident can have each month. Families generate income by buying and selling used clothing and other items to make up for lost income from losing their jobs.
People are losing their homes and facing a 25 percent increase in heating bills this coming winter. Certain industries have fallen apart which creates a domino effect of job loss across the country. Companies are cutting cost by cutting jobs leaving families destitute and struggling. When there are no jobs receiving unemployment compensation is an option but barely enough to make ends meet. Families are downsizing to more affordable housing, and searching for creative ways to pay for college.
Poverty has a tremendous impact on our well being which affects the quality of life for everyone. Some have fear that crime will increase due to the recession in response to the changes in the economy. There is fear that panic and desperation will cause people to commit more crimes. Neighborhoods are changing as homes are abandoned or foreclosed on. More people are on the streets. Copper plumbing is being stolen from empty houses, causing flooding and sometimes structural damage, so the home loses value which affects the property values.
Everyone is being encouraged to make a adjustments in their consumer behavior by recycling, finding alternative income streams and spending less on unecessary purchases. We can learn to live the lifestyle that we can afford.
