Everywhere we look we are bombarded with adverts; cars, gadgets, houses, clothes, make up, books, homeware and so much more. Magazines, billboards, the internet are just a few of the platforms used to grab our attention. Whenever I am browsing on the internet, I receive pop ups from designer clothes stores – I really need to deactivate my pop ups!
I stopped buying magazines around nine years ago as I found a lot of the UK magazines had similar or identical adverts and there were a lot of them. I felt cheated at paying what was £3 or £4 for adverts I could easily have viewed online. Reading the magazines also made me question my life which is not necessarily a negative thing depending on the angle you are coming from. In my case, I questioned my life negatively as I read articles on what one should look like, what one should wear, how one can be successful by the age of 25 – exaggeration but I am sure you get my drift. Also many fashion adverts were for designer clothes and bags, £800 for a skirt and £300 for a belt – way out of my price range.
If I feel the need I will browse fashion sites online and do not need to part with my money for the privilege.
Clearly we need to buy in order to boost the economy nationally and internationally, however society does seem to be edging towards an ” I want it now” attitude, similar to Verucca Salt, the spoilt little girl in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory who begged her doting father for a golden egg. We all know how that ended up!
Marketing companies are experts at convincing some consumers that if they simply purchased particular items or services, their life would improve for the better. This may well be true in some cases and in others not at all. People genuinely wish for their life to improve so they sign up to this. There are a number of expensive anti-aging creams on the market with little evidence they actually work but women will part with their money in the hope they wake up looking five to ten years younger. Sleeping and eating well, exercising, refraining from smoking and drinking have far more impact on the body. Yet time and time again, people fall for the ‘quick fix’ option we are sold.
What are your views on consumerism?
How do you find a balance between your needs and wants?
organisedlady 