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It may sound strange, but sometimes getting more of what really matters can actually mean getting, or rather, buying less. Advertisers will tell you that you need the latest gadget to have More Time or that having More Fun requires buying the latest video game. Whatever you want More of, they have the answer. But is that really true?
Maybe you want more freedom from debt. If so, you're not alone - a record 1.6 million Americans declared personal bankruptcy last year, while 60 million families carry an average credit card debt load of over $7000 and shell out more than $1000 a year just in interest and fees. One of the best ways to create more distance between you and the wolves at the door is to pay attention to where your money goes, to examine potential purchases and find alternatives that don't require buying new items.
Tuning out the siren song of advertising can also result in a surplus of another precious commodity: more time. Consider that every dollar spent must be earned. You’d be surprised at how much of your precious time is spent working to pay for the things you didn’t really want or need in the first place. Buying less can actually help you reclaim your time and get off the work-and-spend treadmill sooner.
Want to preserve more of nature and provide a healthier future for the next generation? Reducing the amount of excess resources you consume is the surest way to accomplish that. Simple actions can make a big difference. Driving less, watching your thermostat or even just skipping a single beef meal a week are some easy ways to begin.
It isn't easy to change the habits of a lifetime. Modern consumer culture encourages children from an early age to find fulfillment in shopping. Marketers strive tirelessly to create a climate where not having the hippest clothes, the latest cell phone, the best of everything is unthinkable. Our Kids & Commercialism campaign has loads of tips and tools to help parents who want to raise their kids in ways that are in tune with their own values and not those of Madison Avenue. And our Be, Live, Buy—Make a Difference campaign helps youth understand their own power as consumers and gives them some simple actions they can take in their own lives to begin making a difference.
Many people who want more of what really matters find it helpful to ask themselves three simple questions before making any purchase: Do I really need it? Can I borrow it from a friend, or buy it used? Can I save first and buy later? Of course, sometimes the answer to these questions is “no.” If that’s the case, then check out our Conscious Consumer website. We’ll at least help you find stuff that is better for the environment, for those who manufactured the goods, and for you.
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