Happy Friday!
Ready for a fun trivia question followed by some interesting history?
What do cigarettes, diet culture, Sigmund Freud, and many of our impulsive spending decisions have in common?
Edward Bernays.
The nephew of Sigmund Freud, and often called the “father of public relations.”
Bernays laid the foundation for modern-day consumer culture by tapping into psychology to manipulate the masses. His first strategy was getting women to smoke more cigarettes by selling them on the idea that it would make them ‘skinny’. Whata guy. 😮💨
We bring him up, and all the marketers that have come after him preying on our unconscious impulses, to remind you that many of your desires do not come from within.
There are people in offices whose literal jobs it is to manipulate your good intentioned desires and your insecurities to turn you into machines that are constantly seeking happiness.
We don’t know about you, but that’s not how we’re trying to live our lives.
The good news is, being armed with this knowledge can help us resist blindly participating in consumer culture. 💪
Here’s 3 strategies to get you started.
3 Strategies to Resist Consumer Culture
1. Cultivate Critical Awareness. By understanding the techniques used to manipulate consumer desires, we can become more discerning about our own choices. Questioning the motives behind advertising and the authenticity of marketed messages can empower us to make more intentional decisions.
Ask questions like:
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What’s being sold to me?
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What emotions are they trying to stir in me?
2. Practice Mindful Consumption. Before making a purchase, evaluate if it’s a true need or a fleeting desire. Intentionally circle back to your values. Ask questions like:
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What values is this marketing strategy trying to connect with?
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What are other ways I like to meet those values?
3. Seek Alternatives. Here’s where you can really show off that sense of creativity you’ve been fostering! Seek out sustainable and creative alternatives to standard products and services. Ask:
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How can I get really creative to try to break consumer habits that don’t really serve me?
On Tuesday, Jen and Jill offered some really great tips for building community (and why it matters to our finances!) in Ep 442: Our Lack of Community is Costing Us.
Today, they are joined by a rockstar guest to discuss Frugal Beauty & Fashion Tips at Any Age with Dominique Sachse (EP 443). I heard a stat recently that the average American woman spends about $8 a day just on her face… but with tips in this episode, I’m sure the Frugal Friends community can skew lower than that!
Listen wherever you get podcasts and let us know what you thought of the episode over on our latest Instagram post!
✅ Read: The Year of Less by Cait Flanders. A great memoir highlighting one woman’s personal journey to change her relationship with consumerism. Look to read or listen for free on Libby!
✅ Watch: 9 Ways to Challenge Consumerism by Joshua Becker.
✅ Do: Check out Expecting and Empowered, the at-home workout app for moms. There’s a lot to love about this app, including their new Challenges feature, with a motivational thread for accountability! You can even create your own challenges (private or public) for extra customization. Use code FRUGAL for 15% off your annual subscription. **
✅ Meal Prep: Anyone else struggle getting enough fiber in their diet? Try incorporating this Chia Seed Pudding—it works great as breakfast, a quick snack, or can even be loaded with toppings for an interesting lunch. My tip: use a chocolate Premier Protein shake instead of milk for extra protein and it tastes like dessert! 🍮
Spending is a skill and you can learn to master it. If you’ve ever struggled with being unable to stick to a budget or felt guilty about spending on something you enjoy, Jen and Jill’s upcoming book is going to be your next favorite read.
Grab your pre-order gifts. Free With EVERY pre-order. 🥳
Kindly,
Misti
⭐️⭐️ P.S. Want to share all this goodness with your friends AND earn cool Frugal Friends merch?
**Means this is a sponsored or affiliate section. We may earn a small fee or commission when you choose to try one of our sponsor or affiliate partners. But opinions are still 1000% our own.
