My email is swamped with messages titled, “Black Friday Deals” and it is making me M.A.D.
I am not a great consumer. As a matter of fact, I hate shopping and will deliberate for hours over whether or not I should buy the $2.99 toothbrush or the $1.99 one. I am not brand-loyal except when it comes to Diet Coke. I was raised by two very practical parents and the mantra at our house was
Do you need that or do you just want that
Technically, realistically, there is very little I need this Christmas. I have a roof over my head, food in the refrigerator and loving friends and family.
I don’t need cheaply made schtuff. If I do have to buy something, I would rather search to see if I can find it “gently used” first, especially if it was made in the of natural materials (100% cotton, wood, metal…anything but plastic).
No, I don’t NEED the newest gadgets. Sure, it would be fun to have the new iPhone or an iPad, but I certainly don’t NEED one. Do you?
- I do need a toilet that will stop running (that requires a new internal mechanism which doesn’t cost more than $10).
- I need a computer (note: just one), that allows reliable connectivity without viruses (Thanks to my friend Wilfred at Microsoft)
- I need to give and receive love, kindness, empathy, generosity, humility and a host of other important and intangible emotions and values.
When it comes right down to it, there really isn’t very much I NEED. And this is why I get so mad at these ads. I don’t think anyone needs any of this crap. I don’t believe in consumerism. I think there are much bigger issues to resolve and buying stuff isn’t going to solve them. As a matter of fact, it may feed the greedy beast.
What will you do this season to realistically weigh your Needs versus you Wants?
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
