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Buy, Buy, Buy. Spend, spend spend. That seems to be the growing trend in our country. In a country that has a trade deficit that is growing in record numbers for five years running, this is a dangerous trend. Not only are we spending our own money beyond our means, the country is spending more than it is earning. More and more American families are living two paychecks out of the poorhouse. Fewer people are saving than have since the great depression. All of this because we are not being critical thinkers, and responsible consumers.

We are bombarded by marketing schemes on television, magazines, newspapers, and radio. The strategy is to pull as much money out of our wallets as they can. And they are in a race, because they know if they don't get it quick, someone else will.

We gotta have the latest greatest things. Just look at the new wireless phones you have to choose from. Marketing experts convince us that we got to have them. Our children think they have to have the latest video game console, and all the games to go with it. And we buy them. HD television, flat panel television, what do we do with our old televisions? How many pharmaceutical commercials are we subject to everyday? Oh, maybe I have restless leg syndrome, I better make an appointment with my doctor.

Companies spend millions in marketing and they are good at what they do. It is up to the consumer to think about what is going on. They hire someone to pull money from your wallet. Think about the money you have spent since this last Christmas. How much of it was goods that you needed. Speaking about Christmas, how many people say "Christmas doesn't feel the same anymore." When I was a child, we got the high dollar toys at Christmas, it was something to look forward to. Today, children get high dollar toys all year long. Adults buy everything they need throughout the year, so Christmas shopping is a challenge for all of us. What do you get someone who has everything?

Another irresponsible consumer habit is buying merchandise that has been branded, at a marked up price. We buy shirts, hats and jackets with beverage commercials, brand logos, and other marketing patterns on them. We pay a premium price for these items. Why? These items should be cheaper! We are paying them to advertise for the company that is branded on the shirt. They have us brainwashed into wearing it with pride. It's backwards!

A good exercise is to sit down and watch television tonight, and notice every time you watch a commercial, that tug at your wallet. Media doesn't decide what we buy, but they are good at convincing us what we need.

Learn more about this author, Nikolas Nies.
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