I know what you're thinking. How can cutting down on ad-heavy media like television, the Internet, and radio, possibly save me money? Perhaps you are one of many consumers who are convinced that advertisements don't affect their spending behavior. Well I have news for you: ads are extremely sophisticated (and expensive) these days for a reason they have an unprecedented power to affect your spending habits on a subconscious level. So if you want to save some money, consider the advantages of cutting down your family's exposure to advertisements. Here are a few tips for doing just that:
1. Half your time on the Internet.
Just like television was in the latter part of the 20th century, the Internet is now the new frontier for purveying advertisements. They're practically everywhere on Facebook, on your favorite news sites, in your inbox. Even though everyone's is touting the democratization of consumer wants and needs via social media
, it's really just another form of advertising in disguise. By cutting down on your Internet time, your desire to spend will be reduced. 2. Hit the mute button during commercial TV breaks.
While advertisements are very deeply embedded in the Internet, on television, they're a little bit easier to control since they're basically sectioned off in very specific break times. During these times, hit the mute button and have a short conversation with whomever you're watching TV, or even go for a quick walk outside.
3. Before going to the grocery store, make a list and stick to it.
The grocery store is one of the most ad-heavy physical spaces that we encounter on a regular basis. Even though there aren't any overt advertisements like commercials or billboards, items at the store are covered in packaging that tries to sell the product. While all these extra items sound tempting because they promise certain results, make a pact to yourself that you will only buy what's on your list and nothing more.
4. Spend less time among big spenders.
Sometimes it is other people who can be the most influential advertisements out there, and they may not even work for the company whose products they promote. You know precisely who I'm talking about that one friend who has to have the latest gizmo, who can't stop talking about the effectiveness of X health product or Y instructional video. By spending less time with people who are avid consumers, your desire to spend will also be lessened.
5. Enjoy your leisure time in ad-free zones.
Yes, despite being completely entrenched in our consumerist society, there are places we can go where there is no advertising. For example, instead of taking your loved ones to the movies (which now precede their showings with ads) go for a walk in a city park. Instead of going to your traditional retail bookstore, where additional frills like coffee vendors and toy sections will tempt you to spend more, go to a public library. Turn off that annoying, ad-filled pop radio station, and switch on your public or non-profit options, which often expose their listeners to a wide variety of music, including classical and world beats.
While you may be skeptical about the power of advertisements to affect your spending decisions, studies have shown that ads can especially affect children's psychological and developmental health. At the very least, you'll be relieving brain from a lot of unnecessary market-driven stimuli if you make it a point to avoid ads. For more information on the effects of advertising, check out this article published in New Internationalist Magazine.
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