Be a Conscious Consumer

Self Reliance

Believe it or not there's more to your purchase decisions than size and color.

Being a considerate shopper when making purchases, puts you in control of the way your money is used and ultimately the political, environmental and social issues you financially support.

Like a chewing gum company's connection to petroleum extraction, and the fashion industry's toxic dye pollution in waterways; everyday purchases have a grueling toll on planet Earth.

We live in a hyper-consumer nation, where we buy things with non-functional purpose to help shape our identity, and feed our pressure to conform to a capitalist society.

What does that mean? Well, think of Christmas. Christmas in America has always been a quintessential symbol of "making it", where many people strive to obtain the experience, even when it's outside of their means.

It's clear we have visceral desires to buy things based on emotions.

My grand mom for example, gave my siblings and me Christmas, EVERY YEAR, because my parents were practicing members of the Nation of Gods and Earths. She couldn't fathom the idea of watching us grow up without Christmas.

As a child, she probably didn't have a dreamy Christmas with the ornate trees, and gifts spread across the living room floor. But I'm sure she saw Sears and Roebuck ads, and Macy's advertisements that gave her a peek into the 'perfect' Christmas.

Without even realizing it, my grandma's perception and even motivation was skewed by marketing gimmicks that use psychology studies to tap into human behaviors and provoke us to buy things.

Today, my grandma lives in the corner row home of a NW DC neighborhood. She's always prided herself in the nice clothes she wears, and if any one of her five grand kids ask for something, she's sure to get it for us.

As much as I love my grand mom, her spending habits are rooted in having to 'prove' her self.

This competitive consumption is a fight we all battle everyday. Why do we show out, when it's time to go out? (Jeezy) Or "out do" ourselves when it comes to preparing family dinners. Who are we really competing with?!?

The answer is ourselves.

It's totally fine to want to better than the last time, but at the expense of what?

These behaviors can be reviewed in the 'happy/damo ratio' to determine the true cost of our purchases.

Gifford Pinchot II, founder of sustainable-MBA focused Pinchot University, came up with the happy/damo ratio which is the happiness created by an activity divided by the damage created by that activity.

Let's go back to my example of Christmas.

It's a great time to see family and enjoy great food, but what's the true cost of Christmas. Cost isn't just the dollars spent on the presents, foods, travel and such; but what about the social, environmental and physical costs of Christmas?

Here's a happy/damo ratio for Christmas.

Visiting Family, Eating food, taking a break
__________________________(divided by)____________________________
waterways polluted due to the manufacturing industry, cheaply made decorations with short life spans (doomed for the landfill), cardboard and Styrofoam packaging taking up large amounts of landfill space, sweatshop production and the health risk of laborers, high demand work schedules for factory workers that are making items to match the holiday demand, oil consumption for distribution, carbon extracted for travel, air pollution...

So what's the true cost (financial, social and environmental) of your future purchases?

Here's 7 questions to answer before buying stuff.

  1. Do I need it or can I live without it?
  2. Why am I compelled to make this purchase? Am I doing it for superficial reasons?
  3. How will it add value to my life? Will this help me fulfill a goal, activity or challenge?
  4. How was this product manufactured? Were there underpaid workers involved?
  5. How did it get to me physically? Was it shipped using fossil fuels, was it shipped overnight on a private jet?
  6. What are the environmental sacrifices for my purchase?
  7. What will I do with it at the end of it's life cycle? Can I reuse or recycle this item?

Older Post Newer Post


  • Freda on

    This is a very joyful day of my life because of the help PRIEST Salami has rendered to me by helping me get my ex-husband back with his magic and love spell. I was married for 6 years and it was so terrible because my husband was really cheating on me and was seeking a divorce but when I came across PRIEST Salami email on the internet on how he helped so many people to get their ex back and help to fix relationships. and make people happy in their relationship. I explained my situation to him and then sought his help but to my greatest surprise, he told me that he will help me with my case and here I am now celebrating because my Husband has changed totally for good. He always wants to be by me and can not do anything without my presence. I am really enjoying my marriage, what a great celebration. I will keep on testifying on the internet because PRIEST Salami is truly a real spell caster. DO YOU NEED HELP THEN CONTACT DOCTOR PRIEST Salami NOW VIA EMAIL: purenaturalhealer@gmail.com. Whatsapp number: +2348143757229 He is the only answer to your problem and makes you feel happy in your relationship…

  • https://www.gamja888.com/ - 카지노주소 on

    https://www.gamja888.com/ – 바카라사이트,카지노사이트,카지노게임사이트,온라인바카라,온라인카지노,Gamja888
    https://gamja888.com/ – 퀸즈슬롯
    https://gamja888.com/ – 맥스카지노
    https://gamja888.com/ – 비바카지노
    https://gamja888.com/ – 카지노주소
    https://gamja888.com/ – 바카라추천
    https://gamja888.com/ – 온라인바카라게임
    https://gamja888.com/ – 안전한 바카라사이트
    https://gamja888.com/ – 바카라
    https://gamja888.com/ – 카지노
    https://gamja888.com/ – 퀸즈슬롯 카지노
    https://gamja888.com/ – 바카라게임사이트
    https://gamja888.com/onlinebaccarat/ – 온라인바카라
    https://gamja888.com/millionclubcasino/ – 밀리언클럽카지노
    https://gamja888.com/safecasinosite/ – 안전카지노사이트
    https://gamja888.com/baccaratsiterecommendation/ – 바카라사이트추천
    https://gamja888.com/ourcasino/ – 우리카지노계열
    https://gamja888.com/slotmachine777/ – 슬롯머신777
    https://gamja888.com/royalcasinosite/ – 로얄카지노사이트
    https://gamja888.com/crazyslot/ – 크레이지슬롯
    https://gamja888.com/onlineblackjack/ – 온라인블랙잭
    https://gamja888.com/internetroulette/ – 인터넷룰렛
    https://gamja888.com/casinoverificationsite/ – 카지노검증사이트
    https://gamja888.com/safebaccaratsite/ – 안전바카라사이트
    https://gamja888.com/mobilebaccarat/ – 모바일바카라
    https://gamja888.com/howtowin-baccarat/ – 바카라 필승법
    https://gamja888.com/meritcasino/ – 메리트카지노
    https://gamja888.com/baccarat-howto/ – 바카라 노하우

    youube.me
    instagrme.com
    youubbe.me
    Instagrm.me
    Instagrme.net
    internetgame.me
    instagrme.live
    naverom.me
    facebokom.me

  • https://instagrme.com/ - 33카지노 on

    https://www.instagrme.com/ – 바카라사이트,우리카지노,온라인바카라,카지노사이트,실시간바카라
    https://instagrme.com/ – 퀸즈슬롯
    https://instagrme.com/ – 바카라게임
    https://instagrme.com/ – 카지노주소
    https://instagrme.com/ – 온라인카지노
    https://instagrme.com/ – 온라인카지노사이트
    https://instagrme.com/ – 바카라게임사이트
    https://instagrme.com/ – 실시간바카라사이트
    https://instagrme.com/ – 바카라
    https://instagrme.com/ – 카지노
    https://instagrme.com/woori-casino/ – 우리카지노
    https://instagrme.com/theking-casino/ – 더킹카지노
    https://instagrme.com/sands-casino/ – 샌즈카지노
    https://instagrme.com/yes-casino/ – 예스카지노
    https://instagrme.com/coin-casino/ – 코인카지노
    https://instagrme.com/thenine-casino/ – 더나인카지노
    https://instagrme.com/thezone-casino/ – 더존카지노
    https://instagrme.com/casino-site/ – 카지노사이트
    https://instagrme.com/gold-casino/ – 골드카지노
    https://instagrme.com/evolution-casino/ – 에볼루션카지노
    https://instagrme.com/casino-slotgames/ – 카지노 슬롯게임
    https://instagrme.com/baccarat/ – baccarat
    https://instagrme.com/texas-holdem-poker/ – 텍사스 홀덤 포카
    https://instagrme.com/blackjack/ – blackjack

    youube.me
    gamja888.com
    youubbe.me
    Instagrm.me
    Instagrme.net
    internetgame.me
    instagrme.live
    naverom.me
    facebokom.me

  • https://youubbe.me/ - 슬롯사이트 on

    https://www.youubbe.me/ – 카지노사이트,바카라사이트,슬롯사이트,온라인카지노,카지노주소
    https://youubbe.me/ – 카지노검증사이트
    https://youubbe.me/ – 안전한카지노사이트
    https://youubbe.me/ – 슬롯카지노
    https://youubbe.me/ – 바카라게임
    https://youubbe.me/ – 카지노추천
    https://youubbe.me/ – 비바카지노
    https://youubbe.me/ – 퀸즈슬롯
    https://youubbe.me/ – 카지노
    https://youubbe.me/ – 바카라
    https://youubbe.me/ – 안전한 바카라사이트
    https://youubbe.me/ – 온라인슬롯
    https://youubbe.me/casinosite/ – 카지노사이트
    https://youubbe.me/baccarat/ – 바카라
    https://youubbe.me/baccaratsite/ – 바카라사이트
    https://youubbe.me/pharaoh-casino/ – 파라오카지노
    https://youubbe.me/제왕카지노/ – 제왕카지노
    https://youubbe.me/mgm카지노/ – mgm카지노
    https://youubbe.me/theking-casino/ – 더킹카지노
    https://youubbe.me/coin-casino/ – 코인카지노
    https://youubbe.me/solaire-casino/ – 솔레어카지노
    https://youubbe.me/casino-game/ – 카지노게임
    https://youubbe.me/micro-gaming/ – 마이크로게이밍
    https://youubbe.me/asia-gaming/ – 아시아게이밍
    https://youubbe.me/taisan-gaming/ – 타이산게이밍
    https://youubbe.me/oriental-game/ – 오리엔탈게임
    https://youubbe.me/evolution-game/ – 에볼루션게임
    https://youubbe.me/dragon-tiger/ – 드래곤타이거
    https://youubbe.me/dream-gaming/ – 드림게이밍
    https://youubbe.me/vivo-gaming/ – 비보게이밍

    youube.me
    gamja888.com
    instagrme.com
    Instagrm.me
    Instagrme.net
    internetgame.me
    instagrme.live
    naverom.me
    facebokom.me

  • https://www.youube.me/ - 밀리언카지노 on

    https://www.youube.me/ – 카지노사이트,바카라사이트,바카라게임사이트,온라인바카라,인터넷카지노
    https://youube.me/ – 퀸즈슬롯
    https://youube.me/ – 카지노주소
    https://youube.me/ – 비바카지노
    https://youube.me/ – 카지노추천
    https://youube.me/ – 카지노게임
    https://youube.me/ – 온라인카지노사이트
    https://youube.me/ – 카지노
    https://youube.me/ – 바카라
    https://youube.me/ – 온라인카지노
    https://youube.me/ – 카지노게임사이트
    https://youube.me/sandscasinoaddress/ – 카지노검증사이트
    https://youube.me/royalcasinoseries/ – 로얄카지노계열
    https://youube.me/slotmachinesite/ – 슬롯머신사이트
    https://youube.me/maxcasino/ – 맥스카지노
    https://youube.me/baccaratgamesite/ – 바카라게임사이트
    https://youube.me/casimbakorea-casino/ – 카심바코리아 카지노
    https://youube.me/mobilecasino/ – 모바일카지노
    https://youube.me/real-timebaccarat/ – 실시간바카라
    https://youube.me/livecasino/ – 라이브카지노
    https://youube.me/onlineslots/ – 온라인슬롯
    https://youube.me/sandscasinoaddress/ – 바카라 이기는방법
    https://youube.me/safecasinosite/ – 안전카지노사이트
    https://youube.me/ourcasinosite/ – 우리카지노사이트
    https://youube.me/sandscasinoaddress/ – 샌즈카지노주소
    https://youube.me/baccarat-rulesofthegame/ – 바카라 게임규칙
    https://youube.me/baccarat-howtoplay/ – 바카라 게임방법

    gamja888.com
    instagrme.com
    youubbe.me
    Instagrm.me
    Instagrme.net
    internetgame.me
    instagrme.live
    naverom.me
    facebokom.me



Leave a comment