|
 Advertisers
think more is better than less, and they convince us
to buy things they think will make us happy.
When we’re being swept away by an enticing ad, it is difficult to stop
and ask, “Is this something I need or want?” It is easy to spend
too much money. Just about everybody does it—everybody, that is, except
savvy shoppers. They resist the urge to spend.
Advertisers target teens—they know teens like to be part of the cool
crowd and tell them how to get linked in. Your defense is to create your own
kind of “cool” and
resist advertisers' endless messages of telling you what you want.
If you feel like you’re
getting caught up in the advertising circus, stop
and take stock in what you really need: a secure
financial future. Resist the urge to buy:
• new clothes, including the latest hot jeans and cool sneakers
• lots and lots of CDs and music downloads, or DVDs and computer games
• piles of fast food |
| So, how do you handle this influence? When faced
with the powerful lure of advertising, ask yourself
four things: |
 “Do I need this item?” |
 “Do I just want this
item?” |
 “How can I resist the
pressure to spend? |
 “How can I be a savvy
shopper and get what I want, but for a good price,
and still live within my means?” |
|
