By Brenda Weathers Hargroves
We’re at their mercy. I cringe when I look at the quality of goods and services we’re offered today. I’m thankful my mother taught me to include well-made tailored clothing in my wardrobe. As a result, I own many pieces that have served me well and are often reinvented in the current up-and-coming fashion styles and trends.
But when considering wear and tear, I think about my sweatshirts, t-shirts and jeans that are twenty-plus years old and still presentable. However, I was sorely disappointed the last time I ordered two pairs of jeans from Land’s End, my forever go-to source. They were a cheaper grade of fabric, the pockets were less deep and the overall fit wasn’t what I was used to. I was so bummed out I wrote a comment on their website informing them of my dissatisfaction and decision to never buy from them again, something I rarely do. Guess they didn’t care, however, since to my knowledge, I never got a response.
I think most of us don’t mind paying for quality, but every day we face the issue of corporations getting rich by selling products that meet lower standards or sold in smaller amounts and sizes for the same or higher prices.
How can we fight back against corporate greed?
By being precise when assessing whether the funds we are about to spend are for a need or a want. It doesn’t matter which category the purchase falls under, but making the distinction is important. If it’s a need, I would like to think you have funds put aside for emergencies. If not, I suggest you add emergency savings to your budget. But hopefully it’s an expense you can easily handle that doesn’t require dipping into your savings.
The ideal situation when your want can’t be fulfilled within your current budget is to BYOB (Be Your Own Bank). That’s right, borrow from your savings. The key thing is to avoid the trap of not repaying the loan. So many times, we ‘borrow’ from our savings and that’s it. The money’s gone. Developing the discipline to pay it back will serve you well in the future.
An added benefit of fulfilling a want is you can take your time and be more selective. You’re not rushed to decide how much you’re willing to spend and can shop for the best bargain. And if you’re like me, you try not to shell out the cash until the desired item is on sale.
Acquiring the savings needed to live your best life requires putting forth a lot of work and energy but think about the time and effort that goes into companies’ systematic methods to lessen the quality and raise the prices of the items we purchase. It’s just as important that you maintain a high level of control when it comes to keeping your money in your pocket. Corporations play the game for the long run and so should you. Developing and sticking to a savings plan will place you in the position to satisfy both your needs and wants while outsmarting supplier tactics at the same time.
Comments