On January 14, 2011 I posted the following to this blog:
When I was a kid my brothers believed that I had magical powers and I could make m&m's appear in empty m&m wrappers. I used to save about six candies in my wrapper. I'd crumple it up and make it seem like I'd eaten them all and then I'd ask if they wanted me to magically make more. Of course they loved the trick and they'd always eagerly await the spectacular show. I'd slowly uncrinkle it while thinking really contemplatively and wha-la m&m's would "magically" fall out of an "empty" m&m wrapper.
What I find fascinating is that total strangers, actually people we never even see tell us that we NEED a new car, a bigger, better, faster nicer vehicle and we tend to believe them. We're told by clothing companies, and magazines and by our friends (usually it's an unspoken message in this last case) that we NEED nicer, cooler, more fashionable clothes and shoes and all the accessories. The television ads and big bill boards are constantly telling us that we NEED a better cell phone and everything else under the sun. I think it's crazy that we believe them. I don't think we need any of that stuff. These things may improve our self esteems (but we do NOT need them for that); they might (and that's a tiny might) add a bit more convenience to our busy lives; these things will almost definitely give that exciting rush of the NEW purchase... but that wears off.
The truth is I can't make m&m's appear in empty wrappers. My brothers occasionally would find a wrapper or bring me their empty one and I would have to put on a good show inspecting it and deciding that it was defective before they'd let me off the hook but they never figured it out. They never saw through it. As far as they were concerned I had wonderful magical powers.
The truth is that those people who are telling me that I NEED all kinds of "new" stuff, they can be pretty dog gone convincing but they're wrong. It's all just a show.
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I just wanted to re-post this for myself as a reminder.
Average daily spending for 2015: $18.20
God reminder for all of us!
ReplyDeleteWe sure are inundated with marketing now a days! There's no doubt about that.
DeleteIt's that never-ending need vs. want phenomenon.....we THINK or are TOLD we need something but, truth be told, most of the time that just isn't true! I haver really been trying to put this in practice this month!
ReplyDeleteYou have been such an inspiration!!! This is day 5 out of 6 we not only haven't gone out to eat, but haven't spent a dime except gas for hubby's car so he can get to work & make money.......I know it won't last forever, but I sure am enjoying it while I can :)
Sue :)
Thank-you so much! I don't feel like an inspiration when there's 26 cents in the bank account and two days until payday and I have to decide whether we're going to get by on what we have in the house (I'm to the point now that I'm planning so much better that we really can get by with what's in the house on those really low bank account days) or use the credit card and buy stuff we "need." Wanting, lets say, tacos instead of spaghetti is not a need no matter how much it feels to be. I still have to tell myself these things.
DeleteYOU are rocking it! It might just be a few good steps in the right direction. You might have string of eating out days later but you're trying really hard and that's one of the first biggest steps. Rock on! I can't imagine how much money you and your husband have saved (in terms of now spent on food away from home) these past 6 days of February. Way to go!
Your words are so true! People tend to fall for the lines fed to them by the commercial world. You hear these things from companies trying to sell their items and they put it forth so that you think you really do need them. I think if you look deeply at people who are truly happy in life you will find that their happiness comes from being content with what they have, no matter how much or how little. I try to get that across to my children when they get the "I wants." :)
ReplyDeleteLove the M&M's story- so cute!
I think you put it perfectly. People who are content with now are the happiest. Does that mean they don't have dreams and aspirations? no. But they're able to be at peace with now and that's a big deal. We don't NEED more. We really don't. (at least most of us don't... there are obviously some needs)
DeleteThat must have made an impression on James because he does a magic whopper bag with the girls.
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome... yay, my trick lives on! I've never done that with Abner, or thought to but i was always so proud of myself when I magically made m&m's appear for Matt and James. I was so cool!
DeleteI think you have to view most commercials and marketing almost with humor. It is utter silliness that a dad needs a Nisson to bond with his growing son, the worst guilt trip commercial I've ever seen, or all the days problems will melt away when you open a certain expensive chocolate bar (well maybe it will if there is caramel in it). Magazines now have about 20% content and the rest is self promotion of the magazine and advertising, and we get to pay for that.
ReplyDeleteThat Nissan commercial actually made me mad. Ugh, who came up with that?!?!? It's horrible! I'm with you. Most commercials and marketing do need to be shrugged off or laughed at but there are intense underlying messages in many of them, and especially with the repetitiveness of them that do sort of brain wash us.
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