{"id":371,"date":"2019-08-01T13:46:51","date_gmt":"2019-08-01T13:46:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-mcc-childdevelopment\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=371"},"modified":"2019-08-01T14:36:32","modified_gmt":"2019-08-01T14:36:32","slug":"marketing-and-advertising-influence-on-consumer-behavior","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-mcc-childdevelopment\/chapter\/marketing-and-advertising-influence-on-consumer-behavior\/","title":{"raw":"Marketing and Advertising Influence on Consumer Behavior","rendered":"Marketing and Advertising Influence on Consumer Behavior"},"content":{"raw":"There are many issues related to consumer health that are important to our health and well-being. Every day individuals make decisions that impact their health and wellness, whether it be purchasing goods and services or accessing health care.\r\n\r\nThe behaviors we choose and the habits we form have a direct impact on our home life, our relationships and our contributions to society.\u00a0 We must be aware of the influences on these decisions and what we need to do to advocate for ourselves and our health and wellness.\r\n\r\n<strong>Marketing and Advertising Influence on Consumer Behavior<\/strong>\r\n\r\nThe influence of marketing and advertising is related to our Consumer Health. Advertisers persuade people to buy products and services by emphasizing them as a status symbol and playing on inner fears and insecurities. Being aware of this fact is a foundational step in making healthy decisions regarding our health and what to purchase and what not to purchase. Making children aware of these influences from an early age will help them to make more educated decisions.\r\n\r\n<strong>6 Tip-offs to Rip-offs: Don't Fall for Health Fraud Scams<\/strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Learn to recognize the signs of health fraud. <\/strong>\r\n\r\n<em>Bogus product! Danger! Health fraud alert!<\/em>\r\n\r\nYou\u2019ll never see these warnings on health products, but that\u2019s what you ought to be thinking when you see claims like \u201cmiracle cure,\u201d \u201crevolutionary scientific breakthrough,\u201d or \u201calternative to drugs or surgery.\u201d\r\n\r\nHealth fraud scams have been around for hundreds of years. The snake oil salesmen of old have morphed into the deceptive, high-tech marketers of today. They prey on people\u2019s desires for easy solutions to difficult health problems\u2014from losing weight to curing serious diseases like cancer.\r\n\r\nAccording to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a health product is fraudulent if it is deceptively promoted as being effective against a disease or health condition but has not been scientifically proven safe and effective for that purpose.\r\n\r\nScammers promote their products through newspapers, magazines, TV infomercials and cyberspace. You can find health fraud scams in retail stores and on countless websites, in popup ads and spam, and on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.\r\n<h4>Not Worth the Risk<\/h4>\r\nHealth fraud scams can do more than waste your money. They can cause serious injury or even death, says Gary Coody, R.Ph., FDA\u2019s national health fraud coordinator. \u201cUsing unproven treatments can delay getting a potentially life-saving diagnosis and medication that actually works. Also, fraudulent products sometimes contain hidden drug ingredients that can be harmful when unknowingly taken by consumers.\u201d\r\n\r\nCoody says fraudulent products often make claims related to:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>weight loss<\/li>\r\n \t<li>sexual performance<\/li>\r\n \t<li>memory loss<\/li>\r\n \t<li>serious diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and Alzheimer\u2019s.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h4>A Pervasive Problem<\/h4>\r\nFraudulent products not only won\u2019t work\u2014they could cause serious injury. In the past few years, FDA laboratories have found more than 100 weight-loss products, illegally marketed as dietary supplements, that contained sibutramine, the active ingredient in the prescription weight-loss drug Meridia. In 2010, Meridia was withdrawn from the U.S. market after studies showed that it was associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.\r\n\r\nFraudulent products marketed as drugs or dietary supplements are not the only health scams on the market. FDA found a fraudulent and expensive light therapy device with cure-all claims to treat fungal meningitis, Alzheimer\u2019s, skin cancer, concussions and many other unrelated diseases. Generally, making health claims about a medical device without FDA clearance or approval of the device is illegal.\r\n\r\n\u201cHealth fraud is a pervasive problem,\u201d says Coody, \u201cespecially when scammers sell online. It\u2019s difficult to track down the responsible parties. When we do find them and tell them their products are illegal, some will shut down their website. Unfortunately, however, these same products may reappear later on a different website, and sometimes may reappear with a different name.\u201d\r\n<h4>Tip-Offs<\/h4>\r\nFDA offers some tip-offs to help you identify rip-offs.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>One product does it all. <\/strong>Be suspicious of products that claim to cure a wide range of diseases. A New York firm claimed its products marketed as dietary supplements could treat or cure senile dementia, brain atrophy, atherosclerosis, kidney dysfunction, gangrene, depression, osteoarthritis, dysuria, and lung, cervical and prostate cancer. In October 2012, at FDA\u2019s request, U.S. marshals seized these products.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Personal testimonials.<\/strong> Success stories, such as, \u201cIt cured my diabetes\u201d or \u201cMy tumors are gone,\u201d are easy to make up and are not a substitute for scientific evidence.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Quick fixes. <\/strong>Few diseases or conditions can be treated quickly, even with legitimate products. Beware of language such as, \u201cLose 30 pounds in 30 days\u201d or \u201celiminates skin cancer in days.\u201d<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>\u201cAll natural.\u201d<\/strong> Some plants found in nature (such as poisonous mushrooms) can kill when consumed. Moreover, FDA has found numerous products promoted as \u201call natural\u201d but that contain hidden and dangerously high doses of prescription drug ingredients or even untested active artificial ingredients.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>\u201cMiracle cure.\u201d<\/strong> Alarms should go off when you see this claim or others like it such as, \u201cnew discovery,\u201d \u201cscientific breakthrough\u201d or \u201csecret ingredient.\u201d If a real cure for a serious disease were discovered, it would be widely reported through the media and prescribed by health professionals\u2014not buried in print ads, TV infomercials or on Internet sites.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Conspiracy theories. <\/strong>Claims like \u201cThe pharmaceutical industry and the government are working together to hide information about a miracle cure\u201d are always untrue and unfounded. These statements are used to distract consumers from the obvious, common-sense questions about the so-called miracle cure.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nEven with these tips, fraudulent health products are not always easy to spot. If you're tempted to buy an unproven product or one with questionable claims, check with your doctor or other health care professional first.\r\n\r\n<strong>Steps to Addressing an Issue with a Consumer Product or Service<\/strong>\r\n\r\nPart of being a healthy consumer is being an advocate for yourself.\u00a0 If you have problems with an item or service you purchased, it is best to contact the company. Use these steps to get started:\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li><strong>Gather supporting documents<\/strong>, such as sales receipts, warranties, contracts, and work orders from the purchase. Also, gather any email messages or logs of any contact you've had with the seller about the purchase if you have any.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Contact the seller<\/strong> You may be able to solve the problem by contacting a salesperson or customer service representative. Use assertive communication skills, as being aggressive is not likely to be effective. You can try a phone call first, but sending correspondence that can be referenced later can be beneficial as well. If this doesn't work, contact a supervisor or manager. If this still fails, try going higher up to the national headquarters. To find the company's customer service contact information, look for \"contact us\", \"customer service\", \"about us\", \"terms and conditions\" or \"privacy statement\" on the company's website. Use USA.gov\u2019s sample complaint letter if desired.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Contact third parties<\/strong>, if the seller fails to fix your problem. File a complaint with your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usa.gov\/state-consumer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">local consumer protection offices<\/a> or the state regulatory agency or licensing board that has jurisdiction over the seller. Notify the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bbb.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Better Business Bureau (BBB)<\/a> in your area about your problem. The BBB tries to resolve your complaints against companies. Some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usa.gov\/stop-scams-frauds#item-35157\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">federal agencies accept complaints<\/a> about companies.\u00a0 <em>Your State Attorney General\u2019s office can be a very effective contact.<\/em> While these agencies may not resolve your problem, your complaint helps them investigate fraud. If the purchase was made online across international borders, you may also file a complaint with <a href=\"http:\/\/www.econsumer.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">econsumer.gov<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Seek legal help<\/strong>. If none of these options work, you may seek to resolve your problem through the legal system or through an alternative dispute program, such as arbitration, conciliation, or mediation.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<em>Some problems with sellers are the result of frauds and scams. If you believe that you have been the victim of a fraud, <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usa.gov\/stop-scams-frauds#item-35157\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>file a complaint<\/em><\/a><em> to the correct government agency. <\/em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Consumer Happiness<\/strong>\r\n\r\nIn our society, we are constantly bombarded with advertising messages attempting to make us feel that more \u201cthings\u201d will make us happy. <strong>Retail therapy<\/strong> (spending money to feel good or for a \u201chigh\u201d) is an activity that many people engage in.\u00a0 We also receive messages through the media that say, \u201cYou can afford it\u201d, no matter what.\u00a0\u00a0 These messages impact children as well, who are even more vulnerable than adults to marketing influence.\r\n\r\nThe birth of credit cards is a significant contributor to the problems we currently face. Prior to credit cards, individuals had to save their money in order to make a purchase.\u00a0 Therefore, individuals had to experience delayed gratification, versus the ability to have instant gratification with today\u2019s credit cards.\r\n\r\nUnfortunately, a number of people purchase items to deal with feeling down or depressed. \u201cRetail therapy\u201d isn\u2019t the best strategy.\u00a0 As with using a substance to feel good, the good feeling is only temporary, your problems don\u2019t go away, and there can actually be added problems as a result of using this type of coping. \u00a0We can easily put ourselves into debt trying to satisfy the desire to feel good by purchasing material goods or services that we think will make us happy.\r\n\r\n<strong><em>Does more money always mean more happiness?<\/em><\/strong> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It\u2019s easy to think that more money would mean more happiness, but the answer is NO, it does not always mean more happiness! According to research, happiness is related to income up to a certain point.\u00a0 For example, for people having trouble paying for basic necessities such as food and shelter, most would report more happiness or feelings of emotional well-being upon being able to easily pay for those things. Once individuals have enough money to pay for the basics, then happiness levels off. Some research finds that after a certain point, happiness actually decreases as financial wealth increases.13\u00a0 Think about it. Are wealthy people the happiest people you know? Sometimes they are very unhappy! You may have seen documentaries about people who won the lottery and were very unhappy following that event.\u00a0 Conversely, there are people living in the poorest of conditions who report extreme happiness.14 The bottom line is that happiness is primarily internally generated.\u00a0 Much of it has to do with our perceptions of our situation.\u00a0 Is your glass half full or half empty?\r\n\r\n<strong>The Importance of Consumer Spending Decisions<\/strong>\r\n\r\nHow we choose to spend our money as consumers is extremely important and will have great influence on our financial health and wellness.\u00a0 There are many examples of people without extraordinary incomes that were able to gain good financial stability because of the choices they made, while at the same time we have seen extraordinary incomes disappear due to poor consumer choices.\u00a0\u00a0 For example, someone who makes an average salary may be very smart with their money.\u00a0 They avoid spending based on instant gratification, they avoid getting into debt and pay off their credit card bills each month.\u00a0 They save a portion of each paycheck.\u00a0 There have been individuals who have become millionaires on ordinary incomes.\u00a0 On the other hand, you could have someone making half a million dollars per year who is up to their eyeballs in debt.\r\n\r\n<em>Smart consumers also are aware of the distinction between \u201cneeds vs wants\u201d or \u201cluxuries vs necessities\u201d.<\/em>\r\n\r\nWhich of the following would you say are \"wants\" and which are \"needs\"?\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Cable\/Satellite TV<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Smart phone<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Name brand clothing<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Rent\/Mortgage<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Electricity<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nWhat messages are sent to children when we treat things as if they are needs versus wants? How did you define \"need\"?\u00a0 If you define need as something necessary for survival (staying alive), then none of them are needs.\u00a0 There are people in many parts of the world who are living without electricity.\u00a0 In the US, look at the Amish.\u00a0 They live without electricity.\u00a0 So it\u2019s not a need to physically survive, but you may feel it is a need to be able to function and be a productive member of society.\r\n\r\nUsually people will argue that items are needs. Shelter is certainly something that could be considered a need. Although some will agree that cable\/satellite TV is not a need and that LOTS of money could be saved by not subscribing. Even if the monthly charge was only $60 per month, that's $720 per year that could be in your pocket. Are you spending more or less?\u00a0 Are there better uses of your $720 or whatever amount you are paying?\r\n\r\nDiscussion of cell phones usually brings quite a debate.\u00a0 We lived for hundreds of years without them, yet many defend that they are needed for various reasons including emergencies. Those who have not lived in a world without cell phones have a hard time picturing life without them.\u00a0 When things are perceived as \u201cneeds\u201d, they can add a significant expense. How much could you save in a year's time by making some smart consumer decisions?\r\n\r\n<strong>Out of Money<\/strong> \u2013 Do you ever hear people complain about not having enough money when they\u2019ve been spending on items that are not necessity items?\u00a0 Is it possible that they are choosing wants or luxuries over necessities? Being aware and making educated decisions can make a big difference.\r\n\r\n<strong>Helping Children Become Good Consumers<\/strong>\r\n\r\nSome basic concepts to remember:\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>Happiness is internally generated.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Advertisers are very influential and want your money.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Delaying gratification can help you make smart consumer decisions.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Many people miss out when they fail to realize that the best things in life are not things you can buy.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<strong>Critical Consumer Health Concepts<\/strong>\r\n\r\nThere is certainly much more we can learn about consumer health.\u00a0 However, there are some core concepts that can be helpful when guiding children.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Encourage educated decision making that balances wellness and enjoyment with planning for the future. <\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Primary Prevention Saves Money<\/strong> - Remind youth that they will save money in many ways by making healthy, educated decisions. Our healthy decisions contribute to prevention of disease and death and therefore we save money.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Contributors and Advocates<\/strong> - Guiding children to be advocates and contributors versus simply consumers in our society can be part of overall health and wellness as well. Individuals can feel great meaning from doing these things and contribute to forward progress in our society.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","rendered":"<p>There are many issues related to consumer health that are important to our health and well-being. Every day individuals make decisions that impact their health and wellness, whether it be purchasing goods and services or accessing health care.<\/p>\n<p>The behaviors we choose and the habits we form have a direct impact on our home life, our relationships and our contributions to society.\u00a0 We must be aware of the influences on these decisions and what we need to do to advocate for ourselves and our health and wellness.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Marketing and Advertising Influence on Consumer Behavior<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The influence of marketing and advertising is related to our Consumer Health. Advertisers persuade people to buy products and services by emphasizing them as a status symbol and playing on inner fears and insecurities. Being aware of this fact is a foundational step in making healthy decisions regarding our health and what to purchase and what not to purchase. Making children aware of these influences from an early age will help them to make more educated decisions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>6 Tip-offs to Rip-offs: Don&#8217;t Fall for Health Fraud Scams<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Learn to recognize the signs of health fraud. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Bogus product! Danger! Health fraud alert!<\/em><\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll never see these warnings on health products, but that\u2019s what you ought to be thinking when you see claims like \u201cmiracle cure,\u201d \u201crevolutionary scientific breakthrough,\u201d or \u201calternative to drugs or surgery.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Health fraud scams have been around for hundreds of years. The snake oil salesmen of old have morphed into the deceptive, high-tech marketers of today. They prey on people\u2019s desires for easy solutions to difficult health problems\u2014from losing weight to curing serious diseases like cancer.<\/p>\n<p>According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a health product is fraudulent if it is deceptively promoted as being effective against a disease or health condition but has not been scientifically proven safe and effective for that purpose.<\/p>\n<p>Scammers promote their products through newspapers, magazines, TV infomercials and cyberspace. You can find health fraud scams in retail stores and on countless websites, in popup ads and spam, and on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.<\/p>\n<h4>Not Worth the Risk<\/h4>\n<p>Health fraud scams can do more than waste your money. They can cause serious injury or even death, says Gary Coody, R.Ph., FDA\u2019s national health fraud coordinator. \u201cUsing unproven treatments can delay getting a potentially life-saving diagnosis and medication that actually works. Also, fraudulent products sometimes contain hidden drug ingredients that can be harmful when unknowingly taken by consumers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Coody says fraudulent products often make claims related to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>weight loss<\/li>\n<li>sexual performance<\/li>\n<li>memory loss<\/li>\n<li>serious diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and Alzheimer\u2019s.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>A Pervasive Problem<\/h4>\n<p>Fraudulent products not only won\u2019t work\u2014they could cause serious injury. In the past few years, FDA laboratories have found more than 100 weight-loss products, illegally marketed as dietary supplements, that contained sibutramine, the active ingredient in the prescription weight-loss drug Meridia. In 2010, Meridia was withdrawn from the U.S. market after studies showed that it was associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.<\/p>\n<p>Fraudulent products marketed as drugs or dietary supplements are not the only health scams on the market. FDA found a fraudulent and expensive light therapy device with cure-all claims to treat fungal meningitis, Alzheimer\u2019s, skin cancer, concussions and many other unrelated diseases. Generally, making health claims about a medical device without FDA clearance or approval of the device is illegal.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHealth fraud is a pervasive problem,\u201d says Coody, \u201cespecially when scammers sell online. It\u2019s difficult to track down the responsible parties. When we do find them and tell them their products are illegal, some will shut down their website. Unfortunately, however, these same products may reappear later on a different website, and sometimes may reappear with a different name.\u201d<\/p>\n<h4>Tip-Offs<\/h4>\n<p>FDA offers some tip-offs to help you identify rip-offs.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>One product does it all. <\/strong>Be suspicious of products that claim to cure a wide range of diseases. A New York firm claimed its products marketed as dietary supplements could treat or cure senile dementia, brain atrophy, atherosclerosis, kidney dysfunction, gangrene, depression, osteoarthritis, dysuria, and lung, cervical and prostate cancer. In October 2012, at FDA\u2019s request, U.S. marshals seized these products.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Personal testimonials.<\/strong> Success stories, such as, \u201cIt cured my diabetes\u201d or \u201cMy tumors are gone,\u201d are easy to make up and are not a substitute for scientific evidence.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Quick fixes. <\/strong>Few diseases or conditions can be treated quickly, even with legitimate products. Beware of language such as, \u201cLose 30 pounds in 30 days\u201d or \u201celiminates skin cancer in days.\u201d<\/li>\n<li><strong>\u201cAll natural.\u201d<\/strong> Some plants found in nature (such as poisonous mushrooms) can kill when consumed. Moreover, FDA has found numerous products promoted as \u201call natural\u201d but that contain hidden and dangerously high doses of prescription drug ingredients or even untested active artificial ingredients.<\/li>\n<li><strong>\u201cMiracle cure.\u201d<\/strong> Alarms should go off when you see this claim or others like it such as, \u201cnew discovery,\u201d \u201cscientific breakthrough\u201d or \u201csecret ingredient.\u201d If a real cure for a serious disease were discovered, it would be widely reported through the media and prescribed by health professionals\u2014not buried in print ads, TV infomercials or on Internet sites.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Conspiracy theories. <\/strong>Claims like \u201cThe pharmaceutical industry and the government are working together to hide information about a miracle cure\u201d are always untrue and unfounded. These statements are used to distract consumers from the obvious, common-sense questions about the so-called miracle cure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Even with these tips, fraudulent health products are not always easy to spot. If you&#8217;re tempted to buy an unproven product or one with questionable claims, check with your doctor or other health care professional first.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Steps to Addressing an Issue with a Consumer Product or Service<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Part of being a healthy consumer is being an advocate for yourself.\u00a0 If you have problems with an item or service you purchased, it is best to contact the company. Use these steps to get started:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Gather supporting documents<\/strong>, such as sales receipts, warranties, contracts, and work orders from the purchase. Also, gather any email messages or logs of any contact you&#8217;ve had with the seller about the purchase if you have any.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Contact the seller<\/strong> You may be able to solve the problem by contacting a salesperson or customer service representative. Use assertive communication skills, as being aggressive is not likely to be effective. You can try a phone call first, but sending correspondence that can be referenced later can be beneficial as well. If this doesn&#8217;t work, contact a supervisor or manager. If this still fails, try going higher up to the national headquarters. To find the company&#8217;s customer service contact information, look for &#8220;contact us&#8221;, &#8220;customer service&#8221;, &#8220;about us&#8221;, &#8220;terms and conditions&#8221; or &#8220;privacy statement&#8221; on the company&#8217;s website. Use USA.gov\u2019s sample complaint letter if desired.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Contact third parties<\/strong>, if the seller fails to fix your problem. File a complaint with your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usa.gov\/state-consumer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">local consumer protection offices<\/a> or the state regulatory agency or licensing board that has jurisdiction over the seller. Notify the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bbb.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Better Business Bureau (BBB)<\/a> in your area about your problem. The BBB tries to resolve your complaints against companies. Some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usa.gov\/stop-scams-frauds#item-35157\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">federal agencies accept complaints<\/a> about companies.\u00a0 <em>Your State Attorney General\u2019s office can be a very effective contact.<\/em> While these agencies may not resolve your problem, your complaint helps them investigate fraud. If the purchase was made online across international borders, you may also file a complaint with <a href=\"http:\/\/www.econsumer.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">econsumer.gov<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Seek legal help<\/strong>. If none of these options work, you may seek to resolve your problem through the legal system or through an alternative dispute program, such as arbitration, conciliation, or mediation.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><em>Some problems with sellers are the result of frauds and scams. If you believe that you have been the victim of a fraud, <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usa.gov\/stop-scams-frauds#item-35157\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>file a complaint<\/em><\/a><em> to the correct government agency. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Consumer Happiness<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In our society, we are constantly bombarded with advertising messages attempting to make us feel that more \u201cthings\u201d will make us happy. <strong>Retail therapy<\/strong> (spending money to feel good or for a \u201chigh\u201d) is an activity that many people engage in.\u00a0 We also receive messages through the media that say, \u201cYou can afford it\u201d, no matter what.\u00a0\u00a0 These messages impact children as well, who are even more vulnerable than adults to marketing influence.<\/p>\n<p>The birth of credit cards is a significant contributor to the problems we currently face. Prior to credit cards, individuals had to save their money in order to make a purchase.\u00a0 Therefore, individuals had to experience delayed gratification, versus the ability to have instant gratification with today\u2019s credit cards.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, a number of people purchase items to deal with feeling down or depressed. \u201cRetail therapy\u201d isn\u2019t the best strategy.\u00a0 As with using a substance to feel good, the good feeling is only temporary, your problems don\u2019t go away, and there can actually be added problems as a result of using this type of coping. \u00a0We can easily put ourselves into debt trying to satisfy the desire to feel good by purchasing material goods or services that we think will make us happy.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Does more money always mean more happiness?<\/em><\/strong> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It\u2019s easy to think that more money would mean more happiness, but the answer is NO, it does not always mean more happiness! According to research, happiness is related to income up to a certain point.\u00a0 For example, for people having trouble paying for basic necessities such as food and shelter, most would report more happiness or feelings of emotional well-being upon being able to easily pay for those things. Once individuals have enough money to pay for the basics, then happiness levels off. Some research finds that after a certain point, happiness actually decreases as financial wealth increases.13\u00a0 Think about it. Are wealthy people the happiest people you know? Sometimes they are very unhappy! You may have seen documentaries about people who won the lottery and were very unhappy following that event.\u00a0 Conversely, there are people living in the poorest of conditions who report extreme happiness.14 The bottom line is that happiness is primarily internally generated.\u00a0 Much of it has to do with our perceptions of our situation.\u00a0 Is your glass half full or half empty?<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Importance of Consumer Spending Decisions<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>How we choose to spend our money as consumers is extremely important and will have great influence on our financial health and wellness.\u00a0 There are many examples of people without extraordinary incomes that were able to gain good financial stability because of the choices they made, while at the same time we have seen extraordinary incomes disappear due to poor consumer choices.\u00a0\u00a0 For example, someone who makes an average salary may be very smart with their money.\u00a0 They avoid spending based on instant gratification, they avoid getting into debt and pay off their credit card bills each month.\u00a0 They save a portion of each paycheck.\u00a0 There have been individuals who have become millionaires on ordinary incomes.\u00a0 On the other hand, you could have someone making half a million dollars per year who is up to their eyeballs in debt.<\/p>\n<p><em>Smart consumers also are aware of the distinction between \u201cneeds vs wants\u201d or \u201cluxuries vs necessities\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Which of the following would you say are &#8220;wants&#8221; and which are &#8220;needs&#8221;?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cable\/Satellite TV<\/li>\n<li>Smart phone<\/li>\n<li>Name brand clothing<\/li>\n<li>Rent\/Mortgage<\/li>\n<li>Electricity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>What messages are sent to children when we treat things as if they are needs versus wants? How did you define &#8220;need&#8221;?\u00a0 If you define need as something necessary for survival (staying alive), then none of them are needs.\u00a0 There are people in many parts of the world who are living without electricity.\u00a0 In the US, look at the Amish.\u00a0 They live without electricity.\u00a0 So it\u2019s not a need to physically survive, but you may feel it is a need to be able to function and be a productive member of society.<\/p>\n<p>Usually people will argue that items are needs. Shelter is certainly something that could be considered a need. Although some will agree that cable\/satellite TV is not a need and that LOTS of money could be saved by not subscribing. Even if the monthly charge was only $60 per month, that&#8217;s $720 per year that could be in your pocket. Are you spending more or less?\u00a0 Are there better uses of your $720 or whatever amount you are paying?<\/p>\n<p>Discussion of cell phones usually brings quite a debate.\u00a0 We lived for hundreds of years without them, yet many defend that they are needed for various reasons including emergencies. Those who have not lived in a world without cell phones have a hard time picturing life without them.\u00a0 When things are perceived as \u201cneeds\u201d, they can add a significant expense. How much could you save in a year&#8217;s time by making some smart consumer decisions?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Out of Money<\/strong> \u2013 Do you ever hear people complain about not having enough money when they\u2019ve been spending on items that are not necessity items?\u00a0 Is it possible that they are choosing wants or luxuries over necessities? Being aware and making educated decisions can make a big difference.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Helping Children Become Good Consumers<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Some basic concepts to remember:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Happiness is internally generated.<\/li>\n<li>Advertisers are very influential and want your money.<\/li>\n<li>Delaying gratification can help you make smart consumer decisions.<\/li>\n<li>Many people miss out when they fail to realize that the best things in life are not things you can buy.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Critical Consumer Health Concepts<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There is certainly much more we can learn about consumer health.\u00a0 However, there are some core concepts that can be helpful when guiding children.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Encourage educated decision making that balances wellness and enjoyment with planning for the future. <\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Primary Prevention Saves Money<\/strong> &#8211; Remind youth that they will save money in many ways by making healthy, educated decisions. Our healthy decisions contribute to prevention of disease and death and therefore we save money.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Contributors and Advocates<\/strong> &#8211; Guiding children to be advocates and contributors versus simply consumers in our society can be part of overall health and wellness as well. Individuals can feel great meaning from doing these things and contribute to forward progress in our society.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-371\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">All rights reserved content<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Happiness, income satiation and turning points around the world,  (2018) . <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Andrew T. Jebb, Louis Tay, Ed Diener &amp; Shigehiro Oishi. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Nature Human Behaviour volume 2, pages33u201338 . <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\"><\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em>All Rights Reserved<\/em><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">Public domain content<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>6 Tip Offs, 2013  . <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: FDA. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/consumers\/consumer-updates\/6-tip-offs-rip-offs-dont-fall-health-fraud-scams\">https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/consumers\/consumer-updates\/6-tip-offs-rip-offs-dont-fall-health-fraud-scams<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/about\/pdm\">Public Domain: No Known Copyright<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Consumer Complaints  (2018 March 14)  . <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: USA.gov. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usa.gov\/consumer-complaints\">https:\/\/www.usa.gov\/consumer-complaints<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/about\/pdm\">Public Domain: No Known Copyright<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section>","protected":false},"author":186456,"menu_order":1,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"pd\",\"description\":\"6 Tip Offs, 2013  \",\"author\":\"FDA\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/consumers\/consumer-updates\/6-tip-offs-rip-offs-dont-fall-health-fraud-scams\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"pd\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"pd\",\"description\":\"Consumer Complaints  (2018 March 14)  \",\"author\":\"USA.gov\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.usa.gov\/consumer-complaints\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"pd\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"copyrighted_video\",\"description\":\"Happiness, income satiation and turning points around the world,  (2018) \",\"author\":\"Andrew T. 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