Summary: Live within your means and be frugal. Don’t let marketing and vanity trick you.
In 1884, the renowned French writer Guy de Maupassant penned a short story called "The Necklace." Many people are likely familiar with it. In the story, the heroine borrows an expensive necklace for a social party. Unfortunately, she loses the necklace at the event. To make amends, she endures more than ten years of hard work and hardship. When she finally saves enough to buy an equally expensive necklace to return to the owner, she learns that the original necklace was, in fact, fake.
When I first read this story as a child, it served as a warning against being driven by vanity and spending beyond my financial means. However, as I grew older, I began to notice that this issue of excessive consumption is widespread.
Today, consumerism is at an all-time high. Reflecting on history, we can identify key events that have propelled consumerism to its peak.
The industrial revolution began with the invention of the textile machine in 1764. This revolution significantly increased production capacity, leading to a sharp decline in commodity prices. As a result, people no longer purchased goods solely based on necessity; instead, they began to buy products based on personal preferences or to signify their identity and wealth.
An important historical event was the introduction of credit services in 1950 when the Diner's Club credit card was officially launched. This was followed by the introduction of MasterCard and Visa in 1966 and 1967, respectively. The emergence of credit cards allowed consumers to borrow money for their purchases, thereby enabling advanced consumption. As a result, consumers' purchasing power significantly increased, leading to a surge in commodity advertising that promoted numerous products and fostered an image of high consumption.
The establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995 marked the beginning of a new era of globalization. Globalization facilitates the flow of goods, leading to more choices for consumers and an increase in the popularity of consumerism. Objectively, consumption is a normal part of people's lives.
We typically consume based on our physiological and psychological needs. Through consumption, we can enhance our quality of life and overall happiness. The concept of "retail therapy" is often mentioned in this context, suggesting that buying things can lift our spirits. However, consumerism encourages excessive buying and accumulating possessions. This mindset can lead to blind and wasteful consumption, ultimately harming our well-being.
Consumerism primarily exploits people's tendencies to follow the crowd and engage in comparison with others. When influenced by these psychological effects, our decisions often stem from impulse rather than our actual needs. This excessive consumption leads to various problems, including the expansion of personal desires, debt crises, and the waste of resources.
Consumerism can positively stimulate economic growth and social activities in society. However, excessive consumption often leads to anxiety, dissatisfaction, and dependence among individuals, which can ultimately diminish our happiness. Therefore, balancing consumption and financial health is essential to mitigate the adverse effects of excessive consumption promoted by consumerism.
When I first read this story as a child, it served as a warning against being driven by vanity and spending beyond my financial means. However, as I grew older, I began to notice that this issue of excessive consumption is widespread.
Today, consumerism is at an all-time high. Reflecting on history, we can identify key events that have propelled consumerism to its peak.
The industrial revolution began with the invention of the textile machine in 1764. This revolution significantly increased production capacity, leading to a sharp decline in commodity prices. As a result, people no longer purchased goods solely based on necessity; instead, they began to buy products based on personal preferences or to signify their identity and wealth.
An important historical event was the introduction of credit services in 1950 when the Diner's Club credit card was officially launched. This was followed by the introduction of MasterCard and Visa in 1966 and 1967, respectively. The emergence of credit cards allowed consumers to borrow money for their purchases, thereby enabling advanced consumption. As a result, consumers' purchasing power significantly increased, leading to a surge in commodity advertising that promoted numerous products and fostered an image of high consumption.
The establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995 marked the beginning of a new era of globalization. Globalization facilitates the flow of goods, leading to more choices for consumers and an increase in the popularity of consumerism. Objectively, consumption is a normal part of people's lives.
We typically consume based on our physiological and psychological needs. Through consumption, we can enhance our quality of life and overall happiness. The concept of "retail therapy" is often mentioned in this context, suggesting that buying things can lift our spirits. However, consumerism encourages excessive buying and accumulating possessions. This mindset can lead to blind and wasteful consumption, ultimately harming our well-being.
Consumerism primarily exploits people's tendencies to follow the crowd and engage in comparison with others. When influenced by these psychological effects, our decisions often stem from impulse rather than our actual needs. This excessive consumption leads to various problems, including the expansion of personal desires, debt crises, and the waste of resources.
Consumerism can positively stimulate economic growth and social activities in society. However, excessive consumption often leads to anxiety, dissatisfaction, and dependence among individuals, which can ultimately diminish our happiness. Therefore, balancing consumption and financial health is essential to mitigate the adverse effects of excessive consumption promoted by consumerism.
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