A Text Response to "What is Mine is Yours" (Version One)

Consumption in a Plastic World

How much do you owe on your credit card? How many credit cards do you have? What percentage of your monthly income goes toward paying those credit cards? Do you even know how long will it take you to pay them back?

We all rely on plastic to afford what we want, even when we don’t need it. The advertising industry has succeeded it in converting an “I want,” to an “I need.” Credit cards are the solution to satisfy all those new things we want, and tell ourselves that we need, to justify the debt that often is dragged out for years, and eventually takes over our lives.

Is having all these material things become more valuable than any other aspect of our lives? People endlessly talk of how they are tired of working so many hours a week. The moment people suggest cutting back on their working hours, people don’t even hesitate to state that won’t happen. Their response is mostly, “Then I wouldn’t be able to afford the lifestyle I want.” People rarely say, “Then I can’t save up for my child’s college fund,” or “I can’t pay off loans faster and save some money on interest.” People all want nice things in life, no one likes a 20-year-old car, and everyone wants the newest item out on the market. But why is it that we have let all these brands persuade us into thinking that we need to have it all? Does all the advertising we see on television, print, or the web really consume our inner emotions? Even when people are aware that it is just a commercial, and you know they are presenting an item in an appealing manner, people still fall for it and begin to desire the product.

The Super Bowl is a perfect example of these actions. During every television show, people usually use the restroom, get food or drinks, change channels, or basically anything do anything that can be done in a two minute break. The Super Bowl is an exception; it is five hours of rare breaks from the television, or not even daring to change the channel. At the end of the night, the big winners are the commercials that made you laugh, made you feel inspired, made you say “that’s so cute,” or even say “I want that.” It is safe to say the advertising industry has successfully entered our minds and persuaded them to want the newest things no matter the cost. The sad part about it is that we think about these items and advertisements in our subconscious more than people care to analyze. It is so sad, that in fact, we lose sense of rationality sometimes, and focus on acquiring more and more crap that we don’t need.

Once upon a time, our love affair with credit cards started. There is nothing wrong with credit cards; they are useful in emergencies, and to pay for items worth thousands of dollars that would take the same amount of time to pay them off via credit card as it would to save up cash to buy them. The problem starts with irresponsible spending. When buying something, the price has to be reasonable according to your income. People seem to tune out of reality when using their credit cards. Buying something with a credit card includes different costs than the price you pay at the store, such as interest. There is a good reason why banks won’t give you a loan unless you can prove you have the money to pay it back. Sometimes it may seem like a stupid and even cruel rule, but the truth is that it is the most logical one. Why would you want to get a loan if you know there are no chances of you paying it back? Why would you want to drag that weight over your shoulders? It just makes no logical sense, but then most of the world has no logical, common sense.

There are a variety of reasons why having a full-time career eventually starts to seem like our full-time life. It feels like there is so little time left for ourselves. Is it really the forty hour week that prevents us from doing something else? Or is the fact that we are always thinking how much money we need to buy all the new technological gadgets coming out, that keeps us from actually getting out of the house and living?          

The book, “What’s mine is Yours: The Rise of Collaborative Consumption” by Rachel Botsman and Roo Rogers talks about how the Kellogg Company decided to cut the working day from 8 hours to 6 hour shifts. That meant cutting paychecks, but it balanced out when the company increased the hourly wage. At the end of the day it turned out to be a win-win situation for both the company and employees. Kellogg’s production increased because the workers felt that their job hadn’t taken over their lives, so they actually enjoyed their job and it pushed them to work harder. Let’s say the workers hourly wage hadn’t been increased when their hours were cut, would that have really affected what they can afford to have a good life? Would it really been tragic, that perhaps instead of being able to get a new television every year, it was going to be every two years? Could having the newest television set every year have provided the worker with enough happiness that his production level would have increased as well? Although I do not have proof, I’m about 99.9% sure the answer would be no. As relaxing as watching television can be, it doesn’t compare to having time to yourself to pursue a hobby or spend time with your family and friends.

As tempted as we may be to get everything we want and think we need, we also need to learn to say no. The real tragedy does not rest in not being able to afford everything out there on the market; the real tragedy is having ourselves consumed by what has become out-of-control consumption. It would be hypocritical of me to say that I do not like buying new things, or that I haven’t used my credit card irresponsibly, or that I wish I could have certain items or the newest version of something I already have. However, the truth is that I have realized there is no keeping up with technology, so there is no point in me stressing out over trying to afford the newest laptop, iPod, cellphone, or camera. I now understand the need to practice smart consumer habits, and actually know what I’m buying and getting for my money. Most importantly, and perhaps what has become harder for our society to see, is this: yes, money brings a certain amount of comfort and can give us a better life, so it is important to work towards that, but owning everything just because we can is meaningless and can destroy us.