Category: everyone

Wise consumers take on the responsibility for managing their resources over time, as well as periodically reassessing their consumption and lifestyle. This includes ongoing snapshots of how they are using their resources, how their choices are affecting their well-being, and when needed, making changes. Concerned about having the time to do this? Based on data… Continue reading Adapt as your needs, values, resources, and situation change over time →

When we think about consumption and resources, we naturally think about money. As I mentioned before, that's not the whole story, but is certainly a major part of it - so that's where we will start. The first step in managing your financial resources is to stop wasteful spending, regardless of whether you can afford… Continue reading Don’t waste your money or time (and keep things simple!) →

For most of us, lifestyle is an ambiguous concept that loosely relates to how much money you spend. For the wise consumer, lifestyle reflects the intentional decisions they make about when and how they spend their money, time, and energy. Lifestyle is not something that automatically flows from their job and perceived social class; it’s… Continue reading Be clear and intentional about the lifestyle that’s best for you →

Being a wise consumer depends, of course, on having the resources you need to buy what you need (or borrow and rent, at times – which is addressed directly by the Consumer Wisdom habit of Flexibility). Managing your finances is, as we say in research, necessary-but-insufficient. My blogs are, obviously, about how you use those… Continue reading Develop and use a simple budget and financial plan →

Lest you feel defeated by my periodic venting in other blog posts, I’m actually quite optimistic and confident about the power that we each have to make great choices.  Wise consumers, in particular, recognize the very real power they have to make better choices, their ability to influence others and to drive positive change. With… Continue reading Appreciate and use your own power and influence →

Being a wise consumer today is more difficult than ever. On the one hand, we have a seemingly infinite number of choices for products and services, and just about anyone can get credit to spend beyond what they can afford. On the surface of it, choice and access to money are good things. On the… Continue reading Don’t be influenced by people who don’t know you or genuinely care about you →

Joel Salatin, now in his mid-50s, is the owner of Polyface Farm in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley: “I think we live in a victimhood culture…in which everybody’s trying to absolve themselves of responsibility. ‘I didn’t do it; they did it.’ … And so I think the first thing is to realize that when I plunk my… Continue reading Take responsibility for making choices that promote your values →

Consumption is neither inherently good nor bad. Yet, consumption has profound effects on well-being. So, being a responsible consumer means that you understand the paradoxical effects of consumption and, paraphrasing psychologist Barry Schwartz, you strive to do the right things in the right way. But to do the right things in the right way, you… Continue reading Take responsibility for making choices that promote your well-being →