Sorry its been so long between posts, but now if I would like to write one, I have to wait until between midnight and 6am (thanks DaisyRoo & Mrs NutShell :-) ), as I can't get miss diaryofasham off the ipad. So I'm trying to write this on my phone and support my lovely wife and her IBOT, so let's see how that works.
Have you ever wondered how the rich get richer, and we just seem to get by every week, living pay to pay. Well part of it boils down to this: us everyday consumers find things we love and just have to have. Maybe someone famous has it, or it's just the thing to be seen with at the moment.
Take for example soft drink. Everyone likes soft drink, and there are only a few big companies out there producing the stuff. We pay a premium for a small bottle and millions of them are sold around the world daily; some people just have to have it every day.
Now if the profit from a bottle was only $1.00 and they could sell a million bottles a day world wide, that's a pretty good income! Now let's say the profit in one bottle was only 10 cents over a year. This would still equate to $35million profit. If you and I just thought about what we really need each day and changed our thinking it's not going to make a huge difference to their pocket but could do for us. Okay it's not going to make us millions, but it sure is better off in our bank account than theirs, they already have enough.
We consumers make the world go round, well that's what we get told! In fact it would take 4562 people on $80k pa to turn over as much income before tax as what they would make in profit. Now dont get me wrong I love to support SMALL business selling the stuff: I just dont like the idea that people have to make billions of dollars and rip you and I off in the process. Let's be wise with our money, seek professional advice and not just the opinion of family & friends; they often mean well but can also be bias with their information.
Ok, point taken. I will try and ease off the diet coke. Amd the iced coffee. Also the champagnes. And white wine. And juice.
ReplyDeleteWill you still be drinking beer! :)
It's a good thing I inspired your wife to make her own lemonade then, isn't it!?
ReplyDeleteHehe, sorry about the iPad hoggerism, but I'm sure if you got Jess a computer then this problem would all go away... Think of all the money you'll save on soft drink if she's too busy tweeting with us...
Or does that fall under the "want" and not "need" category... ;P
In all seriousness though, you make an excellent point. I am desperate (in the wanting kind of way) for a Macbook, even though I know I can buy a less fancy, but same in specs, laptop on Dell. That piece of fruit on the pack is just so enticing!
Hi Jess's husband!
ReplyDeleteHi jess's husband oh god dont tell my husband other husbands are blogging! Is buying bottled water worse than softdrink lol considering i could get it out of my tap for less than what id pay for a bottle. BUT it tastes so much better! Ive been sterilizing bottles for years and seriously some of the crap that comes out of that water its no wonder i wont drink it!
ReplyDeleteDear Boatman, that you for sharing your darling wife. serial. i love her and she is one special lady.
ReplyDeleteNow yes, I agree with your thoughts about consumerism and what we really need. I've noticed since I shop at Aldi I whore myself around a few woolies and coles stores which means that I do not go to the usual shopping centre which also has Big W. Mr Nutshell reckons just by changing locations and moving around the supermarkets I'm not actually doing any other shopping apart from food. This also works because if I really need something I will make the effort to go and get it. Most often I find I don't need it and do go or alternatively I will work it in instead of doing a special trip. Happy and easier.
Hello Boatman!
ReplyDeletePutting my hand up for being guilty of impulse purchases (big and small) far more often than I should be.
I try to weigh things up more now and plan to utilise layby for bigger purchases. Already I have managed to talk myself out of unnecesary purchases by considering the layby option. Usually I don't think I want it enough to wait for it so I know I don't really need it.
Oh, and thanks for sharing Jess with us :)