Consumer Confusion

Consumer Confusion

A mother called into a financial advice radio program with the following comment: “My son just left for his freshman year at college. All his worldly effects fit into one little car.  I didn’t know whether to console him or congratulate him.” She feared that his peers might frown on someone who has so few possessions. Then again, she was proud of her son because he didn’t need all the trappings society demands.

We live in a consumer-driven society. We have so many products and so many stores to sell them that the economy now depends on our out-of-control spending. Many people are deeply in debt. Advertisers entice buyers to spend more than they should and credit card companies pave the way to financial ruin. We end up with a lot of stuff and anxiety.

Young people develop the acquiring habit as toddlers. One young mother of a toddler bragged, “She won’t wear anything but name brands!” Little kids don’t have one doll or truck -- they have twenty. Teens have clothes bursting from closets and drawers. Young adults drive U-Haul trucks to college.

Isn’t it crazy that we have to rent units for our extra stuff? Why do we need more, more, more? When will we have enough?

The Amish have a saying, “A happy memory never wears out.” Stuff wears out. Anything you buy for children can be lost, broken, or forgotten. But happy memories shared with families last forever.

Think back to your childhood. What wonderful memories do you have? Was it the time your dad put up a tent in the backyard so you could all sleep out? Was it when your whole family got up before dawn to watch a meteor shower? How about the time you got up at five a.m. to go fishing with your brother? Or the time you and your sisters made ice cream on a hot summer’s afternoon? How you turned that handle! It took a while and a lot of ice but it was the best ice cream you ever had.

What wonderful memories do you have now? Your baby’s first smile. Her first day of preschool. His first soccer game. The face he made when he took a big bite of a lemon slice. The way she chased bubbles on the lawn. The way her eyes opened wide when she caught her first firefly. The way he snuggled up close.

That kid who could fit all of his stuff into one car probably took a lot of memories to college with him. He will probably make more at school. His car will rust. His possessions will be discarded. His memories will never fade.

Making memories is free. You don’t have to save up for months. You don’t need a credit card. You just have to laugh and love and enjoy your family and friends. Go out and make some memories now. Start loading that car for the day they leave the nest. Memories don’t cost a cent, but they are priceless.