Comments on: Don’t Call Me a Consumer

By: Cathy Sykes

Cathy Sykes — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:59:03 +0000

I agree completely. When did we quit being “citizens” and start being valued solely for what we buy? No one cares about our thoughts, our dreams, our concerns…just what we put on our credit cards. Absurd….and insulting. We are also workers, famiy members, citizens, community members….but none of that counts.

And if you check, you’ll find that very often, the stated concern for “consumers” has nothing to do with people, their actual wants or needs. Instead, it’s all about manipulating us to spend money.

By: Frugal Living: Is it Common Sense? | Frugal Living

Frugal Living: Is it Common Sense? | Frugal Living — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 06:39:45 +0000

[...] This great article talks about how we are seen as consumers and perhaps this is putting unexpected pressure on us. ; [...]

By: Baron Von Savings

Baron Von Savings — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 01:02:40 +0000

Could saving possibly be in vogue?

By: Carol

Carol — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:42:27 +0000

I feel what you are saying, I think we play too much “keeping up with the Jones” in this country. I think there has to be a balance between responsible spending and accumulating huge amounts of debt.

However, the truth is, if you own any type of business, you have some type of product or service to sell. We don’t have a society where everyone farms and is self-sufficient, producing only what one needs. So “consuming” and being a “consumer” is an important part of our society and economy.

I think that too many people let spending define their whole identity, even if they couldn’t really afford it. And cheap easy financing helped to fuel this endless striving for more.

By: Festival of Frugality: Free extra money edition | Mighty Bargain Hunter

Festival of Frugality: Free extra money edition | Mighty Bargain Hunter — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 05:21:26 +0000

[...] Saving Advice doesn’t want to be called a consumer. [...]

By: Baron Von Savings

Baron Von Savings — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 04:22:29 +0000

Amen. society has taught us that spendng and going into debt is a good, patriotic thing to do. And you know what some of us have bought into to this croc of (hold your nose) shit.

I’ll be the first to admit I started out a conservative and fiscally responsible person and some how got sucked into the hyper consumer camp. As I look back on this transition into a hyper consumer and as I work back towards fiscal conservatism (or frugalism) I can really appreciate your sentiments.

By: anne

anne — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 22:59:50 +0000

great post. This irks me, too, almost as much as being called “the taxpayer.” But as savers, I guess that’s what we are.

By: Gina Wadding

Gina Wadding — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:20:20 +0000

good article thank you for sharing your point of view. it makes a ton of sense

By: Gail

Gail — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 23:08:28 +0000

One simple way to avoid hearing yourself being called a consumer is to shut off the TV and get rid of the newspaper! I actually agree with you and your post. We who choose not to consume at an advanced level aren’t the ones that cause financial problems for our country. It is those that consumer like a locust plague then leave the mess for others to clean up. Every time I hear another family boohooing because they can’t afford their $500K house on their $90K income makes me want to scream at them that they made this choice, what did they think was going to happen.

Anyhow I have found that severely limiting all the news coming in makes me able to go about my day, living my simple life and thanking God for my blessings of a roof over my head, clothes on my back and food in the pantry.

By: Lyle

Lyle — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:35:32 +0000

I totally agree. I’ve been saying this for years. There are other measures of the economy, such as gross national product, which have nothing to do with buying things. Consuming things doesn’t do anything for the world. We should be measured by how much we produce, not just goods, but giving of our time to help other people or the planet. Alvin Toffler coined the term “prosumer” back in the 60s to mean a combination consumer/producer, which is what we have become. I also dislike the term “content provider” because it suggests that just some people are producers.