Close your eyes to the Neon Lights
We live in a sell society, the unconscious pull controls our behaviour and in turn our lives. Since marketing became prevalent the practice has become more intelligent, simply by studying our behaviour, marketing is now akin to magic. So are we being tricked?
Debts, borrowing, bankrupt, povert, skint; all evoke an emotion in us that we suppress. People don’t talk about money, it’s vulgar, right? Its part of everything we do except it now comes on plastic, or even contactless, so it is easier to detach yourself from what you are spending. Most of us will admit to being financially illiterate. What you need and what you simply want are different and in our culture these have merged.
Inequality on the Island is on the rise, the Jersey Statistics 2014/2015 Income Distribution Report found that a third of pensioners, a third of children and over half of single parent families are now living in relative poverty. On an island as rich as ours how do we turn away from the bright shiny lights, the lure to compare yourself to others?
It’s simple right, outsmart yourself, lift the veil and be conscious. I made a choice to stop buying ‘things’. If I need something for myself I go to a charity shop and try to buy local, seasonal food from the veg-in-the-hedge. It has been hard to recondition myself but as soon as I become conscious of the SALE signs and gloss, that would have seduced me before, I find satisfaction in avoiding it. When in need of a retail fix I have still been known to spend of £90 in the local Hospice shop, walking out with armfuls of sequins, denim and accessories whilst making a generous donation to charity.
The effects of financial crisis can be unbearable, often leading to anxiety, depression, relationship breakdown, social care issues and very possibly crime. It is each our responsibility to manage our own money and spending. The charity Community Savings providesbanking services to those in Jersey who are excluded as well as providing education on debt management. Perhaps if we all avoided the trappings of the ‘spend’ we would have more time to enjoy time with friends and family on our beautiful island, the best things in life really are free.
For more information on Community Savings, who offer bank accounts to those who are often financially excluded as well as money maagement and education, please visit www.communitysavings.org.je
