You receive approximately 3,000 different types of advertising messages a day

These messages have been coming at you since you were a very small child. Are you brainwashed? Advertising uses sex, celebrities, sports figures, popularity, success, fear, greed and the search for happiness to “sell” you on their product or service. They are selling you a way of life.

Advertising is coming at you everyday whether you like it or not.

Advertising is interlaced into the fabric of our society. You cannot avoid it, but you can learn to understand it as you defend yourself and your money. It is well worth your time to investigate what lies behind the curtain and behind all of those marketing campaigns that are designed to access your wallet. Here is an example of advertising and real life, they are not the same thing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOeuHJhj-gc.

Advertising is nothing more than legalized lying

A company attempts to associate something you want (happiness for example) with their product. Then they hit you with that message again, and again, and again. Pretty soon, you start to hum the jingle and it goes forward from there. You are dealing with some very smart marketing experts. Protect yourself or pay the price that materialism really delivers. Rooms full of junk and empty bank accounts.

Become self-aware of the world in which you live

We currently live in a culture of materialism as people identify who they are by the “stuff” they have in their lives. This is a recipe for disaster and gradually some people are starting to recognize this. Learn to detach your self-image from stuff if you desire a life of meaning and true happiness. Disconnect from “stuff” and your world will never be the same. Awake to the possibilities!

Learn about bait and switch or suffer the consequences

When a company advertises a product at a really cheap price they are simply dangling the bait to get you in the store (this includes online stores as well). Once they get you in the store, they work at moving your attention away from the cheap item and toward the more expensive item(s) that will make the business more money. Bait and switch works for the business, not you. Don’t fall for it. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Think of materialism along a continuum

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being very materialistic, and 1 being not materialistic at all. Where are you? Have you changed over the years? You know you can change, right? You can allow the environment to change you or you can change the environment. This video might help with this very important message: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGab38pKscw

The fulfillment curve demonstrates a clear illustration in helping you understand the relationship between money spent and fulfillment in life

It is critical that you learn about the concept of enough and how to fit it in your life. Identify what is enough and stop! Get off that hedonic treadmill. The book, Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez will provide true insight into this matter and so will Tim Kasser with his book, The High Price of Materialism.

Sometimes it’s best to learn about this topic through the eye of the filmmaker

The documentary “I AM” will help you see this illusion on the big screen. Also, the documentary, “Happy”, will help you see how to get there.

Spending less leads to saving more, which leads to investing wisely and efficiently, which leads to financial freedom, which leads to a multitude of opportunities, which provides you the chance to live out your dreams, and ultimately find a meaningful and happy life. 

The answers lies with you. Reject materialism and the debt and stress that comes with it. Fill that void with your willingness to help others as you create a new you.

Understanding the Causes of Materialism

• 3000 Messages a Day? 5000 Messages a Day?
• Selling Celebrities, Sports Stars, Sex, Success, Popularity, Wealth, and Happiness
• Legalized Lies
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Esteem
• Bait and Switch
• Disconnect from “Stuff”
• Where are you on the Materialism Continuum?
• Me? 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3?

The Journey