Weekend Wind-Down: Everyday Purchases

It’s finally Friday! I hope you have had a good week and are ready to have a wonderful weekend! I hope it is relaxing for all of you.

Without any more ado, here is the Weekend Wind-Down, Everyday Purchases edition! Each one of these links takes you to one of articles that I found to be the most interesting or helpful to fit with this week’s theme! If you get the chance, please go visit them and enjoy someone else’s writing!

• 1. Weakonomics – The Weakonomist has put a great, fresh perspective on the concept of saving money by cutting down on drinks, like coffee. Not everyone has an undeniable addiction. Some people may only buy something from them once a month. How much does coffee cost people like that? Read this and find out, from a witty, opinionated writer.

• 2. Pets Best – The start of this entry is extraordinarily disheartening for pet owners. 80% of new pets in shelters and pounds were given up because of job loss or other economic reasons. The article has 8 ways to cut back costs of pet care. They are well thought out, and although one of them deals in coupons, which is not my personal goal, they are all worth reading.

• 3. Adobe – This blog entry by Scene7 highlights the part of brand loyalty in the realm that I never touched – the internet. He explains how much easier it for consumers not to have brand loyalty while shopping online. It’s a different perspective (since it is told from the perspective of someone inside a corporation) and really interesting to read.

• 4. 24/7 Mom - Did you know that mosquito bites will stop itching after you put a small dab of toothpaste on the bite? Trisha @ 24/7 Moms does. She also has creative ways to use salt, newspaper, dryer sheets, and random other things that can be lying around the house. You know the 3 R’s. No, not Reading, Riting, and Rithmetic (although as a future teacher those are important), but Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle!

Come back tomorrow to see some great craft ideas made from material that I 100% guarantee is in every single person’s home! Have a wonderful weekend!

I'm a Coke Girl, Myself

In a manner of speaking, that is.  If you remember, I do not drink soda, but…

If I were to post a picture of the dining room area in my apartment, you would see exactly what I mean.  I have bright red and white Coca-Cola placemats.  Bright red Coca-Cola coasters.  Bright red Coca-Cola glasses.  Red Flowers in the middle of the table.  And yes, I am nerdy enough to even have red and white bendy straws.

One of my weaknesses is brand loyalty.  You probably know what that is: consistently choosing one particular brand over another, no matter how difficult it is to find or how expensive it is to purchase.  Besides for the Coca-Cola decorating fetish (Super Chill will not do), my main object of brand loyalty is toothpaste and toaster pastries.  I have to have Colgate and Pop-Tarts, respectively.  The generic brands are just not the same.

I am the perfect example of what not to do.  Companies and associations have entire departments and conferences on how to create brand loyalty.  Here is an entire document written by someone at Cambridge University on how to create brand loyalty.  Is it manipulation?  That’s up to you.

Check out this YouTube Video.  It’s from a documentary called The Corporation.  The goal of the filmmakers was to discuss the corporations using personification.  They created a person from the characteristics of one.



Luckily, in the current economic times, price is actually starting to trump brand loyalty.  The store brands are becoming more and more popular.  Consumers are becoming more involved in the pricing of their purchases.  They want more choice.  This is for you!  You get the choice!

Use it!  When Coke is $4.88 or Aquafina is $6.00, I’m positive that store brands will be $3.00 and $4.00.  It may not seem like a lot, but think about all those Wal-Mart receipts… wouldn’t it be great if the totals on the bottom were a lot lower?

Don’t be me.  Be willing to try Super Chill.