The Online Shopping Trap

By: Ayesha Devani

With developments in technology alongside an increase in convenience, online shopping is more popular than ever. The Covid-19 pandemic only encouraged the same. Amazon, eBay, and the clothing brand Shein are a few of the many popular companies that operate online. However, with an increase in access to resources, brands are beginning to provide their services in-store and online. Clothing brand Zara, for instance, has broken growth records with its online presence. From a consumption point of view, online shopping has various drawbacks that are rarely revealed to consumers. This, of course, is hidden from us to promote the brand and aid its profitability. This article uses personal examples alongside references to the biggest brands in the business.

Due to my personal bias towards online shopping, I believe I have explored various brands and the services they provide. This is particularly directed at clothing stores since online clothing stores have truly revolutionized the way people shop. People, in specific, refer to teenagers since our age group is more vulnerable to marketing on social media. As online shoppers not only are we deprived of an unbiased quality check, but we are also deprived of being able to evaluate our purchase. In terms of clothing, this often leads to a lack of understanding of sizing, texture, measurements, and many others. Due to advancements in technology, online shopping websites now allow us to view sizing, insert our own measurements, and identify the perfect fit for us. However, due to how diverse our bodies and choices, it is extremely rare that these perfect fits are indeed perfect. 

A huge aspect of online shopping is heavily dependent on personal preferences. However, there are other aspects of online shopping that work to manipulate consumers. Fabletics, a recently growing sports brands company, has expanded its marketing to social media. Amongst the many others targeted, the first time I heard of the brand was through an Instagram advertisement. Instantly attracted by the “Shop 80% off,” I chose to visit the website. After adding a few pieces into my bag, I was taken to a page that asked me to join a VIP club to claim the discount. One aspect of the VIP deal that the brand failed to communicate explicitly is that the account would be charged $40 each month in order to remain a part of the club. This, a personal example, is the smallest example of how brands market their products with discounts allowing consumers to believe that they are the ones at gain. AliExpress, another recently growing brand, is often found to be controversial. Its legitimacy is one that’s at question. Its cheap prices have always attracted a rather large pool of consumers. The cheap prices, however, often result in poor-quality merchandise. The Chinese marketplace is a third-party platform and hence, lacks control over important aspects like delivery and shipping time.

With an increase in controversy alongside an increase in access to resources, online shopping brands have adapted and now allow us to access the best of the products. However, this increase in technology alongside the increase in online marketing allows them to target us and present deals that are only attractive at first. This is exactly why online shopping is a trap.

Resources:

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/safe-shop-aliexpress/

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjZ4NWQ77L3AhVNUt8KHZo6CycQFnoECAQQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.yournextshoes.com%2Ffabletics-awesome-scam%2F&usg=AOvVaw1uyC3Y3tm3X95CTuhpZMwC

Building Your Own Unique Path in Your Life

By: Sravani Kaza

Everyone in society strives to achieve overall happiness and satisfaction in their lives. As individuals, we are taught from a young age about what living a successful life means. Younger children are often asked the question of what they want to be when they grow up, and kids generally answer with out of the box professions such as an astronaut or a princess. Adults usually chuckle at these responses because they know that these professions are not realistic in the long run. As we grow older, we are taught that success can only be measured based on the job you have, how much income you earn, what house you live in, and what kind of car you drive. The career paths that are generally viewed as successful are the traditional ones such as business, medicine and healthcare, computer science, engineering, and law along with a few more. These occupations are usually seen as successful because they are prestigious and also come with a decent paycheck. However, there is so much more to life than merely looking at the definition and idea of success on a superficial level.

Growing up, my parents have always stressed the importance of education and landing a successful career when I grow up. Thus, every single thing that I did and everything I took part in during high school was driven by the advice that my parents had instilled in me. I didn’t really think to question it or try to create my own definition of success and happiness. The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic encouraged me to view the idea of life differently than I had before and forced me to create my own idea of what I want out of my life. There are very few people in my life who fall outside of the traditional, stereotypical path when it comes to choosing a career. However, those are the people that I am most inspired and motivated by because it takes an immense amount of bravery and courage to step up and do something differently than the rest of the world. For example, one of my best friends is an artist and she always has been ever since she was a little girl. Art has always been her passion for as long as I can remember and she decided to major in graphic design in college. She chose to build her own path in her life rather than following the crowd and choosing a major based on what she was supposed to choose or based on what others wanted her to choose. She knew what she wanted out of her life so she chose to go after her dreams and ambitions. 

It can be very difficult to live your life according to your own terms and to not care about what others in your life think and what they want for you as we are constantly surrounded by people in our daily lives. It is important to take in everything from your surroundings and use that in order to find your true passion and what you want out of your life. After all, you are the one that will be living your life and not anyone else so it is crucial to act according to what will truly make you genuinely happy and not based on making others happy. If you follow your dreams, they will eventually take you where you are meant and destined to be.   

Now, I try my best to live my life based on this newfound wisdom and outlook on life. I realized that being happy in life is all that matters in the long run and that everything else will eventually fall into place. Creating a life that you love and one that you are satisfied, happy, and content with is the only thing that matters at the end of the day. Whether you are an artistic visionary, an entrepreneur, an engineer, a musician, an athlete, or one of the many other possibilities out there, make sure that you stay true to who you are and to your individual ambitions in life. Don’t let other people’s metrics and measures of success become your own. Design a life that you love and live that life to the absolute fullest. Ultimately, pave your own unique path in your life and you will be happy and content.  

Staying Focused and Motivated During Spring Finals

By: Lily Elkhay

For many of us, this is our first complete spring semester here at UMass in person. Like many, I am itching for this semester to be over to begin enjoying the nice weather and free time with friends and family. Staying motivated and focused on getting work done has become more and more difficult, as the excitement of summer grows closer. However, as the semester wraps up and finals creep up, it is important to stay in the moment and focused on schoolwork. While summer may be much more exciting than finals, I promise vacation is not going anywhere, so it is important to look at the present for the next couple of weeks. Especially for many classes, these last assignments and exams are the ones weighed most heavily for the final grade.

One of my favorite ways to stay organized during finals that I begin doing my first semester of college, back in Fall 2019, is using the sticky note feature to display reminders on my desktop. Specifically, on the sticky note, I list all my classes and make bullets under each one of the remaining assignments and exams, along with their due dates. Seeing all my assignments makes me feel less overwhelmed because at this point in the semester there are only a few bullets under each class. It also does not let me forget an assignment or its due date, as I am constantly on my laptop for school. As a bonus, deleting a bullet after completing and submitting an assignment is a weight off my shoulders each time, as I can visually see the sticky note get shorter and shorter. 

It is extremely easy to feel burnt out after hours in the library. Remember to take frequent breaks to avoid feeling burnt out and get fresh air. Make mini-goals and spread your assignments and studying over several days, instead of cramming at the last minute to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Especially as the semester wraps up, I find looking at my sticky note that many of the assignments are due on or around the same date. Instead of cramming everything for the night before, scheduling blocks of time to work on assignments for the days leading up to the due dates will help reduce feeling overwhelmed. Also, not procrastinating is always worth it in the end when you are able to sleep soundly the night before an exam. Another studying tip I have for finals is making incentives. Telling yourself you can treat yourself to a smoothie at the Isenberg café, or whatever treat to make your day a little brighter, after studying one more chapter of the essay material or after writing one more paper toward your essay is always a great incentive to stay focused and give yourself something to look forward to. It can be used as a motivator to help begin sitting down to focus on work. That being said, it is also a great idea to fuel your body with snacks during studying sessions to support and energize your cognitive function!

It is important to take extra time to care for yourself during finals. As the weather warms up, I love spending time outside and going on walks by myself with a good playlist to clear my head from the stress of upcoming assignments and exams. Thinking about the huge assignments and exams that could possibly define your final grade can be incredibly stressful. Finding healthy ways to release stress is extremely important, whether that be taking a peaceful walk, taking a long and hot shower, hitting the gym, having your favorite carton of Ben & Jerrys, or streaming a movie on Netflix. Taking finals season day by day, with relaxation in between, will help you ace your assignments.

Aspirational Consumption: What it is and How to Manage it

By: Lauren Hughes

On the podcast No Stupid Questions hosted by Angela Duckworth and Stephen Dubner, they discuss common questions humans contemplate on a daily basis. In August of 2021, they released an episode called “ Why Do We Buy Things We Never Use?”. During this episode they discussed aspirational consumerism, and how this often leads people to buy too much of one product. An example of this consumption habit was given by Dubner, who exaggeratedly claimed he has “600 boxes of quinoa at home” and has never eaten any of them. Yet he continues to buy more boxes. Many of us can relate to buying too much of a product (e.g. clothes, shoes, or food) that we intend to use, but never actually get around to. This leads to overflowing closets and cabinets, and a big dent in our bank accounts. So why do we do this?

According to Duckworth, aspirational consumption is the answer. As the term implies, consumers aspire to purchase a certain product or brand as a means of satisfying their ego, and need to fit in with a certain social group. Turning further inward, there is a psychological concept called “The Logic of Appropriateness” which explains what drives this behavior. James March who coined this term chalks it up to three simple questions we ask ourselves: “What situation is this? Who am I? And what does someone like me do in a situation like this?” (Duckworth, 2021). This quick mental analysis ignores “cost-benefit thinking”, and relies solely on the individual’s need to have a secure sense of self-worth.

Today’s advertising is designed to jump-start this thought process and leads to impulse buying. Think of a celebrity you admire who has recently endorsed a brand. Did you purchase the product? Perhaps you aspire to be like them, and by purchasing this product you were able to embody the sense of power and prestige associated with this celebrity.

Although consumers should be conscious of the potential downsides to aspirational consumption, there are some positive aspects as well. As explained in the 2021 Forbes article “Luxury Consumers haven’t gone Post-Aspirational, Rather they Aspire for Different Things”, consumers' aspirations are shifting, forcing corporations to reassess their marketing tactics. Consumers want to purchase from brands whose core values align with their own. The article states, “Authenticity of the brand that reflects the authentic self of the consumer is the focus needed today” (Danziger, 2021). This has led to an increase in conscientious consumption, in which consumers are more mindful of the products and brands they choose to purchase from.

Next time you think about buying that new bag or pair of shoes, consider these steps:

• Make an effort to use the products you already have at home 

• Donate excess products 

• Check out resources such as @TheSustainableFashionForum on Instagram for inspiration on how to make small changes in your purchasing patterns that can have a big impact on the environment

References:

https://freakonomics.com/podcast/why-do-we-buy-things-we-never-use-rebroadcast/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/pamdanziger/2021/03/14/luxury-consumers-havent-gone-post-aspirational-rather-they-aspire-for-different-things/?sh=7700b3ca2b91

https://www.forbes.com/sites/pamdanziger/2021/01/10/luxury-turns-from-conspicuous-to-conscientious-in-2021-challenges-and-opportunities-ahead/?sh=104355bb5a9b

The Importance of Financial Awareness + Independence

By: Katherine Downs

When you think of ‘Finance’, what do you think about? If you asked me this question just a few weeks ago I would’ve responded with something general like “money” or “math for investing”. I knew it had to do with money and balancing a checkbook but had little to no understanding of how big a role finance actually plays in our everyday activities. I avoided taking finance courses in school because I figured it would just be another confusing math class I wouldn’t enjoy. I knew finance was a complex concept (more than just spending vs saving the money you possess), but recently realized how essential financial knowledge is to have, even if it's just the basics. Many modern-day women generationally have been avoiding the concept of finance in their personal lives, like myself, and by doing so are unknowingly self-sabotaging their financial security in the future. 

If any of you caught Robin Hauser’s “$avvy” documentary screening last week in Isenberg, you already know how even in modern times many women don’t control their personal finances. Why is this? Well for me, I never considered looking into finance because it seemed too complicated and I didn’t think I made enough money to really get into it. Hauser’s amazing documentary showed me that this is not the case! It doesn’t matter how much money you currently have or make, everyone can take control of their finances, and with financial knowledge comes financial freedom. It may be easier to rely on someone else (husband, spouse, parents, etc.) to handle the money, but then someone else is in control of how much money you have access to–even if you’re the one who rightfully earned it! In cases of divorce or unforeseen circumstances, women (and sometimes men) often lose the majority of everything they’ve earned if they don’t control access to their money for themselves. About 20% of women fall into poverty due to divorce and this is largely because they did not have any control over their finances prior (Silvestrini). 

So how can we change this societal dynamic and improve our own lives through the management of our own finances? Collectively, we can start by being more open to conversations about money management and in turn, improving financial education. Individually, there are 4 steps you can take to get you started on your journey to financial independence: 

Create a Spending Plan (or Budget) Based on Your Saving Goals and Income A good place to start taking control of your personal finances is by opening 2-3 types of bank accounts to organize your money: 

- A Savings Account 

- A Checking Account 

- A Retirement Account (separate or combined with Savings) 

Having a combination of these types of accounts can make organizing your money easier to manage. For example, putting away a portion of your income into a long-term savings account can allow you to have money for emergency situations you otherwise may not have been able to

afford. A checking account (which comes with a debit card) is a great place to store money you plan to spend soon, without expending money from your savings/emergency funds. In addition to saving for unexpected expenses, it’s a really good idea to begin setting aside some money for retirement! A lot of employers will offer 401K or other retirement investing plans, and some may even set aside a certain amount from each of your paychecks for you! The sooner you start setting money aside for retirement, the more money you will have when you retire and the better off you will feel! 

Apply for a Credit Card and Build a Line of Credit 

Opening a Credit Card allows you to gain and build credit history, which can help you tremendously when applying for loans, get better rates of insurance, and have more housing/transportation options. Just make sure you pay off the full amount when your monthly bill comes, otherwise, you may end up paying even more later in added interest! If you’re worried about overstretching your current financial limits, try starting by only using your credit card to make a certain type of payment you’re already used to paying each month. For example, only use your credit card to fill your gas tank, or only to buy monthly groceries. This idea can help you better keep track of how much you should set aside to pay your monthly credit card bill, and not overextend your spending limits or put you in debt! 

Start Investing (Even if it’s Small Amounts!) 

Investing a portion of your finances gives your money a chance to grow on its own! You can invest in different ways, such as through bonds (loans to companies who later pay you back) or through stocks (partial ownership/share of a corporation). A good rule of thumb is to only invest amounts of money that you are willing to lose. This way, you have more control over the amount of risk you take with your investments! It’s not a good idea to rely on investments as a sole form of income, as markets can be unpredictable. Also, I wouldn’t recommend putting all of your savings into investing–as you may need to have some liquid savings on hand for unplanned/emergency expenses. Overall, however, investing can give you a major advantage in increasing your amount of savings and will benefit you in the long run! 

Practice Open Financial Communication In Your Household 

Practicing open financial planning and communication with your living 

partner/spouse/roommate/significant other allows you to not be left in the dark about your financial situation. It also allows you to keep (or gain some) independence over your financial spending in regards to living expenses and personal use. If you’re making an income, you deserve to either have full control and/or have a say in where your money gets to be spent! 

Sources: 

- “$avvy” (2021) documentary film directed by Robin Hauser 

- Silvestrini, Elaine. “Women & Financial Literacy.” Edited by Emily Miller, Annuity.org, Feb. 2022, https://www.annuity.org/financial-literacy/women/.