How to be a Conscious Consumer this New year

How to be a Conscious Consumer this New Year

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It is a brand new year and the month of January is the month of new year resolutions. I do not know what your new year resolutions are, but mine is to be a conscious consumer. What do I mean by a conscious consumer? Being a conscious consumer means that you are aware that every product you buy has a positive or negative impact on you, the society or environment you live in. You are aware that every product you buy may affect your health and well being positively or adversely. Do you know that there are many products in your closet that may have a harmful effect on your body without your knowledge? Some of the foods that you eat may not be healthy for you and you end up not only ingesting toxic substances into your body, but you also become susceptible to diseases like cancer and diabetes, thereby incurring unnecessary expenses as well as emotional trauma for your family. This year, choose to spend wisely, choose to be conscious of your environment before you purchase that item. Be deliberate about contributing to Nigeria's economy through your consumption habits. Here are six tips to become a Conscious Consumer in 2019.

1. Buy what you need: 

In the past, I used to be the kind of person that buys anything that screams attractive in a store that I ended up almost emptying my bank account. So to prevent buying impulsively, i always write a list of the things i need for every month in the order of priority and i make sure i take it along with me when shopping. It is not enough to just write a list of the things you need but you should ensure that it is affordable for you and it does not dwindle your finances. You should also be mindful of salespeople who would convince you to buy an item or online flash sales. You might end up buying what you never bargained for. Ensure that the product would be beneficial to you and it is not expensive.

2. Have a Budget

Money is so difficult to earn yet it is so easy to spend. You have to make a decision to be in control of your spending. A good way to be a Conscious Consumer is to have a Personal Budget. A budget helps you to be disciplined by making you be focused only on the things you need thereby preventing you from poor spending habits. There are so many budget apps online. I would recommend REACH because I am currently using it. Reach helps you keep track of your expenses on a weekly basis, notifies you if you have exceeded your budget and commends you for staying in line with your budget. You can also make use of Microsoft Excel Budget template or you may just have a personal budget. Whichever one suits you so long as you stick to it.

Keep a record of all your receipts and transactions so that you can be aware of your previous expenses and then know how to spend prudently next time.

3. Buy Quality Products

Now you know what you need and it is within your budget, make sure you are buying a quality product that is durable and you do not have to buy for a long period of time. Do your research. Check reviews about the product and buy from a trusted brand. Ensure that your product has a warranty period and there is a return policy in the event that the product is defective. If you are buying edible products like food and medications, always check the expiry date either on the top or bottom of the item.

4. Insist on purchasing reusable goods.

Have you ever considered what happens to your pure water sachet when you dispose of it? You keep on building piles of trash that are littered everywhere and thereafter pose environmental hazards.

Instead of buying disposable bottles, cups and plates, why not insist on buying products that are reusable and durable? By buying reusable products, you are ensuring less pollution and a healthier for every Nigerian. Reusable products include Clothing, Coffee cups, Water bottles, Shopping Bags, toilet paper, and the list goes on.

Patronize eco-friendly brands because by doing so, you are carrying out one of your 8 consumer responsibilities of protecting our environment and preventing climate change.

5. Buy Nigerian

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Anytime you buy locally made goods, you are contributing to Nigeria's economy and you are empowering that entrepreneur to upscale his or her business thereby reducing the cycle of poverty through wealth creation. Most people prefer to buy imported products because they believe that Nigerian goods are of inferior quality. That is not so. You can actually get quality products in Nigeria at affordable prices. Make your findings and search for the best deals online. There are so many Nigerian online stores that sell quality Nigerian products and can deliver them to you in real time. Why spend time and waste money looking for foreign brands when you can get them all in Nigeria?

6. Keep your transactions safe 

When shopping especially online, ensure that you keep your account details safe. Do not save your passwords online.Terms and Conditions in e-commerce or online transactions are usually very tiny and lengthy but be sure to go through every word before you click the "I agree" button. 
Lastly, ensure that you keep records of your transactions so that in the event of a dispute, you would have evidence of your purchase.

What steps are you taking to be a Conscious consumer this New year? 

Please feel free to comment below if you have any questions or suggestions as to how to become a conscious consumer. You can also feel free to share and like this article if it was helpful to you.

Have a prosperous New year.