Be Aware of Media Influences

Potentially worse than comparing ourselves with the real people around us is to internalize at what media is trying to pitch in the form of the perfect family and ideal life. Savvy marketing reaches beyond just advertising and sells you emotions such as security, status, confidence -- all in the form of whatever product or service they’re pitching.

Keeping up with the Joneses used to mean emulating our neighbors and to a certain extent our friends and family. However, today’s busy society provides less connection with community and more consumption of media like TV, magazines, movies, and internet. Now when we compare ourselves to others, we include (usually unwittingly) the people we see within the pages of magazines and on TV. For example, how many of us see our friends at Seattle Grace more than we see our friends down the street? The problem is they’re fictional realities that can cause a real negative financial impact.

Just like TV and magazines can subconsciously make you feel pressure to keep up, so can the retail environment. At every twist and turn you’re bombarded with messages designed to make you feel like your clothes aren’t fashionable enough, your house isn’t decorated properly, or your just aren’t cool without the latest electronic gadget. Not only does spending time shopping lead to impulse purchases it can create a want for something that previously wasn’t there. Limiting your retail exposure can help.

The next time you’re watching TV, reading a magazine, or shopping pay attention to the lifestyles portrayed within. Are they realistic? Could they subconsciously be working on you to feel inferior, and leading you to spend more than you should? I have a friend who, as much as she loved HGTV, had to take a break from it. Every time she watched decorating shows to get ideas, it made her feel incredibly unsatisfied with her own home.

Discussion Questions/Assignment: Pay close attention to your emotions the next time you watch TV, read magazines, or go shopping. Which shows, magazines, or other media make you feel like what you have or are is inferior? What is your favorite television show? In what way does that compare to real life? Are the people portrayed within richer, more beautiful, more fit or smarter than on average?

__________________
Check out the Mommysavers Fan Page on Facebook
Frugal Tweets! Follow Mommysavers on Twitter
Preorder the NEW Mommysavers.com Book: Instant Bargains

Personally for me Friends are a bigger influence then media. Media you are always able to tell your self its not Real. I just visited two friends with new homes this week and yes it makes my home feel inferior. My favorite TV Shows are Science Fictions. Really really hard to compare your life to things that are clearly Entertainment.
Still media is something I pay attention to on a business aspect. If I want to make money in design I need to see what colors, styles, textures people are wearing. I know that 4 years ago People couldn't get enough of ponchos and now you would be hard pressed to finds someone making one. The it item right now is Fingerless gloves. So I have a different view then most on how I need to be influenced by Media.
I think we can get around the media just by staying within our means. Still it does influence us. Yes I have re-arranged my furniture in my living room just after watching design on a dime. No my HGTV addiction hasn't caused me to go out and by new furniture.

__________________
Kimberly Proud Mommy to Bethany Rose April 2006 &

Organizer of the Coupon Clippers of Tacoma

I agree with ember15 - friends are more an influence of me. I definitely have to put myself back in MY shoes when faced with friends who might have "more" or "better"

I think media used to influence me more when I was a teenager and in my young twenties. I would look at Cosmo and all those, and see all these clothes and the make-up they were recommending, and their "good deal" type lists would have shirts that were $200. Which tends to inflate your idea of what your clothes expenditure should be, for example.

Now I roll my eyes a lot more. I know, for example, that none of the people writing the magazine are actually buying those things for themselves. But it's true, Kim, you do have to be careful of what they're feeding you.

I must admit that HGTV has a hold on me! I'm so amazed that there are people who can afford $750,000 homes! I don't know any of these people, but I do like the homes they are touring and the furnishings they pick!

Marlene

GREAT THREAD!!!!!

I completely 100% agree. I try to limit my exposure to the media. I do not watch a lot of TV.....I try to just pick & choose a few shows I truely enjoy. Other than that, I keep it switched off.

I do not read magazines aside from a Taste of Home recipe mag. I get. I used to read them all the time, and I have found since cutting them out of my life I am much more content. I hate the way they make me focus on how I can be more "perfect." There is only so many parenting tips/diet tricks/decorating ideas you need. After that, it starts to just make you feel like a failure.

HGTV - Oh my goodness...I can so relate to the friend mentioned. I used to keep it on sometimes since it was a pretty safe thing to have on w/kids around (there's a lot of garbage out there I don't really need my kids exposed to). I found as I watched more....the less satisfied I felt about my house.

I just find The HGTV ammusing and good for getting ideas if you are looking. I know I am not there when they say our home owner has a budget of 80K to redo there yard. Still the shows that compare COL I Find interesting, The tricks to organizing and doing more with less are great. We definately learn something from the garden shows. So really you pick and choose what is benificial to you and what to ignore more.

Have to agree the media personal do have the persona of perfect. You don't see there flaws or mistakes unless they are ment to be seen.

I am currently hitting the challenge of what to expose my DD to. Like many kids she would stay glued to the tube all day if she had her choice. One of the reasons I make sure we have an activity everyday.

I think as far as my satisfaction with my house it has a lot more to do with what I was raised in. Large home in a nice neighborhood is what I grew up with so I am wanting the same. But I also keep in mind it took my parents 23 years in there starter home to get that.

Part of the media influences is that we want and think we need instant gratification. Look at all the ads out now that mention have it now and pay later. Look at the come back on layaway plans this year.

__________________
Kimberly Proud Mommy to Bethany Rose April 2006 &

Organizer of the Coupon Clippers of Tacoma