Do magazines only apply appeal to popularity to encourage people to spend money ?

After spending almost thirty minutes in a grocery store and then waiting in line to pay at a register, customers often get distracted by flashy pictures, interesting headlines, and other important information found on a cover pages of magazines. To encourage the customers to buy the magazines, they are usually placed at a visible height and close to the registers. The magazines vary in information such as politics, trends, fashion, celebrity activities and their views, adult content or pictures of them, tech and design, home improvements, stock and exchange, fitness and health, and food recipes. The most attracting magazines are the ones, which have a little of everything which is mentioned above. I chose to do my research on the magazine named “DETAILS”, November’s issue which talks about men’s trends and entertainment.

The total pages of the magazine are a hundred and sixty two, out of which a hundred and seventeen are advertisements. The first thirty one pages are only advertisement, on page thirty two a reader can see the table of the contents. The entire magazine has advertisements of perfumes, including Burberry, Tom Ford Nior, Ralph Lauren, Guess Night, Chrome United, Ermenegildo Zegna by Uomo, Bvlgari Extreme, Perry Ellis, and Gaulter “Le Male” by Jean Paul. After checking the available websites for the purchase for these colognes, the cost is between $65 and $140. Not even one perfume advertisement informs if it is animal tested or recommended by a skin specialist as if it is safe to use, instead only paid and good looking models are shown to advertise the products.  The advertised wrist watches including Omega, Movado, Tudor, Salvatore Ferragamo, Rado, Mont Blanc, and Bell & Ross which costs $150 to $1400. Expect for Tudor watch, no company has provided the information about the special features stating that how long the battery will run, if the watch is eco-friendly or not, what is different in their watch than the others, and what the attractive warranty is or return policy is available for each watch. All the watch’s advertisements are shown either compared to a beautiful graphic scene or bright colors in the back ground. Unfortunately, even without proper information about products, customers still become a slave to the trend because they want to stay in fashion and want to keep their dressers updated with new products. Anyone who is taking a shower every day and cleaning the body properly, can survive with a reasonable priced fragrance bottle. A watch that cost $25 can show same time and can have a battery which may run longer than two or three years. The appeal to authority is applied if a top model not an expert, is recommending the product then, it must be good.

The magazine also shows the high line branded cars of latest models like Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and Modena. The starting price of these cars are $65,000. The clothing line shown in the magazine states that it belongs to a classy taste. Does wearing super expensive cloths and driving luxurious cars can make a person a better human being in behavior? Definitely not! However, people try to find branded accessories to fill in the weaknesses they have in their lives. Moreover, to fulfill the guilty of wasting money, they calm themselves by saying they deserved it. Humans tells themselves that they worth of much more than what the cost of the product is, but do not realize how every little spending can add up to big amount.

The magazine also introduces the models interview such as Corey Feldman and Chris Hemsworth, celebrities and sportsmen routines and their views on fashion. Chris Hemsworth is also shown on the cover page, upon asking eight random girls at campus inform me that the “he is a hot actor/model.” If offered to buy this magazine less than two dollars, those girls would be interested in buying the magazine.

All the advertisements are encouraging people to buy more products even if they do not need it but they may want to buy it, because attractive models and lavish lifestyles make people feel superior to others. Customers should do more research before spending money on anything, for example how safe the product is, what can be the resale value and what the consumer reports states about it? After going through the DETAILS magazine, I could not find anything which can help me to increase my wisdom, information to improve health, wealth and to make the world a peaceful place. Like many other magazines, it is only an advertisement book for less aware people to spend money, feel good and feel more satisfied with lives. 

Work Cited

Levine, R. (2013, November). DETAILS. November, 1-165. CONDE' NAST. Retrieved October 20, 2013, from www.deatils.com

Ways to Cut Down the Expenses on Laundry

Borrowed by Handy Grace Design

 Helpful Ways to Save Money on Laundry

Saving money goals can be achieved by simple habits in our lives, such as saving on laundry. Laundry is done in almost every household of the world. Different methods are used at various parts of the world. In an average house of America, an electric washer and a dryer are placed in the houses before the house buyers move in, for their convenience. Every year hundreds of dollars are spend on laundry. However, just buy following some simple steps and ways can help to reduce the cost of laundry in every household.

Choosing cold water option in washers helps to cut down bills. Cold water cleans cloths effectively just like hot water can. According to the US Department of Energy, 90 percent of the total price of doing laundry comes from heating of the water, in a washing machines and by using dryers.

Drying cloths on a line is a little more work than putting them in a dryer, but saves money and benefits the cloths as well. Any home which line dries the cloths saves more on electric cost. Moreover, the dryers beaten out the lint fibers of the cloths and reduces life of the fabric. Line drying helps to preserve the long lasting of fabrics.

Buying energy efficient machines helps to reduce the electricity bills and water bills. Energy efficient machines uses half of the water and energy of a typical top loading machine. Also, the larger machines allows more cloths to be washed in one load which save more money.

Diluting the detergent saves money and helps the effective efficiency of the washing machines. Some washing machines system get clogged because of the thick liquid detergent and affects the efficiency of the machine. Filling 25 percent of the detergent bottle with water washes the cloths as good as with the thick detergent bottle. The detergent lasts long and saves the cost of detergent as well.

Cleaning the lint trap helps dryers to dry cloths in lesser time and prevents the chances of the dryer fires. Cleaning the lint before every load’s cycle of dryers increase the efficiency of the dryers. The US Department of Energy states that not only the lint trap but cleaning the filters and vents of the dryers helps to overcome the dryer fires.

Cutting the fabric softening sheets and separating the heavy cloths with the lighter ones, helps to cut down the laundry cost. Cutting the fabric sheets in half will obtain the same fabric softening benefits while saving money. Also, separating the heavy cloths like towels with the light cloths helps the dryers to dry out cloths in a lesser time than drying them together.  

Laundry cost sum up very fast and the usual American household is able to save money more than $300 a year by following the steps mentioned above. Saving money on laundry without compromising the cleanliness or harming the cloths, is not difficult to achieve by everyone.  

Work Cited

Lutterman, J. (2012, November 8). Drying Cloths and Saving Money this Fall Season. Retrieved October 14, 2013, from ENERGY.GOV: www.energy.gov

Thau, B. (2011, August 15). 5 Ways to Cut Your Laundry Costs. Retrieved October 16, 2013, from Daily Finance: www.dailyfinanace.com

Managing Health Care Cost in Youth

Borrowed by economistsview.typedpad.com

In the young age, the youth does not think about a lot of valuable money saving tips, such as managing health care costs, for instance. “Youth does not guarantee good health and low health costs (Maranjian 1)”.  The best time to study and make decisions about the health care prerequisites is in twenties. It is important to understand about the health care cost and terminologies because many employer promise about the retirement health care coverage, which is later on reduced or outright cancel. Thus, understanding about the health care cost in the young age make it easier to manage it, in the old age.

According to the University of Southern California study states that mental disorders, cancer and heart disease are “among the top five causes of mortality in young adults.” Drug and alcohol use, along with accidents, can lead to health care use. Some important steps which can help majority of the readers to cut down the health care cost are as follows:

First, selecting a high deductible is beneficial in minimizing the cost. If a person is in good health, signing up for health insurance with the option of high deductible helps to cut down the cost of health care bills.

Second, the generic version of medicine is more affordable in cost. It is a good practice to ask the doctor to prescribed an alternate medicine than the expensive one, but the generic medicine should be equally effective. Always check with different pharmacies to compare the prices of the medicines and to avail a better deal.

Third, check the bills which comes from health insurance, is a good practice. Medical Billing Advocates of America states that almost 80 percent of the medical bills, usually have errors in them. A wrong code on bill can initiate a wrong charge. The more a person learns and read about his or her medical coverage, the better chances are there to save money. Moreover, a patient can also look online to look for estimated cost for different services available at various hospitals.

Last, it is essential for everyone to make healthy decisions in regard to health. A person cannot control his or her health but can definitely opt healthy habits. Regular checkups, avoid drugs and smoking, regular exercise and preventive care can benefit in health and can also reduce the cost of health insurance.

According to Thomas M. Harte, the president of NationalAssociation of Health Underwriters, everyone does not need the most expensive health care plan as less than 10 percent of population is admitted to the hospitals every year.

As an American, it is our foremost duty to be aware about the health care coverage’s and the costs related to it. Just by spending time productively can help everyone buy going through medical bills, keeping healthy habits, getting generic medicines and choosing a high deductible health care plan. Health should not be taken for granted, even if someone is young, getting a health care plan is the right way to pick, to avoid bigger medical bills for emergencies.  

Work Cited                                         

Christensen, J. (2013, October 3). 5 things to think about when picking your health insurance plan. Retrieved from CNN Health: www.cnn.com

Maranjian, S. (2013, August 22). 5 Tips to Help 20-Somethings Manage Health Care Costs. Retrieved from Daily Finance: www.dailyfinance.com

What Causes the Shopping Addiction and Damages the Finanaces?

The digital media is working effectively to keep users updated with the latest sales and offers available, either at the retail stores or on the websites. According to the Fox Business News Channel, among the U.S. consumers the use of digital media per week is 15 hours. Within minutes, majority of the American’s digital consumers checks most of their emails on the cell phones and find out about the best deals or offers available for any product. According to the National Small Business Association, almost 30 percent of the small businesses are using digital media to advertise their products for business. This digital media is working as a constant reminder for consumers to get motivated and rush to malls or on websites to get the best deals. Moreover, some companies, for instance, Tesco in U.K. are pursuing more strategies to make their stores more inviting by building restaurants, coffee shops and fashion stores inside the four walled stores (Tandon). Although, shopping and spending more money can bring and disturb the weekly or monthly finances, still some shoppers cannot control the shopping addiction. There can be many reasons which cause the shopping addiction and by understanding them, can help to take control of the shopping addiction and to manage finances better in everyone’s life.



 

Among many causes of shopping addiction, the first cause is “to fill the empty space” in our routines and lives (Hall 1). Everyone crave for love so people buy all kinds of accessories and the amusement and enjoyment that comes from the shopping experience, simply becomes an addiction. After a while, this addiction or compulsion does not bring true pleasure. Instead, the shopping obsession invites damages of anyone’s well-being, their relationships, and their finances.

The second cause of shopping obsession comes in the lives of bargain hunters and they become obsessive, in the quest of finding everything an awesome reduced value. Consequently, this kind of shoppers want to inform and impress their friends by theirs skill of bargaining. Thus, bargain hunters end up buying products which they will not need or will use, in any near future. The only reason bargain hunters buy products because they find it at a very low price.

The third reason for the shopping addiction is the “cultural lie” which is the satisfaction and cheerfulness someone gets from the possession and collecting of goods (Hall). It is commonly observed that the more someone owns, the gladder he or she will be.

The fourth reason of shopping fascination can be related to the childhood. On one hand, some children may have got presents instead of attention and time and grow up wanting more material assets. On the other hand, some grew up in stressful emotional and poor financial situations. When they get the power to afford the shopping costs, they overbuy to forget the way things were in their past.  

With holiday season coming up, online and in-store discounts, it is easy to fall in the viscous cycle of reckless spending and disturbing the finances. According to a 2006 study from Stanford University in the American Journal of Psychiatry, shopping addiction is a serious form of mental disorder which has not been studied extensively yet. To fulfill, the pleasure of love, quest of bargaining, satisfaction of owning goods or to overcome the depression of childhood; no matter whatever causes the shopping addiction. It is our duty to educate ourselves to overcome the overspending and manage finances wisely.

Work Cited         

Hall, K. (n.d.). What causes shopping addiction? Retrieved October 09, 2013, from www.sharecare.com.

Landau, E. (2012, January 03). Compulsive shopping: When spending is like substance abuse. Retrieved October 09, 2013, from www.cnn.com.

Tandon, S. (2013, September 18). Social media is affecting shopping: Simmon Hay. Retrieved October 7, 2013, from www.livemint.com.

Willis, G. (2013, October 8). How small business can boost success through social media. Retrieved October 09, 2013, from video.foxbusiness.com.

 

 

 

 

 

6 Important Financial Decisions Should Be Made In 30s

           It is a common saying to justify spending by saying “life is short”, although; we can wait for our expensive wishes to be fulfilled. The truth is life is not short at all, it is long. The average life expectancy of men is" 76.2 years "and 81 years for women (Anderson 1). Majority of individuals who are thirty-year old, talking about life is short do not realize that they should be looking another fifty longs years.

Here are six important financial decisions 30-year–olds make that could come back in their early retirement age.

The importance of employer’s or company’s plans offered to employees: There are many important elements to consider when selecting a job, but retirement benefits offered are vital to wealth-building, in the long period of life. A thirty year old employee does not realize the importance of working for a company which should or should not offer retirement plan or 401(k) plans. Consider this first example, in a company if a 30-yeard old is making $75,000, and is setting aside 10% of his or her pay in a 401(k) plan. Then, at the age of 55, he or she gets back 8% average return, would have a balance of close to $600,000.  Now compare it with another company which not only offer the same 401(k) plan but also matches the 10% of the employee’s contribution would get almost $1 million in their retirement account, which is also the double of the first example’s amount, at the age of 55.

Borrowed from www.brigthub.com

 

   The importance to negotiate the starting salary: According to a study conducted by George Mason Universities and Temple University, a slight higher starting salary can have drastic financial outcomes over the period of time. For example, If an employee negotiates $5000 increase compare to those who did not negotiate, the result by researchers was astonishing. Over forty years of career, an employee who starts his career with a salary of $55,000 instead of $50,000 would earn $600,000 more in his income. Just with 5% increase each year makes a big difference in employee’s financial  life.

 

Deciding the right partner of life: Marrying is one of the most important financial decisions of one’s life. Marrying for love and then staying together is better than getting divorced after a while. Getting divorce is equally stressful, financially and emotionally for men and women. The divorce itself can be expensive and dividing financial possessions, damage almost everyone’s financial planning.

 

Planning for children: According to the "National Health Statistic Report", Americans are delaying in having children. Having children, at an average age of 25 is beneficial in a way (Anderson). This is because when parents get to the age of 50, their children are already independent and parents still have 15 years to save for their retirement plans.

 borrowed from www.moneymanagement.org

 

Plan in renting or buying a house is important: If someone is planning is relocating his or her area, need mobility or not interested in being a long distance property-owner, then it is favorable to rent off. However, buying a house is beneficial for pre-retirees. A home owner with a fixed-rate mortgage will not worry about a rent increase. As a home owner, over a long period of time the mortgage will be paid off and the expense left behind is only the annual property taxes and fixes to the house. Having a fixed-rate mortgage is far better than a rented house, as with inflation rents can increase and can affects the financial planning. As a homeowner come close to retirement, he or she does not have to worry about the rents.

 

 Importance of every dollar: According to Nancy Anderson, the financial planner at Learn Vest Planning Services regrets that from last twenty years, she should not have spent most of her money in coffee and clothes. Especially cloths and books bought from sales and were hardly ever used. Every dollar saved has a big value, especially when it is add up all together.

                It can be a useful tip to use debit card and by the end of the month pull out spending list through online account. Highlight every transaction spent on items which were wanted then needed in life. Add all the spending and then, an individual can realize how much money was wasted which could be saved for retirement funds.

             The six elements of financial decision mentioned above, are important for individuals who are getting to the age of 30s so that they can plan better retirement plans, they can value every dollar spend, they can decide better what company to choose for their careers, they can discuss in an interview to have a higher start of salary, they can pick the right life partner and pick the right time to have children. It is everyone’s duty to have cautious financial assessments for their longstanding life.
  
             

 

 

Work Cited

 

Anderson, Nancy. "7 Financial Decisions Made In Your 30s That May Hunt You In Your 50s." Forbes               RETIREMENT. 26 Sept 2013: 1. Web. 2 Oct. 2013.

"401 (k) Plan." INVESTOPEDIA Dictionary. N.p.. Web. 2 Oct 2013.

"Retirement." Dictionary.com. William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd., n.d. Web. 2 Oct 2013.