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December 13th, 2007 |

Author: Gavin

The way OUR money works for OTHER people – and what we can do to change that

My husband and i have been working with a financial adviser recently (we tend to be VERY haphazard with our money). He (Damian) made a comment during one meeting that pissed me off a little at the time, and has had me thinking furiously ever since!

Damian said: ‘every time I drive past Woolies or Coles, I think to myself – there are my little people working away for me’ . . . !!!

Two phrases got to me; one, ‘little people’, and two, ‘working away for ME’. At first I confined myself to a mere knee jerk ‘you bastard’; and then I got to thinking more seriously. THAT involved facing some unwholesome truths about the way OUR SOCIETY spends; the reality of consumerism and its real cost.

And more concerningly, the cost to our environment of all the stuff we are buying and using in such vast amounts.

He is right. EVERY TIME we spend money in Coles, Woolies, Aldi, Pak.n.Save, Foodtown, or Countdown, our money makes someone else richer.

That money isn’t making the person behind the counter richer; they earn a small hourly rate. It isn’t making YOU or ME – the consumers; it is making the Manufacturer, Distributor, Wholesaler, Retailer, Advertiser and Investor richer.They get the overseas holidays while you are at home struggling with the finances, eke-ing out the weekly budget so you can go buy some MORE of their stuff – further ensuring their increased wealth.

You buy an item, but what exactly do you get? Maybe a $3 packet of soap powder; or – if you are Eco conscious, an $8 container of washing liquid. but that is all you get. Approx 63% of YOUR MONEY is spread amongst all those other people, who smile and rub their hands together knowing that you will be BACK to buy more very soon. Multiply that by the 20 million people here in OZ, and the 5 mil back in NZ. that is a crapload of money.

Do the math. Of all the consumers; the people buying, how many are truly FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT; in a comfortable situation financially.

are you?
am i?
probably NOT.

But, are we prepared to do something about it?

My money, YOUR MONEY, is lining the nests of other people, because we all simply accept that this is the way to buy stuff. We do it this way because that is how it has always been done. And not one of us will ever become better off financially by shopping at those stores for the rest of our lives.

But, someone ELSE is becoming more wealthy every time you shop, while YOU are a little more out of pocket.

We complain. How many times recently have you remarked that prices have gone up? And how many times do you go straight back to that store and buy the same thing again and again, maybe waiting until its on special and stocking up?

We DON’T STOP BUYING, do we?

THAT dependency, that completely BLIND LOYALTY is what the serious money makers rely on. You will keep coming back for more. Your $3 or $8 added to all the other measures of similar amounts perpetuates the cycle, and locks us ALL in.

You probably know this definition of insanity:

” insanity is doing the SAME THING over and over again, EXPECTING DIFFERENT RESULTS.’

And, sadly, unless we change the way we do things, our financial situation will stay the same.

Every week in the supermarket I see little old ladies buying the same stuff they bought 30 years ago, locked in to the same cycle. and not one of them has earned a SAUSAGE from being a consumer for all those years. However, THEIR money has made OTHER PEOPLE rich.

What is worse, is that many of those products are making us sick, toxifying our homes, killing our environment.

Let me state that more plainly: our supermarket shelves are loaded products made with potentially toxic ingredients. Dishwasher liquid for example, usually comes with a childproof lid. You buy that stuff every fortnight, or month, shelling out big $$$. It is probably harming you, your family, and the environment. You are out of pocket; and that money is making some STRANGER wealthy.

Are you ok with this?

If you think i am off my face, take a look at the loaded shopping trolleys next time you are in a supermarket; all those plastic bottles of home and personal care products that line most peoples’ shelves; that we buy by roteThey represent multi-BILLION dollar businesses.

Next time you buy shampoo, or dishwasher liquid, or skincare, ask yourself – HOW AM I, OR MY FAMILY, OR ANYONE I KNOW, BENEFITING FROM THIS PURCHASE?

Does any store or manufacturer or advertiser offer consumers the chance to share in the revenue that their products generate? not bloody likely.

There is one exception; MELALEUCA the Wellness Company.

When I tell people about Melaleuca, and introduce the prospect of making a monthly order, panic. The primary objection is that they don’t like being committed to anything on a regular basis.

What theydon’t REALISE is that are already committed; they HAVE BEEN locked into a dependency with some stores and manufacturers for all of their adult lives; and that at NO TIME have they got anything back from either the store or the investors for their loyalty.

Oh, hang on, woolies has a loyalty card, and there are flybuys. Yeah right. You have to spend $400 PER WEEK to get one return flight within australia with the loyalty card. and you will be able to get a free toaster or kettle with flybuys after spending thousands of dollars.

In contrast; there are little old ladies who have been melaleuca customers for years. They get better quality, safer products. They earn loyalty $$$ at an excellent rate (equals free stuff). Because they have referred other people on, they also get a monthly cheque. One of whom is my latest idoll: she gets $850 per month for her US pension; she gets $3,600 per month from Melaleuca – residual income – earned for loyalty and word-of mouth referral. she is 92 YEARS OLD.

When I am her age, I intend to be in a similar position. still using such amazing products; better quality and more effective. I am NOT going to pour my money into someone else’s pockets.

I already get paid to shop.

I place a monthly order, receive healthy effective beautiful products, and get paid to do so – I no longer have to pay for a thing.

With a little more effort, I now have a regular income that means I don’t have to go back to work. ALL I DO to get that IS SHOP, and tell other people about it.

Imagine: you shop at a supermarket You refer 8 people. They become regular customers; and you get a cheque EVERY MONTH that covers your purchases. Plus, your kids no longer have eczema, and nappy rash, your husband no longer has psoriasis. You no longer need to use asthma preventives with your 3 year old. And you get PAID regardless.

Is this even worth thinking about?

Here’s a challenge: calculate how much you will spend in your lifetime on home care; personal care products; skin care; supplements; sports nutrition; skin creams; ointments; shampoos; conditioners; laundry products; house cleaning stuff; baby shampoo etc . . . now work out how many $$$ you will be paid for purchasing these products through your normal outlets. Anything? Now – think about the people that you see walking into business class and first class lounges when you travel. It is highly likely that YOUR MONEY has meant that some of those people can afford to travel that way. It is also highly likely that YOU are traveling in economy.

Are you ok with that?

Probably not, but that is the way it is because many of us are too scared to think about, let alone try, a different way.

Imagine a situation where your ordinary grocery shopping dollar can be made to work for you and for people you care about.

It can be done; is IS being done; it has transformed communities in many different countries. and it is happening HERE.

Next time you go to the grocery store or pharmacy or healthstore – ask yourself where your $$$ are going. And ask yourself if you have the courage to think about making a change.

Are you going to let someone else control your financial future and your family’s wellness, or do you have the courage to take that control back and make a powerful change?

About the Author

I am a mother of four beautiful girls,very- soon to be a grandmother, creative writer, editor, teacher, Zumba instructor, Eco-warrior and stay-at-home Mum to my three year old daughter Amelia, who was born when I was 46 – 21 years after my NEXT youngest child was born. I have recently been thrown back into full time mothering after a rich and rewarding career teaching and facilitating in Tertiary institutions in NZ. The time at home has given me the opportunity to revisit my deepest passions and interests, the highest of these being self-empowerment – particularly for women. Looking forward to using my skills and knowledge even more effectively over the NEXT 50 years, and working alongside a remarkable team of women as I do so.