More for Less or Less is More?

Mike and I are in the midst of the twelve week Financial Peace University class that is taught by Dave Ramsey. This past week we talked about "buyer beware!" in regards to the sophistication of marketing today and the ploys to get us to spend, spend, spend. It is amazing the amount of money, creativity, and repetition that goes into the subliminal (and not so subliminal!) messages of our consumer-driven culture. We think that if we buy something new, that we are new! That we need that new item for our wardrobe, our kitchen, our children. That life will be easier if we just have that new gadget. I have even stopped receiving the Sunday newspaper because I would spend my day pouring over the ads to find all the "great deals" of stuff we didn't need...and it created a tremendous amount of discontent with the current status of my home and wardrobe. So my "buyer beware" antenna is up right now...not in a paranoid way, but in a eyes-wide-open wisdom sort of way.

So this led me to notice Walmart's catch phrase "More for Less". It just totally bugged me when I began to think about that simple phrase. Do I really NEED more for less? Do I really need to spend the "less" that Walmart offers me only so that I can accumulate MORE? And more of what? Most of the stuff in Walmart is poorly made, lacks true beauty and creativity, and will not last very long. I read something recently that talked about how companies actually make products to break quickly so that we will have to buy another one more quickly! And Walmart doesn't seem to sell many products from companies that actually value quality, sustainability, and longevity. We get so trapped into thinking that we have to spend less so that we can have more. I am seeing that there is nothing wrong with spending MORE on a few quality items and being content with LESS stuff.

And I then saw a Walmart commercial using their new phrase "Save Money. Live Better." So if I save money by going to shop there I will be living better? Equating shopping at Walmart with a better life? Wow. My worst ever shopping experiences have all happened there. The parking lot is a zoo. The bright glaring lights give me headaches. The stuff is overwhelming and mostly tacky and cheap. The clientele leave much to be desired in the respect for children category. Some of my hardest emotionally stressful days have been spent feeling like I have to shop there to save a few pennies in order to have a better life? If that is the better life, no thanks.

One of the best decisions I have made in recent years is to say no to Walmart and to "live better" by shopping at our local Publix grocery store. Kind and extremely helpful managers, cashiers, deli workers, and baggers. Beautiful quality produce and meats. Great food choices, clean store, environmentally conscious, and they load up my groceries in my van for me! Does it cost more? Yes! Is it worth it? Yes! Do I spend less on "stuff" now? Yes! I'd rather spend money on quality foods and have a great shopping experience than acquiring more trinkets for $3.96.

Certainly where we shop is a matter of personal preference. But I will say that more and more I hear fellow mamas thinking they HAVE to shop at Walmart for the well-being of their family's purse and they absolutely hate it and feel trapped to it. I just want to offer the freedom to STOP shopping there and that you can still save money shopping elsewhere and you will actually buy less random stuff that was "a good deal". Realize the power of marketing these days and that everyone is competing for your dollar and your loyalty.


Less is more.
Buy quality and live better.
Buyer Beware!