An Open Letter To Consumers | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

An Open Letter To Consumers

Save to make memories that will last a lifetime, because your iPhone won't.

20
An Open Letter To Consumers
google

How often do we consider what we spend in a month? How much of that amount is necessary? I'm not referring to rent, or even groceries. I want you to consider all of the "extra" money you spend. Did you really need to? Probably not. We waste so much money and time on items and luxuries that don't do anything for our well being or our lives. We expend so much energy to keep up appearances that won't matter in 6 months. Why? We love things. We love to have the things to show our friends how cool our things are. Because we don't see the poverty surounding us on both the local level and the global level. We see the newest gadgets.

We live in a world where so much value is placed on the physical things we own or where we live. And coming from a mostly self-supporting college student, it's really hard to keep up with that way of life. The way of life that has you constantly feeling like you need the newest iPhone or watch, just to feel like you belong. The biggest relief I have found is coming to the realization of how arbitrary all of those things are. Even looking back to when I was in 8th grade, I remember getting a phone that wasn't a flip phone for the first time. I for the life of me cannot tell you what it was called. I couldn't tell you what my background was, or what ringtones I had for all of my friends. While in the moment that was the most important thing happening in my eyes, long term, that phone didn't impact a single part of who I am today. But do you want to know what did? Bus rides to basketball games, marching band competitions, and going rollerskating with people I still keep in close contact with today.

So, you ask, if we aren't supposed to spend money on things, what do we use it for?

I'm so glad you asked. SAVE! Life is crazy and you never know what could happen. Why not make the most of your good fortune and put it aside for some crazy situation? Savings account meeting your standards? Look around. There are organization all over that work daily to try and scrape up enough funds to provide for hurting communities and even entire broken nations. Donate. Donate your time, donate your extra money if you can. Make a difference in every way you can.

The day you realize that your life isn't controlled by what you own and who you are ahead of in life is the day you find a whole new type of freedom. When you aren't constanty spending to fit in with your sorority, your fraternity, your friends, or even your coworkers, you will be floored by how much you have left to create memories that will last a true lifetime, because I promise your iPhone won't.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

1718
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading... Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

1040
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading... Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

200245
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading... Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

20911
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading... Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading... Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments