Summary
Crystal discusses the manipulative tactics used in advertising, particularly during the holiday season. She emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and mindful spending, urging listeners to be aware of the emotional triggers used by marketers. The conversation also touches on the impact of advertising on children and the values associated with gift-giving, advocating for a more thoughtful approach to consumerism.
Takeaways
- Everything we do is about utilization.
- Beware of hidden fees in products or services.
- Do your own research before buying anything.
- Trust your instincts when something feels off.
- Think critically about what advertisers are really selling.
- Children should learn about delayed gratification.
- Gift-giving should teach values, not just reward behavior.
- Knowledge about products empowers consumers.
- Mindful spending is crucial during the holidays.
- Advertising often exploits emotional triggers.
Transcript
Crystal (00:00)
Hi, I’m Crystal, the founder of the Piggy Bank Patrol, a podcast that gets parents talking about money. Myself, along with my co -founder, Lanea are financial analysts and new parents. We want to empower parents to learn healthy money behaviors while breaking cycles and teach children about money.
As always, the piggy bank patrols content is intended for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, and is not to be taken as legal, financial investment, or tax advice of any kind.
Crystal Chabot (00:30)
Lanea is celebrating another trip around the sun. Happy birthday, Lanea! Don’t worry, she’ll be back next week, ready to dive into some of the most impactful financial decisions we’ve made. Welcome to our first filler episode. Basically an episode where I get to ramble my inner thoughts using my outside voice. If you haven’t listened to us before, or just weren’t paying attention,
We’re all about work-life balance, especially with our baby boys running around. And birthday week, well, that’s sacred. So grab your coffee or tea or wine, no judgment. Get comfy and let’s chat.
The holidays are supposed to be about togetherness and joy. Specifically in a time where many received less sunlight and in the past had to tie themselves over for winter. But somewhere along the way they got hijacked by this crazy consumerism train. It’s like everyone’s trying to outgift each other and the pressure is unreal.
My husband and I opted out of the holiday culture about 10 years ago now. We lived far from family and the whole commercialization of a celebration with all its sounds and flashy lights and high price tags was just icky.
Not to mention that it’s really sad that it takes a socially pressured holiday to get people that are supposed to care about each other together. people who really care about each other should make time to celebrate the year, their lives, etc. without social obligations that come with the holidays. Yet, for many, this is the only time of year they ever get together. It’s just so performative.
But I digress. I think this whole holiday spending frenzy really preys on our insecurities. As parents, especially new parents, we’re in a mental and financially vulnerable place. We’re constantly pressured to be the perfect parent, the best gift giver, And we end up buying a bunch of shit that no one really needs or in some cases even wanted.
It’s like we’re trying to buy their love and we all know that doesn’t actually work.
With the holidays right around the corner, there’s no better time than now to refresh ourselves on sales tactics meant to play on our emotions Let’s dive into some ways to not only save our pocketbooks this holiday season, but our sanity as well. Teaching ourselves and children about certain advertising tactics can also promote mindful spending and increase utils.
Here’s a hint taken from economics. Everything we do in life is about utilization. How much more happy would we be if only we did this or that thing when it comes to spending? How much value does buying this
actually bring to our life. Thinking it out beforehand can be potentially life-changing in terms of building healthy money behaviors. Even something just as mundane as a pack of hair ties, you know the plain black or navy ties everyone seems to lose in the parking lot? Those bring happiness or utils. But how? It’s just a piece of rubber-wrapped
cloth crystal. Yes. Yes it is. But for someone with long hair, they help pull the hair back. They provide value to that person because maybe they have a sensory issue with their hair touching their face or neck. Maybe they haven’t cut their hair in a while and it’s just getting in the way. It’s making it hard to see or it’s just annoying, but not enough for them to justify cutting it. Maybe it’s more of a professional thing.
they have a big presentation, and leaving their hair down will make others view them as less competent because longer hairstyles have been seen to be less competent.
Hell, maybe they have short hair but are pregnant or it’s the holidays and they need some more wiggle room in the pants area.
Those hair ties can be looped through buttonholes and around the button to expand the pants and make them more comfortable to wear. Or the person they’re dating has long hair and they always forget their hair ties. So they buy a pack to keep some in their pocket just in case. My point is things have a reason for existing and bringing value, but
They may not bring the same or equal value to everyone. That’s why it’s so important to think a purchase through. Is it really worth it? Will it actually improve your life or is it just a habit we’ve gotten into? I also feel like now is a great time for me to just mention that I’ve had a cold for the last month. So if my voice sounds muffled or weird, I apologize.
Let’s explore some ways to spot scammy, predatory, and emotionally manipulative advertising tactics this holiday season. Think about those toy commercials. They show kids having the time of their life. My baby is just laying in my lap and he woke up, he’s looking at me like, what’s she talking about? Why is she so noisy? Mama, so noisy.
Let’s think about those toy commercials. They show kids having the time of their lives with this new gadget or doll and suddenly your kid needs it. honestly, they’ll probably just play with it for like a week and then it’ll end up in the toy graveyard. So instead of impulse buys, what if we taught our kids to save up for something they really want? Not.
only would it teach them about delayed gratification, but they’d probably appreciate that toy even more because they worked so hard for it. While some subscribe to the magic of Christmas, and along with it Santa, let’s be realistic. A lot of kids feel be betrayed when they find out where the presents actually come from. We work damn hard for our family.
So why the hell are we letting someone else take the credit? I’m not saying you have to give up Santa, but I’m saying think about what it teaches. If they’re good, they get toys If they’re bad, they get coal. That’s not a great way to enforce good behaviors,
But this mindful spending thing applies to us grownups too. How many times have you bought something on sale just because it was good deal, only to realize you don’t actually use it?
Now I’m not saying that we need to become Scrooge’s and boycott the holidays altogether, but I do think it’s important to be aware of the performance of it all and the sneaky tactics advertisers use to get us to open our wallets. Knowledge is power, right?
Crystal Chabot (07:46)
I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve to help you spot those manipulative marketing ploys and keep your holiday spending in check. Playing on emotions. I’m talking scarcity tactics. Ever notice how those black-fried ideals always seem to be the last chance or limited quantity? That’s designed to make you panic buy fearing you’ll miss out. Take a breath and ask yourself if you
really need it right now.
That leads to the fear of missing out or FOMO. Social media is a breeding ground for FOMO. Advertisers show everyone having the time of their lives with a certain product.
making you feel like you’re missing out if you don’t have it. Remember, social media is a highlight reel, not real life.
The good old days, advertisers love to tap into our nostalgia using images and music from our childhood to make us associate their product with happy memories. But that doesn’t mean the product itself is actually good. And then we have the bandwagon effect.
If everyone else is buying it, it must be good, right? Wrong. Advertisers try to create a sense of popularity around their product, making you feel like you need to join the crowd. Guys, be your own person. Make your own decisions. Go against the grain. Challenge the status quo. Life isn’t about falling in line.
Distorting reality. Distorting reality in terms of advertising tactics can include things like idealized imagery. Those perfect families in holiday ads? Yeah, they don’t exist. Advertisers use airbrushed models, perfect lighting, and staged scenarios to create an unrealistic ideal. Don’t compare your real life to a manufactured fantasy.
False claims. This one’s a biggie. Always be weary of products that promise miracles, whether it’s effortless weight loss, overnight riches, balancing your hormones, or a perfect life. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.
Hidden fees. Beware of those too good to be true prices. Sometimes advertisers hide extra fees in the fine print, so you end up paying more than you expected. Always read the terms and conditions carefully.
And then there’s advertising tactics that exploit your relationships. authority figures, celebrities and experts that often endorse products, they make us think that if it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for us. But remember, they’re getting paid to say that. Do your own research. Again, be your own person.
Advertisers often use testimonials from ordinary people to make us think that everyone is using their product and loving it. these testimonials can be faked or cherry picked. Don’t fall for it.
guilt trips. Especially around the holidays, advertisers can play on our guilt, making us feel like we’re not good enough parents, good enough partners, good enough daughters, good enough sons, you name it, they target it.
are some defenses against manipulative advertising that we can take. Things like critical thinking. Ask yourself, what are they really selling? What are they not telling me? And most importantly, do I actually need this? Don’t just take the advertiser’s word for it. compare prices, and do your own research before you buy anything.
Do note, reviews can be bought. Trust your gut. If something feels off about an ad, trust your instincts. There’s probably a reason why you’re feeling that way.
Those are the main tips that I had for today. In terms of life updates, my birthday is tomorrow. I am going to grab a cake this evening and try to go hiking in Adirondacks tomorrow. We’ll see. Weather is kind of iffy right now.
I mentioned ghosting me previously got back to me for final interviews. One actually acknowledged the lapse in communication while the other completely glossed over it, is just ugh, why? Don’t go radio silent on a potential hire then show up almost a month later asking for final interviews with zero acknowledgement of the lapse.
it’s definitely a red flag tick against them.
I’ve completed one final interview already and I’m pretty sure I’m going to get an offer based on our conversation, but I had a weird interaction with their HR subtly shaming me for clarifying my salary expectations when they asked.
I’ve reviewed their finances and it’s in line with multiple of their current employee salaries, my value and my skill sets.
So it’s a little slap in the face when it gets questioned. But this didn’t just happen to me. It’s a theme with the HR industry in general, not understanding the value of data analytics and subject matter experts.
So I’ll leave you with two things, a hint and homework. If you need a job hint, learn SQL, learn how data works and become a subject matter expert in an area that interests you. Mine happens to be healthcare, particularly Medicaid, but it can literally be anything, transportation, infectious disease, minerals, semiconductors, hell, even things like fashion, paint or food.
Every industry needs data and business analysts. And if not an analyst, having those skills can be the icing on the cake for whatever position you’re going for. My homework for you is to go into November and December, practicing mindful spending. That’s all I had for today.
See you guys in the next episode.
Lanea (14:08)
Thanks for listening to today’s episode. Please remember that finances and parenting is a complex balancing act. But remember, By learning and growing together, we can build a brighter future for ourselves and our families. If you have any questions or want to share your experience, reach out to us at YouTube, Instagram, or Spotify at Piggy Bank Patrol. We would love to hear from you.
Sound Bites
“If it sounds too good to be true, it is.”