How To Be A Smart Consumer

ENSON CHIENG ZHE WEI (S1)

Consumers today are faced with many problems such as unsafe and
unreliable products, unreasonable price increases, misleading and
inaccurate advertisements and other deceptive practices. By being aware
of his rights, a consumer can rest assured that he will not only get quality
products and services but also that he will not be victimized by traders.

In the first place, we should have a budget. There has been a general
increase in the price of many essential items. As the price of the daily
food basket has gone up, we have to plan our purchases and buy only
what is necessary. If you have a penchant for luxury goods, then perhaps,
it is time you change. We must learn to live within our means. Having a
shopping list and sticking to it is commendable. A shopping list saves
time as you don’t have to keep running back to the store for forgotten
items. Buy what is listed and then make a quick exit for the longer you
linger at the store, the more tempted you would be to buy something you
do not really need.

Be thrifty and do not spend unnecessarily. Paying more for the same
basket of goods calls for thrift and restraint. We should look out for
bargains as we would then be paying less for a product which would, at
other times, be more expensive. At the same time, we should not throw
caution to the wind and go on shopping sprees where we are lured to be
lavish in our spending habits.

Consumers have a vital role to play in overcoming the country’s

economic problems. Only when consumers wake up that role, can the
nation pull out of its current economic turmoil.

A smart consumer has to change his attitude and take action rather than
wait for the government to intervene. Only when consumers are action-
oriented and willing to assert their rights will they stop being manipulated
by traders and producers.