I have to wonder if American households spend more than Brits when it comes to apparel. I would think so. I know people who could easily spend $3,000 on themselves in a year, let alone a family.
Blame it on the media, I say. We’re constantly urged that we “must
have” these things or that there is this “one day only” sale (every weekend is a one day only sale!). Marketing puts this urgency in our heads that if we don’t have a particular item, then we’re really going to miss out or we won’t be “cool”. Sure, we can argue that people have choices, but when you’re constantly inundated with fashion advertising, they’re bound to get into our heads sooner or later. We live in a society that is consumption driven. Sad, but true. Those darn marketing people.
Did you know there was an explosion in the number of Britons now with serious debt? The problem is one that runs much deeper than just easy credit. This goes to the core of thir quick-fix culture, and it is something that the government needs to consider seriously if it wants to influence the way people now live.
Early in November the Department of Trade and Industry released figures showing that Britons have accrued more than £1 trillion of debt. Personal bankruptcies have soared by almost 50 percent to record levels. Still, they continue shopping like there's no tomorrow...
Posted by: Harrod | October 26, 2006 7:49 AM | Permalink to Comment