Where is your money
going?
A lot of the time when we get paid most of us have a budget
for certain things and usually we fling our money into brands and products
without necessarily thinking too deeply about it (I am guilty of this!). These
are brands that have worked for us in the past that we are loyal to. Let’s put it this way if something works for
you, looks great and has proved its efficacy why should you change it? This is
the same mentality that I had for a while and I'm still getting over for
certain brands!
Investments:
“Investment is time, energy, money or matter spent in the hope of
future benefits actualised”
Money is a blessing from God, you need to be accountable for
where you're sowing into and what brands you're sowing into. I do believe
that you reap what you sow and we need to identify what exactly we are sowing
into. When you buy a product from a brand you are investing into the company
and their business, as a consumer you should be given good reason for such an
act.
When going into investments such as houses and cars people
invest a lot of time to see whether it will be worthwhile and there is no investment
bigger than your own body. Are the products you're putting on your skin really
adding or are they taking away?
Meanings and Values:
Since starting this natural beauty journey my perspective
has really changed! Now meanings and values are the driving force of everything
I do.
What do you mean by meanings?
In everything in life you need to know your ‘why’ to
identify the reason behind what you're doing in all actions, as all actions
have consequences. There is meaning in every verb therefore you need to stop
and really have a think about that, it will help a lot of things come to light!
Also identify your motives; this will stop you doing the status quo, robot,
monumental things over and over again! Break the cycle!
It is important to identify them otherwise other people/brands
will do it for you! If you don’t know
your meanings and values you need to find them as they make up who you are.
This was my old way of thinking:
- I was driven by senses (sight and smell) with
certain products. So let’s imagine I am looking to try a new face wash. If the
packaging looked pretty I would buy it and if it smelled great then even
better! Bonus points!
- I was driven by popularity- Well this celebrity
uses it and this blogger uses it and she looks good so I’ll give it a try.
New ways of thinking:
- Driven by meaning: What is this product intended
to do?
- What is in the product that will achieve this?
- What ingredients are in these products, what are
these ingredients and what do they do?
- Driven by values: Who is this brand? What do
they stand for? What are their brand values? How do they source their
ingredients?
So before you buy and invest into that cosmetic (or anything
in life really) first identify your whys:
Why are you buying
this face wash?
- Do you need it?
- What do you want to get from it?
- Are you really getting that from this brand?
- Do you know the values and promises of this
brand you are giving your money to?
What to do?
- Research into companies and their brand values
- What does the brand stand for?
- Do they have the consumer’s best interests at
heart?
- How do they show their values?
- Do they list their ingredients/toxic ingredients
that they do not use?
These are all they types of questions you should be asking
when you are buying products and you may ask whether it is really that deep?
Yes! It is! If everyone has this mentality then imagine the millions that are
being sown into brands with no true values and with profit being their only
focus. Some might say that business is
business but true businesses that make it to the end are grounded in universal
and timeless principles such as integrity!
Brands will sell what people buy into so let us as consumers
take control of our destiny!
Product junkies-
what this actually means and actually is this good idea?
This is when you try out and invest in lots of different brands
and products in order to find the ‘right one’ or just have lots of products to
choose from. I am definitely guilty of this but I am learning, praise God. People
throw around this term like it is nothing! Guys we can’t keep doing this (lol).
Okay SO there is nothing wrong in trying
out new things to find out which actually works for you but make sure you do
your research first so you can avoid unnecessary spending and again identify
your meaning, values and your whys!
How to AVOID being a product junkie (from a recovering PJ):
- Be aware- brands will sell you what is there and
with brands selling through bloggers as well you need to identify those who
have the same values and meanings as you do. Remember that a lot of bloggers
are being sent these items so if they seem like they are product junkies the chances
are they can afford to be because a lot of it is free!
- Make use of bloggers, YouTubers and their
reviews but again know their brand values? (because they are basically brands
too! #believethat) Do they match up with yours?
- Even though we try and hide from it in this day
and age it is still true Quality>Quantity. Don’t be a hoarder!! Simplify
your life (lol I love that! Blog post coming soon with that title #yas)
Let's take control and powerfully influence the brands we sow into!
Lots of Love xx
Photo credit: Google
