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1、Spend or save The students dilemma1Do you feel as confused andmanipulatedas I do with this question, Should I spend or should I save?I think that the messages we get from our environment seem todefycommon sense andcontradicteach other.The government tells us to spend or well never get out of therece
2、ssion.At the same time, they tell us that unless we save more, our country is ingravedanger.Banks offer higher interest rates so we increase savings.Then the same banks send us credit card offers so we can spend more.2Heres another familiar example: If we dont pay our credit card bill on time, we ge
3、t demanding,nastyemails from the credit card company saying something like: Your failure to pay is unacceptable. Pay immediately or youll be in trouble!Then, as soon as we pay, we get a follow-up email in a charmingtonetelling us how valuable a customer we are and encouraging us toresumespending.Whi
4、chdepictionis correct: a failing consumer in trouble or a valued customer?Thegapbetween these two messages is enormous.3Theparadoxis that every day we get two sets of messages atoddswith each other.One is the permissiveperspective, Buy, spend, get it now. You need this!The other we could call anupri
5、ghtmessage, whichurgesus, Work hard and save.Suspendyour desires. Avoid luxuries. Control yourappetitefor more than you truly need.This message comes to us from many sources: from school, from parents, even from political figures referring to traditional values.Hard work, family loyalty, and the cap
6、acity to postpone desires are core American values that have made our country great.4But the opposite message, advertisings permissive message, is inescapable.Though sometimesdisguised, the messages are everywhere we look: on TV, in movies on printed media and road signs, in stores, and on busses, t
7、rains and subways.Advertisementsinvadeour daily lives.We are constantly surrounded by the message to spend, spend, spend.Someone recently said, The only time you can escape advertising is when youre in your bed asleep!5Its been calculated that by the age of 18, the average American will have seen 60
8、0,000 ads; by the age of 40, the total is almost one million.Each advertisement is doing itsutmostto influence our diverse buying decisions, from the breakfastcerealwe eat to whichcruiseline we will use for our vacation.There is noshortageof ideas and things to buy!Now, of course, we dont remember e
9、xactly what the products were, but the essential message iscementedinto our consciousness, Its good to satisfy your desires. You should have what you want. You deserve the best. So, you should buy it now!A famous advertisement said it perfectly, I love me. Im a good friend to myself. I do what makes
10、 me feel good. Iderivepleasure from nice things and feelnourishedby them. I used to put things off. Not anymore. Today Ill buy new ski equipment, look at newcompactcars, and buy that camera Ive always wanted. I live my dreams today, not tomorrow.6What happens as we take in these contradictory butexp
11、licitmessages?What are the psychological and social consequences of this campaign to control our spending habits?On one hand, we want more things because we want to satisfy our material appetite.Most of us derive pleasure from treating ourselves.On the other hand, a little voice inside usechoesthose
12、 upright messages: Watch out, takestockof your life, dont let your attention getscattered. Postpone your desires. Dont fall into debt. Wait!Retaincontrol over your own life. It will make you stronger.7Anyway, many of the skills you need as a successful student can be applied to your finances.Conside
13、r your financialwell-beingas a keyingredientof your university education as money worries are extremely stressful and distracting.They can make you feel terrible andhinderyour ability to focus on your prime objective: successfully completing your education.8How can you be a smart and educated consum
14、er?Many schools, community organizations, and even some banks offer financial literacy classes.Considerconsultingwith your schools financial aid office or seekinputfrom your parents or other respected adults in setting up a budget.An additionaloptionis finding a partner to help you stay on track and
15、 find pleasure in theadministrationof your own financial affairs.Most importantly, if you find yourself getting into financial trouble, dont let youregoget in your way;urgentlyget help withtacklingyour problem before it spins out of control and lands you inlegaltroubles.9 All this will help you become an educated consumer and saver.As you learn to balance spending and saving, you will become the captain of your own ship, steering your life in a successful and productive direction through thechoppywaters.