My biggest takeaway from the article is that the wise consumer thinks critically about the present and future impact of a purchase without being constricted my mainstream consumerism. Being a wise consumer means taking personal accountability that a purchase is beneficial for oneself and those around you. With this in mind, here are some examples of types of products/services that I believe a wise consumer might spend money on:
- Products that enhance physical health: For this bucket I am envisioning products/services that people use to either track and enhance their physical health on a daily basis. Some things that come to mind are wearable fitness trackers, air purifiers, and healthy food alternatives. All of these products especially encompass intentionality, contemplation and emotional mastery.
- Products that enhance daily variability: For this category, I am referring to products or services that help people vary their day-to-day activities. I believe that a wise consumer understands the benefits of switching up their daily routine. Some examples of wise purchases that enhance daily variability could be vacations, new foods, and inexpensive day trips. This category exemplifies contemplation, emotional mastery, and openness.
- Products that are sustainable in the long run: I liked the example from the article in regards to a man that purchased Birkenstocks. One of the main reasons he made the purchase was that the shoes can be repaired easily and therefore last longer than most shoes. Some products that come to mind are rechargeable batteries, bicycles and cloth napkins. These items are simple changes people can make that both save money and energy in the long-run. I believe that this category fits well with all five facts of consumer wisdom.
The three categories I have identified also have several design principles that make these products/services appealing. The first principle that applies to these categories is that the product or services enhances the user’s quality of life. I think that this principle mainly refers to my first two examples. Purchasing products or services that improve how you go about your daily life are something all wise consumers should consider before acquiring something new. Another design principle that wise consumers contemplate is whether or not a product can maintain functionality while being beneficial in some alternative form. For example, with rechargeable batteries from my third category, a wise consumer would make sure that these batteries still produce the same amount of power and have a respectable battery life, before deeming them a smart purchase. Adding an extra form of enhancement should not come at the expense of the utility of a product or service. If you can consider beneficial design principles, while considering the five facets of a wise consumer, you are definitely on the right track to becoming a wiser consumer in the modern day economy.