smart consumer essay

Personal Finance Sharing by Michelle

How to be a Smart Consumer?

I always believe it is important for all of us to learn how to be a smart consumer to stretch our money as far as possible.

Thus, I share below some of the steps we can take to learn how to be a smart consumer.

Table of Contents

1. compare prices, 2. look for deals and discounts, 3. know your rights as a consumer, 4. survey and gather information before making big purchases, 5. support retails shop with good practices, 6. plan your purchases, 7. think for long term benefits, 8. be careful of the word ‘sale’, final thoughts, 8 steps on how to be a smart consumer.

Read the 8 simple steps below to learn on how to be a smart consumer.

Most of these steps are easily incorporated into our daily life.

Don’t go for the first option you find. Instead, compare prices from different retailers or service providers both online and offline. Consider the quality of the product or service, warranty or guarantees, and the reputation of the retailer or provider.

For example, I noticed that prices in some of my local supermarkets are much higher than the other supermarkets.

So, what I did was visit a different supermarket during the next weekly grocery shopping to survey the prices. In this way, I will be able to identify and avoid those supermarkets with expensive price tags.

As for online services, compare the total fees and charges involved in a transaction. For example, consider e-money providers such as Wise money transfer for sending money abroad. Compared to sending money through traditional banks, you get to enjoy significant savings when you transfer through Wise.

Take advantage of discounts, coupons, promotions and sales to save money. But make sure the deal is a genuine one and not just a marketing trick.

This is not only applicable to goods and services available at physical stores but also services online.

For example, investment platforms such as Luno are welcoming new customers globally with free Bitcoin rewards by redeeming through a Luno promo code .

You can learn how to be a smart consumer by knowing and understanding your rights as a consumer .

Some consumer rights are as below:

• the right to accurate information (such as the price, quality, contents and guarantees of the product or service)
• the right to fair treatment (such as returning faulty or defective products)
• the right to protection against fraud to prevent from unfair and deceptive practices

For example, whenever you make a purchase, always ask for the official receipt. Look at the small prints on product vouchers. Also, check the expiry date on items before making the purchase.

If you feel something is not right – be it the service, the price, the quality of the products, ask for more details. If needed, speak up and seek assistance from your local authority.

Before making big purchases, do take time to survey either online or walk into stores to gather as much information as possible.

Some example of large purchases are:

• a new house
• furnishing a new home
• planning for a wedding
• getting a good health insurance

If you are planning for a new house, look for the important considerations when buying a house .

It will be painful if later you realized that you had overpaid for what you bought or there’s a better package or deal somewhere else.

It is also important to always prioritize quality and personal satisfaction over price .

This is super important. If all consumers practice this, we will be surrounded by happy consumers.

Try to avoid supporting those retail shops that are taking advantage of a consumer by offering overpriced products, providing poor customer service or deceiving customers.

Some of the things that you can consider are as below:

• read the retailer’s review (Google review, Facebook review, online store review)
• write a genuine review about your own experience (good or poor)
• be aware of product or service providers that earn good reputations through local media and social media.

Do take note of the timestamp of the reviews and the responses from the retailer or service provider (if any).

When consumers are cooperative and leave genuine reviews, this could create positive response and healthy competitions among retailers and businesses.

You also can learn on how to be a smart consumer by learning to plan your purchases .

For example, there is no need to go grocery shopping three times a week. This practice is not only wasting your time, but also wasting your money and your energy.

Plan for weekly grocery shopping instead.

Another example is to plan for your vacation. Avoid buying an air ticket or placing a hotel reservation just because the airline company or the hotel is having a promotion.

When you plan your purchases, you have sufficient time to prepare the required expenses and survey the available options as well.

This shall prevent you from impulsive buying is a good money management skill.

Always think for long term benefits , not only for big purchase items but everyday items as well.

Sometimes a cheaper product may end up costing you more in the long run due to frequent repairs or replacements. While some products or services are more expensive but offer better quality over the long run.

Whenever possible, practice smart spending by looking for quality over price. Because you get more long term benefit by investing in a better quality item.

Lastly, always be careful of the word ‘SALE’ or other promotional words.

Based on my experience, I noticed that some of the local departmental stores in my town (Kuching) are always on ‘SALE’.

From January through December, there are always sales – Clearance Sale, Mega Sale, Factory Sale, Crazy Sale.

But, I found out only some items are at a discounted price.

And for some clothing, they increased the price prior to the sale period. For example, the actual price of a blouse is RM80. But during the sale season, the price increased to RM100, with a 20% discount.

So, the price after the discount is still RM80. This means there’s no discount at all.

Thus, always be careful with the word ‘SALE’ or other promotional words.

As a consumer, we have our right to choose where and how to spend our money.

We all must learn how to be smart consumers in order to create a place with better living quality .

As more smart consumers will also be able to create a better quality product with reasonable price and improved service quality.

photo credit: The shopping type via photopin (license)

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How to Be a Savvy Consumer

Last Updated: August 28, 2022 References

This article was co-authored by Michael R. Lewis . Michael R. Lewis is a retired corporate executive, entrepreneur, and investment advisor in Texas. He has over 40 years of experience in business and finance, including as a Vice President for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. He has a BBA in Industrial Management from the University of Texas at Austin. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 30,396 times.

A savvy consumer knows exactly what they are buying and who they are buying from. You should always think before you buy and only make a purchase once you are satisfied you are getting an item or service for the best price and at the highest quality available. [1] X Research source You should try to always spend your money wisely and buy from trustworthy vendors so you ensure you are using your buying power effectively. You can also be a savvy consumer by finding the best deals and sales in store and online.

Spending Your Money Wisely

• Keep in mind salespeople may pressure you into a purchase by using “a good sale” as an incentive to buy. You should always pause and consider if you really can afford the item before you take out your credit card. You should also think about whether or not you need the item as you do not want to simply buy an item for the sake of spending money.

• For example, you may set a limit of $1,000 for your new television, where you cannot spend more than this amount. You may then do research to determine which television models are within your price range and which models have functions and add-ons that you can afford.
• You can also discuss your budget with a salesperson if you decide to buy the television in the store. Giving the salesperson a clear budget will allow them to show you the best products for your price range and meet your expectations as a consumer.

• You should also look at consumer reports on the items or service as well as any test results done by independent testers. These reports can help you compare different vendors and determine what your expectations should be as a consumer.
• For example, you may be looking for a new television. You should decide how large you want your new television to be as well as what you want the television to do for you. You may research the available televisions on the market and determine which television models are appealing to you.

• You should be especially wary of this when you purchase used or refurbished items. Make sure you are clear about what you are buying, especially if there is a “Buyer Beware” note on the item. Once you buy an item, you may not be able to return it or exchange it based on the terms of the transaction.

• You should also make sure the item is good quality for the price. This means determining what the item is made of, or the materials in the item. You should confirm that the item is well made and worth the price tag before you buy it.

Buying From Trustworthy Vendors

• You can also read the company's report with the Better Business Bureau and Consumer Reports. If the company requires licensing to operate, you should contact the licensing authority to confirm the company is properly licensed and has no record of disciplinary action.
• You should also make sure there is legitimate contact information for the vendor available online and in person. The vendor or seller should have an address and a phone number that you can verify is real and legitimate.

• Check to see if the referrals appear to be written by third party individuals, such as customers who have a history of using the vendor in the past. You should also check that the referrals are written by customers who have written many referrals for other businesses and services. Often, customers with many referrals for a variety of businesses will be discerning, savvy consumers.

Closing the Deal

• Trustworthy vendors will only ask you for your personal banking information once you have agreed to purchase an item or service online. Many vendors will use certified processing tools or sites to complete your purchase online. Legitimate vendors will have safeguards in place to protect your personal banking information from theft.

• You should check that the contract protects you as a consumer and does not limit or restrict you from returning or exchanging an item. If there is print that restricts you from doing this, you should be aware of it and willing to agree to it.
• If the sales pitch by the vendor includes details not in the contract, you should clarify this and request that it is added to the contract in writing. This will ensure you are protected as a consumer and that the contract is clear to both you and the vendor.

• You should also always keep records of any warranties you have for items you buy. Make sure you keep a copy of the warranty for at least the duration of the warranty, as you will need it in the event of an issue or incident with the item.
• There are apps available that you can download on your phone to help you keep track of your receipts, many of them free. These apps are easy to use and make it easy for you to maintain a record of your transactions without having to sift through piles of paper. [11] X Research source

Finding the Best Deals and Sales

• You may want to be selective about which vendors you subscribe to, as your email box may become stuffed with vendor emails over time. Subscribing to only vendors you like or value will ensure you read every offer and find deals you will use.
• Watch out for buying clubs that cost a monthly or annual fee. In many cases, these will not provide adequate discounts to be worth it.

• You should always inspect the item before you buy it at a thrift store. Make sure there is no damage to the item and that it appears in good condition. You may not be able to return it, as many thrift stores have a no return policy, so make sure it is clean and functional before you buy it.
• Refurbished items are items that have been used by someone else and then cleaned, repaired, and inspected so they are in like-new condition. Often, electronics are refurbished and sold by retailers online or in store. Always check the item and read any fine print in the sale price so you know exactly what you are buying.

• You should always check the coupons for any restrictions or limitations, such as how many coupons you can use at one time or how many items you can purchase with one coupon. You can ask the retailer if they will accept expired coupons, as some retailers do this, before you throw it away.
• You may focus on coupons for specific items, such as groceries, household products, or beauty products. You can then organize your coupons so you can find each one easily and get in the habit of using coupons on a daily basis.

• You can look for information on upcoming sales or current sales by checking the newspaper, looking at free advertising fliers from businesses, and by keeping an eye on television ads for promotions or sales. You can also look online for information about sales at a certain retailer or store.
• Keep in mind you should only buy items that you need and can afford, even if the price tag is marked down. Try to shop during peak times with a discerning eye, making sure you stay within your budget when you buy.

Addressing Issues with Products or Services

• You should remain calm when you speak to the store manager and explain the issue with the product. You may need to provide your payment information and proof of payment, such as a copy of your receipt.
• Most retailers should offer you a refund if an item is damaged or faulty. If the retailer has a no refund policy, it should be stated up front so you are aware of the policy as a consumer.
• If you speak to a retailer over the phone, document the details of your contact, including the date, time, who you talked to, what was said, and the outcome. This information may be useful if further action is needed.

• Keep in mind the BBB does not handle complaints related to discrimination or disputes between an employee and an employer. The BBB also cannot challenge any local, state, or federal laws as part of your complaint or issue.

• Keep in mind the FTC cannot resolve consumer complaints for you, but they can provide tips on how to get your money back from a shady retailer. Your complaint to the FTC can also allow them to flag the business so it is on their radar as a scam or fraudulent business.

Expert Q&A

• Be wary of “free” offers. Though it can be hard to say no to a free item or service, you should be skeptical of “free” offers from vendors or sellers. Often, theses “free” offers come with hidden fees or act as an incentive to get you to buy items you may not need. Just because an item is advertised as “free” does not mean it comes with no strings attached. [18] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/pdfs/publications/savvy_consumer_tip_Card.pdf
• ↑ https://www.araglegal.com/newsroom/releases/2014/141216-arag-offers-ten-tips-on-how-to-be-a-savvy-consumer.htm
• ↑ http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/five-apps/five-apps-for-managing-your-receipts/
• ↑ http://dealnews.com/features/What-Does-Refurbished-Mean/
• ↑ http://www.livingrichwithcoupons.com/beginners/extreme-couponing-101
• ↑ http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/dispute-credit-card-product-merchant-1282.php
• ↑ https://www.bbb.org/consumer-complaints/file-a-complaint/get-started
• ↑ https://www.ftc.gov/faq/consumer-protection/submit-consumer-complaint-ftc
• ↑ http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/small-claims-court-business-disputes-29568.html

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Ten commandments for being a smart consumer

It’s National Consumer Protection Week , a perfect time to unveil the new-and-improved version of my Ten Commandments. Follow these rules every day and you should have fewer problems with the purchases you make and greatly reduce your chances of falling victim to a scam. 

1. Thou Shalt Do Your Homework  

Your time is precious. You’re in a rush and want to get it done now. But you simply must do your homework before you spend any significant amount of money on a product or service. 

Think of the hassle – in time and money – if that washer or refrigerator is always breaking down.  That’s why it’s so important to research different brands and models. Read online reviews. Talk to friends and neighbors. Price shop to find out what you should expect to pay. 

The more you know before you head to the store, the more likely you are to get a good deal on the right product. 

Remember the goal is the best value for your money, not necessarily the lowest price. A smart consumer looks for a good, reliable product that’s reasonably-priced. The cheapest product may not be the best deal in the long-run if it doesn’t perform, or needs costly repairs. 

2. Thou Shalt Not Assume Anything

A simple misunderstanding can lead to major problems. The best way to avoid this is to ask a lot of questions. 

Don’t assume the department store will remove your old mattress when it drops off the new one.  Ask. Don’t assume website search engines put the best deals first. They may get paid to skew the results to sponsors. Find out. Don’t assume the “economy size” is always the best price. Smaller sizes may go on sale for a lower price per pound or ounce. Check to see.

3. Thou Shalt Read the Fine Print

Sign a contract or agree to the terms and conditions on a website and you are bound by it. All too often important information is buried in the fine print.  Read all legal documents before you physically or digitally sign them. This is the only way to know what the company will do for you, what the company is allowed to do to you (i.e. share your personal information) and what’s expected of you.

4. Thou Shalt Get All Promises in Writing

It doesn’t matter what the salesperson promises. It doesn’t count if it isn’t written down. In a dispute, you cannot prove what was said without some sort of written documentation . Don’t do business with anyone who promises to do something but refuses to put it on the receipt or in the contract. 

5. Thou Shalt Keep a Paper Trail 

It’s easy to toss a receipt once you get home from the store. Better to keep it for a while. You may need it if you want to return the item. 

Some stores have strict return policies: no receipt, no return. Others will let you return something without a receipt, but you’ll only get the most recent sale price and/or a store credit. A receipt ensures you get the full amount back in cash. It also proves when you bought something if there’s a dispute about whether it’s still under warranty. 

6. Thou Shalt Review All Your Account Relationships

Constant change is the new normal. Banks revise their fee structures. Wireless and cable companies modify their packages and pricing tiers. You change how you use these services. Try to look at these business relationships once a year. There may be a better deal possible if you ask for it. Many companies won’t volunteer this information. You need to be proactive. It could save you some serious money. 

7. Thou Shalt Never Wire Money to a Stranger 

 Wire transfers are instant, irreversible and nearly impossible to trace. That’s why so many scammers try to get their victims to wire them money. If you don’t know the person or company requesting the wire transfer – don’t do it.

Some con artists mail out professional-looking checks for thousands of dollars. The letter says you’ve won a sweepstakes or lottery. All you have to do is cash the check and wire back some money to pay for taxes or processing or some other bogus reason. 

Reality check: you didn’t win anything. That prize check is counterfeit and if you wire off that money, you’ll never see it again. 

(Read: Money Transfers Can Be Risky Business ) 

8. Thou Shalt Be Skeptical of All Advertising and Marketing Claims

False and deceptive ads can appear anywhere: on trusted websites, in well-known publications, on TV or radio. Don’t assume the publishing or broadcasting company verified the advertising claims. They rarely do. Prosecutors do their best to stop misleading ads, but they can’t keep up with problem. So you’re on your own. 

How do you fight back? Follow Commandment No. 1 and do your homework before you part with your hard-earned money. 

9. Thou Shalt Guard All of Your Private Information

Keep your private information private. Never give out passwords, pin codes or account numbers to an unknown caller – no matter how official they sound or what the caller ID shows. (Caller ID  numbers can be “spoofed” so they look like it’s the bank or police calling, when in reality it’s a bad guy in another state or country.) Hang up. 

The same rule goes for email requesting personal information. It may look official. It may say there’s a problem with your account and you need to respond right away. Don’t. Hit Delete, because this is just a phishing scam . 

Banks and other companies you do business with never call or send an email to ask for your personal information. They already have it. If you get such a call or email and want to see if there really is a problem with your account, call the company at a number you know is legit. For instance, from your statement, phone book or the back of a credit card. 

Shred all documents that contain personal information. Many identity thieves still use the old-fashioned way of stealing your Social Security and financial account information – they look in the trash.  

(Read: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft )

10. Thou Shalt Not Assume Every Transaction Can Be Undone

Many people think they have three days to change their mind after they buy something. That’s rarely the case. The Federal Trade Commission’s Cooling-Off Rule only applies to sales of $25 or more that take place at your home or away from the company’s normal place of business. In other words, you cannot buy a car and try to take it back to the dealer if you don’t like it when you get home.

Some states also have cooling-off rules for time share purchases and health club or campground memberships. But for most things, merchants are not required to accept returns for products that are not defective. This is a customer service they may or may not offer.

ConsumerMan Note: This column marks my sixth anniversary with msnbc.com. Thanks to everyone who has written with story ideas and words of encouragement.

I hope you’ll follow me on Facebook . This is great way to get the information you need to make smart decisions in an increasingly complicated marketplace.

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How to be a Smart Consumer

Waste prevention.

A large component of Zero Waste involves realizing that the creation of waste is often not necessary. There are many things that we can do as consumers to prevent waste.

Reuse Your Bags

Use reusable bags every time you go shopping instead of plastic ones. This is why:

• Each year billions of bags end up in our streets as litter.
• Production requires vast amounts of oil.
• Plastic bags don’t biodegrade, but instead break down into small toxic particles polluting our soil and waterways.
• Recent studies have shown that plastic outnumbers plankton 6:1 in the ocean.

Tips on how to be a Smart Consumer

• Buy products that have long life spans – avoid disposable items.
• Buy products that have minimal packaging.
• Buy products in their concentrated form.
• Buy only what you need. Consuming less, you dispose of less waste.
• Consider buying in bulk for those necessary purchases. You will save money and reduce packaging.

Buy Products Made from Recycled Material (and Products that can be Recycled)

Buy products that are made from recycled materials. This encourages manufacturers to produce more. Buy products that are easy to recycle. This puts materials back in the loop for use in other products.

Other Waste Prevention Tips

• Save paper, time and postage by paying your bills online.
• As the price of paper, cards and postage increases, consider emailing e-cards.
• When printing documents, print on both sides of the paper.
• Email documents and information instead of printing and mailing them.
• Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins.

Moving and not Wasting

The average American moves every two years. Think about the amount of waste created each time you move from one place to another. 

Here is what you can do for an eco-friendly move:  Look for eco-friendly moving companies that provide packing materials.

Watch our CAAP video to learn how you can be empowered to build a cleaner, more resilient future for the City of Irvine. 

The City's recent Electrification 101 Workshop brought together nearly 60 community members, more than 10 partner organizations, and local contractors to highlight electrification's importance as a key strategy to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across Irvine.

The State of California will be  banning the sale of new small off-road engine-powered garden equipment (SORE) , such as leaf blowers, lawn mowers, string trimmers, hedge trimmers, and small chainsaws beginning January 1, 2024. 

The City of Irvine is proud to offer Irvine homeowners of single-family residences access to XeroHome, an online program that helps community members identify ways to reduce their home energy bills and lower carbon footprints. 

Get involved with the City of Irvine's Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) by attending upcoming workshops, requesting a City presentation, following the City on social, and signing up for the Environmental Programs e-newsletter.

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4 Tips to Being a Smart Consumer

Ever bought something out of impulse and then regretted it later? If you haven’t then that is good news. But if you answered yes, then it’s time you take a second look at your shopping habits and how you can become a smart consumer. Shopping involves buying things that we need as well as the items that we want. It’s imperative that we make informed decisions before making our final purchase or else, we’ll end up with products that do not fit our needs. Being a smart consumer is more than just saving money on your purchases or getting your money’s worth. It’s also about spending money wisely and safely.

Being a smart consumer means employing critical thinking and making informed choices when it comes to purchasing goods or services. It involves being proactive, well-informed, and mindful of various factors to ensure that your buying decisions align with your needs, values, and financial goals. Here are some key characteristics and practices of a smart consumer:

Buying only what you need.

Buying only what you need is a smart consumer practice for several reasons:.

• Cost savings: Purchasing only the items you genuinely need helps you save money in the long run. By avoiding impulse purchases and sticking to your planned shopping list, you can reduce unnecessary expenses and avoid accumulating items that may go unused or wasted. This allows you to allocate your resources more efficiently and make better use of your budget.
• Reduced waste: When you buy only what you need, you contribute to reducing waste. Overconsumption often leads to excess items that end up unused or discarded, adding to landfill waste and environmental impact. By being mindful of your consumption habits, you minimize unnecessary waste and promote a more sustainable lifestyle.
• Clutter reduction: Buying only what you need helps prevent unnecessary clutter in your living space . It’s easy to accumulate items that we don’t actually use or need, which can create a cluttered environment and make it harder to find or appreciate the things that truly matter. By adopting a more intentional approach to your purchases, you can maintain a cleaner and more organized living space.
• Better decision-making: When you prioritize buying only what you need, you become a more conscious and informed consumer. You take the time to assess your actual needs, evaluate the quality and value of products, and make thoughtful choices. This promotes a more critical mindset, allowing you to make better decisions based on your personal preferences, budget, and ethical considerations.
• Increased satisfaction: By focusing on purchasing only what you need, you are more likely to find value and satisfaction in your purchases. Instead of accumulating material possessions for the sake of it, you prioritize items that truly align with your needs, preferences, and goals. This promotes a sense of contentment and prevents buyer’s remorse or the feeling of being overwhelmed by excessive belongings.

Overall, being a smart consumer involves making intentional choices that align with your needs, values, and resources. By buying only what you need, you can save money, reduce waste, maintain a clutter-free environment, make informed decisions, and ultimately find greater satisfaction in your purchases.

Check warranty and exchange or return policies.

Smart consumers check warranty and exchange or return policies for several reasons:.

• Protection against defects: Checking the warranty allows you to understand the extent of coverage provided by the manufacturer or retailer. It ensures that if the product you purchase has any defects or malfunctions within the specified warranty period, you can have it repaired, replaced, or refunded without incurring additional expenses.
• Confidence in quality: A comprehensive warranty reflects the manufacturer’s confidence in the quality and durability of their product. By reviewing the warranty details, you can gauge the level of assurance provided by the manufacturer and make an informed decision about the product’s reliability.
• Return or exchange flexibility: Understanding the exchange or return policies of a retailer helps you feel secure in your purchase. If you find that the item does not meet your expectations, doesn’t fit, or doesn’t work as intended, a favorable return or exchange policy allows you to rectify the situation easily and without hassle. It ensures that you have recourse if the product doesn’t meet your needs or preferences.
• Financial protection: Checking warranty and return policies can help protect your financial investment. If a product malfunctions or doesn’t meet your expectations, having the option to return it or get a refund can prevent you from being stuck with an item that doesn’t serve its purpose or isn’t worth the money you paid for it.
• Consumer rights: Being aware of warranty and return policies ensures that you are knowledgeable about your consumer rights. It helps you advocate for yourself and take appropriate action if you encounter any issues with a product or transaction. Understanding these policies empowers you to assert your rights as a consumer and seek appropriate resolutions.
• Peace of mind: Checking warranty and return policies provides peace of mind, knowing that you have recourse if something goes wrong with your purchase. It instills confidence in your buying decisions, knowing that you have taken the necessary precautions and can rely on the protection provided by the manufacturer or retailer.

By reviewing warranty and exchange or return policies, smart consumers can make informed decisions, protect themselves financially, and have peace of mind knowing they have options if issues arise with their purchases.

Read product reviews.

Smart consumers read reviews for several reasons:.

• Product information and insights: Reviews provide valuable information about a product’s features, performance, and quality. Reading reviews helps consumers gather insights from real customers who have already purchased and used the product. This information can help you make informed decisions by understanding the strengths, weaknesses, and overall suitability of the product for your needs.
• Evaluation of pros and cons: Reviews often highlight both positive and negative aspects of a product. By reading a variety of reviews, you can gain a balanced perspective and evaluate the pros and cons. This allows you to weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks of the product and determine if it aligns with your preferences and requirements.
• Reliability and durability: Reviews can offer insights into a product’s reliability and durability over time. Consumers often share their experiences with how well the product has held up and if it has met their expectations in terms of longevity. This information is valuable in assessing whether a product is built to last or may have potential durability issues.
• Performance and functionality: Reviews can provide detailed accounts of a product’s performance and functionality in real-world situations. Customers may share their experiences regarding ease of use, effectiveness, and how well the product performs its intended purpose. This helps you understand if the product will meet your specific needs and deliver the desired results.
• Value for money: Reading reviews can help you determine if a product offers good value for money. Customers often share their opinions on whether the product is worth its price based on its quality, features, and overall performance. This information allows you to assess if the product provides a satisfactory return on investment and if there are alternative options that may offer better value.
• Authenticity and credibility: Reviews provide an opportunity to gauge the authenticity and credibility of a product and its claims. By reading multiple reviews from different sources, you can identify common themes or patterns that help validate or challenge the product’s advertised benefits. This allows you to make a more informed decision and reduces the risk of falling for misleading or exaggerated marketing claims.

By reading reviews, smart consumers gather valuable insights, make informed decisions, and mitigate potential risks associated with their purchases. It allows them to tap into the collective experiences of other consumers and helps ensure that their chosen products align with their expectations and requirements.

A smart consumer is also a responsible shopper.

A smart consumer is a responsible shopper in several ways:.

• Ethical considerations: A responsible shopper takes into account the ethical implications of their purchases. They consider factors such as fair trade practices, environmental sustainability, and social responsibility. They may choose products that are produced using environmentally friendly methods, support companies with ethical supply chains, or prioritize fair labor practices.
• Research and informed choices: A responsible shopper conducts research before making purchasing decisions. They gather information about the product, its ingredients or materials, its production process, and its impact on the environment. They seek out reputable sources, compare options, and make informed choices that align with their values and beliefs.
• Avoidance of excessive consumption: Responsible shoppers resist the temptation of excessive consumption and impulse buying. They consider their actual needs and carefully evaluate whether a purchase is necessary and aligns with their priorities. They prioritize quality over quantity and focus on long-term value rather than short-term gratification.
• Reduction of waste: A responsible shopper aims to minimize waste by making conscious choices. They may opt for products with minimal packaging or choose items that can be recycled or composted. They prioritize durability and quality to ensure that their purchases last longer, reducing the need for frequent replacements.
• Support for local and sustainable businesses: Responsible shoppers actively seek out and support local businesses, artisans, and sustainable brands. They understand the importance of supporting local economies and reducing the environmental footprint associated with long-distance shipping. They may also choose products made from recycled or renewable materials to support the circular economy.
• Consideration of product lifespan: A responsible shopper considers the lifespan of a product before making a purchase. They assess its durability, potential for repair, and overall longevity. They opt for products that can be easily maintained, repaired, or repurposed, reducing the need for frequent replacements and minimizing waste.
• Financial responsibility: Responsible shoppers are mindful of their financial health. They prioritize value for money, avoid unnecessary debt, and make purchases that fit within their budget. They understand the long-term financial implications of their buying decisions and make choices that support their overall financial well-being.

Final Thoughts

By combining smart consumer practices with responsible shopping behaviors, individuals can make more conscious choices that benefit themselves, society, and the environment. They contribute to a more sustainable and ethical marketplace while fulfilling their own needs and preferences.

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University of wyoming extension, a wise consumer.

• Author: Michelle Vigil, University of Wyoming Extension Educator
• Printable PDF: A Wise Consumer
• Category: Saving & Investing

Becoming a wise consumer consists of multiple decisions over time, choosing to spend on consumer goods and services. Awareness, research, and action can aid in your quest toward becoming a wiser consumer. Most people (consumers) enjoy getting a good or service that enhances their quality of life in some way. Think of all the consumer goods that are available to us in the United States. The choices can be overwhelming and thrilling at the same time. Beauty products, exercise equipment, vacations, home decor, vehicles, new food items, garden gadgets, pet products and more. It is exciting to me to discover a solution to my problem with an available good or service. The goal is to get the best deal on the items that you buy and have peace with your decisions. A person gets better with practice and will learn where the best deals are at that point in time. It will also depend on where you live and your access to goods and services. Time is also a factor that needs consideration when researching goods and services. I tend to put more time and research into more expensive items such as homes and vehicles, then price watch on smaller items.

Businesses get feedback through customer communication, profits, customer satisfaction, reputation and more. Consumers have the power to build or break a business, casting their economic votes through buying items. Businesses that produce goods and services that meet consumer wants are the most successful. If a good or service is exceptionally positive or negative, I tend to reach out and tell the company. It can help both parties to get their needs met.

Merriam-Webster's definition of wisdom as the: ability to discern inner qualities and relationships or insight, good sense or judgement, a wise attitude, belief, or course of action.

Keep in mind, it is your life journey and how you use your resources is your business. Each person wants a variation of things in life, ultimately it is their decision. Carefully consider your needs and wants before buying anything.

There have been several people I would consider wise consumers. They got their best deal at the time on the good or service that they wanted. Think about something you would like to buy and strategize your plan.

Person #1 got a dealer price on her new truck, over six emails. Before any dealer was contacted, she had conducted her extensive research, asked family and friends about their experience, test drove over 75 vehicles, and purchased her truck in cash.

Couple #2 waited for two years to find and purchase 100 acres of land. Before anyone was contacted, couple wrote a dream list of all the things that they wanted on this land. Many people were consulted before this endeavor. A network of professionals was asked to give hints for this business venture. Their number one mentors are viable farmers. They plan to plant micro-greens and a variety of vegetables to sell them to nearby restaurants.

Person #3 researched on Consumer Reports and got the best deal on her cell phone and plan in her area. She believed she got the best deal for her situation.

Person #4 wanted to go out to dinner at an expensive restaurant. He called ahead to ask about specials, he could save almost half-price by going to lunch. He took his date to lunch instead and they had a satisfying meal and experience.

Person #5 wanted to plant a garden, spending less than $200 for plants, soil, pots, and supplies. She asked her gardening friends for help and they supplied her with several free plants and nearly new pots. She went to her local Extension Office and received free seeds. In addition to the seeds, she got several plant publications to aid her with best practices.

The goal is to get the best deal on the items that you purchase and have peace with your decisions. A wise consumer gets better with practice and learns what works for them when purchasing goods and services.

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How to Be a Smarter Shopper Right Now

While shortages, price spikes, and delays can be frustrating, there are easy ways to find what you need for the right price, sharing is nice.

We respect your privacy . All email addresses you provide will be used just for sending this story.

If you're in the mood to spend, you're not alone.

"In the first half of 2021, we saw a return of optimism and spending," says Tamara Charm, who works for the global management consulting firm McKinsey as an agile consumer insights leader.

And yet the way we're buying reflects the many long-term changes brought on by the pandemic. E-commerce sales (long on the upswing) jumped 32 percent in 2020, more than double the growth rate in 2019, according to the market research firm Mintel. Even as shoppers venture back into walk-in stores now that vaccines have eased restrictions, online sales remain strong. The experience of having almost everything delivered to one's door has probably changed some shopping habits for good.

In a February 2021 Consumer Reports nationally representative survey  (PDF) of more than 2,500 Americans, 76 percent said that "shopping is a better experience today because the internet makes it easier to get whatever I want, whenever I want it."

It's hard to argue with convenience. "People are generally still working from home at least part of the time, and have more flexibility to order online and be home for deliveries," says Greg Daco, chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics.

But despite the convenience factor—or the enthusiasm for going into stores again—the process of shopping, whether it's for a Halloween costume or an outdoor fire pit , comes with new complications because of price inflation, product shortages, and shipping delays. Plus, the endless options available online can make it difficult to find just what you need.

The best way to shop today depends on what you're buying, how much you want to spend, and when you need it. Read on for our expert guide to get the right stuff at the right price.

Before You Start Shopping, Ask This

What Do You Want? Follow the path that Samantha Gordon, CR's deals editor, recently took when she moved into a new house and needed, well, everything. "I searched online for things like ‘best coffee maker,' " she says. When you do that, your search engine will come up with links to online content offering reviews and opinions on products (for example, CR's own " Best Coffee Makers of 2021 "), as well as listings from retailers. Use the articles to learn about the types of products available—say, drip vs. pod-style machines. Then you can drill down to specific ones from there.

Does It Fit Your Needs? Set a budget for yourself and eliminate anything outside its limits. By reading multiple reviews, you'll get a sense of price ranges and which brands are best. Keep in mind, however, that not all reviews are authentic. (A study by the review analysis site Fakespot pegged the percentage of fake reviews on Amazon at about 30 percent.) If you're not familiar with a brand, read the comments about it in social media posts, where people might talk about quality and customer service. And check the return policy so that you don't get stuck with a stinker.

Shop In-Store or Online? Almost half of consumers said they missed the ability to touch and try products on the spot during lockdowns, and 35 percent said they missed the social aspect of shopping, according to a study by Mood Media in June. See more reasons you might want to go to a store . Here are some other considerations.

Size:  The bigger the item, the more important it might be to see it in person—and to check the return policy, says Julie Ramhold, a consumer analyst at the shopping comparison site DealNews. "The only thing worse than getting stuck with an item you can't use is getting stuck with one that's also heavy and awkward, and has to be removed by someone else."

Price: If you know what you want and you're just looking for a good deal, go online. Take pet food: You'll find enticing discounts from online retailers, and you can get even better prices through loyalty programs. Plus, there's no lugging heavy bags of chow to and from your car.

An influx of overly positive or negative reviews posted within a week or two could mean they're not legit, says Saoud Khalifah, founder of the review analysis site Fakespot. Other red flags include spelling errors and repetitive language in multiple reviews. See if you can find video reviews; they tend to be harder to fake, say Khalifah and CR's deals editor, Samantha Gordon.

Set Yourself Up to Save

What's Different When McKinsey asked consumers about what they planned to splurge on this year, Tamara Charm expected them to say travel and dining. They did say that, but they also said they looked forward to buying electronics, home goods, cosmetics, and more. "Folks are excited to spend as life gets back to normal," she says.

But when it comes to the cost of consumer goods, things aren't exactly normal. A combination of high demand for everything from lumber to outdoor furniture and supply-chain shortages for those very same products has driven prices up and available deals down. Appliance retailers, for one, are offering smaller discounts and fewer promotions, industry experts say.

Still, stores are angling for your business, and online tools make it easier to compare prices, so you're not doomed to overpay as long as you shop carefully.

Save More In-Store Because so many walk-in stores also have websites (or compete with e-commerce stores), the internet is your key to getting in-person deals. So check the online price of anything you're considering buying in a store, and ask the retailer to match it. (In CR's member surveys, most shoppers who try to negotiate say they're successful.) If you can't get a better price, ask for something else—delivery or assembly thrown in free, for example. Some retailers, such as Petco, Kohl's, and Walmart, are offering discounts, rebates, or incentives to shoppers who "buy online, pick up in store" (also called BOPUS).

Find the Best Deals Online 1. Use sites to save . Search Google Shopping, PriceGrabber, or Shopzilla as well as CR.org to see prices across retailers. CR's shopping pros also look for deals at websites like DealNews, GottaDeal, and DealsPlus, where you can sign up for alerts for products you're interested in, often by category.

2. Add to your cart. If you're signed in at a website and leave an item in your cart without checking out, some retailers might send you an email with a discount code to encourage you to buy.

3. Join a loyalty program. Signing up for one may get you early access to coupons, sales, and promotions, plus rewards on what you buy.

4 Get social. Retailers often post exclusive promotions on their Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter feeds, and reward customers who "like" or follow them with alerts for discounts, incentives, and giveaways.

The savings can be significant. On Apple's website, for example, we recently found a refurbished iPhone XR with 128 gigabytes of storage for $469. And you're likely to be happy with your buy. In CR's Spring 2018 survey of over 3,000 members with refurbished smartphones, a majority told us they were highly satisfied with theirs. Look for a certified pre-owned phone—with a warranty—that you can return.

Heading Out to a Store

What's Different Walk-in stores today don't look quite the same as they did in 2019. Thousands didn't make it through the pandemic. At those that have survived, you can expect not only ubiquitous hand-sanitizing stations but also potentially fewer salespeople because of a post-pandemic labor crunch.

"The service that you find in a store right now might not be what you were accustomed to pre-pandemic," says Audrey Guskey, PhD, an associate professor of marketing at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and an expert on consumer trends.

Depending on what you're purchasing, you might also find less available stock. Supply-chain shortages in semiconductors , electronics, lumber, and foam affect many categories, including laptops and furniture.

Shop In-Store Strategically Beyond the appeal of retail therapy—an afternoon spent with a friend hitting favorite shops and coffee spots at the mall or strolling down Main Street—there are certain times when a physical store is the best place to find what you need.

1. When comfort is key: If you'll spend a lot of time sitting or lying on a piece of furniture—like a sofa or mattress—it's worth heading to a store to try before you buy. Ditto for anything where ergonomics are important, like a keyboard, fitness equipment, and musical instruments.

With clothing, it's an "it depends" situation. You can find just about anything online and it's usually easy to return. But if fit is really important—say, for running shoes or evening wear—you might want the help of a store associate or the convenience of in-house tailoring.

2. If color or scale really matters: Computer screens and photography can distort the way colors appear and make it difficult to judge size. So if you really want to make sure that a new rug will match your curtains or that a new chair doesn't dwarf your side table, you might want to see it in person, especially if it's something large and difficult to return. And measure your space and existing furnishings before you go.

3. Because you want a curated selection: Going to a store with a limited number of carefully chosen options can help simplify your choices. And the owner or an experienced salesperson of a specialty shop may be able to offer advice for your specific needs.

It can be. Just know that retail cards also typically have higher interest rates, lower credit limits, and lower rewards than general interest cards, says Kimberly Palmer, a personal finance expert with NerdWallet. Before you sign up, do the math to see if the discount is worth it. Also: Applying will typically generate a "hard inquiry" on your credit report, which can temporarily hurt your credit score.

Shopping Online

What's Different Retail giants like Amazon, Kmart, and Walmart now host third-party or "marketplace" sellers, independent retailers who often have their own shipping and return policies that may differ from those of the main platform. Fake reviews have proliferated everywhere. And even the search process has become less than straightforward.

Keep in mind that a "sponsored" label with an item means that a company paid to get its product listed at the top of the results page. And the "Amazon's Choice" label, another example, doesn't mean someone from Amazon reviewed it but rather that an algorithm found it ranked well in terms of reviews, pricing, and availability to ship quickly.

Find It Faster 1. Use your tabs. Try what Julie Ramhold, a consumer analyst, does: Type an item into your search engine, then click through to one of the retailers that comes up. Find the product you like best and keep that page open. Go to a new tab and repeat the process at another retailer. That way, you can compare.

2. Filter for your needs. Retailers typically have a side or top panel where you can choose to limit your search by factors like brand, size, color, and average customer review rating.

3. Set a timer. If you're prone to decision paralysis, Bob Sullivan, author of "Gotcha Capitalism" (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2018), suggests setting a timer to go off a few minutes after you've started searching. "Just stopping and doing something else can help you make a choice," he says.

First, check that lower online price. Note the shipping costs and return policy, and see what's included, like unboxing or basic setup. Then ask the store whether it can match the online price. If it can't, you'll have to weigh price vs. supporting an independent retailer that may offer benefits such as individual advice and a curated selection—if not rock-bottom prices.

Coping With Customer Service

Many retailers now use artificial intelligence customer service "chatbots" (essentially, robots with whom you can instant message for assistance).

If you'd rather talk to a person, ask the chatbot for a phone number you can call. Or check the website GetHuman, an online directory with customer service guides and phone numbers for thousands of national and international companies.

If that's not getting you anywhere, switch to social media—but that doesn't mean publicly airing your grievance. Direct messaging a company's social media account is often the quickest path to a response.

Always be sure you understand the shipping and return policies before you buy, including the return window, whether you need a receipt or proof of purchase, and whether you'll have to pay a restocking fee.

Don't assume that third-party sellers have the same return and shipping policies as the main site. Look for the "sold by" label on the item you're buying and click through to the seller's storefront to check its policies. Also read customer reviews for the seller and the products it offers. Tread carefully if there's a lot of negative feedback.

Did you get bad customer service? Learn  how to complain well and get results .

If you're picking a similar model from a reliable brand (see our ratings ), buying online makes sense. If you're considering a new type—say, an induction model when you've always had gas—you might want to see it and get personal advice. Some independent retailers also offer repair service, which could help down the line.

Editor's Note:  This article also appeared in the October 2021 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.

Beth Braverman

Beth Braverman is a freelance writer who contributes to Consumer Reports on personal finance topics. Conscious of the intersection of life and money, she is always looking for ways to make more mindful decisions about both.

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Classroom Q&A

With larry ferlazzo.

In this EdWeek blog, an experiment in knowledge-gathering, Ferlazzo will address readers’ questions on classroom management, ELL instruction, lesson planning, and other issues facing teachers. Send your questions to [email protected]. Read more from this blog.

‘We Need to Teach Our Students to Be Smart Consumers of Information’

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(This is the first post in a two-part series)

The new question-of-the-week is:

What are the best ways teachers can help students combat “fake news” and develop information-literacy skills?

Information literacy has always been an important skill, and its importance has skyrocketed in the social-media age.

Today, we’ll hear responses from Carla Truttman, Josh Perlman, Jennifer Casa-Todd, Bryan Goodwin, and Frank W. Baker.

You might also be interested in The Best Tools & Lessons for Teaching Information Literacy.

Though I’m not hosting radio shows this summer to accompany blog posts, you can still listen to past BAM! Radio Shows . You can also find a list of, and links to, previous shows here.

Response From Carla Truttman

Carla Truttman teaches social studies and English/language arts at Yreka High School located in a small, rural town in far Northern California. She is also the inservice co-director for the Northern California Writing Project and a member of the National Writing Project’s C3WP leadership team:

COMBAT “FAKE NEWS” WITH ROUTINE ARGUMENT WRITING

Propaganda or “fake news” is not a new concept; however, it has risen to an entirely new level, and it is essential we teach students the necessary information-literacy skills to critically analyze the overwhelming amounts of information they are bombarded with daily. Our students’ need to navigate the information-age calls for a shift in our expectations of how students engage in our classrooms . We need to teach our students to be smart consumers of information with a healthy dose of skepticism and the essential skills they need to critically analyze and process information. Students should have multiple, recursive, iterative opportunities to practice information-literacy skills until these skills become inherent in their consumption of information.

Routine Argument Writing strategies suggested by the National Writing Project’s College, Career and Community Writers’ Program (C3WP) use engaging, up-to-date materials to teach discrete reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in informal, low-stakes ways which encourage students to voice opinions, listen to others, ask questions, research for new information, and understand how opinions can evolve over time. Routine Argument Writing activities happen daily in my classroom. These activities have replaced traditional journal writing and take between 5 and 15 minutes at the beginning of every class period. I think intentionally and purposefully to design curriculum with these principles in mind:

Create a Secure Learning Environment - Students today hesitate to question information or offer an opinion about information for fear of being wrong. Students need to feel safe enough to ask questions, voice their opinion, argue their point of view, and change their mind. Low-stakes, high-interest, and informal routines help students feel secure enough to engage in materials in a way they never have before—to shift from the teacher-directed learning model to a more collaborative classroom experience. This shift will take time. The suggested structure challenges much of what they have been taught to expect in school. We’re changing the game, so to speak, and we must provide lots of opportunities for students to practice navigating and mastering the new reality.

Design Relevant, Current, and Connected Curriculum - Student engagement largely depends on student interest, and Routine Argument Writing activities provide wonderful opportunities to help students make connections between the world they live in now and the curriculum you are teaching. Draw inspiration from the headlines, social-media posts, music lyrics, movies, etc. The materials used in these activities are likely to be part of the stream of information students might be processing in real time. The use of current, relevant information serves three important purposes: (1) it meets students where they are; (2) it helps students see themselves in the curriculum they are studying; and (3) it creates opportunities to teach students about valid sources of information vs. “fake news.” For example, using articles, videos, headlines, interviews, etc., from the current “Me Too” Movement during Routine Argument Writing activities while teaching Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a great way to help student appreciate the connections between Stamps, Ark., a century ago and living in America today.

“Fake news” is not going away, so we must provide our students with the skills necessary to recognize it and the confidence to call it out when they see it. Daily Routine Argument Writing activities provide the means to achieve both of these essential goals.

Response From Josh Perlman

Josh Perlman teaches U.S. history and AP European history at Flintridge Preparatory School, a 7-12 independent school near Los Angeles, where he is also History Department chair:

The proliferation of false news in recent years has been echoed by a proliferation of recommendations about how to deal with it. Sifting through hyperlinks to determine which newfangled initiative rises to the challenge of our ever-evolving media landscape is hard work. With tension between standardized testing and student-centered pedagogies already increasing teachers’ cognitive load, the mandate to combat “fake news” can seem simply one more passing fad, sapping energy from teachers’ core mandates to shore up students’ knowledge and critical thinking.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Indeed, I’ve found that the skills involved in combating misinformation are in fact the very skills that students need to succeed on standardized tests such as the AP, as well as to develop the pluck and curiosity that student-centered pedagogies prize.

One core skill students can transfer to their media consumption is the assessment of primary sources for bias. At first, students routinely struggle with sources that seem objective, asserting, for example, “This source simply reports facts and is therefore reliable.” Our challenge is to get students thinking about how factors external to the source itself, such as the author’s identity, audience, and purpose, may produce subtle distortions in the text itself.

The best writing on critical media engagement encourages the same reflex, prodding students to “read laterally” and open up new tabs on the author and publisher of a given article. Snopes , Politifact , and Factcheck.org often have information on trending articles, while resources such as ICANN WHOIS allow students to determine who holds the registration of a given domain.

Unfortunately, many educator resources consist of checklists that encourage students to focus on the website in question. While these guidelines may be effective in sniffing out obvious “tells,” such as bizarre URLs, research shows that these checklists fail to tip off students to more sophisticated misinformation, such as “astro-turfing” by well-funded special interests. Checklists, therefore, run the risk of creating false confidence while doing little to develop transferable critical thinking.

Our historical moment has produced many tools to help students scrutinize internet news. One of my favorites is Factitious , a video game which tests students’ news saviness and trains them to focus less on the content of the article than on its source.

However, maintaining a long list of web-savvy tools, each of which may become obsolete, is less helpful to our students in the long run than cultivating inquisitive and skeptical habits of mind.

My favorite way to do this is to frame essential questions that call students’ attention to the politics behind the production of knowledge. For example, one of the three essential questions in my 11 th grade U.S. history course this fall was: “What are the myths of American history? When and why were they created, and why do we believe them?” We scrutinized iconic visual sources such as Paul Revere’s engraving of the Boston Massacre and Jean Ferris’s 1912 painting First Thanksgiving—comparing evidence from the most reliable primary sources with these more famous representations, then inquiring about what ideological agendas led to exaggerations and omissions. We homed in on the motives of a key revolutionary propagandist, as well as the patronizing attitudes of an Anglo-Saxon elite toward immigrants during the Progressive era. In this process, we also excavated the emotional appeals that make mythic archetypes such as the bloodthirsty Redcoats and the charitable Pilgrims so appealing and politically useful.

As one student observed, “In 5th grade, we learned a story that made us feel good about our country and ourselves. Maybe that was the point.”

To retain a resilient and flexible framework for media skepticism, students must develop the habit of looking beyond every story to examine the motives of its storyteller.

Response From Jennifer Casa-Todd

Jennifer Casa-Todd is currently a teacher-librarian, a former literacy consultant and English teacher, and the author of Social LEADia: Moving Students from Digital Citizenship to Digital Leadership . She uses technology and social media to learn and share learning, empower and celebrate others, and make a positive impact on others. She is deeply passionate about shining a light on kids and their adult mentors who are making a difference on and offline:

Teacher librarians and English teachers have always been about showing students how to find credible resources. It’s been a decade since I showed kids the fake Tree Octopus website, and so many of them fall for it every time. In an age where “fake news” seems to be rampant, research has shown that middle schoolers in a 2016 Stanford study could not differentiate between a credible news article and an advertisement. In order to combat this, we need to look at where kids (and adults) get their news sources: social media. Using a class account (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook), you can have Fake News Fridays where you focus in on an article and what it looks like within that social-media site. Using a “think aloud” to begin, the teacher unpacks the questions that need to be posed in order to determine whether the source is legitimate. You may use, SMELL or SOURCE as a springboard for asking questions about the source of a text. There needs to be a gradual release of responsibility here with kids then working with a small group and then a partner to ask questions and eventually doing it on their own.

For older students, I have them search their own social-media feed and provide the article or post for the class to consider. Kids find this challenging, but they also try to challenge their classmates.

Conversations about “fake news” need to be ongoing, in context, and need to help kids develop strategies to do the critical thinking on their own—this is what lifelong learning is all about. Fake News Fridays cultivates a culture of questioning which students need to take with them as they consume media.

Response From Bryan Goodwin

Bryan Goodwin is the CEO of Denver-based McREL International. He thrives on translating research into practice, scanning the world for new insights and best practices on teaching and leading, and helping educators everywhere adapt them to address their own challenges. A frequent conference presenter, he is the author of Simply Better: Doing What Matters Most to Change the Odds for Student Success , and co-author of The 12 Touchstones of Good Teaching and Balanced Leadership for Powerful Learning: Tools for Achieving Success in Your School . Before joining McREL in 1998, Bryan was a college instructor, a high school teacher, and an award-winning business journalist:

I’ve got some bad news and some good news when it comes to fake news. The bad news is we’re often suckers for fake news because we’re all susceptible to what psychologists call “confirmation bias"―a propensity to accept information that supports our view and disregard data that doesn’t. So, when we see a story that confirms our beliefs, our naturally tendency is to believe it.

Combating “fake news” thus requires helping students to exercise their brains in a more effortful way, teaching them to read not just with comprehension, but also discernment―in short, applying critical thinking to what they’re reading. True, many adults, have failed to develop this skill. Nonetheless―and herein lies the good news―we can teach it to students.

So, what exactly is critical thinking? As it turns out, it’s a constellation of skills that apply to corresponding subject matter―for example, we apply scientific thinking to science, textual analysis to literature, and quantitative reasoning in mathematics. Add them up and you get “critical thinking.”

Sometimes educators―at all levels, including prestigious colleges―assume critical thinking develops through osmosis. Let’s expose students to great literature, laboratory science experiments, and debates about history and voila, they’ll turn into critical thinkers.

As it turns out, they don’t.

Instead, as I note in an article I wrote for a regular research column in Educational Leadership magazine, we must show students how to develop critical-thinking skills by doing the following:

Teach it directly . Since critical thinking is all about getting to the heart of the matter, it makes little sense to approach it obliquely. Lessons that have critical thinking “embedded” in them do nothing to teach the critical-thinking skills themselves. These need to be taught explicitly. Examples include showing students how to analyze data for validity, interpret graphs, observe correlations, and identify cause and effect.

Don’t teach it in a vacuum . Critical thinking is a skill we apply to new information―something students ought to encounter in every subject every day. Thus, critical thinking can be taught in the context of actual subject matter. And we can do this in three simply ways: classroom dialogue and discussion, complex problem solving, and mentoring. The studies that gave rise to this observation show that effective critical-thinking instruction can (and likely must) be simultaneously taught directly and entwined with subject-matter content.

Start with “because.” Let’s get even more practical. Here’s a simple classroom technique you can use tomorrow for students at any level: Challenge students to support their assertions by tacking on a clause that begins with “because” (“I know this is the strongest argument because . . .”). You can help students see that often it takes a whole chain of “because” statements to bolster an argument. Then you can help them use this skill to develop a little voice in the back of their heads to question what they’re reading online and sort out the gems from the junk.

Response From Frank W. Baker

Frank W. Baker is a media education consultant who helps educators identify ways to engage students with media literacy and critical thinking. His newest book, Close Reading the Media , is published by Routledge/MiddleWeb. He shares many resources at The Media Literacy Clearinghouse website and tweets @fbaker . He can be reached at [email protected] :

My previous work in broadcast journalism, public education, and public television informs my response here.

I believe teachers could start by first engaging students in better understanding the news-gathering process itself. Most young people consume the news but most don’t have an idea of how it is gathered and reported. One way to begin here would be to invite a print or broadcast journalist into the classroom so that students begin to understand and appreciate exactly what a reporter does and how they go about doing what they do.

When students consume the news—whether that’s from social media, an actual newspaper, or via television—they’re probably doing so passively.

Media-literacy education emphasizes “active viewing” and “critical thinking.”

Media literacy, like information literacy, involves critical inquiry—asking questions. In media literacy, those questions include, but are not limited to:

- who is the author or creator of the message? - who is the audience for the message; how do you know? - what techniques does the author use to make a message credible? - who or what might be omitted and why? - who might benefit from this message?

Recently, I was asked to speak to school librarians and to recommend some ways they might begin to address “fake news”.

The example I used was “President Obama Signs Executive Order Banning The Pledge of Allegiance in Schools.”

I used a handout of that website and asked the educators to tell me what was true and what wasn’t about the content of the page.

Of course, any educator can use the critical-thinking questions from one of the many “fake news” infographics that are out there, including the excellent CRAAP Detection Analysis.

I have recommended that librarians, and other educators, consider posting these “critical-thinking” questions adjacent to every computer so that students get accustomed to seeing it, referring to it, and using it.

Finally, if you read any news story about fake news in the last year-and-a-half, no doubt that story also referenced media literacy and included a series of recommendations. I snagged those recommendations and compiled them into a website I now call FAKE NEWS REMEDY RECOMMENDATIONS. I hope you’ll consider some of the many resources there to use when you engage your students in better understanding “fake news.”

Thanks to Carla, Josh, Jennifer, Bryan, and Frank for their contributions.

Please feel free to leave a comment with your reactions to the topic or directly to anything that has been said in this post.

Consider contributing a question to be answered in a future post. You can send one to me at [email protected] . When you send it in, let me know if I can use your real name if it’s selected or if you’d prefer remaining anonymous and have a pseudonym in mind.

You can also contact me on Twitter at @Larryferlazzo .

Education Week has published a collection of posts from this blog, along with new material, in an e-book form. It’s titled Classroom Management Q&As: Expert Strategies for Teaching .

Just a reminder; you can subscribe and receive updates from this blog via email or RSS Reader. And if you missed any of the highlights from the first seven years of this blog, you can see a categorized list below. The list doesn’t include ones from this current year, but you can find those by clicking on the “answers” category found in the sidebar.

This Year’s Most Popular Q&A Posts

Race & Gender Challenges

Classroom Management Advice

Best Ways to Begin The School Year

Best Ways to End The School Year

Implementing the Common Core

Student Motivation & Social-Emotional Learning

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Project-Based Learning

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Author Interviews

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Learning & the Brain

Administrator Leadership

Teacher Leadership

Relationships in Schools

Professional Development

Instructional Strategies

Best of Classroom Q&A

I am also creating a Twitter list including all contributors to this column .

Look for Part Two in a few days.

The opinions expressed in Classroom Q&A With Larry Ferlazzo are strictly those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions or endorsement of Editorial Projects in Education, or any of its publications.

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Tips on How to Be a Smart Consumer

Smart consumers analyze the budget, compare prices within a service field, and weigh the choices of spending money on particular items. They know how to save money or to spend it more reasonably on something else. In this article, you will learn the best ideas on how to be a smart consumer.

The best tips and ideas for being a “smart consumer”

Being a “smart consumer” is critical nowadays. It’s a fashionable trend that everyone wants to follow. You should also be well-informed and become a “prosumer” – a person who bases purchasing decisions on knowledge of a product’s lifecycle and true value. It’s not an easy task. Thus, the following smart consumer tips and ideas should help you:

Limit impulse shopping

Try to ignore “for sales” signs. If you didn’t plan to visit this shop, just pass it by. Companies spend lots of money studying customers. Thus, understanding main marketing tricks and the awareness of tips for becoming a wise shopper can help avoid impulse shopping. The examples of common marketing tricks are:

• Products which retailers want to sell first are always at an eye level.
• The price tag with the phrase “maximum 8 cans per customer” doesn’t mean a true discount, it gives the illusion of it. As a result, you buy more.
• Free candy or chocolate leads to the desire to buy expensive and nonfood luxury goods.
• Shoppers’ disorientation leads to impulsive buying. Thus, when you enter a mall or a shopping center, you become confused by the layout and forget why you are there.
• Imitating your gestures and sales people’s touch to your shoulders leads to more selling.
• The smell and specific music lead to the sales increase.
• Rude salespeople in luxury stores. They provoke the desire to belong to a special crowd that doesn’t want you as a member, and then you buy expensive products.

Check, compare prices of products and seek the cheapest ones

Make up a shopping list according to this data. Check for the goods that were banned, recalled or pulled from the shelves. In order to do it, visit websites (ConsumerReports.org) that announce such goods. Don’t forget to check such warnings in the email, online, or media.

Avoid pirated goods. Examine the product carefully

An unusual low price is always suspicious. Pay attention to packaging. It is the indicator of a fake. Read the information on it: a manufacturer’s name, official address, an importer, holograms, control numbers. Be wary of misspelling: logos and trademark should be displayed correctly.

Learn about the biggest sale days

There are some discount days you should know. They are as follows:

• New Year’s Day (January 1st). Retailers sell leftover pre-holiday stock such as winter clothing, New Year’s resolution items, like exercise equipment, etc.
• President’s Day (3rd Monday of February). This day is perfect if you want to buy winter clothing.
• Memorial Day (Last Monday in May). This day is good for buying spring clothing and mattresses.
• Independence Day (July 4th). This day is good for buying office supplies, laptops, and air conditioners.
• Labor Day (1st Monday in September). It is the best time for buying back-to-school items and summer items (grills, outdoor equipment).
• Columbus Day (1st Monday in October). It is a good time for buying jeans, patio furniture.
• Black Friday (The day after the 4th Thursday in November). It is the best period for every shopper. You can find great discounts practically on anything.
• Cyber Monday (The Monday following Black Friday). It is the day for online shopping.

Take advantage of wise shopping online and follow the next tips

• Look carefully at the website itself. The one that doesn’t use “https” or “SSL” is mostly of questionable origin.
• Check the contact information that should be legitimate with more than one way of contact: an email address or P.O. Box, one or several telephone numbers.
• Be careful when you see pop-up advertisements on the sides of your screen. Most phony sites use them.
• Learn all details about the supply chain (it should be a legal source). Another smart online shopping tip is to read the website policies (delivery terms, return and refund options, shipping policies, exchange facility, and warranty deals).
• Don’t share sensitive information over the Internet like Social Security Number, bank account details etc.
• Don’t pay in advance. It is safer to choose for cash on delivery option (COD). Don’t give any details concerning your debit or credit card information over the net.
• Compare products, prices and warranty deals for the same product with other competitor shops. Another wise shopping tip is to find out about discounts for the first purchase, loyalty points, etc.
• Make a shopping plan for the biggest online sales. Among the best shopping days are Easter, Father’s Day, Back-t0-school period, Labor Day, Super Saturday, and others.
• Add to your calendar Free Shipping Day (December 11) which is a good opportunity to avoid expensive shipping fees.

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Get money smart. 25 tips to improve your financial well-being

Your financial well-being, or overall financial situation, is unique to you. Often, we equate how well we’re doing financially with how much money we make, our credit score, or overall net worth. In reality, your financial well-being is determined by factors that tell a larger story about your relationship to money. This includes how well you’re able to stay on top of your financial obligations, how secure you feel about your financial future, and ultimately whether you have the freedom to make financial choices that allow you to enjoy your life.

The story you tell about your finances doesn’t need to be a scary one. This October, during Financial Planning Month, we’ve pulled together 25 easy-to-follow tips for getting a handle on your money and improving your overall financial well-being. It starts with getting a realistic picture of where your money is coming from and where it’s going. Then, we walk you through how to stay on top of your finances so you can plan—and save—for the future. 

How would you rate your financial well-being? Get started by taking our quiz, and join us online throughout October by following #FinancialPlanningMonth and sharing these tips and tools.

Understand where your money goes 

The prequel to your financial story begins with a look into your past and current finances. What do you spend money on, and where are you getting your income? By tracking these factors, you can get a better sense of your financial picture today so you can plan for the future.

1. Take our quiz to see how healthy your finances are.

Answer just 10 questions to measure your financial well-being and get a few steps for making improvements. Take it now, then take it again later to see if your story has changed.

2. Learn where your money is coming from.

Before you can make any improvements, you need to get an accurate picture of your finances. Start by tracking your sources of income .

3. Learn where your money is going.

Fill out our spending tracker to get a sense of your regular expenses. To get a handle on your money, you need a system that will allow you to track your daily spending on an ongoing basis. Find and stick to a system that works best for you.

4. Write your bill due dates on a calendar.

If you have trouble making ends meet at the end of the month, the timing of your income and expenses may be off. It’s often helpful to see the full picture. Write down the due dates for your bills on a printed calendar that you can look at regularly as you plan for the weeks ahead.

Small changes can make a big difference

There are some easy steps you can take to turn the corner on your finances. Once you have an accurate picture of your money, follow these tips to start aligning your expenses to your income. 

5. Create a working budget that matches your cash flow.

Your cash flow is the timing of when money comes in and when it goes out. Looking at it on a week-by-week basis, especially if you tend to run short, can help you create a working monthly budget .

6. Request due dates for your bills that help you stay on track.

If there are certain weeks when money is especially tight, you can contact your creditors and utility companies and request new due dates that better align with your income .

7. Compare your spending month-to-month.

Track your spending closely for several months. By looking at your spending in real-time and comparing it to the previous month , you’ll start to see places where you can make adjustments and move money into savings.

Save for emergencies

Saving money might feel out of reach at times, but consistently putting away even small amounts of money can make a big impact over time. Check out our tips for making saving a part of your everyday routine, and then watch it grow. 

8. Give yourself financial security with an emergency savings fund.

Start by putting aside what you can afford in order to help cover many common emergencies, such as a car repair or medical bill, that could otherwise become costly debt. Prioritize a dedicated savings account for these unexpected expenses as one of your top savings goals, and as you get a better handle on your overall financial situation, you may decide to set more aside.

9. Set rules for your emergency savings–but don’t be afraid to use it.

Set guidelines for yourself for when you can spend down this savings fund and what constitutes an emergency, but if you need it, don’t be afraid to use it. That’s what it’s there for. Just remember to work to rebuild it.

10. Make saving easy by making it automatic.

Whether it’s through your bank or employer, there are a number of ways to have money automatically transferred into your savings every week or month . Reoccurring transfers are considered one of the most effective ways to build your savings.

11. Put extra money into savings at times when you have it.

There may be weeks when money is tighter than others. Take the opportunity to put money into savings when you have it.

12. Use your tax refund to help you reach financial goals.

For many Americans, a tax refund can be one of the largest checks they receive all year. Make a plan now to dedicate a portion of that money to saving for some of your larger financial or savings goals.

Reduce your debt 

Paying down debt can seem scary or tough, but with some proven strategies, you can make it happen, bit by bit. Our tips for reducing debt can help you find the right methods to trim your debt into something that feels manageable.

13. Before making a plan to pay down your debts, know what you owe.

Use our debt log to get a sense of the amount of debt you owe, including interest rate and projected payoff date, and who you owe it to.

14. Choose a debt reduction strategy that works best for you.

There are two common strategies to pay down your debt: the highest interest-rate method and the snowball method. Learn the differences and pick the one that works best for you .

15. Learn about federal and private student loans repayment options.

Whether you have federal or private student loans, or a mix of the two, start with the loans you’re most concerned with, and learn how to optimize paying them off .

16. In the market for a car? Negotiating can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars over the life of your loan.

Plan ahead, and learn what’s negotiable.

Create better money habits 

Improving how you manage your money on a daily basis may take time and dedication, but as you develop better money habits, you’ll create a financial story that you’re proud of. 

17. Apply only for credit you need.

While it’s not the only factor, a good credit score is key to your financial well-being. One way to get and keep a good credit score is to apply only for credit you need.

18. Set an annual reminder to check your credit reports.

You’re entitled to free credit reports every 12 months , so set up an annual reminder to review them for any errors that may be hurting your credit and should be fixed.

19. Set up alerts to stay on top of your checking account balance.

Through most banks and credit unions, you’re able to set up alerts to notify you of your checking account balance at the end of the week or if your balance gets low. This helps you monitor your accounts and also protects you from incurring additional overdraft fees .

20. If you can’t make a bill payment, act fast and call your creditors.

Missing a bill payment can have several negative financial impacts. If you’re experiencing a financial emergency, contact your lenders or creditors before your due date to see what options may be available to you.

21. When shopping for a loan, get quotes from at least three lenders.

One of the best ways to save money on a loan is to shop around and get estimates from several lenders to best compare terms and fees. This is true for home loans as well as other types of loans, including auto loans .

Plan for success

Planning ahead is always helpful, and once you get a handle on your current financial picture, set some goals for what comes next. By building a plan, you have a roadmap to help guide you through the rest of your story. 

22. When planning for the future, set SMART financial goals.

Break down your financial goals so that they’re S pecific, M easurable, A chievable, R elevant, and T ime-bound. While dreams tend to be aspirational and often vague, setting actionable SMART goals can help you reach your dreams.

23. Set up a 529 savings plan for your children.

If you have young children, college may seem far off, but to help reduce their need for student loans, a 529 plan is an investment account where your money can grow tax-free.

24. Make your savings consistent.

Putting even a small amount into savings on a consistent basis is one of the best ways to get your savings to grow so you can meet your goals, small or large. Set your own personal savings rule to live by and make a plan on how to achieve it .

25. Prepare for life events and large purchases by planning ahead.

Once you get a handle on your finances, you can start to map out life events and large purchases , so you can begin saving!

If you’ve taken some time to work through these tips, starting with our financial well-being quiz , we encourage you to go back and take it again at the end of October. Improving your financial health and well-being takes time, but the more you know, the more empowered you’ll be to make informed decisions that’ll improve your financial future.

Join the conversation. Follow CFPB on Twitter and Facebook .

Essay About Consumerism: Top 5 Examples Plus Prompts

Consumerism is the child of capitalism; Here is a list of essay about consumerism examples and prompts you can read to further your understanding.

The word consumerism can seem daunting to some, but it’s pretty simple. It is defined as “a preoccupation with and an inclination toward the buying of consumer goods.” In the consumerist theory, people’s spending on goods and services drives economic growth- their spending preferences and habits determine the direction a company will go next.

Many businesses practice consumerism. It is a common belief that you must adopt a consumerist approach to succeed in your trade. Consumerism refers to people’s prioritization of spending on goods and services. They have the drive to purchase more items continuously.

If you are writing an essay about consumerism, you can get started by reading these essay examples.

1. What You Need To Know About Consumerism by Mark Scott

2. long essay on consumerism by prasanna, 3. consumerism: want and new pair shoes by tony richardson, 4. my thoughts on being a blogger & consumerism by anna newton, 5. consumerism and its discontents by tori deagelis, 1. does consumerism affect your decisions , 2. opposing consumerism, 3. how does consumerism negatively affect mental health, 4. how does consumerism positively affect mental health, 5. do you agree with consumerism.

“Although consumerism drives economic growth and boosts innovation, it comes with a fair share of problems ranging from environmental and moral degradation to higher debt levels and mental health problems..”

Scott gives readers an overview of consumerism in economic and social terms. He then briefly discusses consumerism’s history, benefits, and disadvantages driving economic growth and innovation. It also raises debt, harms the environment, and shifts society’s values toward worldly possessions rather than other people. Scott believes it is perhaps most healthy to find a balance between love for others and material things. 

“Consumerism helps the consumers to seek redressal for their grievances against the unfair policies of the companies. It teaches the consumers about their rights and duties and helps them get better quality of products and services.”

In this essay, author Prasanna writes about the history of consumerism and its applications in India. First, it helps protect consumers from companies’ “unethical marketing practices.” For example, she cites policies put in place by the government to inspect food items, ensuring they are of good quality and prepared per sanitation standards. When used appropriately, consumerism serves the benefit of all. 

“Anything people see they buy without thinking twice and knowing that they already have brand new pair shoes they have not worn because there to focused on buying and buying till they see they no longer have space in their closet to put new shoes in.”

Richardson takes a personal approach to consumerism, recalling several of his friends’ hobbies of collecting expensive shoes. Advertisements and the pressure to conform play a big role in their consumerism, enticing them to buy more and more items. Richardson believes that consumerism blinds people to the fact that their standards and desires just keep increasing and that they buy shoes for unjustified reasons. Instead, society should be more responsible and remind itself that it needs to take importance above all.

“Take online creators out of the way for a minute, because the pressure to buy is everywhere and has been since the dawn of the dime. The floorplan of stores are set out in a way that makes you stomp around the whole thing and ultimately purchase more, ads on the TV, radio, billboards, in magazines discounts and promotions – it’s endless..”

In her blog The Anna Edit , Newton explains the relationship between blogging and consumerism. Bloggers and influencers may need to purchase more things, not only for self-enjoyment but to produce new content. However, she feels this lifestyle is unsustainable and needs to be moderated. Her attitude is to balance success with her stability and well-being by limiting the number of things she buys and putting less value on material possessions. 

“In a 2002 paper in the Journal of Consumer Research (Vol. 29, No. 3), the team first gauged people’s levels of stress, materialistic values and prosocial values in the domains of family, religion and community–in keeping with the theory of psychologist Shalom Schwartz, PhD, that some values unavoidably conflict with one another. ”

DeAngelis first states that it is widely believed that more desire for material wealth likely leads to more discontent: it prioritizes material things over quality time, self-reflection, and relationships. Increasing one’s wealth can help solve this problem, but it is only a short-term fix. However, a 2002 study revealed that the life satisfaction of more materialistic and less materialistic people is not different. 

Prompts on Essay about Consumerism

This is not something people think about daily, but it impacts many of us. In this essay, write about how you are influenced by the pressure to buy items you don’t need. Discuss advertising and whether you feel influenced to purchase more from a convincing advertisement. Use statistics and interview data to support your opinions for an engaging argumentative essay.

Consumerism has been criticized by economists , academics , and environmental advocates alike. First, research the disadvantages of consumerism and write your essay about why there has been a recent surge of its critics. Then, conduct a critical analysis of the data in your research, and create a compelling analytical essay.

Consumerism is believed to impact mental health negatively. Research these effects and write about how consumerism affects a person’s mental health. Be sure to support your ideas with ample evidence, including interviews, research data such as statistics, and scientific research papers.

Consumerism often gets a bad reputation. For an interesting argumentative essay, take the opposite stance and argue how consumerism can positively impact mental health. Take a look at the arguments from both sides and research the potential positive effects of consumerism. Perhaps you can look into endorphins from purchases, happiness in owning items, or even the rush of owning a unique item. 

In this essay, take your stance. Choose a side of the argument – does consumerism help or hinder human life? Use research to support both sides of the argument and pitch your stance. You can argue your case through key research and create an exciting argumentative essay.

For help with this topic, read our guide explaining what is persuasive writing ?

If you are interested in learning more, check out our essay writing tips !

Martin is an avid writer specializing in editing and proofreading. He also enjoys literary analysis and writing about food and travel.

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Friday, november 13, 2009.

Smartphone Essay

500 words essay on smartphone.

Smartphones have become a very important form of communication these days. It is impossible for a rational person to deny the advantages of smartphones as they are devices suitable for a wide variety of tasks. Let us try to understand smartphones along with their benefits with this smartphone essay.

                                                                                                                                    Smartphone Essay

Understanding the Smartphone

A smartphone is a mobile device that facilitates the combination of cellular and mobile computing functions into one single unit. Moreover, smartphones have stronger hardware capabilities and extensive mobile operating systems in comparison to feature phones.

The strong operating systems of smartphones make possible multimedia functionality, wider software, and the internet including web browsing. They also support core phone functions like text messaging and voice calls.

There are a number of metal–oxide–semiconductor (MOS) integrated circuit (IC) chips within a smartphone. Moreover, such chips include various sensors whose leveraging is possible by their software.

The marketing of early smartphones was primarily towards the enterprise market. Furthermore, the attempt of the smartphone manufacturers was to bridge the functionality of standalone personal digital assistant (PDA) devices along with support for cellular telephony. However, the early smartphones had problems of slow analogue cellular network, short battery life, and bulky size.

With the passage of time, experts were able to resolve these issues. Furthermore, this became possible with faster digital mobile data networks, miniaturization of MOS transistors down to sub-micron levels, and exponential scaling. Moreover, the development of more mature software platforms led to enhancement in the capability of smartphones.

Benefits of Smartphone

People can make use of smartphones to access the internet and find out information regarding almost anything. Furthermore, due to the portability of a smartphone, people can access the internet from any location, even while travelling.

Smartphones have greatly increased the rate of work. This is possible because smartphones facilitate a highly efficient and quick form of communication from anywhere. For example, a person can participate in an official business meeting, without wasting time, from the comfort of his home via a live video chat application of a smartphone.

Smartphones can also be of tremendous benefit to students in general. Furthermore, students can quickly resolve any issue related to studies by accessing the internet , using a calculator, reading a pdf file, or contacting a teacher. Most noteworthy, all of this is possible due to the smartphone.

People can get in touch with the larger global community by communicating and sharing their views via social media. Furthermore, this provides a suitable platform to express their views, conduct business with online transactions , or find new people or jobs. One can do all that from anywhere, thanks to the smartphone.

These were just a few benefits of smartphones. Overall, the total benefits of a smartphone are just too many to enumerate here. Most importantly, smartphones have made our lives more efficient as well as comfortable.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Conclusion of Smartphone Essay

Smartphones have proven to be a revolution for human society. Furthermore, they have made the whole world united like never before. In spite of its demerits, there is no doubt that the smartphone is a tremendous blessing to mankind and it will continue to play a major role in its development.

FAQs For Smartphone Essay

Question 1: How is a smartphone different from a feature phone?

Answer 1: Smartphones have stronger hardware capabilities and extensive mobile operating systems when compared to feature phones. Furthermore, the smartphone can perform almost all computing functions that a feature phone can’t. The internet and camera capabilities of a feature phone are nowhere near as powerful as that of a smartphone.

Question 2: What is meant by a smartphone?

Answer 2: A smartphone refers to a handheld electronic device that facilitates a connection to a cellular network. Furthermore, smartphones let people access the internet, make phone calls, send text messages, along with a wide variety of functions that one can perform on a pc or a laptop. Overall, it is a fully functioning miniaturized computer.

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Smart Consumer

• Word count: 470
• Category: Consumerism

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When deciding to buy a computer it is a very important decision. First decide that range of money you are willing to spend. Then research the many different companies and the product they have to offer. Then after deciding the company to purchase the computer the next step is to price watch. On the contrary there are people to hire to do all that and build the computer and a much less costly price. This paper will discuss both sides of consumer smart shopping. In deciding the range of money to spend consider a number of different things in making you consumer smart decisions. There are many e-businesses that offer a lower price than a walk- in store . For example go to a web page and order the computer or if building the computer order the parts at a very reasonable price. Also if going the route of building a computer, if the consumer is not computer literate, research many different companies on the web that will build the computer. All that is involved is sending the company of your choice the parts of your choice and they will assemble the computer and send the finished product. Deciding which company to intrust in purchasing a computer from is a very hard decision.

First, research the product and check up on the companies that they buy their components from. Many consumers do not know but when buying a computer the consumer has the choice of components that are inside the computer. If you do not like a certain companies product you can always switch to another company or just not have that components put in at all. For a very small price you can buy the components of your choice and have someone put it in the computer for you. Many consumers are computer illiterate and they just choose the computer that is the cheapest. Buy a computer is one of those situations that the old quote “you get what you pay for” is very true. When you buy a cheap computer you are getting generic parts and low quality parts at that.

When hiring a person to build a computer you can tell them the quality of product you want in your computer. So that way, you actually get what you pay for and for a much less amount. So in conclusion there are many different types of ways to shop for a new computer. You get more for your buck if you build a computer. There are many computer companies that offer a very good product, but the down side to that is you pay for a very good product. Finally it is a better buy having a friend build your next computer. A ton of money will be saved in the long run.

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The Culture Warriors Are Coming for You Smart People

In Lionel Shriver’s new novel, judging intelligence and competence is a form of bigotry.

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By Laura Miller

Laura Miller is a books and culture columnist for Slate and the author of “The Magician’s Book: A Skeptic’s Adventures in Narnia.”

MANIA , by Lionel Shriver

As a novelist, Lionel Shriver has made her strongest impressions selecting some hot issue of the day — school shootings, the American health care system, the ballooning of the U.S. national debt — and working it into a well-paced drama about its effects on one family. When this formula works, as it did best with “We Need to Talk About Kevin” (2003), the result can be riveting and also very popular. The intimacy of domestic politics moderates Shriver’s polemical side, which, when given free rein — as during an infamous 2016 speech she gave on cultural appropriation while wearing a sombrero — usually turns out to be smug, crude and obtuse.

In Shriver’s tiresome new novel, “Mania ,” the balance is off. “Mania” is the story of Pearson Converse, an untenured academic who lives with her tree-surgeon partner and three children in a Pennsylvania college town. Most of the novel takes place during an alternate version of the 2010s, when a social-justice fad has been ignited by a best-selling book titled “The Calumny of I.Q.: Why Discrimination Against ‘Dumb People’ Is the Last Great Civil Rights Fight.”

Pearson’s son gets sent home from school for using “the D-word,” now considered a slur. Lawn signs appear in the neighborhood announcing “We support cognitive neutrality.” Student “predators” haunt the literature course Pearson teaches at the local liberal arts college, hungrily searching for any slip-up suggesting that she thinks some people are smarter than others, so they can report her to the administration and get her sacked. Worst of all, Pearson’s best friend from girlhood, Emory Ruth, boosts her TV career by taping editorials endorsing the new ideology known as Mental Parity.

In real life, partisan rancor typically fuels culture-war initiatives like this; in Shriver’s imaginary America, it barely exists. The new ethos gets rapidly and improbably adopted by everybody in every walk of life, regardless of political affiliation. Mental Parity not only borrows from the left’s obsession with egalitarianism, safetyism and language hygiene but also draws on the right’s mistrust of expertise and credentialism; it could have bipartisan appeal if it weren’t so patently absurd.

Soon, Barack Obama is out of favor for being “outstandingly astute, eloquent and well informed,” and replaced by Joe Biden, who makes a point of installing a Treasury secretary who’s “not only an imbecile but an imbecile who was recognizably an imbecile — someone whose speech and affect were conspicuously vacuous.” Similar incompetents are ordered to take out Osama bin Laden, a failed mission that leaves him free to bomb the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum.

Pearson’s partner, Wade, is forced to hire an assistant who knows nothing about arboriculture and drops a branch on him. Because medical degrees are “now handed out as carelessly as shopping fliers,” a young surgeon botches the ankle surgery his injuries require. Then Wade nearly dies after untrained nurses administer the wrong medication and is saved only by a doctor in his 50s, a relic from the good old days who has the temerity to know what he’s doing.

It goes on and on. Cars blow up because they’re built by idiots. Shrewd consumers import their food from overseas to avoid poisoning from unsafe American goods. Any word or phrase ever used as a synonym for “intelligent” (“quick,” “deep”) or stupid (“meatball,” “simple,” “dense”) must be purged from daily usage even when denoting a different meaning. If you want to order a wooden board at a hardware store, you have to ask for one that’s “two inches fat.” Mensa is “the kind of cerebral-supremacist organization” deemed “the greatest threat to American civic order” by no less than the F.B.I. Most fantastically, a child protective services investigator arrives at Pearson’s home because her youngest child reported her mother describing her as less intelligent than her siblings. “Use of language of such a derogatory character with minors,” this pious emissary states, “is classified as child abuse” and “potentially grounds for removing a child to foster care.”

As parody goes, this is ham-fisted stuff. Ironically, “Mania” lacks the discernment required to make it work. Satire demands precision, and Shriver applies an ax to a job calling for a scalpel. Although Shriver has made writing unlikable protagonists into a sort of cottage industry, Pearson is something more, a preeningly self-righteous didact swathed in false modesty about her own supposedly mediocre brain. Like many of Shriver’s narrators, Pearson often speaks or narrates with the sort of affected, antiquated vocabulary of a stock character from a 1930s movie, the portly gentleman in a white three-piece suit, up to no good and puffing on a cigar, played by Sidney Greenstreet. She has an odd, unexplained penchant for alliteration: “At the antediluvian argot, I nearly dropped my mask of stony stoicism.” She is not so much unlikable as simply insufferable.

Pearson’s past as an apostate of the Jehovah’s Witnesses makes her the sworn enemy of cant, and the only language she speaks is invective, so inevitably, she runs ruinously afoul of the new dispensation. Meanwhile, Emory’s star rises. She proves herself the ideal apparatchik on camera while privately snickering with Pearson and Wade over the silliness of Mental Parity, at least at first. The most — really the only — intriguing aspect of the novel is the relationship between these two friends and Pearson’s growing realization that Emory lacks a moral center. Emory herself remains a cipher. Is she a sociopath? Or just an opportunist? If only she were the unlikable narrator to tell this story. That would constitute a stretch for Shriver, imagining the interiority of a character who’s not basically an avatar of herself. That would be a truly daring choice, and dare I say it, a smart one.

MANIA | By Lionel Shriver | Harper | 277 pp. | $30

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