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Consumption and Materialism Journal 

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I have completed this journal by recording my spending habits for a 2 week period. I have intermittently inserted reflections pertaining to some of my spending habits. Afterwards, in a section entitled "Change Implemented", I discuss a change that my family and I made and describe its effects.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sunday, Oct. 21st

$33.28- fuel stabilizer and marine gear oil

 

Tuesday, Oct. 23rd

$2.80- 2 medium coffees from McDonald’s

$62.60 in fuel- 58.6 liters

$30.96- groceries

 

Wed, Oct. 24th

$3.00- breakfast sandwich from cafeteria at school

$11,300- garage floor and garage foundation repair

 

 

 

Reflection

Although my consumption journal may not reflect it, I have followed the local real estate market for 15 years. Our current home has been our longest tenure (4 years), as we lived in both of our previous two homes for 3 ½ years. Additionally, within the last 11 years, we have also purchased a rental property and a cottage. This, in part, has been a result of a changing market and growing family.

 

However, I also attribute my real estate obsession to HGTV and the power of the home improvement industry's marketing techniques. I am well aware that the network has likely contributed to much more consumption and profitability for home improvement stores, contractors, etc. In fact, I am often amazed at how individuals will often demolish a relatively new kitchen because it is not their style or they do not like the colour of granite or cabinetry, for example. In terms of needs, like my aforementioned garage floor repair, and wants, like renovating my outdated bathrooms, I am aware of the fact that spending thousands of dollars to install new tile in a bathroom will not enhance my overall well-being. However, this isn't what marketing would have us believe. This does not change the fact that, due to societal pressures and marketing, I yearn to update the bathrooms in my house.

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Marketing obvious plays a factor in influencing individuals to update, as opposed to repair, their abodes. In fact, Garry Marr reports that "renovation spending reach[ed] $72.7 billion in 2017, up from $71.2 billion in 2016, and [will] climb to $74 billion [this] year" (2017). This statistic doesn't differentiate between necessary repairs/upkeep and updating a functional space.

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Although sustainable products are on the rise, many products and updates are unsustainable in the way materials are sourced or not reused when their condition permits it. I convinced my wife to update our en suite two years ago despite the fact that it functioned well and the improvements were purely aesthetic.  

 

On a related note, my new neighbours have lived next door for roughly a year. I was recently helping them move some things outside as they prepared for a garage sale. They have recently renovated their home and were showing me the final product, which is impressive. As we were talking and comparing our homes, which are quite similar, their good friend asked, in a condescending tone (as I perceived it), if my home is outdated. As mentioned by Mulligan, this is a result of "Increasing numbers of home and garden magazine [sic] [that] convince us that we can buy or create the ‘dream home’" (2017).

 

Fri, Oct. 26th

$10.37- Two Happy Meals (one with a book, one with a toy)

$20.55- Take-out Greek food 

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Reflection

I have attempted to avoid McDonald's with my children; however, fast-food marketing is ubiquitous.  McDonald's has made steps to be more sustainable. Although Kowitt writes that McDonald's has made "decisions to offer only cage-free eggs and to adopt a stricter antibiotics policy with its chickens (both in the U.S.)"  and the fast food giant now produces "McNuggets free of artificial preservatives and buns made without high fructose corn syrup" (2016), it doesn't change the fact that the food is high in fat, sodium, and sugar.

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Using the McDonald's food calculator, the Happy Meal that my daughter had (a cheeseburger, small fries, yogurt tube and apple juice) contained 660 calories, 23 grams of fat, 94 grams of carbohydrates, and 910 mg of salt. Processed foods and fast food contribute to the fact that "58% of Canadians aged 1 year and older, and 72% of children between the ages of 4 and 13 years still exceed recommended limits of sodium intake" ("Sodium Intake of Canadians in 2017", 2018). 

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Brand loyalty is something McDonald's cultivates through the use of their mascot, Ronald McDonald, jingles, Happy Meals, and a host of other marketing techniques. Mulligan states that "The promotion of brand has become more pervasive than ever" (2017). The data collection of children, as discussed in the video below, is disturbing. 

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Additionally, with the growing use of plastics in the food industry, "fast-food and packaged good companies are coming significantly short of where they should be when it comes to addressing the environmental aspects of packaging" (Akhtar, 2015). This is also evident in one of the aforementioned  brand loyalty techniques, as the toys within the Happy Meals are disposable. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABOVE: Activist Anna Lappe delivers a critique on marketing

food to children. 

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RIGHT: One of McDonald's techniques used to appeal to my children. 

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Fri, Oct. 26th

$55.57- Groceries

 

Sun, Oct. 28th

$20.33- Trailer signal light

 

Mon, Oct. 29th

$52.59- Groceries

 

Wed. Oct. 30th

$10.72- Quiznos

$27.67- Halloween Costume

 

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Reflection

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Within this 2 week period, I spent a total of $103.64 on eating out. I feel that this is not typical, as we try to eat at home often. However, at times there's not enough time with our children's activities.  This aligns with The Globe and Mail report that, according to a survey by Capital One Canada and Credit Canada, "72 per cent of us dine out and 71 per cent order takeout more than a few times a month, spending a total of nearly $200" (Bouw, 2017). 

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As a people, Canadians are eating out more and "It's a major shift from previous generations, where eating out was less common and considered a frivolous expense. Today, more people and families are eating out for convenience, to socialize, to celebrate or to reward themselves for hard work or other activities" (Bouw, 2017). 

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Although I do not view dining at a nice restaurant as frivolous, I would much rather spend $100 on one nice meal, as opposed to purchases at Quiznos and the like accumulating to the same amount. Such spending is more out of necessity than preference. 

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Friday. Nov. 2nd

 

$13.00- Three used vinyl records

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Saturday Nov. 3rd 

 

$4.00- Two bottled drinks

 

Sunday Nov. 4th 

 

$21.94- Three alcoholic beverages from Boston Pizza

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Change Implemented 

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For the most part, I was pleased with my overall spending habits, with the exception of eating out comprising 22% of money spent (if the home renovation cost is excluded as an outlier). That being said, my wife and I discussed aspects of our lives that could be adjusted in order to improve our family's overall well-being. 

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One of the battles we fight daily is leaving for school on time. This is partially due to how the television distracts our children, ages 7 and 4.  During the week, our children watch between 20-40 minutes of television daily. On the weekend, they are permitted to watch more. I would estimate that they watch 8.5 hours of television weekly, primarily Netflix. This comprises almost all of their total recreational screen time, as our smartphones and the iPad are rarely allowed to be used. Despite this, we told our children that we would be eliminating all television for the school week commencing Monday morning until Friday evening. This declaration was met with little objection, as we are authoritative parents and, as such, we explained why this was occurring. This style of parenting "emphasizes setting high standards, being nurturing and responsive, and showing respect for children as independent, rational beings" (Dewar, 2017).

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The results of eliminating screen time were quite astounding. We observed the following in our children: better listening skills, fewer behavioural issues, particularly during the bedtime routine, more light and moderate physical activity, improved moods overall, and enhanced social interaction. The research supports the mitigation of sedentary activities and the increase of sleep and physical activity, as "the behaviors of physical activity, sleep and screen time can independently impact the cognitive health of a child. However, these behaviors are never considered in combination" (Thomas, 2018). Due to the changes noted, the well-being of my wife and I improved. We were more patient and understanding, due to our usual frustrations being mitigated.

 

Some highlights resulting from this change include my daughter, who is usually not a morning person, randomly declaring, "This is going to be the best day of my life." She also had more time to practice piano, which she has just started. My son, age 4, was able to demonstrate improved focus and play several board games until completion, which he had never done before. Our children were ready for school early and elected to play outside, which rarely occurs due to time constraints. 

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Overall, the elimination of screen time was significant and the change is sustainable. We will continue to implement this due to how impactful and positive the change was. 

 

References

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24-Hour movement guidelines for children and youth. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2018,   from http://www.csep.ca/view.asp?x=696

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Akhtar, K. (2015, February 21). Food industry packaging falls 'significantly short' on           environmental front | CBC News. Retrieved November 10, 2018, from   https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/food-industry-overuses-hard-to-recycle-plastic-   packaging-report-indicates-1.2940535

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Bouw, B. (2017, October 19). Eating out is the top financial indulgence for most Canadians.   Retrieved November 10, 2018, from https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-   investor/personal-finance/household-finances/eating-out-at-restaurants-is-the-top-   financial-indulgence-for-most-canadians/article36597841/

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Dewar, G. (2017, July). The authoritative parenting style: An evidence-based guide.   Retrieved November 10, 2018, from https://www.parentingscience.com/authoritative-   parenting-style.html

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Kowitt, B. (2016, August 18). How McDonald's is changing the world. Retrieved November   10, 2018, from http://fortune.com/2016/08/18/mcdonalds-change-world/

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Lappe, A. (2013, March 11). Retrieved November 10, 2018, from   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bop3D7-dDM

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Marr, G. (2017, July 04). Renovation spending to hit another record in 2017, but pace finally   starting to slow. Retrieved November 10, 2018, from   https://business.financialpost.com/personal-finance/mortgages-real-estate/renovation-   spending-to-hit-another-record-in-2017-but-pace-finally-starting-to-slow

 

Mulligan, M. (2017). An introduction to sustainability: Environmental, social and personal   perspectives (2nd ed.). Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, an imprint of the Taylor & Francis   Group.

 

Sodium Intake of Canadians in 2017. (2018, August 14). Retrieved November 10, 2018, from   https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/food-nutrition/sodium-intake-canadians-2017.html

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Thomas, N. (2018, October 10). Study: Limiting children's screen time linked to better     cognition. Retrieved November 10, 2018, from     https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/26/health/screen-time-cognition-study/index.html

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LEFT: the before picture of our en suite. 

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ABOVE: the after picture of our en suite. The vanity and the cabinet hardware were reused. I fabricated the doors and installed the quartz, back splash, trim and new tap. The paint was leftover from a previous update. 

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ABOVE: The first chart contains everything purchased within a 2 week period. 

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RIGHT: The second chart provides a more accurate depiction of spending habits. I have excluded a foundation repair, as it is a significant outlier. 

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The decision was made after years of dealing with behaviour issues stemming from overindulging in recreational screen time, both in the classroom and at home. In fact, a recent study "included about 4,500 US children ages 8 to 11 and measured their habits against the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth." It "found that 51% of the children got the recommended nine to 11 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night, 37% met the recreational screen time limit of two hours or less per day, while 18% met the physical activity recommendation of at least 60 minutes of accumulated physical activity a day. Only 5% of the children in the study met all three recommendations; 30% met none at all" (Thomas, 2018). Undoubtedly, this leads to many issues related to well-being and behaviour.

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Wed. Oct. 31st

$21.67- Breakfast at IHOP 

 

Thurs. Nov. 1st

 

$77.01 in fuel- 68.25 liters

$3.00- breakfast sandwich from the cafeteria

$9.59- sandwich from Safeway

The 24-hour movement guidelines for children and youth  released by the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP).

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