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1、Spend or save — The student's dilemma 1?Do you feel as confused and?manipulated?as I do with this question, "Should I spend or should I save?"?I think that the messages we get from our environment seem to?defy?common sense and?contradict?each other.?The government tells us to spend or we'll never g

2、et out of the?recession.?At the same time, they tell us that unless we save more, our country is in?grave?danger.?Banks offer higher interest rates so we increase savings.?Then the same banks send us credit card offers so we can spend more. 2?Here's another familiar example: If we don't pay our cre

3、dit card bill on time, we get demanding,?nasty?emails from the credit card company saying something like: "Your failure to pay is unacceptable. Pay immediately or you'll be in trouble!"?Then, as soon as we pay, we get a follow-up email in a charming?tone?telling us how valuable a customer we are and

4、 encouraging us to?resume?spending.Which?depiction?is correct: a failing consumer in trouble or a valued customer??The?gap?between these two messages is enormous. 3?The?paradox?is that every day we get two sets of messages at?odds?with each other.?One is the "permissive"?perspective, "Buy, spend, g

5、et it now. You need this!"?The other we could call an?"upright"?message, which?urges?us, "Work hard and save.?Suspend?your desires. Avoid luxuries. Control your?appetite?for more than you truly need."?This message comes to us from many sources: from school, from parents, even from political figures

6、referring to "traditional values".?Hard work, family loyalty, and the capacity to postpone desires are core American values that have made our country great. 4?But the opposite message, advertising's permissive message, is inescapable.?Though sometimes?disguised, the messages are everywhere we look

7、: on TV, in movies on printed media and road signs, in stores, and on busses, trains and subways.?Advertisementsinvade?our daily lives.?We are constantly surrounded by the message to spend, spend, spend.?Someone recently said, "The only time you can escape advertising is when you're in your bed asle

8、ep!" 5?It's been calculated that by the age of 18, the average American will have seen 600,000 ads; by the age of 40, the total is almost one million.?Each advertisement is doing its?utmost?to influence our diverse buying decisions, from the breakfast?cereal?we eat to whichcruise?line we will use f

9、or our vacation.?There is no?shortage?of ideas and things to buy!?Now, of course, we don't remember exactly what the products were, but the essential message is?cemented?into our consciousness, "It's good to satisfy your desires. You should have what you want. You deserve the best. So, you should bu

10、y it — now!"?A famous advertisement said it perfectly, "I love me. I'm a good friend to myself. I do what makes me feel good. I?derive?pleasure from nice things and feel?nourished?by them. I used to put things off. Not anymore. Today I'll buy new ski equipment, look at new?compact?cars, and buy that

11、 camera I've always wanted. I live my dreams today, not tomorrow." 6?What happens as we take in these contradictory but?explicit?messages??What are the psychological and social consequences of this campaign to control our spending habits??On one hand, we want more things because we want to satisfy

12、our material appetite.?Most of us derive pleasure from treating ourselves.?On the other hand, a little voice inside us?echoes?those upright messages: "Watch out, takestock?of your life, don't let your attention get?scattered. Postpone your desires. Don't fall into debt. Wait!?Retain?control over you

13、r own life. It will make you stronger." 7?Anyway, many of the skills you need as a successful student can be applied to your finances.?Consider your financial?well-being?as a key?ingredient?of your university education as money worries are extremely stressful and distracting.?They can make you feel

14、 terrible and?hinder?your ability to focus on your prime objective: successfully completing your education. 8?How can you be a smart and educated consumer??Many schools, community organizations, and even some banks offer financial literacy classes.?Consider?consulting?with your school's financial a

15、id office or seek?input?from your parents or other respected adults in setting up a budget.?An additional?option?is finding a partner to help you stay on track and find pleasure in the?administration?of your own financial affairs.?Most importantly, if you find yourself getting into financial trouble

16、, don't let your?ego?get in your way;?urgently?get help with?tackling?your problem before it spins out of control and lands you in?legal?troubles. 9 All this will help you become an educated consumer and saver.?As you learn to balance spending and saving, you will become the captain of your own ship, steering your life in a successful and productive direction through the?choppy?waters.