I’m really interested in this kind of thing (I’m doing an MSc in Marketing). The whole reason companies have loyalty cards is to make you feel a sense of loyalty to them as it costs them far, far more to get new customers than it does to retain old ones. Also, loyal customers are more profitable than existing ones. I read a journal article somewhere which said that a 5% increase in customer loyalty leads to a 25-85% increase in profit. What’s more, loyalty cards are a key tool in the data capture process. Companies use the data from your buying habits to target you with ads that are relevant to you which is why they often want an email address or something when you have a loyalty card. I don’t know whether it’s right or wrong but I do know that you’re not overthinking it. 💁🏻
WOAW wait what are you serious? Like the targetted sticky ads cus your digital footprint is linked to your browser? I mean that would make a lot of sense. That is mad. Also about the profit stats. Pinning this to the top of the convo because it's so interesting! Do you learn about the ethics of marketing on the course too? Really interested in how they approach it from a theory level?!
It’s straight up wild how companies specifically advertise. Companies build out profiles on customers based on what your buying and when your buying it. If you go into the store in a Friday and buy beer, laundry detergent, and a box of diapers they can start to make assumptions about your age, marital status, etc. And the more you buy the more accurate those assumptions are. There’s a story about a man who went to Target to complain that his teenage daughter was receiving advertisements for cribs and baby clothes. Turns out she was pregnant and they knew bc she had purchased pregnancy tests, stretch mark cream. Data that companies keep can figure that stuff out, even accurately predicting your due date, and send you coupons for the stuff you want to buy, when you will want to buy it most.
There is actually quite a lot of discussion goingabouttheethics, especially within the use of AI for marketing. Value of privacy etc. will become an important topic in the automatisation era! Though the good news is that with every movement, there is a counter movement. There exist shops and companies who don't want their customers to overbuy, that actually care about the wellbeing of people. Though because they don't put out big flashy ads, they're more difficult to find!
@@leenanorms The ethics of marketing are a big part of what we learn. We actually have a whole module called "critiquing marketing" which we do at the end of the year that addresses questions concerning marketing ethics :) I'm really looking forward to that! As far as I know the situation with loyalty cards is that the data is more used to target you with ads directly, usually via e-mail, with products you might be interested in, and if they notice a shift in your buying behaviour they will target you with different ads. For example, if you use a tesco clubcard to buy nappies and formula all of a sudden, you might start receiving direct marketing for baby products. The targeted advertising you see on your browser is more based on cookies and is anonymous. For example, the data a company captures about me might say "23 year old student living in Liverpool" but they won't be able to put a face and a name to that data. It's very easy to step over the line with data though - which is exactly what the Leave campaign and Donald Trump's campaigners did with Cambridge Analytica - downloading not only the Facebook profiles of people who interacted with their clickbait but also the profiles of their friends and their friends' friends. I'm getting off topic lol, but what I'm saying is that data capture happens in many different forms and while it is regulated by things like GDPR (who knows what will happen after we leave the EU) it keeps changing and becoming advanced, so the waters are very muddy (also you can tell by this massive reply that I'm a bit of a nerd about this stuff haha).
You know what, the amount of people asking where that cute top is from is really telling for the mindset of our society. :D I try to change my thoughts from "I like that I want it" to "I like it" without the second part. Because we can appreciate and admire and like things without needing to own them.
I did a no buy year in 2016 and it changed my life. I no longer use shopping as a crutch to fill my time or artificially lift my mood, and when I do shop I find it so easy to talk myself out of buying things. Good luck!!
Ok, but cutting those cards might have been an important emotional step. But your customer profile including your points do still exist virtually. So maybe that could be a next step to actually delete all your profiles and your contact data so these company won‘t be able to contact you.
I think, as you point out, it entirely depends on how you feel about the cards and if they drive you to spend more. For my sake loyalty cards with a certain airline has earned me enough points to fund a trip to Tokyo and back just on points, and that's something I wouldn't be able to afford on my own, but now I get to go to Japan for the first time and have the hotel also be paid on points just by paying for food and other expenses with the airline card.
Keyholder Agree. I don’t really think about my loyalty cards and they don’t influence my buying habits. Then I get a pleasant surprise one day when the salesperson informs me I have a voucher
I used to work at Boots and seeing customers' attitudes towards the points was incredibly fascinating. Some people couldn't care less, and others would collect £500+ worth on there and freak out if I asked whether they wanted to spend them.
Another weird thing that corporations sometimes do, or rather what management inside corporations do, is to refer to their employees as "resources". Always hated that.
It never occurred to me that loyalty cards could mean that much to a person - while I accumulated a few because discounts are nice, my shopping behaviour has never been guided by them. Thanks (as always) for the thought provoking content :-)
I confess I would have definitely given in for the charity shop docs, that’s like a level ten fantasy scenario 👌 But also have streamlined my spending hugely and it’s really made me confront my emotional health more directly, which is an interesting ongoing experiment
I don't have an issue with loyalty cards specifically, I think mostly because my mom does and I've seen how her spending behavior plays out in the most ridiculous ways. Like, getting an email from a store about rewards points, planning a day to go out and "cash in", and deliberately spending more than she usually would because she's "saved" so much. A good deal of her spending habits have led me to act differently, but I've found that I ended up forming harmful shopping behaviors all on my own. So that's fun.
I currently have 44 pounds worth of boots points, which makes me feel a bit Ill because I know it means I’ve spent lots of money in boots before. I keep going in there and then when I get to the till I’m buying really boring practical stuff and I’m like no I don’t want to use my points for eczema cream ... I want to use them on something special. But really I should use them on the boring practical stuff because that’s the stuff that if I don’t spend them on I’ll spend my actually money on them and save money by using points. I don’t need anything ‘special’ and I’m just justifying if because it’s using points, then I haven’t saved any money because I still have to buy the boring stuff
I'm the opposite! I just wait till they add up and anytime someone at the till asks me if I want to spend the points or if I'm trying to save money I'll use them. For me it feels like the smartest way to use them because I'm already buying stuff from Boots and then I use the points later for things I would already have bought anyway. 🤗
@@libraryofkayla That's a really smart way to use them. I think the trap Leena talks about is shopping *just* to earn points. If you are already going to be buying toothpaste and deodorant etc. from there it doesn't matter.
I'm not doing a no-buy year, but I want to be more aware of the things I buy and especially not buy something just because it's on sale (hello poor-family-behaviors). I don't want to have 5 bottles of shampoo "just in case", I would love to downsize. It's interesting how loyalty cards work on you. I never get the rush from collecting the points - they never collect into good amount quick enough, maybe that's why. I only use the Tesco card - out of habit and I'm there maybe once a month & the other supermarket card, but besides the points there are different items every week that are cheaper with the card, so I can check online if something I need will be % off and go buy it. Anyways, always great to hear from you, sending all strength for the no-buy ;)
This was so interesting. I have 2 loyalty cards. One for the grocery store I use regularly and one for the only physical bookstore in my area. Neither has made me shop more, I don't think. Good on you recognising it wasn't good for you and doing something about it. Companies are *definitely* not people
This video was very eye opening for me. I never really understood the purpose of loyalty cards in terms of what the company got out of them because they don't personally make me buy more things or be loyal to a specific company, my shopping behaviour is just not really affected by them in any way.
I have to say as someone who works part time in retail. Our management are much more focused on registering points cards and selling gift cards as that's how their success is measured in numbers and profits over people's experience. So satisfying to see you cut those up!!
I'm finally getting my own apartment and I'm having to rethink my budgeting. I am terrible for overspending on little luxuries like art supplies or sweets. I work in an independent shop that gives employees a steep discount, so it's really easy to fall into a trap after a stressful day at work to spend $5 on sweets because "it's so much cheaper here and if I get all the way home and still want sweets I'll end up paying more to get them at the shop near my house". So, I spend money on food I don't need that then makes me feel bad about my body and want to spend even more money on weight loss.
Love this! I find it incredibly difficult not to spend, i work in a bookshop, in a city centre. I walk past shops every day as well as spending over 40 hours a week in a BOOKSHOP!. I’m resorting to leaving my debit card and employee discount at home some days.
I am okay with loyalty cards, especially Starbucks card. At some point (no pun intended) in my life, when I'm broke and I need some coffee (and a place to sit), I'll just use my point~ zero money spend that day.
This video inspired me to go unsubscribe from the marketing emails of a shop I used to work at. I've been cleaning out my inbox recently, but I told myself that I still needed to subscribe to these marketing emails because I need to maintain my professional relationship with them (I still do a little bit of freelance work for them). But I really don't think I actually need to do that! Thank you for this kick in the pants, two years later. I really appreciate it. :)
I've stopped buying clothes this year (only allowing myself to buy second hand), and I used to do SO MUCH Supermarket shopping and always was like LOL LOL LOL FOOD SHOPPING TAKES SO MUCH TIME, and it doesn't if you aren;t trying everything on in there. It's going well so far, but I feel your heartache with those Doc Martens. Keep going Leena! xx
I really enjoy that, like innocent’s twitter being funny and not at all about smoothies, but I never thought about how fucked up that subconscious rewiring is...
Much support on breaking the destructive cycle! It’s definitely about a personal relationship with loyalty cards and what they mean for you for sure. I use “loyalty” cards as a way to save money with coupons and find deals. It takes extra time, which many people avoid for conveniences sake, but the result feels like a fuck you to capitalism because I’m spending less money on what I’m buying. But that only works if your already being frugal and strategic in your choices and if your loyalty cards are preventing that, I think it’s good to go cold turkey. Best of luck with all this-love these videos!
The bit where you talked about the not existing excitement while buying an ebook. Haha I couldn't anymore. That's exactly how it is!! I hate it, but I want to change over to only buying ebooks. I hate buying books and then putting them in my bookshelf and never getting to them.. it just wastes money and there are so many I am not even interested in reading anymore. So I really hope switching to ebooks helps with that! Just recently found you and subscribed because I find the themes you talk about in your videos really refreshing! Anyway have a nice day, Leena!
Well done with your challenge! You seem to be doing really well. The only card that hurt was seeing you cut the Waterstones one, mainly because I wish you could have donated the points (my TBR list would desperately have appreciated them 😂). But well done, I’d never really considered my relationships with loyalty cards before but on reflection I have rather a lot 🙈
Thanks so much for this video! I never thought about loyalty cards that way. I am now going through my wallet and really thinking hard about what's in there! Also had never heard of corporate personhood, I am going to look into that. Love following this journey
I'm doing a no-buy year as well! My one downfall was a Jimmy Eat World t-shirt when I saw them play in Cardiff - I figured I was supporting musicians directly which is ++++ but got home and realised it was just participation in capitalism/fast fashion and now it's sitting sadly on my sofa, full of shame. Love the commentary on loyalty cards! I still have all of mine, especially Tesco is super helpful to get some money off essential items - my partner is coeliac and gluten-free food is EXPENSIVVVE and they often give us money off items we buy every week anyway.
Loool this is hitting ridiculously close to home atm, As my friends are at uni and I am on a gap year I’m trying to turn my mum into a Gen Z ( which is slowly working) me and her have been discussing the environment ethical shopping and our relationship to food. So I have a many thought if you don’t mind reading them. I am a huge shopaholic always have been throughout my alevel classes I would online shop to the point I BECAME KNOWN AS THE GIRL TO GO TO TO GET THE BEST ASOS DEALS. (So much pride in that) however I’ve only ever been a sales shopper aiming to spend an average of £10 per item of clothing. But now I work in trendier parts of London and have more money than I ever had have I’ve found sometimes looking at the options on ASOS gross thinking if the millions of garments created to buy, probably because shopping is no longer special to me as I can afford what I want now. So in jan me I decided to only buy clothes from charity shops or to use up vouchers. Now, the fact that I now cannot shop made my compulsion come back, but has also attached an emense feeling of guilt to clothes shopping, so since I’ve started this I’ve only bought one thing since 1st of jan, which I had been looking at for a while, it was in the sale +30% off and I didn’t own anything like it, so fuck it I got it. Reflecting on my shopping habits have made me make far more sensible decisions. In regards to cutting up loyalty cards I don’t think you should have dine it, just giving it my 2pence, could those cards not been given to someone, saved? I completely agree with the points you made, but isn’t it about improving your relationship with the need to buy and decision making rather than throwing away the ‘free money’ already in your possession? I can’t wait to follow your journey GOOD LCUK!
I find loyalty card a bit if a rip. Our supermarket has a reward of $15 voucher when you spend $2000 on groceries in a 6 month period! , then your points get erased being single cook that’s very unachieveable. For me. The cards I keep are Starbucks stamp card and subway rewards
I used to work in the fragrance department of Debenhams and we had to ask *everyone* if they wanted a beauty loyalty card or a store credit card because either of those cards caused such an increase in customer expenditure in store.
I'm getting there. I have significantly slowed down my mindless shopping and I'm aware of what I'm doing when I get that itch. Perfect? Heavens no but I'm making solid progress on thinning out the things I own and using up/appreciating what's already in my possession. I bought a few things while on vacation but they were clothes that I liked and things that I didn't previously have (such as a raincoat...they are handy to have and I did not). I also just have never really had too much of a problem with clothes. They aren't things I enjoy trying on, pursuing, etc...always, always, always comfort first then fashion for me. Here's hoping I can keep in the direction I have been these first two months of the year.
I LOVE this shirt and lip color. I do something similar where I have to want something for a whole month before I buy it. I don't allow myself impulsive buying.
I think the cinema tickets and boost juice cards are the ones worth keeping for me it you did inspire me to get rid of about 12 cards and coupons out of my wallet so thanks Leena :)
I’ve never thought about “loyalty” to brands in that way before but it’s so true. I work in marketing for a really great small independent business and we don’t have a loyalty scheme with our customers as such but I have definitely used phrases like “we want to say thank you to our mailing list subscribers, so here’s X% off your next purchase/here’s an exclusive discount code to thank you for you support” in marketing emails. Realistically, while we do rely on the support of return customers (and I think being a small business we feel closer to our customers than a corporate does) it’s only financial support that matters, they’re not friends. The reason we send out discount codes isn’t actually to say thanks, it’s to get them to buy more stuff... got some things to think about here!
this is definitely making me rethink my part in loyalty programs at shops.. I think I'm definitely going to be mindful of what I choose to engage with and possibly close some of my existing loyalty accounts. I'm almost disappointed that pretty much all of mine are online, bc cutting the cards sounds very cathartic.
This was such a good concept for a video! I was absolutely gripped and horrified as you wielded the scissors - especially with the Tesco clubcard. I don't think I've ever particularly suffered from the need to spend on account of having a loyalty card; I just hate the feeling of buying something without using one when I know I could. Anyway, this was extremely brave and entertaining. A+
i've had a boots loyalty card for probably 6-7 years and only last month did i reach 2 euro on it. i've never really thought of them as something that could encourage you to spend more/more often. It's really interesting and I think I'm gonna have to take a look at my own use of loyalty schemes, cause I don't think I fall into them, but I'm sure there's some sneaky ones I haven't even thought of yet.
Loved this Leena! Lots of food for thought about the power of habit and the language we use. Would love to hear you talk more about minimalism in the future.
This is so interesting! I can be very obsessive with shopping when I do have money but when I’m actively saving (currently for a wedding, mortgage and a baby!) I really reall dont! I’ve never had a problem with loyalty cards and I feel no concern about turning the offer down. I only have Waterstones, the works and Superdrug. They all sell products related to my jobs - acting and drama teaching so I consider them valuable. This is all so interesting though!
I actually got my first loyalty card the other day, so this was quite interesting! But it was for food from a place I already eat at regularly without other incentive. So far having the card hasn't impacted how often I eat there, but it is definitely something to watch for!
I've never thought about this like this, but you've made an amazing point! I don't treat loyalty cards like this anymore, but I know I used to go to Starbucks just because they had a loyalty program I was a part of! Thank you for this, it's made me really think!
I'm super interested in this whole idea and genuinely want to join in, so i clicked on the video and not even 30 seconds into it i was wondering where you got that shirt from, since its so cool with the ghosts, even opening another tab ... Now catching myself doing it i am so up for this challenge. Ditched all of my loyalty cards and unsubscribed from all newsletters, let this challenge begin 💪🏼
Ironically I got a Flybuys card in the mail today haha I have loyalty cards for the two major supermarkets because I'm shopping there anyway so I feel like I may as well try and get something for free occasionally, though I'm too lazy to pay attention to any of the special deals to get more points. I so rarely buy anything that isn't food because I just don't see anything I want to buy! I guess I'm really fussy, but ever since I've earned my own money I have to really want something to buy it which is so rare. And I'm lucky my library has an amazing selection of books so I'm covered there as well! I do buy second hand clothes and books but even then I can go months without seeing anything I want.
I am stopping/reducing shopping quite similar to you... one of my rules is that I can buy something if I need it but now I struggle with what the concept of ‘need’ is and get away with things... coincidentally my downfall was also at a charity shop because it feels so right!!
I'm exactly the same!! I've kind of always been this way though, pretty frugal with my money unless i "need" something but then convincing myself I need stuff when I don't, it's so hard to break out of it
I think what you’re doing is great and I understand why it’s so hard. But on a positive note, you’ll feel so much better after few months of getting used to this new lifestyle :)
😹 I feel this but also I already do this out of necessity because my rent is EXORBITANT especially on my salary. Sometimes it’s hard. I do the same sorts of things with the online shopping though. Where I’m staring at stuff or ‘fake shopping’ for hours before I realize I don’t know why I’m even there because I could never afford this brand anyway.
This was a super powerful video for me, and although I have no intention of getting rid of my supermarket loyalty cards (a freelance career always benefits from free food when you're not working) I'm having a long hard look at all those other cards beefing up my wallet!
I'm not doing a no-buy year but I don't really have a problem with consumerism bc I don't like spending money on myself. However, I have so many loyalty cards I can't close my purse 😭 I think my strategy is going to be using the points I have for the ones I rarely use, then getting rid of them. And if i dont need anything from the shop, I'll see if I can get something for someone for Christmas/birthdays. My mum is an absolute ninja when it comes to loyalty cards tho - she saves up all her Tesco points and cos she's been with them for almost 20 years, she gets SO many good deals. Be that petrol, food, 2 for 1 on favourites, or electronics for free/heavily discounted. They also give Clubcard members first dibs on the Christmas delivery slot. Everyone who lives at home has the same Tesco Clubcard number, so it's totted up 3 members of the family. I however, have branched out to nectar as it's very versatile for points collection. Although it's a Sainsburys card, it can be used for all sorts, including trains. Then I use the points for a certain SO's Christmas pressy in conjunction w black Friday sales... he doesn't need to know how much I paid for the thing, the joy is still the same. Also cafe Nero - I LOVE the stamp system of loyalty cards. Amazing! Why can't we bring this back? I often give my free coffee slip to my fave homeless man so he can at least get warm inside for a little bit even if I don't have change on me. (We're mates, I often grab him a machine coffee and food from Tesco if I see him when I'm out an about). Idk I feel like you can play the system a bit when you collect points on food shops, BUT you get played by companies you rarely shop with.
The only loyalty card I really use is my CVS one (drugstore here in the US) Ive learned how to coupon and rack up points to buy my necessities and non necessities (I refuse to buy full priced anything lol) but I also share my loyalty card with my whole family so it a bit easier to rack up the points. Anyway, loved this as always! Definitely points a new perspective about my personal data and what it means to be "loyal customer".
I love this video and your channel. Please continue to make these videos. I have been doing a spending fast to pay off debt. It's so hard. And it's so helpful to watch videos like this. Keep it up, you're doing a great job - giving the middle finger to consumerism.
You are so right! I am trying to cut back on my spending. I had a fairly successfully No Spend January but February is home to 2 of my kids birthdays and half term so I've written that off and intend to get back on the horse in March.....however....I fell out with Amaz*n this week and cancelled my Prime *membership* and I've saved money already by shopping around rather than just ordering from Ama**n. I feel this loss of loyalty could be financially huge for me! I have also recently discovered I quite like As*a, I normally shop at Te*co both home deliver to my area, a must for me as a busy working Mum, home delivery is my luxury but I'm not brave enough to cut the umbilical cord that is those bloody Clubcard points 😢
I completely get what you did and understand the problem you have with the use of "loyalty" for those cards as I did the same as you a few years ago. I only own cards from independent small places now as you know who you support. The no-buy rules you're applying is something that I have been considering for a while without really trying it to be honest and I would be curious to know how you do, I don't know if you were thinking of making it a sort of diary or something ...
I recently did a loyalty card purge in an attempt to downsize my wallet but it mostly just resulted in me moving them onto an app rather than actually getting rid of them - no longer a wallet full of plastic, but still using them. Having watched this, I am THIS close to deleting the app. I will. I really will. The only one I would want to keep is Co-op because they give back to local communities and I use the points at the end of the month when I'm struggling between pay days.
yeah its interesting, i'v gone from living at home working a job and not having to pay for bills/ food / ending up because i was very depressed spending a lot of money to now moving out and suddenly realising that even though the only things i can buy for the next month are food/ bills and transport i don't actually mind/ i think i'm happier, it would be great in a few months when i'm in a better place financially to be able to buy a few things, but for now its fine, i also have such a big backlog of stuff like shower gel that i'm not gonna need to buy that in 1+ years
I'm overly rational about shopping and don't buy anything unless I absolutely need it or have wanted it for a long time. This sucks the fun out of things but it does mean I don't feel like the shop is in control. The loyalty cards i do like: tesco (I need to buy food so I get the points. I can use the points to get free pizza when I want a treat), Bodyshop (they give you a £5 voucher on your birthday with no minimum spend. Even if i've not bought anything since my last birthday when I used my last £5 voucher). I've also had a really hard week so there's a part of me that just wants to splurge and buy something to cheer up. But the ruling 90% of my brain knows that it's a stupid idea and would rather just have the £20 for another day. My brain is infuriatingly kill-joyish when i just want a false sense of gratification for a few minutes.
Omg same! I'll often wait months until the old thing is falling apart or I've had to cut the top off my moisturiser to scrape out the insides! That being said, i do get the urge to shop when I've had a bad week, but I'll paint my nails a different colour, and it'll cheer me up. Idk why it works so well but I think it's the "i spent time on myself and I have control of this aspect of my life" as a subconscious reminder all through the next week. Idk it might not be painting your nails but I'm sure there's an instant gratification hobby that'll push your buttons in a good way ❤
I did Christmas temp work for a company where we had to sell loyalty cards (they cost £3 each and the computer systems logged how many each of us sold). While there were things I enjoyed about working there - mostly the customers to be honest, as I ended up making quite a few good friends among those who visited the shop regularly - one of the things that put me off was actually when I finally started to get very good at selling the cards. I didn't feel right pressuring people into buying them especially when I knew the loyalty scheme wasn't even that good compared to many others, and that was one of several factors that led to me declining a permanent position there, despite having had an overall positive time in the job.
I love your hair extra much in this video.. I agree with all the content in the video about companies as-well but just wanted to comment about your hair 👍🏼
I'm trying too! my stumbling block is stocking up on cupboard food (do I need 4 kinds of rice in the cupboard?!), buying lunch, and buying niknaks at the supermarket (I can't even think of examples which says it all but I do this every single time!)
I have loyalty cards, but only from shops I actually like, and I purposefully make sure that I DO NOT HEAR FROM THEM REGULARLY. This way, when I earn (for example) a $10 voucher, I know I have that large sum of points saved, and I'm not obsessing over points, or going there just to earn points because they are out of sight, out of mind.
I was inspired by your January video to do a no buy month. I slipped up once because of a 60% off sale but then returned it. Unfortunately I couldn’t extend it into February after a trip to cath kidston. 😂 I just counted my loyalty cards and I have 11 plastics and 7 coffee stamp cards, 2 of which are Nero’s which I don’t even like. It sounds weird but I like having loyalty cards because it makes me feel included for once, but I’m not a fan of the hundreds of emails from shops that have built up in my inbox. I always forget to actually spend the points but I’m *that* person in the queue searching through my purse.
Really interesting to think about your loyalty cards... i'm a recent graduate so mine are stil useful for me. I think i only really use my nectar card, boots card and one for a coffee shop i go to almost every day. See no reason not to chuck out my other ones though
YES LEENA!!!! It’s sad how much it pained me to watch you do this but then I think it just says a lot about capitalism and our “loyalty” to them rather than theirs to us! Well done 👍🏻
agree with a lot of this. however i don't think the company/customer dynamic is consensual - we cant buy any products that arent being sold for a profit (aside from VERY few exceptions that aren't enough to rely on for everything) and while we could theoretically produce our own things its not at all realistic for the vast majority of ppl under capitalism, so we are always being ripped off when we buy stuff.
I think I have a good relationship with loyalty cards. I use them when I am buying things I would be buying anyway, and then use them when I am in a tight spot to help me buy things that I need. Like I buy my shampoo from Superdrug, getting a 10% discount as a student and then on top of that I get points which will help me buy my next bottle of shampoo. But if I used them in any other way, I'd get sooo mad at myself and you have a really good point. I do think supermarket ones are good ones to have, I use the points on my Morrisons card to but cleaning products.
The only loyalty cards I have and actually use are nectar cards which I find good as if money ever gets really bad I can use it to buy food and get them when I just do a shop. I have a tesco card but never used it. I used to love my waterstones card, as soon as I was old enough (sad I know) I was so excited to get my card! However since they changed it to the plus system I have lost points that I had been saving for years and feel it as valued as a customer.
I’m moving towards a no buy (ish) for the rest of the year so this is so interesting! Also yes I am still that person who saves up all of her boots points (mostly from presents I buy people) and then uses them on necessities like toothpaste and shampoo when I’m really broke, 10/10 would recommend, but that and Waterstones is the only loyalty thing I have I think
If it’s gunna be your birthday during your not spend/no buying new stuff time it would be super interesting to see your take on celebrating a birthday without it being about getting stuff
It's good to see this concept being dissected and discussed in a practical sense, rather than "just stop buying things! Its easy!". I also really like the ghostyspook top/dress ... but I'm not going to ask you where you got it from so I can hunt one down myself ... in the spirit of the video 😅
I don't have physical loyalty cards anymore (theyre all attached to my email address) but this did make me unsubscribe from all the email lists of the places I have a loyalty account from. So they can't tell me when I've "earned" a "discount" that I might be tempted to use.
I’m really interested in this kind of thing (I’m doing an MSc in Marketing). The whole reason companies have loyalty cards is to make you feel a sense of loyalty to them as it costs them far, far more to get new customers than it does to retain old ones. Also, loyal customers are more profitable than existing ones. I read a journal article somewhere which said that a 5% increase in customer loyalty leads to a 25-85% increase in profit. What’s more, loyalty cards are a key tool in the data capture process. Companies use the data from your buying habits to target you with ads that are relevant to you which is why they often want an email address or something when you have a loyalty card. I don’t know whether it’s right or wrong but I do know that you’re not overthinking it. 💁🏻
WOAW wait what are you serious? Like the targetted sticky ads cus your digital footprint is linked to your browser? I mean that would make a lot of sense. That is mad. Also about the profit stats. Pinning this to the top of the convo because it's so interesting! Do you learn about the ethics of marketing on the course too? Really interested in how they approach it from a theory level?!
It’s straight up wild how companies specifically advertise. Companies build out profiles on customers based on what your buying and when your buying it. If you go into the store in a Friday and buy beer, laundry detergent, and a box of diapers they can start to make assumptions about your age, marital status, etc. And the more you buy the more accurate those assumptions are. There’s a story about a man who went to Target to complain that his teenage daughter was receiving advertisements for cribs and baby clothes. Turns out she was pregnant and they knew bc she had purchased pregnancy tests, stretch mark cream. Data that companies keep can figure that stuff out, even accurately predicting your due date, and send you coupons for the stuff you want to buy, when you will want to buy it most.
There is actually quite a lot of discussion goingabouttheethics, especially within the use of AI for marketing. Value of privacy etc. will become an important topic in the automatisation era! Though the good news is that with every movement, there is a counter movement. There exist shops and companies who don't want their customers to overbuy, that actually care about the wellbeing of people. Though because they don't put out big flashy ads, they're more difficult to find!
@@leenanorms The ethics of marketing are a big part of what we learn. We actually have a whole module called "critiquing marketing" which we do at the end of the year that addresses questions concerning marketing ethics :) I'm really looking forward to that! As far as I know the situation with loyalty cards is that the data is more used to target you with ads directly, usually via e-mail, with products you might be interested in, and if they notice a shift in your buying behaviour they will target you with different ads. For example, if you use a tesco clubcard to buy nappies and formula all of a sudden, you might start receiving direct marketing for baby products. The targeted advertising you see on your browser is more based on cookies and is anonymous. For example, the data a company captures about me might say "23 year old student living in Liverpool" but they won't be able to put a face and a name to that data. It's very easy to step over the line with data though - which is exactly what the Leave campaign and Donald Trump's campaigners did with Cambridge Analytica - downloading not only the Facebook profiles of people who interacted with their clickbait but also the profiles of their friends and their friends' friends. I'm getting off topic lol, but what I'm saying is that data capture happens in many different forms and while it is regulated by things like GDPR (who knows what will happen after we leave the EU) it keeps changing and becoming advanced, so the waters are very muddy (also you can tell by this massive reply that I'm a bit of a nerd about this stuff haha).
"A company is NOT your friend." Yesssssss, amen!
You know what, the amount of people asking where that cute top is from is really telling for the mindset of our society. :D I try to change my thoughts from "I like that I want it" to "I like it" without the second part. Because we can appreciate and admire and like things without needing to own them.
👏👏👏👏this comment, yes!!
Tearing my ligament is my strategy. Can't browse the high street if you can't walk
that bit about corporate personhood followed by the card cutting... I felt that
It hurt me in the emotional goolies, although I don't really know why.
I did a no buy year in 2016 and it changed my life. I no longer use shopping as a crutch to fill my time or artificially lift my mood, and when I do shop I find it so easy to talk myself out of buying things. Good luck!!
omg that doc martens story is paining me!!!!! I’m so impressed and sad
Ok, but cutting those cards might have been an important emotional step. But your customer profile including your points do still exist virtually. So maybe that could be a next step to actually delete all your profiles and your contact data so these company won‘t be able to contact you.
I think, as you point out, it entirely depends on how you feel about the cards and if they drive you to spend more. For my sake loyalty cards with a certain airline has earned me enough points to fund a trip to Tokyo and back just on points, and that's something I wouldn't be able to afford on my own, but now I get to go to Japan for the first time and have the hotel also be paid on points just by paying for food and other expenses with the airline card.
Keyholder Agree. I don’t really think about my loyalty cards and they don’t influence my buying habits. Then I get a pleasant surprise one day when the salesperson informs me I have a voucher
While Leena’s telling me not to shop all I can think about is where did she get her top from
I used to work at Boots and seeing customers' attitudes towards the points was incredibly fascinating. Some people couldn't care less, and others would collect £500+ worth on there and freak out if I asked whether they wanted to spend them.
Another weird thing that corporations sometimes do, or rather what management inside corporations do, is to refer to their employees as "resources". Always hated that.
It never occurred to me that loyalty cards could mean that much to a person - while I accumulated a few because discounts are nice, my shopping behaviour has never been guided by them. Thanks (as always) for the thought provoking content :-)
I confess I would have definitely given in for the charity shop docs, that’s like a level ten fantasy scenario 👌
But also have streamlined my spending hugely and it’s really made me confront my emotional health more directly, which is an interesting ongoing experiment
I don't have an issue with loyalty cards specifically, I think mostly because my mom does and I've seen how her spending behavior plays out in the most ridiculous ways. Like, getting an email from a store about rewards points, planning a day to go out and "cash in", and deliberately spending more than she usually would because she's "saved" so much. A good deal of her spending habits have led me to act differently, but I've found that I ended up forming harmful shopping behaviors all on my own. So that's fun.
I currently have 44 pounds worth of boots points, which makes me feel a bit Ill because I know it means I’ve spent lots of money in boots before. I keep going in there and then when I get to the till I’m buying really boring practical stuff and I’m like no I don’t want to use my points for eczema cream ... I want to use them on something special. But really I should use them on the boring practical stuff because that’s the stuff that if I don’t spend them on I’ll spend my actually money on them and save money by using points. I don’t need anything ‘special’ and I’m just justifying if because it’s using points, then I haven’t saved any money because I still have to buy the boring stuff
theboutique1 I’m the exact same! I always feel like I’m somehow wasting them if I use them on every day basic stuff which is just silly.
I'm the opposite! I just wait till they add up and anytime someone at the till asks me if I want to spend the points or if I'm trying to save money I'll use them. For me it feels like the smartest way to use them because I'm already buying stuff from Boots and then I use the points later for things I would already have bought anyway. 🤗
@@littlereddragon Yeah, I guess that makes way more sense. I normally use them to buy christmas presents.
@@libraryofkayla That's a really smart way to use them. I think the trap Leena talks about is shopping *just* to earn points. If you are already going to be buying toothpaste and deodorant etc. from there it doesn't matter.
I'm not doing a no-buy year, but I want to be more aware of the things I buy and especially not buy something just because it's on sale (hello poor-family-behaviors). I don't want to have 5 bottles of shampoo "just in case", I would love to downsize.
It's interesting how loyalty cards work on you. I never get the rush from collecting the points - they never collect into good amount quick enough, maybe that's why. I only use the Tesco card - out of habit and I'm there maybe once a month & the other supermarket card, but besides the points there are different items every week that are cheaper with the card, so I can check online if something I need will be % off and go buy it.
Anyways, always great to hear from you, sending all strength for the no-buy ;)
This was so interesting. I have 2 loyalty cards. One for the grocery store I use regularly and one for the only physical bookstore in my area. Neither has made me shop more, I don't think. Good on you recognising it wasn't good for you and doing something about it. Companies are *definitely* not people
This video was very eye opening for me. I never really understood the purpose of loyalty cards in terms of what the company got out of them because they don't personally make me buy more things or be loyal to a specific company, my shopping behaviour is just not really affected by them in any way.
I never buy stuff just to get extra points but I do get the feeling of, oh I’ll go to Sainsbury’s over Asda because I’ll get points there
I have to say as someone who works part time in retail. Our management are much more focused on registering points cards and selling gift cards as that's how their success is measured in numbers and profits over people's experience. So satisfying to see you cut those up!!
Dear algorithm, loving this. thanks! Good job on this video 👍
I'm finally getting my own apartment and I'm having to rethink my budgeting. I am terrible for overspending on little luxuries like art supplies or sweets. I work in an independent shop that gives employees a steep discount, so it's really easy to fall into a trap after a stressful day at work to spend $5 on sweets because "it's so much cheaper here and if I get all the way home and still want sweets I'll end up paying more to get them at the shop near my house". So, I spend money on food I don't need that then makes me feel bad about my body and want to spend even more money on weight loss.
You are such a good person. This was honestly really inspiring. It's terrifying how hard it is to tear up these cards hey?
Love this! I find it incredibly difficult not to spend, i work in a bookshop, in a city centre. I walk past shops every day as well as spending over 40 hours a week in a BOOKSHOP!. I’m resorting to leaving my debit card and employee discount at home some days.
I am okay with loyalty cards, especially Starbucks card. At some point (no pun intended) in my life, when I'm broke and I need some coffee (and a place to sit), I'll just use my point~ zero money spend that day.
that shirt is so cute 👻
This video inspired me to go unsubscribe from the marketing emails of a shop I used to work at. I've been cleaning out my inbox recently, but I told myself that I still needed to subscribe to these marketing emails because I need to maintain my professional relationship with them (I still do a little bit of freelance work for them). But I really don't think I actually need to do that! Thank you for this kick in the pants, two years later. I really appreciate it. :)
I've stopped buying clothes this year (only allowing myself to buy second hand), and I used to do SO MUCH Supermarket shopping and always was like LOL LOL LOL FOOD SHOPPING TAKES SO MUCH TIME, and it doesn't if you aren;t trying everything on in there. It's going well so far, but I feel your heartache with those Doc Martens. Keep going Leena! xx
It also freaks me out when companies are on social media and are using that to act like your "friend".
Have you seen Sarah Z's video on that? It's great :)
I really enjoy that, like innocent’s twitter being funny and not at all about smoothies, but I never thought about how fucked up that subconscious rewiring is...
@@eherbert33 I know right? It's kind of disturbing to think about
@@linsenbluetensalat Thanks! I'll definitely have to check that out!
@@funfuz you're welcome :) it's called "the late capitalism of fast food twitter"
Much support on breaking the destructive cycle! It’s definitely about a personal relationship with loyalty cards and what they mean for you for sure. I use “loyalty” cards as a way to save money with coupons and find deals. It takes extra time, which many people avoid for conveniences sake, but the result feels like a fuck you to capitalism because I’m spending less money on what I’m buying. But that only works if your already being frugal and strategic in your choices and if your loyalty cards are preventing that, I think it’s good to go cold turkey. Best of luck with all this-love these videos!
My relationship with loyalty cards is so different from this, so it was interesting to watch.
This is such good timing. I finish uni this year and I gotta stop spending money on shit. Thank you for inspiring me 💚
I have always hated the way loyalty cards make me justify my shitty shopping behaviour to myself! Everything you said resonated with me so deeply
The bit where you talked about the not existing excitement while buying an ebook. Haha I couldn't anymore. That's exactly how it is!! I hate it, but I want to change over to only buying ebooks. I hate buying books and then putting them in my bookshelf and never getting to them.. it just wastes money and there are so many I am not even interested in reading anymore. So I really hope switching to ebooks helps with that!
Just recently found you and subscribed because I find the themes you talk about in your videos really refreshing! Anyway have a nice day, Leena!
Well done with your challenge! You seem to be doing really well. The only card that hurt was seeing you cut the Waterstones one, mainly because I wish you could have donated the points (my TBR list would desperately have appreciated them 😂). But well done, I’d never really considered my relationships with loyalty cards before but on reflection I have rather a lot 🙈
Thanks so much for this video! I never thought about loyalty cards that way. I am now going through my wallet and really thinking hard about what's in there! Also had never heard of corporate personhood, I am going to look into that. Love following this journey
I'm doing a no-buy year as well! My one downfall was a Jimmy Eat World t-shirt when I saw them play in Cardiff - I figured I was supporting musicians directly which is ++++ but got home and realised it was just participation in capitalism/fast fashion and now it's sitting sadly on my sofa, full of shame.
Love the commentary on loyalty cards! I still have all of mine, especially Tesco is super helpful to get some money off essential items - my partner is coeliac and gluten-free food is EXPENSIVVVE and they often give us money off items we buy every week anyway.
Loool this is hitting ridiculously close to home atm,
As my friends are at uni and I am on a gap year I’m trying to turn my mum into a Gen Z ( which is slowly working) me and her have been discussing the environment ethical shopping and our relationship to food. So I have a many thought if you don’t mind reading them. I am a huge shopaholic always have been throughout my alevel classes I would online shop to the point I BECAME KNOWN AS THE GIRL TO GO TO TO GET THE BEST ASOS DEALS. (So much pride in that) however I’ve only ever been a sales shopper aiming to spend an average of £10 per item of clothing. But now I work in trendier parts of London and have more money than I ever had have I’ve found sometimes looking at the options on ASOS gross thinking if the millions of garments created to buy, probably because shopping is no longer special to me as I can afford what I want now. So in jan me I decided to only buy clothes from charity shops or to use up vouchers. Now, the fact that I now cannot shop made my compulsion come back, but has also attached an emense feeling of guilt to clothes shopping, so since I’ve started this I’ve only bought one thing since 1st of jan, which I had been looking at for a while, it was in the sale +30% off and I didn’t own anything like it, so fuck it I got it. Reflecting on my shopping habits have made me make far more sensible decisions. In regards to cutting up loyalty cards I don’t think you should have dine it, just giving it my 2pence, could those cards not been given to someone, saved? I completely agree with the points you made, but isn’t it about improving your relationship with the need to buy and decision making rather than throwing away the ‘free money’ already in your possession? I can’t wait to follow your journey
GOOD LCUK!
I find loyalty card a bit if a rip. Our supermarket has a reward of $15 voucher when you spend $2000 on groceries in a 6 month period! , then your points get erased being single cook that’s very unachieveable. For me. The cards I keep are Starbucks stamp card and subway rewards
I used to work in the fragrance department of Debenhams and we had to ask *everyone* if they wanted a beauty loyalty card or a store credit card because either of those cards caused such an increase in customer expenditure in store.
I'm getting there. I have significantly slowed down my mindless shopping and I'm aware of what I'm doing when I get that itch. Perfect? Heavens no but I'm making solid progress on thinning out the things I own and using up/appreciating what's already in my possession. I bought a few things while on vacation but they were clothes that I liked and things that I didn't previously have (such as a raincoat...they are handy to have and I did not). I also just have never really had too much of a problem with clothes. They aren't things I enjoy trying on, pursuing, etc...always, always, always comfort first then fashion for me. Here's hoping I can keep in the direction I have been these first two months of the year.
I LOVE this shirt and lip color. I do something similar where I have to want something for a whole month before I buy it. I don't allow myself impulsive buying.
I really felt a few of those! I really wanna start doing this! I spend wayyyy tooo much on absolute crap.
I think the cinema tickets and boost juice cards are the ones worth keeping for me it you did inspire me to get rid of about 12 cards and coupons out of my wallet so thanks Leena :)
I’ve never thought about “loyalty” to brands in that way before but it’s so true. I work in marketing for a really great small independent business and we don’t have a loyalty scheme with our customers as such but I have definitely used phrases like “we want to say thank you to our mailing list subscribers, so here’s X% off your next purchase/here’s an exclusive discount code to thank you for you support” in marketing emails. Realistically, while we do rely on the support of return customers (and I think being a small business we feel closer to our customers than a corporate does) it’s only financial support that matters, they’re not friends. The reason we send out discount codes isn’t actually to say thanks, it’s to get them to buy more stuff... got some things to think about here!
Hilarious when you stared down at the ruin of your cards. Thank you
Brilliant! I don't do any loyalty cards unless its a local small business.
this is definitely making me rethink my part in loyalty programs at shops.. I think I'm definitely going to be mindful of what I choose to engage with and possibly close some of my existing loyalty accounts. I'm almost disappointed that pretty much all of mine are online, bc cutting the cards sounds very cathartic.
This was such a good concept for a video! I was absolutely gripped and horrified as you wielded the scissors - especially with the Tesco clubcard. I don't think I've ever particularly suffered from the need to spend on account of having a loyalty card; I just hate the feeling of buying something without using one when I know I could. Anyway, this was extremely brave and entertaining. A+
This video just made me realize that I have a serious issue with shoping
Lol Leena you crack me up so much. You are so wise and funny!!! Thanks for being on the internet!!
i've had a boots loyalty card for probably 6-7 years and only last month did i reach 2 euro on it. i've never really thought of them as something that could encourage you to spend more/more often. It's really interesting and I think I'm gonna have to take a look at my own use of loyalty schemes, cause I don't think I fall into them, but I'm sure there's some sneaky ones I haven't even thought of yet.
Loved this Leena! Lots of food for thought about the power of habit and the language we use. Would love to hear you talk more about minimalism in the future.
This is so interesting! I can be very obsessive with shopping when I do have money but when I’m actively saving (currently for a wedding, mortgage and a baby!) I really reall dont! I’ve never had a problem with loyalty cards and I feel no concern about turning the offer down. I only have Waterstones, the works and Superdrug. They all sell products related to my jobs - acting and drama teaching so I consider them valuable. This is all so interesting though!
I actually got my first loyalty card the other day, so this was quite interesting! But it was for food from a place I already eat at regularly without other incentive. So far having the card hasn't impacted how often I eat there, but it is definitely something to watch for!
I'm exactly the same with Boots! I'm 17 and I have £70 on my loyalty card due to triple points and coupons. It is a bit of an obsession!
I've never thought about this like this, but you've made an amazing point! I don't treat loyalty cards like this anymore, but I know I used to go to Starbucks just because they had a loyalty program I was a part of! Thank you for this, it's made me really think!
I'm super interested in this whole idea and genuinely want to join in, so i clicked on the video and not even 30 seconds into it i was wondering where you got that shirt from, since its so cool with the ghosts, even opening another tab ... Now catching myself doing it i am so up for this challenge. Ditched all of my loyalty cards and unsubscribed from all newsletters, let this challenge begin 💪🏼
Ironically I got a Flybuys card in the mail today haha I have loyalty cards for the two major supermarkets because I'm shopping there anyway so I feel like I may as well try and get something for free occasionally, though I'm too lazy to pay attention to any of the special deals to get more points. I so rarely buy anything that isn't food because I just don't see anything I want to buy! I guess I'm really fussy, but ever since I've earned my own money I have to really want something to buy it which is so rare. And I'm lucky my library has an amazing selection of books so I'm covered there as well! I do buy second hand clothes and books but even then I can go months without seeing anything I want.
This was really interesting to watch, thank you for sharing 😊
I am stopping/reducing shopping quite similar to you... one of my rules is that I can buy something if I need it but now I struggle with what the concept of ‘need’ is and get away with things... coincidentally my downfall was also at a charity shop because it feels so right!!
I'm exactly the same!! I've kind of always been this way though, pretty frugal with my money unless i "need" something but then convincing myself I need stuff when I don't, it's so hard to break out of it
I think what you’re doing is great and I understand why it’s so hard. But on a positive note, you’ll feel so much better after few months of getting used to this new lifestyle :)
😹 I feel this but also I already do this out of necessity because my rent is EXORBITANT especially on my salary. Sometimes it’s hard.
I do the same sorts of things with the online shopping though. Where I’m staring at stuff or ‘fake shopping’ for hours before I realize I don’t know why I’m even there because I could never afford this brand anyway.
This was a super powerful video for me, and although I have no intention of getting rid of my supermarket loyalty cards (a freelance career always benefits from free food when you're not working) I'm having a long hard look at all those other cards beefing up my wallet!
OMG your explanation of your No-Buy is just how I feel about mine. I'm dripping in privilege and debt 😭 Also, your shirt is dope.
I'm not doing a no-buy year but I don't really have a problem with consumerism bc I don't like spending money on myself.
However, I have so many loyalty cards I can't close my purse 😭 I think my strategy is going to be using the points I have for the ones I rarely use, then getting rid of them. And if i dont need anything from the shop, I'll see if I can get something for someone for Christmas/birthdays.
My mum is an absolute ninja when it comes to loyalty cards tho - she saves up all her Tesco points and cos she's been with them for almost 20 years, she gets SO many good deals. Be that petrol, food, 2 for 1 on favourites, or electronics for free/heavily discounted. They also give Clubcard members first dibs on the Christmas delivery slot. Everyone who lives at home has the same Tesco Clubcard number, so it's totted up 3 members of the family.
I however, have branched out to nectar as it's very versatile for points collection. Although it's a Sainsburys card, it can be used for all sorts, including trains. Then I use the points for a certain SO's Christmas pressy in conjunction w black Friday sales... he doesn't need to know how much I paid for the thing, the joy is still the same.
Also cafe Nero - I LOVE the stamp system of loyalty cards. Amazing! Why can't we bring this back? I often give my free coffee slip to my fave homeless man so he can at least get warm inside for a little bit even if I don't have change on me. (We're mates, I often grab him a machine coffee and food from Tesco if I see him when I'm out an about).
Idk I feel like you can play the system a bit when you collect points on food shops, BUT you get played by companies you rarely shop with.
The only loyalty card I really use is my CVS one (drugstore here in the US) Ive learned how to coupon and rack up points to buy my necessities and non necessities (I refuse to buy full priced anything lol) but I also share my loyalty card with my whole family so it a bit easier to rack up the points.
Anyway, loved this as always! Definitely points a new perspective about my personal data and what it means to be "loyal customer".
I love this video and your channel. Please continue to make these videos. I have been doing a spending fast to pay off debt. It's so hard. And it's so helpful to watch videos like this. Keep it up, you're doing a great job - giving the middle finger to consumerism.
"I don't even want to go to the Odean. That store. Fucking no" : ) LMAO
You are so right! I am trying to cut back on my spending. I had a fairly successfully No Spend January but February is home to 2 of my kids birthdays and half term so I've written that off and intend to get back on the horse in March.....however....I fell out with Amaz*n this week and cancelled my Prime *membership* and I've saved money already by shopping around rather than just ordering from Ama**n. I feel this loss of loyalty could be financially huge for me! I have also recently discovered I quite like As*a, I normally shop at Te*co both home deliver to my area, a must for me as a busy working Mum, home delivery is my luxury but I'm not brave enough to cut the umbilical cord that is those bloody Clubcard points 😢
I completely get what you did and understand the problem you have with the use of "loyalty" for those cards as I did the same as you a few years ago. I only own cards from independent small places now as you know who you support.
The no-buy rules you're applying is something that I have been considering for a while without really trying it to be honest and I would be curious to know how you do, I don't know if you were thinking of making it a sort of diary or something ...
Well done... I would have definitely bought the Dr Martens
I don't even use loyalty cards out of laziness but watching you cut them up made me feel bad that you were wasting those "hard earned" points!!
hahah same, yeah it hurt somewhere deep in the psychological goolies, but I have no idea why.
Well done! Proud of you!! :-) (Anyhow, it's all just to track customer buying trends - you don't need them!!!!!)
Thank you, I feel proud of me too :)
:-) @@leenanorms
So glad i found your account!
I recently did a loyalty card purge in an attempt to downsize my wallet but it mostly just resulted in me moving them onto an app rather than actually getting rid of them - no longer a wallet full of plastic, but still using them.
Having watched this, I am THIS close to deleting the app. I will. I really will. The only one I would want to keep is Co-op because they give back to local communities and I use the points at the end of the month when I'm struggling between pay days.
yeah its interesting, i'v gone from living at home working a job and not having to pay for bills/ food / ending up because i was very depressed spending a lot of money to now moving out and suddenly realising that even though the only things i can buy for the next month are food/ bills and transport i don't actually mind/ i think i'm happier, it would be great in a few months when i'm in a better place financially to be able to buy a few things, but for now its fine, i also have such a big backlog of stuff like shower gel that i'm not gonna need to buy that in 1+ years
I'm overly rational about shopping and don't buy anything unless I absolutely need it or have wanted it for a long time. This sucks the fun out of things but it does mean I don't feel like the shop is in control. The loyalty cards i do like: tesco (I need to buy food so I get the points. I can use the points to get free pizza when I want a treat), Bodyshop (they give you a £5 voucher on your birthday with no minimum spend. Even if i've not bought anything since my last birthday when I used my last £5 voucher).
I've also had a really hard week so there's a part of me that just wants to splurge and buy something to cheer up. But the ruling 90% of my brain knows that it's a stupid idea and would rather just have the £20 for another day. My brain is infuriatingly kill-joyish when i just want a false sense of gratification for a few minutes.
Omg same! I'll often wait months until the old thing is falling apart or I've had to cut the top off my moisturiser to scrape out the insides!
That being said, i do get the urge to shop when I've had a bad week, but I'll paint my nails a different colour, and it'll cheer me up. Idk why it works so well but I think it's the "i spent time on myself and I have control of this aspect of my life" as a subconscious reminder all through the next week.
Idk it might not be painting your nails but I'm sure there's an instant gratification hobby that'll push your buttons in a good way ❤
it took me 10 MINUTES to realize you have a bunch of ghosts on your shirt...hahaha
I did Christmas temp work for a company where we had to sell loyalty cards (they cost £3 each and the computer systems logged how many each of us sold). While there were things I enjoyed about working there - mostly the customers to be honest, as I ended up making quite a few good friends among those who visited the shop regularly - one of the things that put me off was actually when I finally started to get very good at selling the cards. I didn't feel right pressuring people into buying them especially when I knew the loyalty scheme wasn't even that good compared to many others, and that was one of several factors that led to me declining a permanent position there, despite having had an overall positive time in the job.
I love your hair extra much in this video.. I agree with all the content in the video about companies as-well but just wanted to comment about your hair 👍🏼
I'm trying too! my stumbling block is stocking up on cupboard food (do I need 4 kinds of rice in the cupboard?!), buying lunch, and buying niknaks at the supermarket (I can't even think of examples which says it all but I do this every single time!)
I completely love you Leena!!
I have loyalty cards, but only from shops I actually like, and I purposefully make sure that I DO NOT HEAR FROM THEM REGULARLY. This way, when I earn (for example) a $10 voucher, I know I have that large sum of points saved, and I'm not obsessing over points, or going there just to earn points because they are out of sight, out of mind.
Omg, totally understand the boots one... great video!
Ps. Is there any chance you are going to do 40 questions with Leena again this Lent? :)
I was inspired by your January video to do a no buy month. I slipped up once because of a 60% off sale but then returned it. Unfortunately I couldn’t extend it into February after a trip to cath kidston. 😂
I just counted my loyalty cards and I have 11 plastics and 7 coffee stamp cards, 2 of which are Nero’s which I don’t even like.
It sounds weird but I like having loyalty cards because it makes me feel included for once, but I’m not a fan of the hundreds of emails from shops that have built up in my inbox.
I always forget to actually spend the points but I’m *that* person in the queue searching through my purse.
This is my favorite channel 🌼
Really interesting to think about your loyalty cards... i'm a recent graduate so mine are stil useful for me. I think i only really use my nectar card, boots card and one for a coffee shop i go to almost every day. See no reason not to chuck out my other ones though
YES LEENA!!!! It’s sad how much it pained me to watch you do this but then I think it just says a lot about capitalism and our “loyalty” to them rather than theirs to us! Well done 👍🏻
P.S. despite this I cannot discard my Clubcard because I am not willing to give up the wonderful invention of scan as you shop 🤦🏼♀️
your tshirt is the shit. i love it
Love this video ! From beginning to the end
agree with a lot of this. however i don't think the company/customer dynamic is consensual - we cant buy any products that arent being sold for a profit (aside from VERY few exceptions that aren't enough to rely on for everything) and while we could theoretically produce our own things its not at all realistic for the vast majority of ppl under capitalism, so we are always being ripped off when we buy stuff.
I think I have a good relationship with loyalty cards. I use them when I am buying things I would be buying anyway, and then use them when I am in a tight spot to help me buy things that I need. Like I buy my shampoo from Superdrug, getting a 10% discount as a student and then on top of that I get points which will help me buy my next bottle of shampoo. But if I used them in any other way, I'd get sooo mad at myself and you have a really good point. I do think supermarket ones are good ones to have, I use the points on my Morrisons card to but cleaning products.
The only loyalty cards I have and actually use are nectar cards which I find good as if money ever gets really bad I can use it to buy food and get them when I just do a shop. I have a tesco card but never used it. I used to love my waterstones card, as soon as I was old enough (sad I know) I was so excited to get my card! However since they changed it to the plus system I have lost points that I had been saving for years and feel it as valued as a customer.
I’m moving towards a no buy (ish) for the rest of the year so this is so interesting! Also yes I am still that person who saves up all of her boots points (mostly from presents I buy people) and then uses them on necessities like toothpaste and shampoo when I’m really broke, 10/10 would recommend, but that and Waterstones is the only loyalty thing I have I think
That's v smart to only keep a few. Maybe I'll go back to that at one point. Free toothpaste for the win! xxx
If it’s gunna be your birthday during your not spend/no buying new stuff time it would be super interesting to see your take on celebrating a birthday without it being about getting stuff
first of. i loved the new little inro title thinghie with your name and the drums. CUTE
thank you :) !
*Plays Orla Gartlands 'Why am I like this' at the **21:02** mark*
It's good to see this concept being dissected and discussed in a practical sense, rather than "just stop buying things! Its easy!". I also really like the ghostyspook top/dress ... but I'm not going to ask you where you got it from so I can hunt one down myself ... in the spirit of the video 😅
I do consider this a treat ;)
Thanks for uplaoding; very inspiring!
I don't have physical loyalty cards anymore (theyre all attached to my email address) but this did make me unsubscribe from all the email lists of the places I have a loyalty account from. So they can't tell me when I've "earned" a "discount" that I might be tempted to use.