Every Tuesday after school, my 9-year old daughter asks me for money. I should be prepared, but it surprises me every time. Probably because I never know what day of the week it is.
But the scenario is always the same. After she walks home from school and sets her backpack down by the closet, she’ll ask me for a couple dollars.
“What do you need the money for?” I’ll ask.
And she’ll respond, “Dad, it’s Tuesday. The ice cream truck is coming today.”
One of the benefits of being a kid in Phoenix is that the ice cream truck is available all year long. For our street, it’s Tuesdays. And apparently, when you are 9-years old, the appeal of the ice cream truck is too much to ignore.
I mean, it’s ice cream, in a truck, who could possibly resist?
The first time I ever considered the relationship between accessibility and consumerism was during a panel discussion with Graham Hill and Halina Brown on HuffPost Live. It was a simple connection—one I probably should have made earlier, but I hadn’t.
One of the reasons for rampant consumerism in our society is low prices (fast fashion, for example). But another, equally important reason for the steady rise in consumer purchasing is accessibility.
As more and more retail stores appear on more and more street corners, consumerist habits become more difficult to overcome.
My daughter would eat less ice cream if the truck didn’t visit our street each week. My son would make fewer trips to the convenience store if it wasn’t within a bike ride of our house. And we’d all shop at Target less if it wasn’t so easy to get to.
Some companies have built an entire business model on accessibility. Walgreens comes to mind. So does Starbucks. As does Amazon.
Amazon, actually, is a perfect example of how accessibility impacts consumption.
The New York Times once wrote, “Jeffrey P. Bezos, Amazon’s founder, ‘has been on a mission to eradicate every conceivable obstacle to shopping online since the 1990s when he patented Internet ordering with a single mouse click’.”
And now, with the invention of the Amazon Dash Button, they have made shopping even more accessible. Without leaving your pantry or laundry room, you can place your order for consumer products with the press of a button… like an ice cream truck permanently placed inside your home.
Accessibility drives consumption. At least in these cases (and many more).
It is important for us to notice how accessibility impacts our behavior. Because the principle extends beyond shopping.
In life, whatever is accessible, gets utilized.
Unhealthy accessibility shapes unhealthy habits in our lives:
- Keeping sweets in the home makes us more likely to eat them.
- Having televisions conveniently located throughout a home results in more watching.
- Placing your cell phone on your nightstand encourages late night browsing, early morning email, and even sleep texting.
But equally powerful, accessibility has opportunity to spur healthy habits as well:
- Keeping fresh fruit and vegetables in your home makes healthy snacking more likely.
- Having educational toys available for your children spurs learning.
- Spending more time together as a family encourages conversation.
- Removing vices from your immediate surroundings (tobacco, sugar, alcohol, television) is the first step in overcoming them.
What healthy habits are you trying to develop in your life? What unhealthy habits are you hoping to break? And how is accessibility influencing your behavior?
Steve says
Oh, no. Joshua, you’re normally much better than this:
It’s “fewer trips,” not “less trips.”
And the company names are Walgreens and Starbucks, no apostrophes.
Judy says
wow
Nancy says
Really?
Lindsey says
I’m sure those stupid Amazon buttons will be everywhere someday and won’t even seem weird anymore, but I just find it so crazy. How do people with kids keep from accidentally ordering 50 bottles of laundry detergent? I just really don’t see the need for it to be THAT convenient.
Jessica - Living with Intention says
The more we outsource our live to convenience, the less mindful we are and the easier it is to mentally “check out”. Accessibility is harmful to our physical and mental health.
John P. Weiss says
My wife keeps a bowl of small oranges in the kitchen and as a result I eat them like crazy. Thank goodness it’s not a bowl of pop tarts!
Amy's mom says
Check the pantry. She hides the pop tarts there for herself and leaves the oranges out for you! haha ;) JK
Ann says
I like the online shopping for clothes as I can fill a basket and not check out. So I get a shopping fix wo driving anywhere or buying anything.
tammy says
I have come to hate the dvr. A few years ago I thought it was so great because it was so convenient.. Now, my kids have 30 episodes of their favorite shows recorded and available at any time. Makes it very difficult to limit the amount of time spent watching. When i was growing up my favorite shows were on once a week and if I missed it, too bad. Lol
Seriously thinking of ditching the dvr to help remove temptation.
Sonja says
I follow this site and other religiously and I do try to escape the whole rat race.
But today I broke my own rule of not spending money on unnecessary things. How can I stop this behaviour, I mean, yes, I could’ve stayed out of the shop, but I needed one item (ended up with 4) it also doesn’t help that there is online shopping so easily available.
How do you guys keep on going? I mean I was good for 2 months, but today it just came over me. Ugh, I’m so annoyed with myself.
deanna AR USA says
Hi Sonja! Think about how well you did for 2 months, forgive yourself for today, and keep on going. Everyday is not perfect! Good luck!
sheryl says
I have to add that you shouldnt beat yourself up. You have two solid months of good habits under your belt. Take a few moments and remember those months. How you felt. What did you do. What motivated you.
And start again.
Everybody has an oops moment. Dont let it turn into an oops week or an oops month!
Michael Lewis says
My wife and I have no cell phones, never had and never will, not because we’re tempted to use them, but because we have no need of cell phones. We have a perfectly usable phone plugged into the wall that we answer when someone calls and we’re home.
We haven’t had a television since 1978, not because it’s a bad habit, but because there’s nothing to be gained from watching it. We have no desire, even once or twice a year when we we stay in a hotel.
We do have plenty of open space and natural areas available in our area, so we walk through them every day, not out of habit but because we enjoy it. Grocery stores, our local, the library, downtown businesses are all within two and a half miles, so we walk there and back, even though out 1972 VW bug is sitting in the carport, perfectly accessible and unnecessary to use.
Just because things are available doesn’t mean we must use them.
Eve says
We do have a cell phone because it great to know if the car breaks down you can call for help. I have a health issue that keeps me from shopping for groceries sometimes so my husband goes for me. He couldn’t get groceries with just a list. We tried it. It is also nice to know when he leaves work that I can call him to remind him to pick up something. I carry my cell phone even if I just walk to the road because if I fall I can call for help. If you see an accident, you might be able to save someone’s life by being the first to call 911 .
I know these may seem minor but they give me peace of mind.
I think the Internet and the ability to order most anything and have it delivered to your door is a godsend for house bound and elderly people. It also gives them entertainment. Not everyone is healthy and mobile. We did the back to basics when we were young and it was wonderful but circumstances change. We don’t go to movies or eat out so that helps with a he cost. You have to decide for yourself what works. Not all electronics are bad.
joan says
Age 74, live alone, and agree!
Eve says
I’m having a duh moment. I have a Walkman, yes walkman???? in my nightstand and if I feel like I can’t sleep I reach for it. I need to move that somewhere else. I get interested in a talk show and give up trying to sleep.
I do tend to stock my shelves with too many quickie snacks like dried cranberries, animal crackers, nuts. I would probably eat more fresh fruit or veggies if I kept them ready to eat. Love cauliflower or broccoli with dip. It’s just never easily available. I could change that.
You are so smart.
Lisa Avellan says
This reminds me of an article you wrote called The Cost of Convenience. Accessibility and convenience can easily trick us into believing our needs are more or different than they really are. When we stop looking at sales and advertising and what others are buying we start to see how simple our needs can be, and we can count the real cost of selling out to convenience and assesibility. Availability does not equal necessity. Thanks for this reminder!