When the frugal become wasteful: An examination into how impression management can initiate the end‐stages of consumption for frugal consumers

Abstract

Premature disposal of functional products is a global problem adding to waste and feeding a consumer culture. Contrary to this, frugal consumers take care and extend the life of their products, elongating the usage and value obtained from their possessions. Despite this, little is known about frugal consumers and the factors that eventually initiate their actions towards the end-stages of consumption (e.g., declined usage). The present research explores one such psychological factor that may dictate frugal consumers' willingness to discontinue usage of their products; impression management. Three studies demonstrate that when the marketplace's opinion of an owned product is negative (e.g., inferior value), then the well-accepted frugality-usage intentions relationship diminishes. This effect is due in part to the undesirable image that owning such a product portrays, that of a consumer who makes poor choices. By examining what can initiate the end-stages of consumption for frugal consumers, this study broadens our understanding of anticonsumption lifestyles postpurchase, exploring factors beyond functionality, and obsolescence that influence decisions to continue or discontinue using products consumers already own.

Mindfulness enhances the values that promote sustainable consumption

“…Similar research in the future could focus on the effects of other values related to consumption, such as hedonic and materialistic values. Moreover, Philp and Nepomuceno (2020) demonstrate that marketplace opinion has an impact on frugal consumers' postpurchase usability of products which sometimes results in waste. Future research could address whether mindfulness can reverse this effect.…”

Tüketmeme: Neden Bazi Tüketi̇ci̇ler Fi̇nansal Güce Sahi̇pken, Bi̇li̇nçli̇ Bi̇r Şeki̇lde Marka Kaçinmasi Çerçevesi̇nde Tüketmeme Eği̇li̇mi̇ Gösteri̇rler?

“…Bu tarz tüketiciler satınalma esnasında bir anlaşmayla uygun bir satınalma yaptıklarında ve hatta çok daha az harcadıklarında mutluluk yaşamaktadırlar (Chancellor ve Lyubomirsky, 2011). Bu nedenle, tutumlu tüketiciler için, anlamsız harcamalardan kaçınma ve bunun yerine akıllıca ve verimli bir şekilde tüketme yeteneği bir anlanda tüketim karşıtlığı; kendi imajılarını ortaya koymak açısından da önem taşımaktadır (Philiph ve Nepomuceno, 2020). Ayrıca friganlar israfı azaltmak ve gelecekteki gereksiz tüketimi önlemek için mevcut ürünleri koruyarak ve eski haline getirerek bir ürünün ömrünü ve kullanımını uzatma arzusunu yaşayan bir gruptur (Lee ve Motion, 2009, Cherrier, 2010Brosius, Fernandez ve Cherrier, 2013;Scott ve Weaver, 2018…”

“Waste not, want not”: fostering frugality amongst Muslim tourists in the Malaysian hotel industry

“…It is, therefore, crucial for hoteliers to encourage the notion of frugality amongst their guests. Frugality can be defined as abstinence from unnecessary consumption and avoiding waste (Lastovicka et al, 1999;Philp and Nepomuceno, 2020), which is in line with the 12th goal of the sustainable development goals (SDG) (United Nations World Tourism Organization, 2019). The significant growth in the number of domestic visitors in the different states of Malaysia (Mytourismdata, 2019) has made it essential to understand the notion of frugality, particularly amongst Muslim hotel guests.…”