C is for consumption
An informed consumer must know responsible consumption practices, safe payment practices and how to lower expenses.
Consumption is the act of acquiring or using a good or service. Responsible consumption means being thoughtful about the choices you make on a daily basis.
Questions to ask yourself before you buy
Do I really need it?
Do the people who make the product or provide the service have adequate working conditions?
What is the environmental impact of using the product or service?
Is there a more responsible solution?
How can I get the best use out of the product?
Can I share the product or service?
Telling the difference between needs and wants
Definition of a needA need is something you must have to meet your basic living requirements. It's a necessity or obligation.
Definition of a wantA want is something you don't necessarily need in order to live, but that makes life more enjoyable. It's a desire or wish.
Prioritizing needs and wants
- Things you need to lead a healthy life
- Things that are important but nonessential
- Things that are nonessential and unimportant
Day-to-day
- Keep your cards with you at all times, but carry them separately in high-risk areas.
- Don't let your cards out of your sight.
- Choose a personal identification number (PIN) that's hard to guess.
- Never share your PIN with anyone.
- Cover the keypad when using your card.
- Sign the back of all your cards.
- Destroy expired, unused and unrequested cards.
In stores and public places
- Watch out for pickpockets in busy places.
- If you're having trouble using an ATM, get help from a close friend or family member or someone who works at your financial institution.
- If your card gets stuck in an ATM, stay at the machine and notify your financial institution immediately.
Online and over the phone
- Never give personal information over the phone.
- Never send your credit card number by email.
- Never make financial transactions on an unsecured website.
- Always log out completely after viewing your financial accounts online.
Safe credit and debit card use
- When you receive a new card, sign the back right away and destroy any expired or unused cards.
- Choose a PIN that's hard to guess.
- Never share personal information with retailers.
- Save purchase receipts and compare the totals to the amounts appearing on your monthly statement.
- Notify your financial institution of a lost or stolen card as soon as possible.
- Make a list of all your cards and card numbers and keep it in a safe place.
- After a purchase, make sure the right card is returned to you.
- Never give a card number over the phone unless the cardholder is the one making the call.
- Only use secured sites to make online transactions and always log out completely.
- Never send a credit card number by email.
- Don't let your credit card out of your sight in a public place.
Important facts
In the event of fraud, cardholders may benefit from Zero Liability if they can reasonably prove they were not the ones who made the fraudulent transaction(s).
Credit cardholders will be held responsible for any authorized or unauthorized purchases made with their card by a relative.
When used responsibly, a credit card is a great way to build good credit.
Humans produce several millions tonnes of waste every year. An estimated 85% of these residual materials could and should be re-used, recycled, composted or recovered.
There are 4 main ways people can produce less waste—by applying the 4Rs.
1. Reduce
Minimize the quantity of waste produced, both in number and volume:
- Opt for sustainable rather than disposable products.
- Avoid over-packaged products and ones that can't be recycled or composted.
- Give services or time as a gift instead of stuff.
2. Recycle
Use a product that already exists to make a new product.
3. Re-use
- Use something in a new way—either by using a product that was no longer of use to someone else or finding a new use for an existing object so it doesn't go to waste.
- Buy used items.
- Borrow and loan items.
4. Recover
Recovery refers to composting and energy recovery. Energy recovery maximizes the added value of a product through sound residual materials management. The process of incinerating household waste to produce heat is one example.