9 . Danone Portugal introduced a new yogurt named Juntos. For every pack of yogurt that a person bought, he would donate yogurt to a family in need. Danone had done its research. Increasingly, people say they want to buy from brands that give them a sense of purpose. Surely a yogurt that helped the needy would be appealing. But Juntos was a failure. Despite sinking millions into a marketing campaign, Danone pulled Juntos from the market only months after it was launched. Now the same product is simply marketed as a tasty yogurt.

What happened? To find the reason behind Juntos’ failure, Lawrence Williams and his colleagues did an experiment where they showed people some products and asked these people to pick one option. They reminded some to focus on the “purposeful and valuable” aspect while others were told to “enjoy themselves” and focus on “delight and pleasure.” They found that participants who prioritized meaning preferred the less expensive product when compared with people who put pleasure in the first place.

So why were meaning-seekers cheaping out? Lawrence Williams asked participants to explain their decision-making to find out. He learned that meaning-oriented people were not thinking about how the product they might buy could bring meaning to their lives. Instead, they were occupied with what else they could do with their money.

I am all for people making wise and strategic financial choices. But cheap products can create many problems. Inexpensive options often do not last as long as the higher-end ones. As a result, we shop more often, which is ultimately worse for our wallets. Plus, that spending pattern can do a greater damage to the environment. Thanks in part to fast fashion, people buy 60 percent more clothing today than they did 15 years ago. The fashion industry alone emits more greenhouse gases than international flights and maritime (海洋的) shipping combined.

So before you dive into your wallet for some deals, try not to fix only on what you are spending or saving. Think carefully about what you are buying, too.

10 . Whether you’re moving across the country or across the world, it’s important to choose a moving company that’s the right fit for your exact needs or budget. Read about the top packing and moving companies with our guide covering pros and cons, offerings, and customer reviews.

With over 90 years of experience, the moving company has finished over 750,000 moves in different states in the U.S. in the last 15 years alone.

Pros and Cons

✔ Available for local, long-distance and international moves

✔ Great customer service

✘ Discount information is not readily available

AVL focuses on providing highly experienced and skillful movers to your packing services. The moving company provides its services in every state.

Pros and Cons

✔ Highly skilled movers with an average of 10 years of experience

✔ Promises to match or beat the price if the same service is found at a lower cost

✘ An up-front deposit is required

✘ Limited pricing information online

IVL provides its packing and moving services for both local and long-distance moves in all 50 states, as well as 180 countries. And the company allows you to have control over your packing experience.

Pros and Cons

✔ Specialty services for difficult items such as artwork, antiques and pianos

✔ Protection plans with an adjustable coverage cap

✘ Customer reviews mention the difficulty in communication at times

This full-service moving company has more than 80 years of moving experience and a network of more than 500 locations nationwide.

Pros and Cons

✔ Online shipment tracking

✔ Moving containers available for interstate moves

✘ Service and experience may vary by agent

✘ No instant online quotes