By Nikos Christoforos *:What we hear most as advice nowadays is what companies do or should do to improve their operations.
A good question, however, is what consumers need to do to help their country's economy, their finances, their time.
Simple things:
You ask for proof of all your purchases. Even better is to pay directly with debit cards, or credit. If you are denied proof, you may have to nail the clever businessman who is basically stealing from you.
Prefer local products for your purchases. Prefer local products that give work to someone who produces them and not just to the one who imports them. Caution: we are talking about products that will have real value for money.
Make your payments online. You stop wasting your time and money on the road. Learn to use the internet and save time, gas, days off from your work.
Study the market before you buy anything. The options are many, even more so on the internet. If nothing else, find information about the products you want before visiting a store.
Offers are not always offers. Are you buying 1 + 1 for free at twice the normal price, or are you really buying an offer?
Put your mind to work. If the mind does not work, the legs will run.
Everyone is a consumer, but far fewer are consumers and entrepreneurs.
If in the future you are thinking of becoming a businessman, start training by improving the financial data of your home first.
Do you consider yourself a good consumer?
* Nikos Christoforou is Chief Business Officer