The Chronic Consumer

With May and June just around the corner, we’ll soon have a whole new crop of graduates descending on college campuses and the workforce. Before these students take the next step in their lives, I’m sure they’d love to have a party celebrating their accomplishments.

There’s still time to throw a great bash together even if you haven’t started planning yet. All you need to do is buy or make some decorations, settle on a venue, print up a bunch of party invitations, see to the refreshments, and make sure there’s plenty of good music on hand. After that, I’m sure the kids will find ways to entertain themselves!

So get on the ball and celebrate the Class of 2008! Congratulations, graduates!!

While I was perusing the news this morning, I read that Toyota and General Motors are recalling more than 660,000 vehicles because of safety issues. Even though my family doesn’t own any of the vehicles involved, it still got me thinking. We live in a world where product recalls are all too common, which makes me wonder if I should be doing more research before buying stuff.

I don’t want to sound like an alarmist here, but some of the health and safety hazards posed by consumer products can be downright deadly. For instance, we all know how prolonged exposure to or handling of asbestos products often leads to mesothelioma or other complications, and how lead paint can cause a variety of health problems. Toys with small parts present choking hazards, and some types of clothing are more flammable than others because of the materials used in manufacturing.

It’s a lot to take in and keep track of, but obviously my family’s safety is worth spending a bit of extra time making sure certain companies and brands use only approved materials and components, right?

I admit that I hardly inquire into any companies before I buy their products (besides checking to see if makeup products are animal-tested), but maybe I should start doing so.

How about you? Do you perform due diligence prior to making these types of purchases?