Agency, the precious ability to choose, needs protecting. Forces of the world are constantly hard at work to try and limit our agency and instead coerce us into a choice—usually one that will benefit them.
A few of the tactics I've seen:
Credit. Companies are more than willing to let you buy something now, then pay for it later. A great deal? Hardly-now you have an obligation to pay them every month until you've paid it off. The interest doesn't pose as much a problem as the lack of choice-you must earmark a hundred dollars (or whatever) of your budget each month. That's money you can't put where you need it, because you've already promised it away.
Contracts. Anyone who has something to sell would love for you to sign a contract, promising to pay them for a full year, or pay a fee if you stop service. Wireless service providers follow this tactic to the letter, and they know full well that the "free phone" deals they offer in exchange do not tip the balance in favor of the end user.
Addiction. For those companies that have no precedent for contracts, addiction offers an agreeable alternative. Addictions cut your agency at its source—in your mind. Addictive habits like smoking and even gaming can force you to surrender your freedom without even realizing it.
Advertising. Corporations figured out some time ago that the best way to sell products to the consumer who has everything, is to convince the consumer that he doesn't have everything. This is the whole goal of modern advertising—forget the facts, they're trying to create a need. Try analyzing why you buy the things you do, and you might find advertising at the root.
Peer pressure. The peers you select certainly make a difference, and they will affect your decisions in several ways. You can exercise your agency by consciously selecting your friends and the company you keep.
"Television peers." The people you let into your home through the television exert just as much power as the people you let in through the front door. If you find yourself buying a fancy car to keep up with the characters of The O.C., you might want to re-think your viewing habits.
Protect your agency. Taking a few steps today can help you be more in control tomorrow. First off, learn techniques to make decisions as rationally as possible. For instance, when you find yourself about to buy something, take a deep breath and think through the motivations driving you toward that purchase.
Next, try taking some of the tactics used to trap you in a rut, then apply them to yourself, but in the direction you want to go. For example, make your own advertising! If you want to save money to buy a house, set your computer wallpaper to a picture of your dream home. Seeing it every day will make you think of it more quickly and more often.
Keeping your agency intact has never been more important than it is now. Make sure you're making the decisions you want to, instead of choosing whatever "comes to mind"—that's usually someone else's idea.
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