In conjunction with International Women’s Day, as part of the 3K Campaign FOMCA and its Partners – PETRONAS, NCWO, CUEPACS & MBM -  are Celebrating the Women as Smart Consumers Campaign.  The theme is, “Planning Expenditure – Making and Sticking to Lists”.

The aim of this campaign is:
•    Encourage Women to be more mindful consumers through better financial planning and more sustainable consumption
•    Encourage women to plan their shopping through making lists and ensuring that they stick to the list.
•    To consider affordability, health and convenience in making their consumer choices

As care givers, women face many challenges in providing sustenance for their families.  Budget is limited.  Prices are high.  If they are working, time pressure is a another source of stress.  If they are single mother, life can even be more difficult and challenging.
Added to that is the pressure by the media, which often portray a very stereotype image of women, young, thin, fair-skinned, energetic.  These images put pressure on women sometimes to the determinant of their physical and psychological health.  

To address these challenges, women as consumers need to develop a critical attitude and mindful consumption practices.  Through critical thinking one kind reduce the impact of the media’s influence.  Through mindful consumption practices, including budgeting, making and sticking to lists when shopping, comparing prices, buying more generic goods, consumers may be better able to manage their consumption and their buying patterns.